Report: Cambodia Visa Run Poipet

[junkofdavid2]

Just got back from Poipet Cambodia (Aran in Thailand side) for my 90-day visa run (I have a 1 year Multiple B ).

Boarded casino bus on Rama 4 road at the perimeter of Lumpini Park at 7am.

There are many casino buses to choose from belonging to different companies, so I ask the bus employees what time their bus is coming back to Bangkok, and I choose the bus company which has earlier schedules coming back. The earlier bus coming back may not be the same bus, but may belong to the same bus company and they honor the same round trip ticket. However, you'd have to speak a little Thai in order to ask those questions (Nope, I'm not fluent). There are bus employees hanging around the bus stop at that location, holding their celphones or walkie talkies in hand, waiting for their bus to arrive and "coordinating". You kinda just look around and you'll notice that they notice you too and you make eye contact... and then either you or them will say "Cambodia?". And then you can ask the details about what time their bus will leave for Cambodia, and what time their company's buses will come back to Bangkok.

Paid 200 Baht for Round Trip ticket

On the bus, was given a return ticket with choices of buses and times I could go back. (This bus company had 2 choices: 230pm and 5:30pm)

Forgot to ask for a lunch buffet coupon, but mai ben rai, nevermind.

Arrived in Aran border Thailand Immigration.

Japanese guy in front of me was not allowed to exit, and was told that he needed to buy an onward ticket out of Thailand at the travel agency nearby.

When the lady got to me, she also asked me for an onward ticket out of Thailand (even if I have a B visa), but her supervisor overheard her and said that I don't need one because I have a B visa.

(Note: dunno how lucky I would've been if the supervisor didn't overhear her)

Exited Thailand.

Got Cambodia visa like everyone else on the right side of the road at the official visa service, and paid the 1000 baht instead of 20 USD (I didn't want to argue or risk any trouble)

At Cambodia Immigration (different from visa service), immigration officer politely asks for 200 baht because I'm leaving the same day. I give (again, i don't want any trouble)

Enter Cambodia Immigration and immediately exit.

Went to the Poipet Casino Resort and saw some of the same people on the same bus as me. Asked if they had any extra buffet tickets and they did, and gave me one.

Ate buffet lunch.

Went back to Thai immigration.

Thai immigration mistakenly gives me 120 days instead of 90 days.

Didn't want to risk any future problems on their computer or whatever, so I was "honest" and pointed out their mistake and so they corrected it on my passport and thanked me.

Boarded bus at 215pm. It left at 230pm sharp.

Got back to Lumpini at 610pm.

Went home.

Total Cost:

Bus from my house to Lumpini 8 Baht

Bus 200 (Round Trip, used the same bus company)

Cambodia visa: 1000

Cambodia Tea Money 200

Bus from Lumpini back home 8 baht

Total of 1,416 Baht

Edited June 6, 2007 by junkofdavid2

[britainmal]

Japanese guy in front of me was not allowed to exit, and was told that he needed to by an onward ticket out of Thailand at the travel agency nearby.

When the lady got to me, she also asked me for an onward ticket out of Thailand (even if I have a B visa), but her supervisor overheard her and said that I don't need one because I have a B visa.

(Note: dunno how lucky I would've been if the supervisor didn't overhear her)

Are you serious? You need to show an onward ticket to do a visa run now?

[tijnebijn]

I reckon that the ticket /tour operator near the immigration checkpoint is making horendous capital.

I do not think they will offer any discount packages.........The visaruns are going harder and harder.

[tropo]

Just got back from Poipet Cambodia (Aran in Thailand side) for

Total Cost:

Bus from my house to Lumpini 8 Baht

Bus 200 (Round Trip, used the same bus company)

Cambodia visa: 1000

Cambodia Tea Money 200

Bus from Lumpini back home 8 baht

Total of 1,416 Baht

Nicely done!

Why don't you try carrying a US$20 bill with you next time to pay for your Cambodian Visa. That'll save you 320 baht.

Edited June 6, 2007 by tropo

[Maestro]

Are you serious? You need to show an onward ticket to do a visa run now?

No, not for a visa run, ie entry into Thailand with a visa, but for entry without a visa, if you are from a country that qualifies for tourist visa exemption for 30 days per entry.

--

Maestro

[junkofdavid2]

Why don't you try carrying a US$20 bill with you next time to pay for your Cambodian Visa. That'll save you 320 baht.

Yeah... maybe next time.

[jeebusjones]

Why don't you try carrying a US$20 bill with you next time to pay for your Cambodian Visa. That'll save you 320 baht.

Yeah... maybe next time.

