Visa Marathon Poi Pet

[ethnostudent]

I should have spent more time at this site before making my visa run and I could have had some warning, but instead I ended up with quite a story to tell as my visa run turned into a marathon. I hope that my story is at least entertaining if not enlightening for those of you who are following the 30 day visa-exempt stamp situation closely.

I am an American doing research for my Masters Degree but don’t qualify for a student visa because my university is in America and not in Thailand. My first entry after the rule went into effect was Oct 20. The way that they are counting the days, I had spent 88 days of visa-exempt time in the country (even though it was actually only 85 days with three of the days counted twice because of the crazy way that they are doubling counting the days when you make visa runs.)

I arrived at the Aranyapratet/Poi Pet border on April 16 and Thai immigration said that I could only have 2 days (90-88 = 2) and I could overstay 2 days before getting a new 30 day stamp on April 20. I became rather upset over the situation and they brought me to "the Inspector". She felt sorry for me but said that she couldn’t do anything for me. She gave me water, coffee, pastry, fruit, and dinner, but she couldn’t give me a visa stamp.

To me it sounded expensive with the combination of the overstay and the second bus trip to and from Bangkok. After calculating the cost of the options, I decided to stay until Friday before reentering Thailand. But I had already exited Cambodia and I didn’t want to spend the money for another visa to enter it again. So I found the cheapest guesthouse and stayed in the border region (where the casinos are) until Friday. 300 baht a night at ChaoPhaya Guesthouse – and it even had good cable TV! For food I managed to get a few free buffet meals at one of the casinos from some nice Thai people with tickets.

So Friday, April 20 arrived – the beginning of my new 6 month period. It had been a relaxing few days, but I was ready to go home to Bangkok. I arrived at Thai immigration and they looked at my passport with the April 16 exit stamp from Cambodia and were very confused. As I tried to explain, they just kept saying “Mai Dai” over and over again. I didn’t know that the exit stamp would be so crucial since I had mentioned this plan to the Inspector on the 16th and she had not refuted it as a potential plan. They told me to go to Cambodian immigration and get them to give me a new exit stamp for the 20th. I hoped I wasn’t going to have to pay a bunch of money to get that done. I prayed as I went on that long hot walk back to Cambodian immigration. The Cambodian officials were very puzzled by the whole thing too. They seemed to say that I needed a note from the Thai officials before they would stamp it. So I went back to the Thai officials. One of them seemed ready to write a note, but then he stopped and thought, “What language should I write it in?” then gave up on that idea and brought me to the Inspector (after I waited almost an hour while he finished his lunch). The Inspector was able to call Cambodian immigration and request that they cancel my exit on the 16th and give me an exit stamp for the 20th. So I went back to Cambodian immigration and they did stamp "Cancelled" over the 16th and stamp it for the 20th. And I didn’t even have to pay anything!

Then back to Thai immigration and they did give me 30 days, so I was off on my way home to Bangkok on a casino bus. I hope that this description of my trip has given one more case study to stick in your back pocket along with the experiences that others have described. For the Land of Smiles, the immigration officials were not smiling so much.

[jeebusjones]

A very strange story indeed. I just have one question. Were you asked to show proof of an onward ticket from Thailand?

[ethnostudent]

Yes, they were being very strict about the showing of an onward travel ticket and wouldn't even let people leave Thailand until they could prove that when they re-entered they would have proof of onward travel. I think that the travel agent by Siam Commercial Bank near the casino bus lot will be getting a lot of business as long as this situation lasts! Fortunately I was already planning travel to another country within 30 days. The question does still remain whether they will allow a bus or train ticket instead of a plane ticket if people are not actually planning to travel outside of the kingdom - or if there is a way to buy a ticket that is mostly refundable after the visa run is made.

A very strange story indeed. I just have one question. Were you asked to show proof of an onward ticket from Thailand?

[cali4995]

I should have spent more time at this site before making my visa run and I could have had some warning, but instead I ended up with quite a story to tell as my visa run turned into a marathon. I hope that my story is at least entertaining if not enlightening for those of you who are following the 30 day visa-exempt stamp situation closely.

I am an American doing research for my Masters Degree but don’t qualify for a student visa because my university is in America and not in Thailand. My first entry after the rule went into effect was Oct 20. The way that they are counting the days, I had spent 88 days of visa-exempt time in the country (even though it was actually only 85 days with three of the days counted twice because of the crazy way that they are doubling counting the days when you make visa runs.)

I arrived at the Aranyapratet/Poi Pet border on April 16 and Thai immigration said that I could only have 2 days (90-88 = 2) and I could overstay 2 days before getting a new 30 day stamp on April 20. I became rather upset over the situation and they brought me to "the Inspector". She felt sorry for me but said that she couldn’t do anything for me. She gave me water, coffee, pastry, fruit, and dinner, but she couldn’t give me a visa stamp.

To me it sounded expensive with the combination of the overstay and the second bus trip to and from Bangkok. After calculating the cost of the options, I decided to stay until Friday before reentering Thailand. But I had already exited Cambodia and I didn’t want to spend the money for another visa to enter it again. So I found the cheapest guesthouse and stayed in the border region (where the casinos are) until Friday. 300 baht a night at ChaoPhaya Guesthouse – and it even had good cable TV! For food I managed to get a few free buffet meals at one of the casinos from some nice Thai people with tickets.

