Master Author LHG,
Before you go...questions .
1. Tell us more about the bribe bags this time you went; did you have bribe them $10-20 again? why?
2. Those little ladies, they are the mother of the 2nd wife of Hmong American aren't they?
thank.s
Hello My Beautiful Hmong Girl...
Why does your beautiful face haunt my dreams every night? I can't get you out of my head. So of course, for you, anything, I would be more than happy to answer your questions.
1. Tell us more about the bribe bags this time you went; did you have bribe them $10-20 again? why?
After departing the plane, everyone must pass the Borders/Customs Gate at Wattay Airport, which has two lines. If you have a Pre-approved Visa, you go to Left line, if NOT, you go to Right line. I went onto the Right side where an Immigration Clerk was waiting. Everyone in this line must have a passport photo and will need to fill out a "Visa on Arrival Form". The Visa Form comes in 2 parts; on one side is the "Entry" and on the other side is the “Exit” questionnaire. For faster processing, don't wait until after you have already filled have your Visa Application to get in line. I suggest you stand inline while filling out the form. Filling out the form takes time and the line will become longer as you wait.
On the right line, the "First Immigration Clerk" you see will the most important person in Laos. He/She will either approve or deny your Visa claim. 99.9999 percent of the time you will be approved for a Visa. I have yet to see anyone denial, although I have heard stories of with certain individuals. Typically, individuals who have VANG last names and are of the Vietnam War era. For "First Timers" to Laos, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE get your VISA before you go!
After you’re approved for a Visa, you will have to visit a “Second Immigration Clerk". Here is where you will have to pay the 35.00 US Dollars processing fee. Exact change is NOT necessary as they will have US money in change for you.
After paying your processing fee for your Visa, you’re ushered onto a Third and final Immigration Clerk. At this third location, you meet up again with those people from the Left Line, pre-approved Visas. This last Immigration Clerk will ask you how long you will be staying and where you’re staying. He takes your picture, stamps your Passport for entry and takes the “Entry” part of your Visa Application. The "Exit" part of your Visa Application, you will keep with your Visa and needs to be in a secure place.
After the last Immigration Clerk clears you, you are free walk downstairs and claim your luggage. Because of all the paperwork, your bags would have already been out and a Laos porter would already have gathered them for you. Personally, I think the Immigration Clerks and the Porters are in a scam to get your money. The Immigration Clerks hold you for as long as they can, while the Porters assess your luggage to see if how much money they can extort from you... but again, just my person opinion. The Laos porters will demand 1 US Dollars each of your luggage, handling fee help you outside. 99% of the time, the Porters will take you to the Customs/XRAY room, where a Laos Officer is waiting for you. Regardless of what you have, if you don't want to get hassled and want to get out quickly, you best hand this guy a 20.00 Dollar. Just tell him in English, "I have nothing to declare" and hand him the money. (Conveniently) He's the only one in that room... so he just pockets the money and turns a blind eye to whatever the XRAY machine finds in your suitcases. For all he knows, I could have smuggled into Laos a nuclear bomb and he would not care, he waves me thru... (Luckily I did not a bomb, but I could have)
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2. Those little ladies, they are the mother of the 2nd wife of Hmong American aren't they?
The 4 little old ladies DID NOT have son-in-laws in the US, I will explain this in a bit, they are just visiting their brothers, sisters, or in one case, her mother.
For some strange reason, A LOT of Visas have been approved to enter the USA, more than previous years. Either the rules have changed or the person doing interviewing at the US Embassy is being really generous. I heard some rumors, that officials are taking bribes, some as high as 8,000 US Dollars, that guarantees passage. In every town I was in, people are saying the same thing. Personally, I don’t know what to make of it. If anyone else has heard anything else, please let me know.
Hope this helps… sorry to be so winded in my answer, but now I hope everyone has a better idea of the Visa Process and “Palm” painting that goes on at the airport.
LHG
Topic: Going to Laos... For Dummies (Like Me) (Read 227026 times)