New regulations behind long queues as Sa Kaew border checkpoint bordering Cambodia

[webfact]

New regulations behind long queues as Sa Kaew border checkpoint bordering Cambodia

By THE NATION

 

 

Long queues at the Thai-Cambodian border checkpoint in Sa Kaew province since August 9 has given rise to angry comments on social-media, with angry travellers putting the delays down to bribe-taking, which has prompted local authorities to look into the problem and seek urgent solutions. 

 

The problem began when Thai workers wanting to return home from the Cambodian town of Poi Pet were forced to wait for hours for their visa stamp, while travellers wanting to cross into Poi Pet were also left stranded for hours. 

 

Aranyaprathet district chief Sawanit Suriyakul na Ayutthaya said Cambodian immigration officials denied taking bribes and put the delays down to there being a larger number of travellers during the longer weekend break. 

 

He also said that the delay had been caused by a stricter screening on the Cambodian side because many Thai tourists failed to obtain a special pass for travelling further inside the country.

 

Cambodian immigration has since opened four permanent counters as well as a new counter for Thais working in Poi Pet. Thai workers have been permitted to have their travel documents stamped seven days ahead, Sawanit said. 

 

Also, he said, the duration of the border pass has been extended to seven days and entry visas to 14 days. 

 

Sawanit said Cambodia has introduced new visa requirements to prevent illegal entry and illegal stay by Thai passport holders.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30374762

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-08-15

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[Matzzon]

Still refusing to see the real problem, and only passing the blame.

[Kerryd]

Note that this is pretty much entirely regarding Thai travellers (the part about the angry travellers and social media posts).

 

However, having crossed through that place myself a couple years ago - long lines and wait times have been pretty much the standard for years now. Crossing into Cambodia, I was through and on the street in 15 minutes but the g/f took an hour (probably closer to 90 minutes).

 

On the way back into Thailand though it was the opposite. She was through and waiting in 15-20 minutes while I spent nearly 2 hours in the line that never ends. All the Immigration counters were operating but it was sooooo slow. The best part was when some Russians tried to sneak up the side and then cut into the queue just before the counters. They got caught and sent to the back (I was surprised that the Immigration guy did that but was happy that he did).

That Aranyprathet/Poi Pet crossing is terrible though. In/out of one building on the Thai side of the border, wander down the street on the Cambodian side to another building (if you know what to look for) to get your visa then wander down the street another 100 meters to the actual Immigration checkpoint.

On the way back, go through the Cambodian Immigration on one side of the road, then cross to the other side and go down the street to get to the Thai Immigration building, up the stairs (if you are a foreigner) and into the never ending queue. Once through that, down the stairs and cross the road again (depending on where you parked or are getting picked up I suppose).

If I go back again, I think I will go though Ban Laem instead. Smaller but more efficient. At least it was years ago. Who knows these days ? (I haven't had to do a border run in years but back in 05/06 Ban Laem was great. If you went after all the visa run company buses were gone you could be out, back and on you way home in 20 minutes.)

 

[tracker1]

putting the delays down to bribe-taking, what side of the border was that on as Cambodian immigration officials denied taking bribes so it looks like their blaming the Thais Deny Deny Deny don't forget ! Time to send in the Subs ! pesky Cambodians so trustworthy Hmmmm

[Sydebolle]

Just wait until they introduce TM30 for Thai citizens as well ............. followed by 90 days notification - when the total melt-down will happen. 

Happy days are ahead of us .......... 

[gamesgplayemail]

Only idiots cross there anyway, so who cares ?!

 

 

[Burma Bill]

On 8/15/2019 at 9:02 AM, Kerryd said:

Note that this is pretty much entirely regarding Thai travellers (the part about the angry travellers and social media posts).

 

However, having crossed through that place myself a couple years ago - long lines and wait times have been pretty much the standard for years now. Crossing into Cambodia, I was through and on the street in 15 minutes but the g/f took an hour (probably closer to 90 minutes).

 

On the way back into Thailand though it was the opposite. She was through and waiting in 15-20 minutes while I spent nearly 2 hours in the line that never ends. All the Immigration counters were operating but it was sooooo slow. The best part was when some Russians tried to sneak up the side and then cut into the queue just before the counters. They got caught and sent to the back (I was surprised that the Immigration guy did that but was happy that he did).

That Aranyprathet/Poi Pet crossing is terrible though. In/out of one building on the Thai side of the border, wander down the street on the Cambodian side to another building (if you know what to look for) to get your visa then wander down the street another 100 meters to the actual Immigration checkpoint.

On the way back, go through the Cambodian Immigration on one side of the road, then cross to the other side and go down the street to get to the Thai Immigration building, up the stairs (if you are a foreigner) and into the never ending queue. Once through that, down the stairs and cross the road again (depending on where you parked or are getting picked up I suppose).

If I go back again, I think I will go though Ban Laem instead. Smaller but more efficient. At least it was years ago. Who knows these days ? (I haven't had to do a border run in years but back in 05/06 Ban Laem was great. If you went after all the visa run company buses were gone you could be out, back and on you way home in 20 minutes.)

 

Similar experience for me on a recent return from Battambang. 15 minutes to clear Cambodian Immigration, then 4 HOURS standing in a long snake like queue to clear Thai Immigration.

[drbeach]

There are Thais working in Poipet? Well maybe a few at the casinos, but whenever I cross this border, all I see are Cambodians and third country foreigners. Where are all the Thais? Thai tourists are also in the minority here. Most Thai tourists heading to Siem Reap prefer to fly, despite the short distance from Bangkok to Siem Reap.

[drbeach]

22 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

Similar experience for me on a recent return from Battambang. 15 minutes to clear Cambodian Immigration, then 4 HOURS standing in a long snake like queue to clear Thai Immigration.

All of my recent entries into Thailand at Aranyaprathet have been by car. In 2015 my car was still in my wife's name, who was with me so I was required to go upstairs but since then, my car being in my name and travelling alone, I would be processed through the car line. Even in 2015 the queue wasn't very long; go back a couple of years before that, the queues were very long...I thought that with border runners no longer welcome and the 2 visa free entries per year, the number of foreigners entering Thailand there has reduced to a trickle (Cambodians excepted of course)? Even on the Cambodian side, the queues aren't as long as they've been in the past. Leave Cambodia late in the afternoon or evening you'll probably be the only one there...

[TSF]

On 8/18/2019 at 1:08 PM, Burma Bill said:

Similar experience for me on a recent return from Battambang. 15 minutes to clear Cambodian Immigration, then 4 HOURS standing in a long snake like queue to clear Thai Immigration.

Same here, one time only about 3 years ago, was hellish, like you say at least 4 hours at Thai Imm, my Thai wife was through in about 2 minutes. I'll never do that again, will totally avoid that border crossing.