bjhabal

They do not ask for ticket at Aranyaprathet border, I have crossed this border hundreds of times, and the last one was yesterday. However if they would, then they will warn you before leaving the country, and usually a train ticket is sufficient.

Bishop

Well I am sorry, and I have said that I could be wrong, but this was my understanding to the both US and Thailand laws, which I am not really familiar with them.

However as I also said that I had some problems with some other countries, though both countries which I am holding their citizenship not only allow, but also encourage multiple citizenship, maybe that is why I posted my opinion.

Thank you all for the correction

Bishop

I did not want to add any comment on the subject, but after few days has past without any other reply, I thought that I may have to say this:

When you post a question and someone answers you, he or she will give you the best of what they know with goodwill, but not necessary, having the same situation or experience; however no one of them also will take the responsibility for your action, whether you have decided to follow their advice or not, simply not only because they do not want to, but also because they cannot to as well.

When you got the second citizenship, you have been informed that you cannot hold two nationalities at the same time; as both US and Thailand prohibited dual citizenship.

I have a dual citizenship and I admit facing some problems with immigration officers of several countries including Singapore, not because I entered with one passport and exit with another, but just because I declared that I have entered the country with a different passport before.

Now knowing that it is unlawful, it does not means that no body else is having it or doing it, I personally know tens of them and some have already did it once or twice, but the question is: if an officer decides to follow the rules strictly or he was in a bad mood at that particular time, what is the damage will be and to what extend?

According to the law you shall at least loose one of the citizenship you are holding. Is that worth it?

The bottom line, it is up to you to decide your next step, but do not depend completely on any forum, in taking your decision, especially when you know exactly what situation you are in.

Just an advice and I always say, I might be wrong too.

Good luck

Bishop

This information is not new and was posted by George, two days ago, but thanks anyway

Bishop

You will be asked where did you come from and how come you do not have an exit stamp from the port of departure?

Yes I guess you will have a problem, but to what extend, that is what I do not know.

Bishop

Thank you George, you are always there on time of need, your information precise, up to date and valuable; a role model of admin.

Bishop

Basically they will cancel the old visa, but my question here, which I did not try before, is what about if someone has an exit & re-entry visa, would they cancel it too if he applies to a new visa?

Bishop

Has this been the most hottest debated topic ever on Thai Visa.

It's the one that refuses to go away!

We had all this the last time they changed the rules.

It's all part of the excitement

true, but its getting more to internet cafe than a serious information source specially to the new people who are looking for a direct answers and do not want to spend a full day to read 30 pages of mostly useless remarks.

I do not mind keeping it forever, but just change the headline or add the word "discussion" to it, so new comers know it is not what they are looking for.

Just an opinion, I maybe wrong too.

Bishop

It's great that the 90 day rule is gone.I will book for travel in early january in that case.When I get to bangkok I will get a visa in Laos when its time to extend.

It's a dam_n shame about these new 15 only days rules though.But at least there is always that option available...(if dave the dude's experience was cause of some borderguard not being up to date yet.)

It is a shame, but wait a little bit, its looks like "Taksinof Communifiski" era is fading, let's see what the Democrat will do about it, though it is not their priority at this time.

Bishop

You should know, that in order to enter Thailand again or any other country, your passport has to be valid for at least 6 months; therefore you do not have much options here, you either renew your passport or go back to UK.

Bishop

If you have the time and are staying in Bangkok, it is better to get the 20$ visa at the embassy. I crossed the border end of July in AranyaP and didn't have to pay anything.

Nor did they ask if I returned the same day. It was so muddy from the rain, you couldn't walk. You would expect from all the tourist visa money, they would at least have some concrete road! I happily returned to Thailand after 30 minutes. If Thailand is getting to you, just cross the border, and you 'll be glad to be back!

If you are not a frequent border runner from one place, or you do not have many Cambodian visas in your passport, the immigration officer will assume that you are a genuine tourist or a backpacker and not mark your passport, for not paying the extra charges which only applicable on border runners who use Cambodia as a bridge without spending any money in Cambodia.

That's why if you spend one night even in the no man land (The casinos) you do not pay that extra charge.

