Visa run to Cambodia

[thaisail]

Just got back from a visa run to Cambodia. We had a problem to get my marriage visa extension this year. So the immigration office in Loei gave me no choice but to hit the road. They told me to: "Go to Hell"! At least that is what I thought they said. My wife later told me that they said, "Go to Laos!" We found out that I could easily go to Laos but the problem was to get back into Thailand. At the time there did not appear to be any direct flights from Laos to Thailand. We later found out that there was a weekly flight from Vientaine to Bangkok with Laos Airlines. But I could not buy tickets on that flight on line because it was a charter flight.

 

So, we desided on Cambodia because neither of us had been there. We had been in Loas on a visa run twice before so we didn't want to go there again. The first step was to get the Cambodia visa for me. It seems that the Thai citizens do not require a visa. They are allowed to stay in Cambodia for 14 days. The easiest way for foreigners to get a visa right now for Cambodia, is through this website:   https://www.evisa.gov.kh/application_new  This avoided us from having to spend 3 days in Bangkok to visit the Cambodian consulate. However, there is a problem with payment. First you have to have a Cambodian phone number and be able to receive the OTP code on a Cambodian SIM card. I tried to pay the $36 USD charge with several bank cards from the US and from Thailand also and none would work without receiving the Cambodian OTP to type into the payment window. I was able to call the Minstry of Foreign Affairs in Phnom Penh and explain the issue to a Cambodian government official and he offered a solution. He said for $47 USD, he would pay for my visa with his private bank account and he asked me to transfer that amount to his ABA Bank account number in Phnom Penh. I managed to find a friend in Singapore who was able to use his mobile app to transfer $50 USD to his account in Cambodia but it took about 12 hours to complete. There was also a $20 service charge to pay from his Singapore bank. I then transfered $70 in Thai Baht to my Singapore friend's Thai Bank account in Thailand. The next day, I got a message from the Cambodian official that the money had not yet arrived in his account, so I contacted my friend in Singapore who sent me a transfer document showing that the funds transfer was complete. By this time, we had set up What's App connection between me and this official and he decided to go ahead and pay the $36 to the Cambodian government for my E-visa and take a chance on me not paying him back for it. An hour later I got a message from him on What's App and the E-Visa was sent as an attached file through What's app. I was able to print out the E-visa and made a copy to staple into my passport. The visa was valid for 30 days from the arrival date in Phnom Penh and was a Tourist visa. An hour after that I received another message from my contact in Cambodia with a transfer document from his bank showing that the ABA bank in Cambodia had taken out $10 USD as a service charge so he actually received only $40 USD. So I wrote him back promising to transfer the $10 USD to his ABA bank account when I would arrive in Phnom Penh. I am aware that through Western Union and other banking systems, I could have maybe saved time or money but it was Friday and I was in Chiang Khan, Loei and my flight was on the following Monday afternoon. So I was quite happy to pay this extra money to avoid the 3 days stay in Bangkok and go to the Cambodian Embassy get the visa and have to delay my flight.

 

So my Thai wife and I drove our truck to Bangkok with our labrador retriever in the back seat on the Saturday before the flight. We left our dog with a professional trainer in Rangsit to train her for future dog shows and we went to our Test and Go hotel in Bang Na. We went to MedConsult clinic in Sukumvit and paid 1500 baht each for our PCR tests on Sunday morning. We received the negative results by email on Sunday afternoon. The Test and Go hotel was called 56 Hotel Sukumvit. We stayed overnight before our Bangkok Airways flight to Phnom Phen. We left our Ford Ranger the next day at a very good Ford Ranger garage near the airport for a full service and we went by taxi to the airport. We were please to find out that the Bangkok Airways lounge in Bangkok is now open and we had good food and drinks while waiting for our flight.

 

On Day One, arrival in Phnom Penh just around sunset, we were put in a large room where we had to do another rapid antigen test and wait in chair by the customs area. About one hour later our names were called and they let us leave the airport with a negative test result. No charge for the covid test at the Phnom Penh airport! We chose to pay only $10 and took a tiny tuk tuk to our hotel near the Royal Palace.

