Non-Imm O via Aranyaprathet Border

[Smokemachine]

Would like to seek advice from the specialists here.

I am holding non-imm O visa (marriage). I know the immigration does not allow Non-imm O visa to extend their 90days at the Aranyaprathet border. I went to Poipet once about a year ago to visit my friend (cambodian) and her house is only less than 30mins driving from the border. It was a 1 day trip. As i came back to Thailand on same day, the officer may have impression that I am doing border run for my non-imm O visa. While passing through Thai immigration. I was been invited for a talk and signed a document for acknowledgement. This time, my friend has got her house renovated done. Invited us for house opening. I will be going to poipet again for a day trip (as there's nothing else interesting for me to stay overnight). Mine is a genuine case. Will I have problem again at the immigration border? My passport previous 90 days stamps gotten through airports.

Any good advice to ensure a smooth trip?

 

 

 

[BritTim]

It is hard to say for sure what will happen at Poipet. If you have not been there for a year, you may have a similar experience to last time, especially if you feign no knowledge of any letter last time. However, you should be prepared for a possible rejection of a border hop with no stay in Cambodia.

[Smokemachine]

22 minutes ago, BritTim said:

It is hard to say for sure what will happen at Poipet. If you have not been there for a year, you may have a similar experience to last time, especially if you feign no knowledge of any letter last time. However, you should be prepared for a possible rejection of a border hop with no stay in Cambodia.

 

If I stay overnight, will it be ok? I don't wish to stuck at the immigration while my group of friends waiting for me. 

[BritTim]

12 hours ago, Smokemachine said:

12 hours ago, BritTim said:

It is hard to say for sure what will happen at Poipet. If you have not been there for a year, you may have a similar experience to last time, especially if you feign no knowledge of any letter last time. However, you should be prepared for a possible rejection of a border hop with no stay in Cambodia.

 

If I stay overnight, will it be ok? I don't wish to stuck at the immigration while my group of friends waiting for me. 

I wish I could say an overnight stay would guarantee all will be OK. If you tell Thai immigration you are going on a quick overnight trip to Battambang, wanting to see it while in the area, they might still see this as a border hop (a crime according to the powers that be in Aran).

[Smokemachine]

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

I wish I could say an overnight stay would guarantee all will be OK. If you tell Thai immigration you are going on a quick overnight trip to Battambang, wanting to see it while in the area, they might still see this as a border hop (a crime according to the powers that be in Aran).

 

I am thinking maybe I should just miss my friend's house opening. I don't like reasoning with the officer, may ends up in a nasty quarrel. 

Even the previous trip i visited my friend in Poipet. The Cambodian immigration charge me and few Thai friends (i think 50 or 100baht) while going back from Cambodia to Thailand. Other farang tourists need not pay this fee. The officer explained that we did not stay overnight hence need to pay the fee which we never heard before such regulation. Probably they thought we are going to Casino. I don't know. My Cambodian friend did the talking with the immigration guy. Sometimes we need a loud lady 555, our "fine" are voided then.

Since then, I told myself never coming here again unless really needed. 

 

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, Smokemachine said:

The officer explained that we did not stay overnight hence need to pay the fee

Believe it or not, there is a real Cambodian law that you must stay overnight when entering by land (except if you have a multiple entry business visa). A small fee to Cambodian immigration for them to waive enforcement is common.

[BuckBee]

Poipet is a troublesome border, anything could happen.

I think your idea of avoiding it might be best move, good chance if well prepared and keep polite you will get through without too much drama but do you want take risk for minimal reason .

I've seen some real hassles at that border and few unprepared falang left in no mans land or struggling with awkward questions/calls to wife/GF if persist and get to see supervisor .

[RayD]

It could be argued that Arun is merely enforcing Cambodia's overnight rule. Has any one actually  been hassled coming back the next day? I don't remember seeing anyone here reporting such a problem but I could have missed it.

[visarunner]

if your friend home is 30 minutes from Poi Pet so why not use another border to do the trip, O'Smarch or Ban Laem might be possible.

 

[BritTim]

24 minutes ago, RayD said:

Has any one actually  been hassled coming back the next day?

I can remember posts from a couple of years ago where people had trouble after 1-2 days in Cambodia. I do not remember all the details.