Bishop

You can come anytime you want, the 90 days rules is abolished, however you will get only 15 days by land border crossing and 30 days by Air at the airport.

Bishop

It is not because your gf does not need a visa, it is a custom started some times before the 90D/6M rules was implemented, maybe because many Filipinos started using the border runs method than getting proper visas.

That's not the reason at all. It's because we go on a visa run with a visa run operation and that's what they expect us to pay. They grab all the passports at one time and process them according to their long established system. The 250 baht equals the "bonus" they get from the 1000 baht Cambodian visas.

If we went on our own, we would not pay the 250 baht.

If you go alone you still have to pay the 200 Baht, and this is not for the visa, rather for the immigration officer who stamp your passport in; and even if you lies and say you are not going back same day, the have a special code among them and they will demand you to pay 300 Baht when you exit out (same day).

I know many Filipinos, and I observed them doing that in both exit and entry windows of the immigration.

Bishop

Thanks for clearing that up. I've never heard of Filipinos going alone and what happened if they did.

Is there a rule saying you can't enter then immediately exit, or are they just making that one up for the "tea money"? I suppose if someone held their ground and refused to pay they'd have to let them go. I'm sure it's all bluff.

It is not bluff, every body has to pay, but the price is not the same as I mentioned before. If you insist of not paying and demanded to see the boss, and even managed to exit, can you be sure that you can enter Cambodia again from the same border? I certainly do not know, but I am not willing to try for saving a hundred or even 3 hundred Baht.

Bishop

Lite Beer is right, you will get only 15 days; for how much you need to change, actually you do not have to change any money if you come with US. dollars or Euro, however that also depend on your lifestyle and activities in Thailand.

Bishop

It is not because your gf does not need a visa, it is a custom started some times before the 90D/6M rules was implemented, maybe because many Filipinos started using the border runs method than getting proper visas.

That's not the reason at all. It's because we go on a visa run with a visa run operation and that's what they expect us to pay. They grab all the passports at one time and process them according to their long established system. The 250 baht equals the "bonus" they get from the 1000 baht Cambodian visas.

If we went on our own, we would not pay the 250 baht.

If you go alone you still have to pay the 200 Baht, and this is not for the visa, rather for the immigration officer who stamp your passport in; and even if you lies and say you are not going back same day, the have a special code among them and they will demand you to pay 300 Baht when you exit out (same day).

I know many Filipinos, and I observed them doing that in both exit and entry windows of the immigration.

Bishop

Well, it is almost the same distance to Savannakhet in Laos as Maestro said; however it is good to know that it can be done in Pnom Penh.

Bishop

Genuine tourist and bad tourist, I do not know who created this classification and what system they used to justify it;

Using what ever legal means to stay in Thailand, does not classify your status as a good or bad;

Many bad people – like those who just been caught abusing children- carry a proper valid visas, meanwhile many people using the visa exempt to stay longer or much longer time in Thailand are still of the good people, no matter if they were rich or poor.

When border run is a legal way of entering the country, then it has to be considered equal to any other method.

Nevertheless, this cracking down on foreigners who stay in Thailand is another unproved theory created by people with less understanding to the whole situation.

It does not need a genius to figure it out, any new officer even with low IQ can know who is a genuine tourist, and who is staying in Thailand permanently, just by checking few pages of their passports; When I went to Aranyaprathet last week, a new officer opened my passport and checked the last two pages, then turn his face to me and said: you know, when you come back after an hour or so, I can only give you 15 days, because the rules have been changed; well, is he a magician?

Every one of us has to write his full address, and if the immigration have any doubt or suspect that this guy is working illegally in the country, they can trace him to some extend, and do not tell me they do not have the man power, the police department is the largest organization in Thailand, and their budget is the highest in the country.

Furthermore, if they wanted to crackdown on the border runners, then why they abolished the 90D/6M rules? They could have just added to the 15 days stay rules.

The fact from how I can see it, is that they want more tourism activities in this time of trouble. They want you to stay, but go and get a visa if you can or do more border runs if you cannot, both ways will contribute to the ailing tourism industries, may be not much, but a little from many will certainly make it worth.