 

On Day Two, we took another tuk tuk for about $2 US to the Thai consulate. We went through all our documents with the guard outside the consulate and then went inside. We had a special form to fill out at the consulate which took about 20 minutes. There was a helpful Cambodian agent who assisted with the paperwork while he was filling out the same form for one of his customers. I think he was charging around $30 to do the forms but in the end we completed them our self. At the end I asked one question about the form so he took his pen and completed the last line for me without charge. I told him that I wanted to go to get my PCR test right away that day but he told me that I had to wait one more day. It was a Tuesday and the return flight was on a Friday. So I would have to go the health ministry for the PCR test the following day which was a Wednesday. But we gave him a 4000 riel tip ($1) because he was very pleasent and helpful. We waited another 20 minutes. There were only about 5 people waiting before us. The lady at the window went through all our forms and documents and put them in my passport and handed me a receipt asking me to pick up everything in two days on Thursday afternoon from 3pm to 4pm. The cost of the visa was $80 USD but we had only Thai Baht so they charged 2700 baht. Very pleasant experience and very professional service. The rest of the day was used to move to a more reasonably priced hotel followed by a walk over to the NAGA World Resort and Casino and a nice Hot Pot dinner by the Mekong River. 

 

On Day Three, we went to the National Institute of Public Health downtown to what appears to be the only place in Phnom Penh to get a PCR test for international travel. https://goo.gl/maps/sYDV7MAcFFZQHDnP9  I took out $130 each from a local ATM for the PCR test which included the medical certificate to be able to fly. One nice thing about Cambodia is that it seems the ATM machines will only give US dollars which can be used just about everywhere. We did the test in about an hour after waiting in a large room with about 50 others seated one meter apart. We were finished by noon time. We had booked a tuk tuk for the afternoon for $15 so from there, we went to the Central Market for a wonderful seafood lunch in the market. After we visited one of the detention centers used in the genocide. After that visit, we didn't feel like continuing our tour so we went back to our hotel. https://goo.gl/maps/28qzycQf8pBh3tGq9 That evening we walked to AEON Mall where we had one of the best Korean BBQ we had since Seoul. 

 

On Day Four, we were supposed to return to pick up our PCR test results at 10 AM. However we were informed that without a passport I would not be able to get my results. Since my passport was not going to be returned to me before that afternoon, we had been given special permission to have a late pick up of our results in the afternoon after picking up my passport at the Thai consulate. So we decided to walk around the area of the Royal Palace which was closed do to the presence of the king and the pandemic. We found a great restaurant near by next to the Mekong River and had lunch. After that, we went back to the Thai consulate and picked up my passport with the Non O marriage visa which allows a single entry for a 90 day stay in Thailand. We had a tuk tuk on standby to take us back to the National Institute of Public Health arriving in good time to pick up our negative test results before they closed at 5 pm. We went back to the the AEON Mall to go bowling and watched Moon Fall in 4DX. (terrible film but wonderful experience getting a full flight simulator shock treatment!) After the movie the mall was closing but we managed to get some beers and food to bring back to the hotel. 

 

On Day Five, we took it easy and rested all morning. We managed to get a free extension on our room until 4pm which is another reason I really like that hotel. At noon time we went out to see the NAGA World 2 resort and casino and got a Tuk Tuk to see the Phnom Temple. We had time for a shower and nap before the hour long tuk tuk drive to the airport. We had no problem to board the plane back to Thailand. The only thing they needed was the Thailand Pass which they scanned with the QR code reader.

 

We arrived in BKK airport and went through the document checks without any problems. We were taken back to our Test and Go hotel in Bang Na in a sealed Fortuna to protect the driver. He took us first to a nearby hospital for the Day One PCR test and then to the hotel where we checked in to a better room on the 7th floor. By morning we had our negitive PCR results. My future son in law was off work on Saturday so he picked us up in his car and brought us to IKEA nearby at Mega Bang Na. That afternoon, he took us back to the Ford mechanic where I picked up our truck and brought it back to our hotel. We booked the same room on Agoda for the 3 nights between Day One Test and Go and Day 5 Test and Go days. Saved about 2000 baht off of the 5 day Test and Go package this way and got to keep the same room. One good thing is that by doing the 2nd Day 5 PCR test just after midnight on Day 4, you can actually check out on the morning of Day 5 as soon as you get the results of the PCR test. The hotel manager offered to give us another free night later in the year if we gave up our room early and left on the morning of Day 5. It seems he needed that room for another customer. But in the end we needed to stay in Bangkok the entire 5 nights. But since we had the negative PCR tests on the morning of Day 5 we could have gone home one day earlier than planned. 