So Friday, April 20 arrived – the beginning of my new 6 month period. It had been a relaxing few days, but I was ready to go home to Bangkok. I arrived at Thai immigration and they looked at my passport with the April 16 exit stamp from Cambodia and were very confused. As I tried to explain, they just kept saying “Mai Dai” over and over again. I didn’t know that the exit stamp would be so crucial since I had mentioned this plan to the Inspector on the 16th and she had not refuted it as a potential plan. They told me to go to Cambodian immigration and get them to give me a new exit stamp for the 20th. I hoped I wasn’t going to have to pay a bunch of money to get that done. I prayed as I went on that long hot walk back to Cambodian immigration. The Cambodian officials were very puzzled by the whole thing too. They seemed to say that I needed a note from the Thai officials before they would stamp it. So I went back to the Thai officials. One of them seemed ready to write a note, but then he stopped and thought, “What language should I write it in?” then gave up on that idea and brought me to the Inspector (after I waited almost an hour while he finished his lunch). The Inspector was able to call Cambodian immigration and request that they cancel my exit on the 16th and give me an exit stamp for the 20th. So I went back to Cambodian immigration and they did stamp "Cancelled" over the 16th and stamp it for the 20th. And I didn’t even have to pay anything!

Then back to Thai immigration and they did give me 30 days, so I was off on my way home to Bangkok on a casino bus. I hope that this description of my trip has given one more case study to stick in your back pocket along with the experiences that others have described. For the Land of Smiles, the immigration officials were not smiling so much.

ethnostudent, sorry about your experience. believe me, even those of us who spend time on thaivisa every week can barely keep up with what's going on. at least you had the courage to report your account. i'm sure there are many others who entered aranyapratet unaware. yes, the've got quite a little scam happening now. 30$ for a 20$ cambodian visa. possibly another 400-500 baht cambodian thug money to stamp you out of cambodia the same day. and now a 2,500 baht onward flight ticket you may or may not need. anyone going to aranyapratet proceed with caution.

Edited April 25, 2007 by cali4995

[Krub]

I should have spent more time at this site before making my visa run and I could have had some warning, but instead I ended up with quite a story to tell as my visa run turned into a marathon. I hope that my story is at least entertaining if not enlightening for those of you who are following the 30 day visa-exempt stamp situation closely.

I am an American doing research for my Masters Degree but don’t qualify for a student visa because my university is in America and not in Thailand. My first entry after the rule went into effect was Oct 20. The way that they are counting the days, I had spent 88 days of visa-exempt time in the country (even though it was actually only 85 days with three of the days counted twice because of the crazy way that they are doubling counting the days when you make visa runs.)

I arrived at the Aranyapratet/Poi Pet border on April 16 and Thai immigration said that I could only have 2 days (90-88 = 2) and I could overstay 2 days before getting a new 30 day stamp on April 20. I became rather upset over the situation and they brought me to "the Inspector". She felt sorry for me but said that she couldn’t do anything for me. She gave me water, coffee, pastry, fruit, and dinner, but she couldn’t give me a visa stamp.

To me it sounded expensive with the combination of the overstay and the second bus trip to and from Bangkok. After calculating the cost of the options, I decided to stay until Friday before reentering Thailand. But I had already exited Cambodia and I didn’t want to spend the money for another visa to enter it again. So I found the cheapest guesthouse and stayed in the border region (where the casinos are) until Friday. 300 baht a night at ChaoPhaya Guesthouse – and it even had good cable TV! For food I managed to get a few free buffet meals at one of the casinos from some nice Thai people with tickets.

So Friday, April 20 arrived – the beginning of my new 6 month period. It had been a relaxing few days, but I was ready to go home to Bangkok. I arrived at Thai immigration and they looked at my passport with the April 16 exit stamp from Cambodia and were very confused. As I tried to explain, they just kept saying “Mai Dai” over and over again. I didn’t know that the exit stamp would be so crucial since I had mentioned this plan to the Inspector on the 16th and she had not refuted it as a potential plan. They told me to go to Cambodian immigration and get them to give me a new exit stamp for the 20th. I hoped I wasn’t going to have to pay a bunch of money to get that done. I prayed as I went on that long hot walk back to Cambodian immigration. The Cambodian officials were very puzzled by the whole thing too. They seemed to say that I needed a note from the Thai officials before they would stamp it. So I went back to the Thai officials. One of them seemed ready to write a note, but then he stopped and thought, “What language should I write it in?” then gave up on that idea and brought me to the Inspector (after I waited almost an hour while he finished his lunch). The Inspector was able to call Cambodian immigration and request that they cancel my exit on the 16th and give me an exit stamp for the 20th. So I went back to Cambodian immigration and they did stamp "Cancelled" over the 16th and stamp it for the 20th. And I didn’t even have to pay anything!

Then back to Thai immigration and they did give me 30 days, so I was off on my way home to Bangkok on a casino bus. I hope that this description of my trip has given one more case study to stick in your back pocket along with the experiences that others have described. For the Land of Smiles, the immigration officials were not smiling so much.

By your own account it is clear that contrary to your saying the immigration of LOS were not smiling, they at least treated you with a lot of patience and even though the rules are there tried and managed to accomodate your situation, even caling Cambodia for you, as best even feeding you....

Try that at any US or European immigration points and see what might happen instead of drinks and coffee on a chair and a call to the other country, you might be surprised.

Enjoy LOS.

Thanks for the refreshing and encouraging report

Edited April 25, 2007 by Krub

[sriracha john]

I am an American doing research for my Masters Degree but don’t qualify for a student visa because my university is in America and not in Thailand.

My daughter is an American during research for her Doctoral Degree and she qualified for a one-stop student visa for 18 straight months, even though her university is in America. The only real difference is ... she did hers in Indonesia, which reveals quite a bit about the difference in how things are run in Thailand.

Beyond that, it sounds like you had quite an experience, but it also reveals that you obviously conduct yourself in a very polite manner as evidenced by the cordial treatment and assistance that you received from Immigration as well as ordinary citizens.

Good luck on your continued studies.