That's a good idea, but would it actually work? I tried it at the border in Koh Kong, near Trat, and they just laughed at me and said they only accepted baht.

[Badbanker]

Why don't you try carrying a US$20 bill with you next time to pay for your Cambodian Visa. That'll save you 320 baht.

Yeah... maybe next time.

That's a good idea, but would it actually work? I tried it at the border in Koh Kong, near Trat, and they just laughed at me and said they only accepted baht.

If you push it as I have seen some backpackers do and only pay USD20, you will have to wait for at least an hour and to get your visa.  Cambodian Immigration lives on this 320 baht and are not happy if you only pay 20 bucks.

Been dere, done dat!

Badbanker

[keenok]

Just got back from Poipet Cambodia (Aran in Thailand side) for

Total Cost:

Bus from my house to Lumpini 8 Baht

Bus 200 (Round Trip, used the same bus company)

Cambodia visa: 1000

Cambodia Tea Money 200

Bus from Lumpini back home 8 baht

Total of 1,416 Baht

Nicely done!

Why don't you try carrying a US$20 bill with you next time to pay for your Cambodian Visa. That'll save you 320 baht.

if you need to do it on the cheap and can afford the time,get the cambodian visa at the embassy and then no hasle at the border. i tried a couple of times a few years ago to pay cash 20 usd at at poipet and koh kong ,but no luck. having the visa beforehand works.

[tropo]

Just got back from Poipet Cambodia (Aran in Thailand side) for

Total Cost:

Bus from my house to Lumpini 8 Baht

Bus 200 (Round Trip, used the same bus company)

Cambodia visa: 1000

Cambodia Tea Money 200

Bus from Lumpini back home 8 baht

Total of 1,416 Baht

Nicely done!

Why don't you try carrying a US$20 bill with you next time to pay for your Cambodian Visa. That'll save you 320 baht.

if you need to do it on the cheap and can afford the time,get the cambodian visa at the embassy and then no hasle at the border. i tried a couple of times a few years ago to pay cash 20 usd at at poipet and koh kong ,but no luck. having the visa beforehand works.

What exactly happened when you tried to pay US$20 at Poipet? Don't they usually have a sign up stating that the visa is $20?

18 months ago when the US dollar was around 40, the difference was small, but now by asking 1000 baht they're getting $30. $10 on each visa runner is a huge windfall for these people.

Cambodia is doing very well with visa runners as it is without screwing everyone for an additional 50%. This has nothing to do with Thailand, but I think it's an issue that needs to be presented to the Cambodian Government.

I haven't done a visa run to the Cambodian border for a year, so the issue hasn't bothered me much lately, but last year I sent an email to someone in the Cambodian Government. Maybe if more people get involved we can change things. The Cambodians are already getting money for jam with visa runners buying their visas just to get back into Thailand. They do more than well enough already.

[torrenova]

I went with a friend to Poipet about 18 months ago. I was on a "B" visa and he was on a 30 day stamp. I already had a Cambo visa in my passport, he did not. I gave them $20 and he gave them $20. They ripped a small tear in his $20 and sent it back asking for another or Bt1000. Bt1000 it was for him then.

They wanted Bt200 to fill in the forms and I thought this was just a complete con. We had received the visa in 5 minutes and the line to check into Cambo was very short. Another 5 mins and we are checked in.

Here comes the problem. The queue to get out was horrendous and did take about 45 minutes in the baking sun. One guy who knew this and paid the Bt200 got his within 10 minutes of waiting in the sun. Lesson learned there.

The Pattaya companies pay Bt1200 over to get all the crap sorted out so they live off Bt1200 (from Bt2400 all in) and that must be the easiest way to go. Big seat, only 6 on the bus etc. I cannot think about.

I know you can do it cheaper but you are talking about Bt2400 every 3 months, not every week.

[tropo]

I went with a friend to Poipet about 18 months ago. I was on a "B" visa and he was on a 30 day stamp. I already had a Cambo visa in my passport, he did not. I gave them $20 and he gave them $20. They ripped a small tear in his $20 and sent it back asking for another or Bt1000. Bt1000 it was for him then.

You say you already had a Cambodian visa in your passport, so why did you hand over $20? Surely only your friend needed to pay for a visa.

So this indicates that maybe we need to take several $20 bills with us incase they start ripping them.

I know everyone just gives up and pays: "don't want to make waves", "don't want any touble" etc, etc....is the usual reaction to being ripped off here.

I think it's time we made a collective stand on this.

PS. One agency I did a visa run with last year claimed they were paying 1200 baht. I call bs on this one. I believe the agency was skimming the additional 200 baht, not the Cambodian officials, and that was just their excuse to charge more for their services as this particular visa run company charged more than most others....a first class visa run of course. Other agencies just pay 1000 baht....go figure.