 

All in all the entire experience was positive, It was a first visit to Cambodia for both of us and we enjoyed the experience as a tourist there. I think that by spending 4 nights there in a hotel instead of 3 nights, we were able to see some of the sights and turned a tedious negative experience into a positive one. I suppose the entire visa run could have been done faster but we decided to turn this visa run into a holiday instead. The cost and risk of a positive covid test in either Cambodia or Thailand gave us a bit of stress. But now we are home with a visa good for 90 days and we already went to the Loei immigration office in Chiang Khan and they have told us that this time, I will get the one year marriage visa extension in April. I want all to realize that if you want to keep a good relation with immigration, you will need to keep 400,000 baht minimum in your Thai bank account for 2 months prior to your anual extension date. I decided to move some money out of that account during the 2 months prior to my extension. I did not feel that there was much risk since I have done the monthly income method with Bangkok Bank showing more than 40,000 baht wire transfers from my US bank each month for the past 12 months to my Bangkok Bank account but here in Chiang Khan that method of verifying income is not accepted by the big boss and I took a chance and lost. For me and my Thai wife the entire visa run was a positive experience and though there were a lot of extra costs due to the pandemic, in the end it was worth it to see a new country and see what Cambodia was all about.

[BKKTRAVELER]

Glad you had a nice trip overall, I always enjoyed going to Naga World in Phnom Penh in the past. Didn't get to see their second hotel though.

 

Anyway, just the fact that you had to go through bribing a Cambodian official and go through all the trouble (Singaporean connection) shows that things are still messed up for international travel...

[Cletus]

"showing more than 40,000 baht wire transfers from my US bank each month for the past 12 months to my Bangkok Bank account but here in Chiang Khan that method of verifying income is not accepted by the big boss"

 

Thanks for your very detailed report.

So you showed the money transfers and that was not accepted? Uhm? The big boss...what? Why did you surrender and didn't fight for your rights, considering all the troubles of a visa run in the Covid era?

[MrMilk]

Great detailed report. Thanks for sharing

[ubonjoe]

A off topic baiting post and a reply to it have been removed.

[EricTh]

That should be the way how Thailand should welcome visitors with rapid test at airport , no quarantine and no insurance. Cambodia is doing it right and hope they will get more much-needed tourism money.

[EricTh]

@thaisail

 

Regarding the transfer of money to Cambodia, why didn't you use Instrarem or Transferwise?  It is easy and exchange rate is better than going through your friend in Singapore.

Edited February 20, 2022 by EricTh

[EricTh]

10 hours ago, Cletus said:

"showing more than 40,000 baht wire transfers from my US bank each month for the past 12 months to my Bangkok Bank account but here in Chiang Khan that method of verifying income is not accepted by the big boss"

 

Thanks for your very detailed report.

So you showed the money transfers and that was not accepted? Uhm? The big boss...what? Why did you surrender and didn't fight for your rights, considering all the troubles of a visa run in the Covid era?

 

Maybe the big boss realized that some people have been cheating the system by recycling the money. They have the discretion to do that.

 

Putting 400k just for 2 months isn't a big deal. Compare with retirees who has to put 400k for 12 months, and 800k for 5 months in a year.

 

I am surprised immigration didn't require marriage extension holders to put 400k for the whole year.

[aussiexpat]

"However, there is a problem with payment. First you have to have a Cambodian phone number and be able to receive the OTP code on a Cambodian SIM card. I tried to pay the $36 USD charge with several bank cards from the US and from Thailand also and none would work without receiving the Cambodian OTP to type into the payment window"

 

I really don't get this bit about requiring a phone in Cambodia to get an OTP for payment. Anyone applying for a tourist visa while outside of Cambodia would of course not have a Cambodia phone. Also, isn't the OTP sent by your bank to the phone number you have registered to them?

