Burma Visa

James,

I’ve heard in the past that the consulate in Kunming was a good place to get one quietly. Didn’t do it myself, but heard it was one of the easier, less conspicuous places.

Stuart

Hi, James-san

As some of my friends normally get Visa to Burma through the travel agency but now the Japanese own travel agency A & R TRAVEL in Khaosan Rd says, “Visa service to Burma, Currently Not Available”.
They normally charge 1,550THB (3 days service) or 1,250THB(5 days service) for 28days Visa.
You could probably try it with the travel agency in Tokyo.

For your information.

A & R TRAVEL
info@kaosan.info

Best,

youme.

Dear Stuart and Youme-san,

I hope you are both doing well.

Thanks for the information. I may give that travel
agency a call in Tokyo. It is approaching North
Korea levels of documentation.

Another option may be to fly to Seoul.

I will keep you posted. Remember that the
journalist killed in the capital was Japanese.
So, they have tightened things up considerably.

Best,

James.

I’m sure glad I did most of what I wanted to photograph in Burma before last year. I can imagine the hassles getting a visa now. I doubt it makes much difference where you apply, unless they now have some rule that you must be in your country of residence. If so, you’re probably screwed in Japan unless you have some very credible back-up as your sponsor. The old English teacher route won’t work without a sponsor they can contact. I was once up-front about being a photog and was called in for an interview. That was in London in the 90s when things were relatively calm and fortunately I had a magazine with me that had published some of my pictures – an airline mag so mostly just pretty pictures which I could honestly say were designed to encourage tourists to visit the country. I got the visa. But that was then. I don’t know if Vientiane would be any easier than BKK. A lot of journos who got refused in Bangkok around the time of the demos last year came up here and got refused. Good luck.

I was refused a few months ago and have been to the country many, many times. My Burmese guide seems to think it’s not a problem to get one anymore though.

Hi Scott and Nigel,

Korean friends walked into the embassy in Seoul
yesterday in the morning and walked out with a visa
in the afternoon. Unfortunately, the regulations are
tight for foreigners there.

Bangkok may be the best bet. If I fail there, I will
fly to Phnom Penh. It is cheap.

Thanks for the info.

Cheers,

James.

James

I was issued with a visa in London on the same day as I applied.
Obviously thats no use to you but I have heard getting a visa in Bangkok is very difficult. I know someone who tried a few days ago and the agent said it would take a week but then never called back.

Good luck with it anyway.

I will be in Myanmar around the 18th April and will update everyone on the current situation. I have been told that there are no problems going in but lets see.

James-san.
I got reply from my Burmese friend, he said “why don’t u go 2 the embassy and try urself. there r people who got tourist visa recently.”
Maybe possible at the embassy in Bangkok.

By the way, Adrees Latif of Reuters got 2008 the pulitzer prize for his photograph of a Japanese videographer, sprawled on the pavement, fatally wounded during a street demonstration.
http://www.pulitzer.org/year/2008/breaking-news-photography/

Best,

youme.

Another update from same friend.

“i haven’t heard anything like that – documents required – in bkk. my foreigner friends managed to get tourist visas without any problem. some of them are journalists.”

Best,

youme.

Hi James, I got one here in Bangkok in December, no problems. I did it through an agent this time cause I thought I’d stand a better chance. I got one in Cambodia once and that was even easier than in Bangkok, 20 USD, 24 hours wait.
I’m thinking of going to Burma next week, so I’ll enquire about the current situation later in the day. Will keep u posted.

Best,

T o m

Hi James,
Although I have not tried lately, I got my Burmese visa in Bangkok through a travel agency. In the touristy areas (Kaoh Sahn Road, etc), there are plenty of little travel agencies you can try. You may have to hang out in Bangkok for a few days for it to process.
Also, I would avoid putting “photographer” on your visa. Mine said “manager”. Nice and vague. Pick something boring and easy to explain.
Cheers,
Diana

Dear Diana and Thomas,

I think you have the best advice.

