Trip Report: Poipet border run - 45 day Visa exempt

[spambot 402]

Background: 

Mostly O & OA Retirement Extensions between 2010 - 2020. - Previously leaving Thailand Feb 2020 and I entered Thailand with Visa exempt November 2022 (was not extended) . After 44 days I was attempting to get another 45 day Visa exempt on a Poipet border run.

 

5:15 am Arrive at Hua Lamphong station and buy a Ticket to Ban Klong Luk Border (Poipet, Cambodia), 49 Bth - 4 queuing lines with 7 in each line, time taken to get a ticket is 3 mins. Took #53 bus (8 Thb) from Thewet to railway station, travel time of 14 mins.

5:55 am Train leaves on time, most seats are full

11:21 am After 50 stops arrive at the border (4 mins late) and follow most of the passengers out of the station, turn left and then immediately turn left again, following the signs for Thailand immigration, total distance 100 metres.

11:24 am Enter Thailand immigration, 4 lines with 7 people queuing in each line. The process of getting stamped out is straightforward and without questions or issues.

11:31 am Exit Thailand immigration, walk down the steps and enter Cambodia arrivals which is 80 metres on the right, then walk up the steps and immediately directed to the table on the right to fill in an arrival card (like a TM.6). The building is new, the kiosks have signs “payment should not be made at this kiosk” looks professional, clinical and well organised. There are 4 lines and 7 people queuing in each line.

11:47 am Get the arrival stamp in my passport and walk down the steps into Cambodia (I had the Cambodian Visa purchased previously, no payment was required). Immediately met by 10 vendors offering transport. One was smartly dressed and spoke good English and similarly offered transport, seemed like a middleman. I said I was going directly back to Thailand and he said that this was not possible since I need to spend at least one night in Cambodia or would be refused entry by Thai immigration.

11:49 am Spoke to a Cambodian uniformed official who was about 50 metres away, outside. I asked if I would be allowed back into Thailand with a Visa Exempt as I had just arrived today in Cambodia. His answer was No, I would need to spend one night in Cambodia, but I should go check with Thai immigration to be sure. His English was good and his approach was friendly.

11:52 am I walked into the entry to Thailand area about 100 metres behind the Cambodian uniformed official (will refer to this building again later) and spoke to a Thailand Immigration Police officer. I asked the same question and his response was that I need to go back to Cambodia. I persisted and said I would do this, but I wanted to know if I could enter Thailand on a Visa Exempt if I stamped out of Cambodia today. The officer raised his voice and waved me away saying "come back once you leave Cambodia".

11:59 am I entered the Cambodian exit building I had just walked from and I walked up the stairs and there were about 100 people queuing for the 4 exit Kiosks open. I asked a man who was not in uniform at the doorway if he worked for Cambodian immigration which he confirmed he did. I asked him the same question as before. His answer was that I need to spend one night in Cambodia or will be denied entry by Thai immigration. His English was good and his approach was friendly.

12:23 pm I exit the building and set off to Poipet to find accommodation

5:02 pm I found Hotel accommodation ($15, paid with 550 Thb) 1Km from the border (clean and good value). I tried 9 hotels and Guest Houses previously, which were surprisingly all full and had prices between $50 to $17.50 with distances ranging from close to the border and up to 3 Km away.

7:35 am Next day I leave the hotel and head towards the border.

8:01 am Enter up the stairs again to the Cambodia immigration exit kiosks. There are 4 Kiosks open and no one else waiting. Fingerprint and photos taken with some keyboard work, then stamped out of Cambodia. The exit is straightforward and there are no questions asked.

8:04 am Walk down the stairs at the rear and head back again to Thailand arrival. There is a coffee shop on the left with a “Quarantine area” sign above and 20 metres further there are barriers that guide you to the Thailand Immigration. On the left when entering is an office signed Thailand immigration and I enquire for guidance and the officer points loosely across a large open area filled with about 150 people mostly seated. I reach barriers next to the escalator on the left hand side where I ask a man not in uniform, partially sleeping, where I need to go and he sits up and finds a pack of TM6 forms and he hands me one. I completed the form and he then directs me up the escalator.

8:12 am I enter the Thailand immigration room and there are 75 people queuing with 6 Kiosks open. There is one western family with a child and all other passports seem to be Cambodian.