 

The part about finding some random official in Cambodia willing to pay for you just doesn't make sense either...who would do that? And why the whole Singapore friend transfer, if you transferred $70 to friends account why didn't you just transfer it direct to the Cambodia official? None of this payment makes sense?

 

Edited February 20, 2022 by aussiexpat

[ubonjoe]

28 minutes ago, EricTh said:

Maybe the big boss realized that some people have been cheating the system by recycling the money. They have the discretion to do that.

The way immigration offices prevent that is by asking for proof of the source of your income.

I don't think many people are doing it that anyway since it would be costly way to try skirt the requirements due to the cost of sending money in and out if the country.

 

28 minutes ago, EricTh said:

I am surprised immigration didn't require marriage extension holders to put 400k for the whole year.

Why should they? It is meant to be money to live on for a year.

[DrJack54]

14 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The way immigration offices prevent that is by asking for proof of the source of your income.

I don't think many people are doing it that anyway since it would be costly way to try skirt the requirements due to the cost of sending money in and out if the country.

 

Why should they? It is meant to be money to live on for a year.

Folk on extensions retirement also need to live on money, however their funds are basically frozen in a Thai bank if using money in bank method.

The financial requirements for married guys is a joke.

Should be same requirements as for retirement. 

The argument that wife can contribute to living expenses via having a job is a nonsense. 

[ubonjoe]

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Folk on extensions retirement also need to live on money, however their funds are basically frozen in a Thai bank if using money in bank method.

People that did not really have any money in the bank are to blame for that. Immigration put the new rules in place to try and prevent that from happening.

 

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

The financial requirements for married guys is a joke.

Should be same requirements as for retirement. 

The argument that wife can contribute to living expenses via having a job is a nonsense. 

The is big difference between the 2 types of extension is that extensions based upon marriage are for humanitarian reasons not just a way to live here like retirement.

You might be surprised by number of wives that are helping to support their family.

 

[In the jungle]

9 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Folk on extensions retirement also need to live on money, however their funds are basically frozen in a Thai bank if using money in bank method.

The financial requirements for married guys is a joke.

Should be same requirements as for retirement. 

The argument that wife can contribute to living expenses via having a job is a nonsense. 

I have to disagree with your last sentence Dr Jack. 

 

In my case 60% of my living expenses come from my wife's business.  I own 25% of the business and put a significant amount of money into it when it was established back in 2007.

 

A further 25% of my living expenses are funded by the farm that we own which is managed by me.  The farm, unsurprisingly, is in my wife's name.

 

[Gottfrid]

15 hours ago, thaisail said:

For me and my Thai wife the entire visa run was a positive experience and though there were a lot of extra costs due to the pandemic, in the end it was worth it to see a new country and see what Cambodia was all about.

Thank you for you patience, Sir!

[EricTh]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

The way immigration offices prevent that is by asking for proof of the source of your income.

I don't think many people are doing it that anyway since it would be costly way to try skirt the requirements due to the cost of sending money in and out if the country.

Does immigration require an additional source of income proof for every renewal? I thought a 12 monthly transfer bank statement that it came from abroad is sufficient.

 

The cost of transferring 40,000 baht in and out of the country is minimal if we use Transferwise or similar low cost service. 

 

A few people in the past borrowed money from their friends/agents for 3 months in the past; that's why immigration changed to the new rule of requiring 5 months and 12 months for retirees. 'A few' people is enough for immigration to change the rules.

 

 

Edited February 20, 2022 by EricTh

[DrJack54]

59 minutes ago, In the jungle said:

In my case 60% of my living expenses come from my wife's business.

I take your point.

However thinking your situation is not typical. 

More common would be couple living off farang income.

Guess age comes into it.

 

I retired and with same Thai partner 10years. 

She hasn't worked during that time and I wouldn't have it any other way.