[jeebusjones]

I know everyone just gives up and pays: "don't want to make waves", "don't want any touble" etc, etc....is the usual reaction to being ripped off here.

I think it's time we made a collective stand on this.

I would agree with you, but when you're at the border alone it can be a bit scary. You're trapped in no-man's land between two countries. The Cambodian officials have the right to deny you entry for whatever reason. If they deny you entry, you'll also be denied entry into Thailand.

I was denied entry into Cambodia a few years ago after I refused to pay 1,500 baht for a visa. They sent me back to Thailand, but Thailand wouldn't let me back in either. After an hour or so, with closing time rapidly approaching, I paid the extra money.

So really, if you're alone at the border, you don't really have a choice but to do what the officials ask of you.

Edited June 8, 2007 by jeebusjones

[junkofdavid2]

Agree with Jeebus.

You're actually a victim of extortion on this case.

It's like saying that if a mugger pointed a gun at me, I won't pay up because it's against my principles or whatever.

Well... at least I'd have a better chance of going to heaven after the mugger shoots me.

Edited June 8, 2007 by junkofdavid2

[tropo]

Agree with Jeebus.

You're actually a victim of extortion on this case.

It's like saying that if a mugger pointed a gun at me, I won't pay up because it's against my principles or whatever.

Well... at least I'd have a better chance of going to heaven after the mugger shoots me.

I really wasn't advocating any action at the border to stem this extortion. I was suggesting there must be some higher authorities to contact and lobby.

[grahamhc]

Don't forget the eVisa. $20 +$5 service charge is still cheaper than 1,200 Baht - AND you clip it in your passport, so you do not lose another page with a glued visa in your passport. You only have the exit and entry stamps in the passport. The Cambodian Website says they are valid for all (normal) points, inc Cham Yeam (Ko Kong).

BUT you do need a Credit Card / Debit Card to buy it on line!

[No beleeeeve!]

After living in Thailand for about two years and just coming off a work permit I needed to start doing visa runs myself for the first time. I did my usual whenever I had to do something new in Thailand and hit the Internet and researched it. I found the legit charges and the bribes beforehand. I printed a post about how the 100 baht bribe at the Cambodian side was illegal and printed it.

When I encountered this part of the run I politely, with a smile, and in Thai told the Cambodian official that I cannot pay the 100 baht. After a few sentences exchanged he called his supervisor over. I repeated my statement, again with a smile and in Thai (I don't speak Cambodian). I showed him the paper, held it up to the glass.

He leaned forward and said "You speak English?"

"Yes" I replied.

"Good, I speak English to you now" he said, not smiling as I was was.

"Why you not pay?" he asked.

"It is illegal, and I don't want to break any laws." I answered. "Here, it says right here not to pay this"

"Let me see that." he motioned to the paper I still held up to the glass. I figured if I give him the paper, he would rip it up throw it out, and then say "What law?" and push for the bribe.

After a few more exchanges like that, I think he became frustrated and motioned to the clerk and said "Go" and we got our passports back and off to the next stop. No 100 baht paid.

My friend who was with me asked "How far were you going to push that for a lousy $2.50?" (Back when the baht was around 40 to the USD)

I told him that was about it, if he demanded it after all of that, I was going to pay.

I think the key was I smiled, never raised my voice, and gave him a way to save face because I acted like I was concerned about obeying the law (yeah right) and not about depriving him of his cash. Had it been a battle of wills I am sure he would have demanded the money or no passports and we would have either paid or been pulled aside and been forced to pay much more to get set free.

The same went for the "health check" on the Thai side. A girl sat at a card table with brochures and asked for 20 baht for the health check. I smiled, thanked her, and when she asked for 20 baht I thanked her again and kept walking.

I sure learned about the "Land of Smiles" phrase that day.

Edited June 10, 2007 by No beleeeeve!

[vanalli]

If you offer a 100 baht bribe they will let you pay for the Cambodian visa with US dollars.

Edit: Sorry, looks like a missed the boat with this revelation. What I would say is that if you don't offer the bribe, immigration have been known to take up to four hours to complete a visa that would otherwise take ten minutes.

Edited June 11, 2007 by vanalli

[blizzard]

is jack s the best company for visa runs if you dont want to take the do it yourself approach?

[Lynnx]

is jack s the best company for visa runs if you dont want to take the do it yourself approach?

No, it will be a bad choice to go for visa runs with jack this year.

