Out/In at Aran with a re-entry permit. Any issue?

[Monomial]

I regularly fly to PNH from DMK to conduct business, flying and returning on the same day. It has never been a problem. I have a multiple re-entry permit on a 1 year extension of stay.  I am investigating the possibility of switching some of my business dealings to PoiPet, and this raises the question of whether I can do day trips the way I have through the airports. Someone told me that even with a re-entry permit that I am likely to encounter grief at the Aranyaprathet border crossing. I will admit this seems absolutely asinine to me.

 

If I can stay in Thailand to a specific date, why would they care if I temporarily step over the border? I gain no benefit from it in any way. So can anyone confirm if the in/out rules apply even if you have a reentry permit?  Or have I been told nonsense?

 

[Denim]

The Aran border has probably the worst reputation for doing in / out hops. Many people have problems here and you would be well advised to try elsewhere.

[Monomial]

It's not a question of choice. I need to go to Poipet and return the same day.  There is no other practical border crossing.

 

[codebunny]

I did it recently, and I had to talk the boss guy round... Another farang next to me was unable to, and being told via his not-entirely-fluent lady-friend that he had to go to Bangkok and fly into Cambo, but he didn't seem to speak Thai, and didn't seem to present himself well IMO.

I wouldn't be enthusiastic about doing it again, but if I had to, I think I'd have a fighting chance, because I could quote the boss man there who after a bit of chat suddenly got up and said that my type of visa allowed same-day entries... I don't know if that amounts to a policy change. I don't know of any regulation or immigration police notice about it anywhere.

I don't really understand why they are doing this, I don't see what problem it causes them, 90% of the people queuing upstairs through the posts seem to be Cambodians, many of them with loads of stamps in their passports. Down on the street, long queues of older Thais going to casinos in Poipet form; they get day passes. They're reportedly building a freight train bridge nearby to lighten the traffic through Rong Kluea, which might suggest that more non-commercial/industrial traffic going through, and more capacity for tourist traffic both ways.

I hear the crossings from Chanthaburi to Pailin are less aggro, but it's a bit of a drive to get there. What's the problem with flying in and out of Phnom Penh? Have you considered shifting your stuff to Siem Reap? Or are you trying to reduce travel costs by going on the 40THB 4-hour train from Phayathai to Poipet instead? 

Edited February 5, 2020 by codebunny

[BritTim]

If you have a multiple entry business visa for Cambodia, and a multiple re-entry permit for Thailand, I think even Aran/Poipet is going to hesitate to hassle you. That said, Thai immigration at that crossing is pretty lawless. Do you have the number of a good immigration lawyer you could use to pressure them if the worst happened?

[Monomial]

4 hours ago, codebunny said:

I hear the crossings from Chanthaburi to Pailin are less aggro, but it's a bit of a drive to get there. What's the problem with flying in and out of Phnom Penh? Have you considered shifting your stuff to Siem Reap? Or are you trying to reduce travel costs by going on the 40THB 4-hour train from Phayathai to Poipet instead? 

 

In this case the issue is weight. Carrying the baggage I will now need makes flying too expensive.  I am thus looking for an overland option, but I have additional infrastructure requirements as well. I've looked at several options, but Poipet is the only border town that meets all the criteria.

 

I am just shocked that with a reentry permit this should be a problem. I am not asking immigration to extend the time I am permitted to stay in country. Merely to be able to step out for a business meeting and return. This is completely different to a new visa stamp.

 

[lamyai3]

This border has been controlled with an iron fist in the past 3 or 4 years, after it was widely exposed that their previous laxity allowed terrorists to buy their way in. 

[Saraburi121]

I have a reentry permit for my one year extension of stay and have returned from Cambodia via PP 2 times in the last 5 months.  Absolutely no hassle other than the long wait and and dragging a small suitcase through the maze of construction.  The last time the lady at the immigration booth was very pleasant and chatty, maybe just luck of the draw.  I read the horror stories but I think mostly are about those without a reentry permit. 

[maprao]

Stay one night in Cambodia. 

 

I think with re anyth no problem  but I have not done this so reserve judgement 

[ericthai]

You might have to stay 1 night. I dont use that boarder but my friend lives close and uses that boarder to do a visa run with his Non-0. In the past few years things have gotten more difficult and they have started making him stay 1 night in Cambodia when he does his visa run.  Good Luck!

[dannyvn]

I am not in your case so i cannot add answer to your question but i crossed Ban Pakkard /Phsar Prum two times so rumour of its-less-aggro completely wrong. 

Thai customs in Ban Pakkard want money from all travellers. They have a Cambodian guy to play as a tout there (it means they do not talk of money directly to travellers but through that guy). That guy tried all the way to extort money from me even i entered Thailand legally and i am purely a tourist (exactly, i am working for a tour company and i usually travel for backpacking guidance reports). I guessed they use a Cambodian guy because there's sticker on every window of their booth saying "No Tips Here" but it's against their wish. When i pointed this sticker to the Cambodia tout, he immediately voiced down to threatening tone: "your case very slow". We all know what's going on in there.

Not too long, Ban Pakkard's boss (that's a woman) called me and aggressively asked several questions like what Thai's customs in Aranyaprathet had done to me long ago (by the way, i gave up horrible Poipet/Aran for more than 7 years). After ten minutes of exchange, she forced me to show 700 usd and took picture of me  with her phone (<deleted>??). I knew the rule as it had happened to me in Aran/Poipet long ago but the way they behaved completely rude and bossy. That did not match with what they had said "to support tourism". 

(anyway, do they know that bringing 700 usd in cash backpacking around is stupid idea????)

I knew they had suspected me illegal labor because i had entered Cambodia and got out Cam to Thailand the day after so it made me look like to do border run but it was not. If they had checked carefully, they would have found i had entered Cambodia via Bavet/Moc Bai (Vietnam) but exit via Phsar Prum / Ban Pakkard, 600 km distance then it completely could not be a border run.

600 km travel? it only be backpacking tourist.

It happened to me last month so i can confirm: Ban Pakkard /Phsar Prum less-aggro completely wrong.

Edited February 6, 2020 by dannyvn