So yes as not married I keep 800k+ all year round. (I realize can take it down to 400k for a period).

 

The fact that if I sign a marriage certificate and just have 400k in bank for couple of months only is a pretty sweet deal in comparison to retired folk.

IMO ridiculous. 

[In the jungle]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

I take your point.

However thinking your situation is not typical. 

More common would be couple living off farang income.

Guess age comes into it.

 

I retired and with same Thai partner 10years. 

She hasn't worked during that time and I wouldn't have it any other way.

So yes as not married I keep 800k+ all year round. (I realize can take it down to 400k for a period).

 

The fact that if I sign a marriage certificate and just have 400k in bank for couple of months only is a pretty sweet deal in comparison to retired folk.

IMO ridiculous. 

In fairness I do not actually use those two sources of income in any dealings with Thai Immigration. 

 

It would just make matters way too complex for my small local immigration office. 

[ubonjoe]

27 minutes ago, EricTh said:

Does immigration require an additional source of income proof for every renewal? I thought a 12 monthly transfer bank statement that it came from abroad is sufficient.

They can and do ask for the source of income when showing transfers from abroad.

I have had to show proof of the source of my income when using transfers from abroad for 3 extensions since the rules were changed.

 

28 minutes ago, EricTh said:

The cost of transferring 40,000 baht in and out of the country is minimal if we use Transferwise or similar low cost service. 

The cost of transfers into Thailand can be lowered using Wise and others.

There are not many choices for transferring out of Thailand and Wise is certainly not one of them and the are not all that cheap.

[KhaoNiaw]

Quote

We found out that I could easily go to Laos

I know the point here is Cambodia and you've done a great job of posting your experience. But I'm also interested to know which entry method made Laos easy. And if you'd gone there, are embassies now recognized as Green Zone locations in Laos and processing visas?  

[EricTh]

3 hours ago, aussiexpat said:

"However, there is a problem with payment. First you have to have a Cambodian phone number and be able to receive the OTP code on a Cambodian SIM card. I tried to pay the $36 USD charge with several bank cards from the US and from Thailand also and none would work without receiving the Cambodian OTP to type into the payment window"

 

I really don't get this bit about requiring a phone in Cambodia to get an OTP for payment. Anyone applying for a tourist visa while outside of Cambodia would of course not have a Cambodia phone. Also, isn't the OTP sent by your bank to the phone number you have registered to them?

 

The part about finding some random official in Cambodia willing to pay for you just doesn't make sense either...who would do that? And why the whole Singapore friend transfer, if you transferred $70 to friends account why didn't you just transfer it direct to the Cambodia official? None of this payment makes sense?

 

Maybe he didn't know that we can send money out of Thailand via Deemoney.

 

 

[konaboy]

A tawdry tale Thaisail, for sure. I have been working on my parent/Thai son visa for 4 months. 

I will be writing a long story when, and if, I ever succeed.

For now, my latest short story is that my Buriram Amphur told me to go back to BKK, for the second time, and have the US EMBASSY certify my Hawaii divorce certificate. I did. I paid the $50.00 fee, had it seal stamped and signed by an Embassy gentleman. Then off to CW. (second trip) I reviewed everything with a translator of everything previously approved over months. Then paid them the 1500 B fee. They would submit it all and mail the approval to me. I left the next morning and drove back to Buriram.

Two days later I was called and informed. NO. The signature on my first certification that my PP was truly mine, completed several months before, did NOT HAVE THE SAME SIGNATURE BY THE EMBASSY EMPLOYEE!! They wanted the same employee to sign both documents!! Of course I was never previously informed of this Thai technicality.

I can go back, wrestle with the US Embassy ??? and then what.

Upon reviewing Thaisale, I fear my monthly transfers of funds from my Pension may also be rejected!

???

 

[problemfarang]

@thaisail

Thanks for the report. This is exactly what im going to do in a month.

Could you also add the documents, paper work you gave to thai embassy there please?

