My Lao wife's Thai visa was based on my O-A Thai retirement visa according to the Thai Embassy in DC. Different story when we got here though. Even with a US Green Card, she had to do a 90 day visa run to the Thai Embassy in VTE to have it renewed. Otherwise, it would have been 30 days according to the wallahs at the Thai immigration office in Nong Khai. Thank Buddha we are finished with all that Thai confusion and safely back in the PDR. The border pass regulations have also apparently also been changed. The Thais blow with the wind on these things and it all depends on who you talk to on what day. I have had different answers from the same person a week apart. Mai pen rai.

Muscle, Yes, if I've understood you correctly, I have been told something along those lines before.

Thai Immigration said, as I have a NON-Imm Retirement Visa, then if I had proper marriage papers (which in my case would be from Laos) then my Laos wife would be entitled to a Non-Imm O visa as my wife, but that she, (unlike me - who can stay 1 full year at time) - would have to exit every 90 days.

Incidentally, in answer to the original question on this thread, my GF returned to Laos yesterday and asked the question - and was told, AS WE ALREADY UNDERSTOOD - AND AS I EXPECTED - that Laos people, who arrive with a passport and "Stamp on Arrival" have to exit after 30 days, just the same as the rest of us, unless of course they have a Visa such as a 60 day Tourist Visa.

I have asked GF to repeat the question when she applies for a her Tourist Visa at the Thai consulate in Vientaine, and again when she comes back across the bridge, but I don't doubt that the answer will be the same.

Similarly, I know some Laos girls in Phuket, and they do "visa runs" to Myanmar, through Ranong, every 30 days.

It's just a shame that some people on the Forum, go off half cock, quoting gossip as facts. If I am not sure of something, I either don't post it, OR I clearly state that I'm not sure.

I can only think that in this case AUA Manager, got hold of some gossip/BS from the grapevine and then presented it "as gospel".

AUA Manager wrote:Laos' don't seem to be restricted by this rule. They can stay indefinately on a toursist stamp - they just have to 'report' every thirty days. The new rule only seems to apply to us falangs.

(The thing is the Laos' provide a lot of cheap labour here in Thailand, so the gnmt can't do without them).

One rule for one, etc.

So Semi Siam, your Laos g/f can just stay here in thailand on tourist stamps.

Well AUA Manager, I can confirm your comments above are rubbish!

My GF has just returned to and come back from Laos and still confirms the same story. Also spoke to some other Lao girls in Phuket who also confirm the same story. I.e. that Lao people have to get a visa just like us, or a 30 day VOA stamp. With a VOA stamp they have to leave after 30 days, just like us, are allowed only 3 x 30 days, just like us, or have to get a 60 day tourist visa, just like us.

All the talk of them not needing a visa and just having to check in with Immigration every 30 days is clearly a load of rubbish, which I note you as the the originator/instigator of, have kept your head down about, despite being asked to clarify several times.

If they don't have a passport, then they have to find a small boat in a remote location!

Thanks for clearing that up Arjay...not sure you need to jump up and down on other posters! The forum is a 'Forum' not fact, not gospel, just opinions, hear say, etc ...

If someone posts their experience or advice I am sure it is usually not deliberately misleading....


Finding a boat in the middle of Udon could be a problem....

Sorry, if my last response seemed a bit OTT, but the comment I was referring to was presented as fact, not an opinion.

I was irritated by the fact that I had previously diplomatically asked the poster several times to clarify his source, or to confirm it was hearsay/gossip or whatever, but he had just kept his head down.

Rightly or wrongly a lot of people take information posted on this Forum seriously, particularly regarding visas etc., and it's rather irresponsible to post comments like that as fact, if one is not sure. In this case it resulted in a lot of people being led up the (wrong) garden path, needlessly. He could easily have said that it was some gossip he had overheard and thus enabled us all to put the comment in to the right context. Whereas he had presented it as fact, and then conveniently disappeared.

Sorry Arjay

I have been away on business and holiday for the last 4 weeks so I was unable to reply to any requests. I found a little corner of the planet that didn't have computers so I couldn't get access to the forum.

I will give more information when I have caught up with my work.

Cheers

your laos gf can easily get in vientiane a year b visa paying 5000 baht but she still have to go to the bridge every month

Alby, I'm not sure where all these various ideas come from, but a "B" Visa is a "Business" visa, and therefore my understanding is that to apply for a "B" visa she would have to produce documentation from her proposed employer of where she was going to work. As she doesn't have a proposed employer that would seem an unlikely option, or route to take.

And if someone did have a "B" visa they wouldn't have to go to the bridge every month anyway. It would normally be every 90 days!

The Thai consulate in Vientiane is quite strict, and she has even been refused a Tourist visa, as has Lee, in the past, because she has had what they consider to be too many of them. So I can't see that being a likely way forward.

No ideas,but fact if you come to see me i can show it to you,no documents to show at all just 5000 baht or 6000 if you want it the same day.If you can tell me where we can meet i will explain it all.

Thanks Alby, I've sent you a PM about this.