Scoobydoo1

Hi, Could anyone inform me as to whether the minivan still operates from Robinson Chanthaburi to the Ban Pakard border checkpoint? I used to use this one frequently several years ago but the last couple of times I arrived at Chanthaburi Bus Station they diverted me to the counter which goes to the Ban Laem crossing. I found Ban Pakard much quieter than Ban Laem but seeing as it has been several years since I last went, is it still a smooth crossing or does Thai Immigration now insist that you spend a night over the border in Cambodia? I can turn around and come back the same day with my Non-O Multiple entry visa at Ban Laem but I know that this isn't necessarily the case at all border checkpoints. Thanks in advance.

I was dreaming of a smooth transition but was not convinced that this would be the case, hence the reason I posted. On that note, Chanthaburi bus station has a shuttle service going to Ban Laem but seemingly not Ban Pakard. The Thai border at Ban Laem is always smooth entering and exiting but the Cambodian side isn't the easiest to deal with. Is there a route to Ban Pakard from either Bangkok or Chanthaburi that you are aware of? Thank you.

Hi, Although many years ago I frequently used the above checkpoint to do my border hops, I have heard of late that it's not a recommended one. Is this true? I have a Non-O multiple entry visa based on marriage, so literally have to cross over and come straight back. I heard a rumour though that they are making people spend a night in Poipet, can anyone clarify this? For the past three border hops, I have gone to Ban Laem which takes a long time to get to from Bangkok. I know Aranyaprathet is much closer but just want the easiest and smoothest trip. Thanks in advance.

Cheers, appreciate this.

Ah ok, thanks for the heads up.

Hi all... I'm on a Non-O Multiple Entry Visa, I leave every three months, turn around and come straight back. I usually head to Cambodia but as you know, their visa takes up a full page of the passport plus costs 1500 baht. So I was planning on heading to the Kanchanaburi border this time around, to Myanmar. I understand that I have to make my way to Kanchanaburi and then catch another bus to another town/border checkpoint from there? Is it easy to get a connecting bus there from Kanchanaburi Station or will it require a taxi journey? And is there a fee to pay on the border? Any advice would help, thanks in advance!

Thanks for the reply. I have done the Thai/Cambodian border crossing tons of times over the years, both with tour groups and by myself and have never once been told I need to stay overnight.

So I just got back from the Pong Nam Ron/Kamrieng border. Haven't been there since 2020 and there used to be loads of farangs doing the hop, but this time around I was the only one there. It looked like mainly Cambodians doing the crossing. Indeed, when it was my turn to get my passport stamped, the Thai immigration officer seemed surprised to see a non-Asian. After taking my passport and looking through it, instead of scanning and stamping it, he called someone over to him from outside, a heavily tattooed man with no uniform, who I think was Cambodian. After saying something to him, he then handed the guy my passport, who in turn asked me if I wanted to use him to get my Cambodian visa, which would cost 2000 baht. I replied that I could go and do it myself, to which he replied that if I used him, I could come back to Thailand the same day, whereas if I did it by myself I would have to spend a night over the border until I was allowed to return the next morning. I found this odd, as I had never heard of this before but I told the guy I'd take the risk. My passport was then handed back to the immigration officer, who scanned and stamped me out of the country. The Cambodian visa actually cost me 1500 baht ($43) but on the visa it read that I had paid $30 for it, so it actually should have been around 1000 baht. After stamping in and out of Cambodia, I then got back into Thailand with no issues whatsoever. Moral of the story is, they try to rip you off on both sides of the border so I would advise changing money into dollars and taking 30USD with you if ever you take this visa run. Happy travels.

I have zero desire to be a farmer. Like if I have a tomato plant on my balcony, it's just for personal use.

I'm 47 so have to wait another 3 years for the retirement visa.

I never needed it previously so must be a new rule. The documents that they don't need they always give you back but they accepted it so yes, it's part of the new requirements. Very easy to get though. Usually my missus goes to the Ampur office in Bangkok to get it but she was working so I had to go myself this time around. Had to queue for an hour there but at least it was airconditioned.

Yes, Monday, but I won't do that again. I'm hazarding a guess that Friday might be a better day as nobody wants to spend the weekend there but I could of course be wrong about this.

As I have learned overnight. We can buy the stuff and own businesses selling the stuff, but we're not allowed to grow the stuff. How weird is that!

I needed a copy of my photo page of my passport also.

Hello, So I just got back to Bangkok from Savannakhet, having a brand new Non-O visa in my passport. Here's what happened... Flew to Nakhon Panhom Airport from Don Meaung. Nok Air and Air Asia are the only airlines that go from Bangkok amd both leave from Don Meaung. Once at Nakhon Phanom I took a minivan right to the border checkpoint which cost 400 baht and is approximately 100km away. Before going through Immigration, I saw a counter selling bus tickets over the border for 50 baht each. This was 6pm and the dude selling the bus tickets told me that there won't be another one for another hour (7pm) so I paid him and then got my passport stamped. A full HOUR AND A HALF later, still no bus. A minivan came over from the Lao side and offered to take me over for 200 baht which I accepted. Once on the Lao side, I had my Lao visa within 10 mins as there were no queues, being evening time. Then a tuk tuk to a hotel, which was the Avalon 2 Hotel. Nice airconditioned room, 450 baht per night. I paid for 2 nights. The next morning the same tuk tuk driver picked me up (as arranged) at 8am and drove me to the consulate where a queue was already forming. The documents I needed for a multiple entry Non-O was my marriage certificate (I took the original but gave them a colour copy.) Also the Ko Ro 2 (hope that's how you spell it in English, or thereabouts) version of the marriage certificate which I got from the Ampur Office prior to travelling, which cost 10 baht per copy. I also had to supply a copy of my wife's Thai ID card and her Tabianban (house book). Also, a xerox copy of my Lao visa and stamp in my passport. The fee for a one year, multiple entry is 5000 baht. They did not ask for evidence of funds. Massive queue and I managed to pay my tuk tuk driver 500 baht who was able to help me to jump right to the front of it. Why not? The queue was VERY long and it was baking hot. Handed my application in (Oh, had to fill in the application form as well and provide 2 photos). There are a couple of places opposite the consulate where they will copy your documents and also take your photo and develop it in case you forgot the pics (which I did). I was at the window in the consulate for no more than 60 seconds before my application and passport were accepted and then the rest of the day was free for me to look around the city, eat and drink a few lovely Beerlaos, before bed and then picked up the passport the following afternoon at 2pm. Coming back was stress-free. The Lao Immigration Officer asked me for 100 baht to stamp my passport which I never experienced the previous times. I then bought a bus ticket over the Friendship Bridge II to Mukdahan Immigration, where I queued for about 45 minutes to get my passport stamped. Afterwards I caught a taxi to Mukdahan Bus Station and from there a minivan for 400 to Nakhon Phanom Airport where I boarded my flight back to Bangkok. Nice trip all-in-all.