Also im little bit confused about thai pass. And couldnt find details about it in your report.. so please tell us little bit about that. And also please correct me if im wrong:

To apply thai pass, you already should have the visa, because its one of the dpcuments you need to add when applying.. and it can take between 3 to 7 days. Most reports say 5-7 days. So.. from your trip report, it seems there is something there.. i mean you wrote like you managed to get your thai pass eveb before you got your visa from thai embassy in cambodia.. many reports say they applied thai pass AFTER they got their visa from thai embassy and had to wait another 5 or 7 days to get the approval.. can you explain how did you do that so i will do the same.

@ubonjoe any ideas?

 

Thanks

 

 

Edited February 20, 2022 by problemfarang

[problemfarang]

2 hours ago, KhaoNiaw said:

I know the point here is Cambodia and you've done a great job of posting your experience. But I'm also interested to know which entry method made Laos easy. And if you'd gone there, are embassies now recognized as Green Zone locations in Laos and processing visas?  

You can go to laos by booking one of the travel tours. And can go there only via air. Im not sure about the quaranteena but i think its about 14 days, might me less if your 3 dose vaccinated. Them you can get your visa in this time. Also another place is vietnam. They are fully openned. 

[ubonjoe]

23 minutes ago, problemfarang said:

@ubonjoe any ideas?

He applied for the Thailand pass before leaving Thailand. A visa for entry to Thailand is not required to get it.

Info the Thailand pass is here. https://tp.consular.go.th/

The required document for a non-o visa based upon marriage is here on the embassy website.

https://phnompenh.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-immigrant-o-visa-thai-family?page=5d73b14415e39c46f40076a1&menu=5d73b14415e39c46f40076a2

 

[MajorTom]

5 hours ago, aussiexpat said:

"However, there is a problem with payment. First you have to have a Cambodian phone number and be able to receive the OTP code on a Cambodian SIM card. I tried to pay the $36 USD charge with several bank cards from the US and from Thailand also and none would work without receiving the Cambodian OTP to type into the payment window"

 

I really don't get this bit about requiring a phone in Cambodia to get an OTP for payment. Anyone applying for a tourist visa while outside of Cambodia would of course not have a Cambodia phone. Also, isn't the OTP sent by your bank to the phone number you have registered to them?

 

The part about finding some random official in Cambodia willing to pay for you just doesn't make sense either...who would do that? And why the whole Singapore friend transfer, if you transferred $70 to friends account why didn't you just transfer it direct to the Cambodia official? None of this payment makes sense?

 

I think its a misunderstanding. I recently applied and paid for a Cambodian e-visa with a foreign credit card. Zero problems.

[problemfarang]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

He applied for the Thailand pass before leaving Thailand. A visa for entry to Thailand is not required to get it.

Info the Thailand pass is here. https://tp.consular.go.th/

The required document for a non-o visa based upon marriage is here on the embassy website.

https://phnompenh.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-immigrant-o-visa-thai-family?page=5d73b14415e39c46f40076a1&menu=5d73b14415e39c46f40076a2

 

 

thanks. great help

[pagallim]

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Folk on extensions retirement also need to live on money, however their funds are basically frozen in a Thai bank if using money in bank method.

The financial requirements for married guys is a joke.

Should be same requirements as for retirement. 

The argument that wife can contribute to living expenses via having a job is a nonsense. 

I've viewed the 400K minimum for retirement extensions as a means of ensuring 400K is available for medical treatments without actually being insured, as the minimum 400K medical cover required for O-A Retirement visas.

[kevc]

Did you have to show bank statement for the ninety day Non O  and if so how much do they require.

[ubonjoe]

30 minutes ago, kevc said:

Did you have to show bank statement for the ninety day Non O  and if so how much do they require.

The embassy website only mentions a bank statement is needed.

I assume it would it be the same as other embassies and it is the same 20k baht or the equivalent of it required for visa applications. 

Link I posted earlier shows the requirements. https://phnompenh.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-immigrant-o-visa-thai-family?page=5d73b14415e39c46f40076a1&menu=5d73b14415e39c46f40076a2

[Pmbkk]

7 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

The argument that wife can contribute to living expenses via having a job is a nonsense. 

 

Rubbish - my wife is a doctor at private hospitals in Bangkok - her salary can cover our living costs.