8:49 am I entered the Kiosk area. There are 2 Kiosks now open and approximately 110 people are queuing. My fingerprints and photographs are taken and some computer keyboard entries are made. After about 90 seconds I am asked questions: “How long you stay in Thailand” and I reply 45 days. He asks “How long do you stay in Cambodia” and I reply 1 day. He asks “Why do you come to Thailand” and I reply that I am on holiday. He calls over his supervisor and I am ushered to a seating area.

9:06 am Supervisor arrives and the following conversation approximately happened:

Supervisor: “ How long you stay in Thailand”   Me: “45 days” (Assuming this to be my Visa exempt entitlement)

Supervisor: “Why you come to Thailand”    Me: “For a Holiday”

Supervisor: “When do you leave Thailand”    Me: “In 2 weeks to go to Vietnam”  (I now start adapting and mentally rescheduling my time in Thailand since I am sensing she has a problem with another 45 days of stay).

Supervisor: “Where do you go then”    Me: “I will then go to Bali for 2 Months” (more mental adaptive rescheduling)

Supervisor: “Show me your flight out of Thailand”    Me: “ I have not booked this yet”

Supervisor: “Where do you stay in Thailand    Me: I hand her a copy of my Condo Contract

Supervisor: “This is for a 6 months stay   Me: “I have an arrangement that I can leave before this date and I am then just charged a fee for storage of my things while away.

Supervisor: “ Do you have Flight bookings to leave Thailand”   Me: “ Yes, but this is in May 2023”

Supervisor: “ You need to book a flight now out of Thailand to leave in the next two weeks”   Me: “How can I do that, I only have cash with me (20,000 Thb) and my credit card is in my condo in Bangkok.

Supervisor: “You need to book a flight now”    Me: “ I have a ten year history of long term visas with very few visa exempts. I am here on a short holiday and will be going back to the UK, returning to Thailand to get a conversion to O Visa and then an extension, I just misunderstood the Visa exempt rules"

Supervisor: “You did not have to come to Cambodia as you could have applied for an extension giving the 2 weeks needed before leaving for Vietnam”    Me: “I did not know that”. In reality I did know that, rather I thought my entitlement would start again for 2 per calendar year, just in case I needed them (the border run was December 2022)

Supervisor: “ You need to book a flight out of Thailand before you will be allowed to enter”  Me: “How can I do this if my credit card is in Bangkok” 

Supervisor: “Do you have a Thai girlfriend”    Me: “No" 

Long silence occurs as she flips through the pages of my passport. She then stands up and says “Follow me”. We go to a Kiosk and then she takes my fingerprints and photo again and then she stamps into my passport a 45 day permission to stay.

9:38 am I exit immigration and enter Thailand then I head to the market to buy a fresh shirt before getting back on the train to Bangkok.

1:53 pm Train leaves the station (full) and we arrive in Bangkok 7:53 pm (13 min late)

 

THE END

 

Subjective Issues:

I should have taken a credit card with me and booked onwardticket.com ($14) when a ticket was needed. However I thought this was only required for Airport arrivals, not land crossings. I had the 20,000 Thb and proof of accommodation, which I thought was the only requirement.

 

It was not stated that any further comments would be made in my electronic file and there are no comments made in my Passport and I am guessing that after I extend the current Visa exempt and then I go for another 45 day exempt (at Lao Border) or possibly apply for Tourist Visa (in Hanoi) this incident will not jeopardise nor will the same issues be raised. 

 

I should have known from other reports, one night's stay would be required in Cambodia and that 2 border runs per calendar year is not the only consideration for Thai immigration at the Poipet border.  However I was convinced otherwise by two people living near me with broadly similar Visa backgrounds who had just done the same run successfully and had not found any problems other than queuing times were excessive.

 

A Cambodia border bounce company costing 3,500 Thb vs DIY 2,000 Thb = 1,500 Thb premium - If doing the trip again now I would consider this to be good value insurance.

 

On a positive note - The 45 day Visa exempt objective was achieved and the supervisor didn't give a denied entry stamp / write comment in passport / enforce a return to Thailand by air and I got a cheap shirt from the market.

[DrJack54 25038]

Fantastic report.

Appreciate the detail. Ta

[spambot 402]

26 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Fantastic report.

Appreciate the detail. Ta

I really appreciate your positive feedback - Thanks

[Caldera 9537]

Great report, but since you seem to like trains, you could have saved yourself quite a bit of hassle by taking a train to Nong Khai and crossing the border to Laos there instead.