[maprao]

I am confused are you telling us that if you hold a non immigrant O visa (Multiple) you can't cross from Thailand into Cambodia and back the same day to get a further 90 day stamp? (When re-entering Thailand).

 

I ask because I live near this border and it has never been an issue for me in the past using the multiple non immigrant Type O Visa.

[BritTim]

45 minutes ago, maprao said:

I am confused are you telling us that if you hold a non immigrant O visa (Multiple) you can't cross from Thailand into Cambodia and back the same day to get a further 90 day stamp? (When re-entering Thailand).

 

I ask because I live near this border and it has never been an issue for me in the past using the multiple non immigrant Type O Visa.

If you are saying you have had no problem with frequent border hops at the Aran/Poipet border, using a multiple entry Non O visa, your report is of interest, and it would be good to know the period over which you have been doing this, and whether these were same day in/out trips, or whether you stayed a while in Cambodia..

 

It is known that using other border crossings with Cambodia is no problem, but there have been regular reports over the last couple of years of people having trouble doing this at the Aran/Poipet crossing.

[phuketrichard]

did 2 trips last year and entered at Poi Pet ,  stayed 3 nights and 1 night.( visiting gf's family)  no problem coming back in on my 1 year non O Retirement extension.Have heard that if u only exit thailand and want come right back CAMBODIAN immigration ( NOT THAILAND) will ask for 300 baht.

ONLY flying into SR are u required to stay 1 night)

also ONLY paid the normal $30 for Cambodian visa

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

did 2 trips last year and entered at Poi Pet ,  stayed 3 nights and 1 night.( visiting gf's family)  no problem coming back in on my 1 year non O Retirement extension.Have heard that if u only exit thailand and want come right back CAMBODIAN immigration ( NOT THAILAND) will ask for 300 baht.

ONLY flying into SR are u required to stay 1 night)

also ONLY paid the normal $30 for Cambodian visa

If on an extension based on retirement, and re-entry permit, this is actually a different situation. However, it is good to know Thai immigration create no obstacles under that scenario.

[overherebc]

5 minutes ago, BritTim said:

If on an extension based on retirement, and re-entry permit, this is actually a different situation. However, it is good to know Thai immigration create no obstacles under that scenario.

Multi O most of the cambo borders try to push you into a 24 min' stay. They eventually let you come back with a small? consideration paid.

Note. I said 'most' before people say it doesn't happen at xxx etc.

[Smokemachine]

On 3/12/2018 at 2:01 PM, BritTim said:

Believe it or not, there is a real Cambodian law that you must stay overnight when entering by land (except if you have a multiple entry business visa). A small fee to Cambodian immigration for them to waive enforcement is common.

Probably there is a law existing. If so, I believe the officer will insisted us to pay the fine even my friend rebuked them back. On that day, it is a very busy day. The whole room is packed. Many of the tourists are backpack style wearing sabai sabai. I believe many of them are border hopper. But I see no one paying the "fine". Maybe we are the only group who travel in/out on the same day. LOL~ 

[Smokemachine]

20 hours ago, visarunner said:

if your friend home is 30 minutes from Poi Pet so why not use another border to do the trip, O'Smarch or Ban Laem might be possible.

 

Thanks for your suggestion. I will check the location. Why we choose the Aran border, there is a big market. My wife and friends want to shop around there. We are going from Bangkok toward Aranyaprathet. Not sure along the way, where are they visiting as well. Anyway, I will give a miss. I will just wait for them for few hours. And we will meet in Thailand then. 

[BritTim]

56 minutes ago, Smokemachine said:

Probably there is a law existing. If so, I believe the officer will insisted us to pay the fine even my friend rebuked them back. On that day, it is a very busy day. The whole room is packed. Many of the tourists are backpack style wearing sabai sabai. I believe many of them are border hopper. But I see no one paying the "fine". Maybe we are the only group who travel in/out on the same day. LOL~ 

There are a number of possible explanations. In many cases, they are offered a package deal, including an overpriced visa with the same day return fee included. Many will have come from Siem Reap, especially if they are backpacker types. Finally, some no doubt are using visa run vans where the appropriate bribes are arranged for them.