The real tourist do not care if they can enter with or without a visa, most of them, specially those coming from far away, who usually take this opportunity to visit other countries in the region, such as Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, need a visas and they do not complain about it, so why not to add Thailand as well.

The bottom line is, when I decided to come to this country, I did not receive an invitation letter from the government, nor they are begging me to stay; in fact this may be the only country, which gives me a multi ways to stay as long as I desire, therefore, if I like it and been able to handle their rules, then that is fine, if not, then all what I have to do is just pack and leave without insulting them for my own country does not gives the opportunity to the Thai people -even with 10% of what they have gave me-, to go and visit.

This is not against any other opinion, or fact, I can be right as much as I can be wrong. It is just a point of view, so I hope that no one is going to attack me like I am pro-government agent.

Thanks to all other opinions and have a nice day.

Bishop

You are completely right, the visa fee is $20 and it is published at the visa office in Poipet too, but the thing is that when the embassy,which should be the model, mess up with the visa fee, then no body will care more about adding a little extra money to have their visa done in less than five minutes, instead of arguing for another half an hour. The Cambodian embassy in Bangkok for example, will issue you the visa for $20 but will give your your passport back after 2 days, if you want it the same day you have to pay B.1200

and collect your passport after 4pm, which means you have to go and come back again. So B.1000 in Poipet for 5 minutes visa is not really too bad.

Bishop

I never heard about any rules regarding applying for extension in where you live, unless they changed it; I think it is just an individual attitude, and nothing more; just be patient.

Bishop

I do not think he is coming back, but I surely wish him a better life where ever he is. However do not forget that we still have a valuable chaps around here such as Maestor, Lite Beer, Astral, and many others contributing much of their times and efforts to help the people in need.

Thanks to all of you guys, and wish you, all the success.

Bishop

It is not because your gf does not need a visa, it is a custom started some times before the 90D/6M rules was implemented, maybe because many Filipinos started using the border runs method than getting proper visas.

My wife is Singaporean and does not need a visa too, but she never paid them more than one hundred baht, though sometimes they demand that she pay 2 hundred, but she always refuses and tell them that she was paying this amount for a long time and it is not a required fee, rather than just a tea-money, and they always accept the offer.

You can refuse to pay anytime and demand to see the boss, but I do not see it worthy for the trouble you may face it sooner or later, especially in this part of the world.

Bishop

There are two visa offices to Cambodia, one in Aranyaprathet, beside the last check point for entering Thailand, and one on the right side out side the check out from the Thai immigration. both will issue you the visa in less than 5 minutes for B1000; apart from that when you check in at the Cambodian immigration, just insert B100 in your passport (in case you are coming back same day otherwise do not), and every thing will be fine. If you forget to insert B100 in your passport before giving it to the officer, he will ask you for 2 or 3 hundred Baht, the same amount as the Filipinos and some other Asian countries have to pay any way.

For transportation, you either take a tour bus, normal bus from Monchit station, train (leave 5.55 morning and arrives about 12) or special casino tour bus, which start at 5.00 am till 3.00 pm daily from many places, such as Lumpini Park near chula Hospital, Victory Monument, Big C Latprao, etc.

Bishop

It seems to me that the new law is not to crackdown on foreigners, rather than to help the travel agencies in this bad time. There were speculations for the past two weeks that the travel agencies will loose as many as hundreds of thousand of jobs as a result of the political situation, and the recovery of the tourism industries will take much longer time than before, and as more border runners are using travel agencies now,and even if they did it by themselves, they still have to use transportation and this can help a little bit; The government efforts to help these agencies expanded even to give the Thai people an extra one day holiday on the 2nd of January, just to make the holiday longer and encourage people to do some travel activities.

Any how should only wait and see, remembering that the Thai rules and regulations are seasonally and can be changed suddenly at any time.

Bishop

Well come back Maestro, I thought you have left us too, glad to hear from you again.

Bishop

There is no new consulate across the border at Aranyaprathet, and the immigration office do not even issue visas on arrival, as they stated clearly due to the computer upgrading (this was for the past 2 years).

Something fishy here.

Bishop