Cheers,

James.

James

The current information I have from several people I have met within the last week or so is that it is currently taking between 5-7 days to obtain a visa in Bangkok.
They all used an agent around Khao San Rd.

I hope that helps.

HI James, just got my visa yesterday. No problems, just put down a sensible job and make sure there are no media stamps in your passport, as that is a no-go here in Bangkok. They don’t seem to like consultants and ngo staff that much either these days, so I’d go for something simple. Also, you might be interested in knowing that the previous 3-month window to enter the country since the issue date of your visa has been now cut down to 1 month, the reason being quite obvious.
It normally takes two working days to get the visa, but an extra 200 baht will get you one in a day or so.

Good luck and maybe see you there,

T o m

Dear James

I dont know of late. But get yourself a tourist Visa, and carry as little equipment as possible. At the Airport, they will ask you questions even with minimal equipment, and you should off as a tourist.

After all Burmease need Tourists and a major revenue comes from there. Of course you will not be able to photograph military with this visa.

albest

Amit

Hi All,

I am in. I just wanted to say thanks for
the info. I will make this brief, and vague,
as I am in country on a proxy server. Thomas’,
Diana’s and a person who wrote a private message
gave the most sound advice. Mine is that you will
need some letter from an “employer”. I think you know what
I mean. You will need a second ID other than your passport. It is doable. I got mine through an agency
recommended by Youme. I hope to see you soon in BKK
Youme. I hope you feel better.

Cheers,

James.

I sent him email but this better be posted.
Hope he’s ok. Right now no phone or internet there.

News on Cyclone hit Burma
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5greyFH3qkj9mc9oagSoulgjN4KHgD90FF9M80
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i2_E4ZBLf_ktLC3pGluLKaQ_4uXQ

Best,

youme.

I just got the visa.. heading tonight…. still tensed about what happen in Rangoon Airport….

Andrew, Please take care.

I just got an email from a Japanese photojournalist who is currently in Yunnan province in China. He got a visa without any hustle at all and will fly on coming Sunday. No flight until Sunday there.

Best,

youme.

I’m in and didn’t face ANY problem in the embassy or in the airport.

The situation is different now. You are going into a cyclone affected country looking for Aid.

Otherwise it is indeed hard to operate in Burma on a journalist Visa.

Take care of yourselves friends.

Andrew, good to see you got in, take care while you’re there. So I take it there was no hassle getting in with photographic equipment? What about carrying a laptop and satphone? Did you apply for a tourist visa or did you mention you’re a journalist? I’m just wondering whether things have changed now that the media is interested in covering the cyclone disaster rather than the politics of the place. A client’s asked me if I can get in and I need to do my homework fast. Cheers

I am also wondering about the ease of obtaining a visa in Bangkok. I will be there on Tuesday to begin the process.

I heard that Andrew Harding of the BBC got turned back at Rangoon airport eventhough he presumably had somehow managed to get a visa. Guess the military watch the BBC quite a bit.

i applied earlier this week in Singapore and was rejected, officially they said due to new requirements that one must submit verification of legal status in Singapore, and employment status. Coincidentally I was “rejected” only after they perused my passport and saw two visas from last year both coinciding with the dates in Sept when I went there to “observe” the ‘situation’. I have volunteered with the Red Cross here in SIN and may go once an assessment is made as to need for personnel, meanwhile I will head to BKK on Monday and try to apply there. I might even remove the visas in question so as to not raise the same concerns that I encountered here, or go through an agent.

Any specific recommendations?

I think the Bangkok consulate is the most suspicious, especially applying alone. Seems like using a travel agent would give you some chance to slip through the pile of passports. Good luck.

The Burmese embassy is now closed in BKK until Tuesday due to a public holiday, according to the BBC.

Hi, Jason. They closed for public holiday then (04/11/2008-04/18/-2008), It’s May now so they open.

Best,

youme.

Ours came through today from BKK. Lee and I head out tomorrow.