Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are talking about Myanmar Immigration. Now every once in a while I will do a video just kind of lightly, especially when I come across it in any of the press, lightly touching on regional Immigration especially countries that border Thailand because a lot of people come out to Thailand, kind of in a I hesitate to say backpacker but just regional tourists. Like Thailand might be their base of Tourism but a lot of people like to go see other places: Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, a lot of people, Philippines even, Indonesia close by, again bit of a longer track to get over to either of those places but a lot of folks like to see the region so I like to make videos that kind of provide at least some insight into some of the stuff that's going on, at least around Thailand.

I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Myanmar Visa Run December 2022: Tips and Hints. Quoting directly: "Most foreigners (unless they hold labour permits) must fly to the former capital Yangon, a bustling metropolis of around 7 million people. 30-day visas must be obtained in advance online but require your vaccination record, accommodation, booking and travel insurance (no upper age limit) from the state medical authority. You will also require a COVID-free test, stamped by a Thai doctor not more than 48 hours before your flight. Your documentation will be exhaustively checked by Myanmar Air International, the health authority on landing and finally by Yangon Immigration Police. On returning to Thailand, you will get 45-day Visa exempt or if applicable, you can use a multiple entry Visa or re-entry permit. Applying for a Visa at the Thai Embassy in Yangon is not said to be a fulfilling experience." That is very sort of diplomatically put. 

Yeah, long story short, probably better places to pick in the region than Myanmar right now to deal with a Visa Run or a Border Run and Border Runs probably are not going to be very advisable under current circumstances but a Visa Run which I differentiate between a Border Run, a Border Run to me is you literally run to a border, cross over and cross back in and get new status however that may be visa your Visa or your Visa exempt status. A Visa Run in my opinion and again it may be kind of a semantic point here, a Visa Run is when you leave Thailand, you go to a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad, get another Visa proper and use that visa to return to Thailand. Again that is something of a semantic point but I think it's worth noting because they are kind of different protocols. But clearly, yeah Myanmar you have got a lot of documentation still associated with COVID to go over there; you have got a lot of documentation associated with getting in. I have been to Myanmar a couple of times, it is a different place, They have a sort of a different paradigm when it comes to law enforcement over there so yeah it's not going to be real similar to Thailand, in fact it will probably be quite a bit more of a complicated experience going over to Yangon compared to coming here to Bangkok. That is currently the situation as it apparently sits on the ground. We will certainly keep you updated on this channel as the situation evolves.