[Thefinn]

At Osmach they have a copy of an e-mail from someone complaining about the USD20/B1000 and extra fee business and the Cambodian Ministry reply that it is not legal or necessary to pay extra. The problems is that it is taped up at the Cambodian arrivals booth AFTER you have just paid the extra to get a visa! Mind they don't want a photo or extra if you can show you are staying longer than 10 minutes.

[frikkiedeboer]

Just got back from Poipet Cambodia (Aran in Thailand side) for my 90-day visa run (I have a 1 year Multiple B ).

Boarded casino bus on Rama 4 road at the perimeter of Lumpini Park at 7am.

There are many casino buses to choose from belonging to different companies, so I ask the bus employees what time their bus is coming back to Bangkok, and I choose the bus company which has earlier schedules coming back. The earlier bus coming back may not be the same bus, but may belong to the same bus company and they honor the same round trip ticket. However, you'd have to speak a little Thai in order to ask those questions (Nope, I'm not fluent). There are bus employees hanging around the bus stop at that location, holding their celphones or walkie talkies in hand, waiting for their bus to arrive and "coordinating". You kinda just look around and you'll notice that they notice you too and you make eye contact... and then either you or them will say "Cambodia?". And then you can ask the details about what time their bus will leave for Cambodia, and what time their company's buses will come back to Bangkok.

Paid 200 Baht for Round Trip ticket

On the bus, was given a return ticket with choices of buses and times I could go back. (This bus company had 2 choices: 230pm and 5:30pm)

Forgot to ask for a lunch buffet coupon, but mai ben rai, nevermind.

Arrived in Aran border Thailand Immigration.

Japanese guy in front of me was not allowed to exit, and was told that he needed to buy an onward ticket out of Thailand at the travel agency nearby.

When the lady got to me, she also asked me for an onward ticket out of Thailand (even if I have a B visa), but her supervisor overheard her and said that I don't need one because I have a B visa.

(Note: dunno how lucky I would've been if the supervisor didn't overhear her)

Exited Thailand.

Got Cambodia visa like everyone else on the right side of the road at the official visa service, and paid the 1000 baht instead of 20 USD (I didn't want to argue or risk any trouble)

At Cambodia Immigration (different from visa service), immigration officer politely asks for 200 baht because I'm leaving the same day. I give (again, i don't want any trouble)

Enter Cambodia Immigration and immediately exit.

Went to the Poipet Casino Resort and saw some of the same people on the same bus as me. Asked if they had any extra buffet tickets and they did, and gave me one.

Ate buffet lunch.

Went back to Thai immigration.

Thai immigration mistakenly gives me 120 days instead of 90 days.

Didn't want to risk any future problems on their computer or whatever, so I was "honest" and pointed out their mistake and so they corrected it on my passport and thanked me.

Boarded bus at 215pm. It left at 230pm sharp.

Got back to Lumpini at 610pm.

Went home.

Total Cost:

Bus from my house to Lumpini 8 Baht

Bus 200 (Round Trip, used the same bus company)

Cambodia visa: 1000

Cambodia Tea Money 200

Bus from Lumpini back home 8 baht

Total of 1,416 Baht

don't pay the tea money, nor anything to anybody who says he can speed up ther process. i got arrested at poipet for "corruption" since i paid thb200 for an exit stamp. i did not, at the time ,even know that this was "tea money"-just thought that you had to pay for an exit stamp, since i had been charged this amount every time i did a visa run. interrogated me for three hours in a small, dark windowless room (just like the 'kkin movies), had myself and my passport photographed, and finally walked free after signing an affidavit and admission of guilt. after that i stood my ground and made myself very unpopular with officials at both poipet, and osmach. i found out that that if you do not bow to their threats, and stand your ground, they back down (but not without trying it on first), but you have to be brave and be firm. it can get quite hairy.- they will not ,and cannot refuse you an exit stamp.

i met an englishman on one of my runs, who taught me this technique: once the cambodian official starts getting threatening and abusive, take a pen and paper out, and ask in a loud voice: "...and what is your name, please?" then copy his name down off the tag on his shirt.- suddenly the visa costs only 20usd and no fee for exit stamp, sometimes you even get a sullen "have a nice day" out of the bugger.

good luck

[tropo]

At Osmach they have a copy of an e-mail from someone complaining about the USD20/B1000 and extra fee business and the Cambodian Ministry reply that it is not legal or necessary to pay extra. The problems is that it is taped up at the Cambodian arrivals booth AFTER you have just paid the extra to get a visa! Mind they don't want a photo or extra if you can show you are staying longer than 10 minutes.

I wonder if that could be my email? They never sent me a reply.

Maybe we can get a copy of their formal response and print it out to show immigration officials at the border.