[Saigon 44]

That's a very interesting but amazing report

about the immigration at Poipet, which is

believed to be a land crossing to be best

avoided! It's proved to be as notorious as

other reports say!

 

I did a border bounce at Padang Besar last

month for my 2nd visa-exempt entry in the

calendar year. Only Thai and Malaysian

passport holders were allowed to queue for

the kiosks so I was told to go to the office

where I was asked the same questions by

the IOs as you were (even when I left The

Kingdom), but was never asked if I had

booked an onward ticket out of Thailand

yet when I came back here.

Edited January 10 by Saigon

[spambot 402]

35 minutes ago, Caldera said:

Great report, but since you seem to like trains, you could have saved yourself quite a bit of hassle by taking a train to Nong Khai and crossing the border to Laos there instead.

Yup - I have done that train journey to Nong Khai a few times before and yes in hindsight it would have made more sense.

 

Its my Bad, that will serve as experience for future decisions.

 

However more importantly hopefully this will help others who were on the fence about Poipet with a similar Visa / exemption profile - Providing them with some details for consideration.

[alex8912 3698]

Why would you need your physical credit card for? It's easily set up on your phone or you can remember the number, expiration date and 3/4 digit code on the back. Or just keep it somewhere.   I think they completely didn't believe your story. A trip to Vietnam, if lying, should have been 31+ days out.  Also since you spoke to quite a lot of people maybe someone remembered you wanting to come back right away.  It's an interesting story but perhaps someone found you annoying or red flags went up somewhere.  Even a full 24 hours + in poipet May have been a good choice as well.  Every single person said stay a day/ night but going back in the morning was a bad move. 

Edited January 10 by alex8912

[mockingbird 314]

If I'd never set foot in Thailand in my life, I would still avoid the Poipet border. 

[spambot 402]

23 minutes ago, Saigon said:

That's a very interesting but amazing report

about the immigration at Poipet, which is

believed to be a land crossing to be best

avoided! It's proved to be as notorious as

other reports say!

 

I did a border bounce at Padang Besar last

month for my 2nd visa-exempt entry in the

calendar year. Only Thai and Malaysian

passport holders were allowed to queue for

the kiosks so I was told to go to the office

where I was asked the same questions by

the IOs as you were (even when I left The

Kingdom), but was never asked if I had

booked an onward ticket out of Thailand

yet when I came back here.

Good info Saigon - 

 

Its difficult to know if the questions that were ask of you at Padang was just immigration doing their job and this is standard process for all non Thai / Malaysians or this was a one off arbitrary decision made on that day. 

 

However on a more general point - It is difficult to remove conflict from a system when there is presumed entitlement by users, while many times it's just interpretation and subjective thought.

 

I was actually very surprised by the flight details that were required and again echoing the above - If you want compliant users then provide them a consistency to follow so they can give what you want.

[spambot 402]

32 minutes ago, mockingbird said:

If I'd never set foot in Thailand in my life, I would still avoid the Poipet border. 

Ha - That made me laugh - And I guess I agree mockingbird

[Saigon 44]

16 minutes ago, spambot said:

Good info Saigon - 

 

Its difficult to know if the questions that were ask of you at Padang was just immigration doing their job and this is standard process for all non Thai / Malaysians or this was a one off arbitrary decision made on that day.

At first I had to join the queue for the kiosk and wasn't

even told to go to the office till I handed my passport

over to the IO at the kiosk, when I left Thailand.

 

There was actually a Thai woman queuing ahead of

me, and the IO asked her the same questions like

'Where are you going?' and 'How long there for?' so

that must of been their standard process, I'd say.

Edited January 10 by Saigon

[spambot 402]

5 minutes ago, Saigon said:

At first I had to join the queue for the kiosk and wasn't

even told to go to the office till I handed my passport

over to the IO at the kiosk.

 

There was actually a Thai woman queuing ahead of

me, and the IO asked her the same questions like

'Where are you going?' and 'How long there for?' so

that must of been their standard process, I'd say.

Good feedback Saigon - Thanks for taking the time for the response

[StayinThailand2much 8488]

5 hours ago, spambot said:

I am guessing that after I extend the current Visa exempt and then I go for another 45 day exempt (at Lao Border) or possibly apply for Tourist Visa (in Hanoi) this incident will not jeopardise nor will the same issues be raised. 

Having had a similar visa history as you do, I thought so too, when, suddenly, I ran into problems in late 2019/early 2020, at both Bangkok airports, as well as at a land border. - Would be great to hear about your next experience at the border. (Great report, by the way!)

Edited January 10 by StayinThailand2much

[jimn 2707]

A good report but I cant help but wonder why you put yourself through all this nonsense. You could easily get a 30 day extension at immigration and after that if you needed more time fly out somewhere and back to get another 45 plus 30 days. You obviously enjoy hastle.

[persimmon 230]

I need to cross the border at Nonghai next month for a 45 day VEE . I then need to extend this by 30 days to match my flight date . Is this likely to be a problem when coming back into Th . - will they require a flight out within the 45 days ?

Great report BTW , did you take notes as you were going through the process , or just remember it all afterwards ?

[Bigz 473]

Thais will let you back in on the same day. To my knowledge Cambodia has a rule that if you are a solo traveller (not in a tour group) you must stay at least a night in Cambodia. The Cambodian border guards usually charge 300 Bahts to 'exempt' you from this rule. 

[spambot 402]

1 hour ago, persimmon said:

I need to cross the border at Nonghai next month for a 45 day VEE . I then need to extend this by 30 days to match my flight date . Is this likely to be a problem when coming back into Th . - will they require a flight out within the 45 days ?

Great report BTW , did you take notes as you were going through the process , or just remember it all afterwards ?

Thanks - persimmon I took a notepad with me. I have done trips before and could not remember the details after a few weeks - Hence this time wrote it down.

[spambot 402]

1 hour ago, Bigz said:

Thais will let you back in on the same day. To my knowledge Cambodia has a rule that if you are a solo traveller (not in a tour group) you must stay at least a night in Cambodia. The Cambodian border guards usually charge 300 Bahts to 'exempt' you from this rule. 

I actually expected the same once the overnight requirement had been identified. However one of the people in the crowd when I entered into Cambodia after leaving immigration was shouting he could fix it with Thai immigration to go back the same day, which did confused me. It could be I misunderstood or his English was not accurate or none of the above. However the sheer number of people trying to get attention for commerce was a bit overpowering and difficult to really have a sensible conversation with a crowd.

 

At the end of the day even if the overnight issue was fixed, unless all the other issues were fixed with Thai immigration I was still going  to have the same challenge with the immigration supervisor - I am speculating here, but she was more likely looking for a week or two in Cambodia - The one overnight didn't impress her at all. Also I think in retrospect staying one night in Poipet is probably a small price to pay if it could guarantee re-entry to Thailand with a Visa Exempt. Unfortunately these probably might be two separate issues.

[Bigz 473]

24 minutes ago, spambot said:

I actually expected the same once the overnight requirement had been identified. However one of the people in the crowd when I entered into Cambodia after leaving immigration was shouting he could fix it with Thai immigration to go back the same day, which did confused me. It could be I misunderstood or his English was not accurate or none of the above. However the sheer number of people trying to get attention for commerce was a bit overpowering and difficult to really have a sensible conversation with a crowd.

 

At the end of the day even if the overnight issue was fixed, unless all the other issues were fixed with Thai immigration I was still going  to have the same challenge with the immigration supervisor - I am speculating here, but she was more likely looking for a week or two in Cambodia - The one overnight didn't impress her at all. Also I think in retrospect staying one night in Poipet is probably a small price to pay if it could guarantee re-entry to Thailand with a Visa Exempt. Unfortunately these probably might be two separate issues.

There is no rule that you can't re-enter Thailand on the same day. It is a Cambodian rule that you can't leave the country on the day of arrival unless you are in a tour group. They try to confuse you by blaming the Thais knowing that you can't ask them on the other side of the border. All they want is 300 bahts and they will let you back. It can be overwhelming with all those conmen around though... At other border crossings (Chong Chom for example) they are more upfront and the Cambodian guards will ask you straight away if you want to return to Thailand same day and will charge you accordingly.

[Homburg 1148]

Firstly, really good report Spambot & many thanks for that.  In the past I have successfully crossed Thailand-Cambodia-Thailand same day at Poipet.  No questions asked or other hassles from the Thai or Khmer IO's, as I recall the queues were the biggest problem.  I have certainly not heard of the B300 scam to let you go back same day, but I guess the Khmer IO's are losing tea money of B100 per tourist because of people buying online visas (they would always add B100 to the visa fee) and need want to make it up somehow. That said, my last same day out-in was a few years back, so I guess things have changed and I shall not try that again.

[mrwebb8825 1375]

I made a border run to Cambodia several years ago and it was a breeze. I never even left Thailand. The IO said he'd take care of it for me for 300 baht. So he and I sat in his office and chatted over coffee for 1/2 an hour while my passport got all the in/out stamps.

OP - When the supervisor asked if you had a gf you should have answered "No, but I'm looking for a nice lady. Are you single?". 😁

[DrJack54 25038]

48 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

I made a border run to Cambodia several years ago and it was a breeze. I never even left Thailand. The IO said he'd take care of it for me for 300 baht. So he and I sat in his office and chatted over coffee for 1/2 an hour while my passport got all the in/out stamps.

OP - When the supervisor asked if you had a gf you should have answered "No, but I'm looking for a nice lady. Are you single?". 😁

How relevant is this to anyone doing a border bounce to Cambodia in the near future?

 

Your charm and tale is nice story.

Again irrelevant 

Edited January 15 by DrJack54

[BritTim 14718]

On 1/10/2023 at 4:14 PM, persimmon said:

I need to cross the border at Nonghai next month for a 45 day VEE . I then need to extend this by 30 days to match my flight date . Is this likely to be a problem when coming back into Th . - will they require a flight out within the 45 days ?

Great report BTW , did you take notes as you were going through the process , or just remember it all afterwards ?

Historically, Immigration at the Friendship Bridge, entering Thailand at Nong Khai, has been no hassle. However, some are reporting that the Thai immigration officials at the border crossings with Laos have been asked to tighten up. I do not think there is enough real world experience yet to judge the situation when entering at Nong Khai.

[mrwebb8825 1375]

22 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

How relevant is this to anyone doing a border bounce to Cambodia in the near future?

 

Your charm and tale is nice story.

Again irrelevant 

Guess 1 needs a "Genuflecting" icon to post in your most gracious presents Sir Dr. Jack?

[DrJack54 25038]

56 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Guess 1 needs a "Genuflecting" icon to post in your most gracious presents Sir Dr. Jack?

Not at all. Just post facts relevant to thread without fairytale. 

You state: 

 "I made a border run to Cambodia several years ago and it was a breeze. I never even left Thailand. The IO said he'd take care of it for me for 300 baht" 

 

Yeah right!

 

Edited January 16 by DrJack54

[mrwebb8825 1375]

On 1/10/2023 at 11:59 AM, Homburg said:

Firstly, really good report Spambot & many thanks for that.  In the past I have successfully crossed Thailand-Cambodia-Thailand same day at Poipet.  No questions asked or other hassles from the Thai or Khmer IO's, as I recall the queues were the biggest problem.  I have certainly not heard of the B300 scam to let you go back same day, but I guess the Khmer IO's are losing tea money of B100 per tourist because of people buying online visas (they would always add B100 to the visa fee) and need want to make it up somehow. That said, my last same day out-in was a few years back, so I guess things have changed and I shall not try that again.

 

10 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Not at all. Just post facts relevant to thread without fairytale. 

You mean like the post above mine?

[DrJack54 25038]

2 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

 

You mean like the post above mine?

The post you quoted stated in part......

"That said, my last same day out-in was a few years back, so I guess things have changed and I shall not try that again." 

 

He exited Thailand. His post was about not having to stay one night in Cambodia. 

Enough. On ignore

 

 

[mrwebb8825 1375]

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

The post you quoted stated in part......

"That said, my last same day out-in was a few years back, so I guess things have changed and I shall not try that again." 

 

He exited Thailand. His post was about not having to stay one night in Cambodia. 

Enough. On ignore

 

 

Semantics Doc? Really? Where I stated ..."several years ago..." and he stated ..."a few years back..." differs greatly how? I'm now genuinely curious. 😗

[DrJack54 25038]

8 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Semantics Doc? Really? Where I stated ..."several years ago..." and he stated ..."a few years back..." differs greatly how? I'm now genuinely curious. 😗

You stated that you never left Thailand......from your post...

." I never even left Thailand." 

 

Meaning immigration on Thai side of border sent your pp over to Cambodian side for entry stamp all while you had a coffee with Thai immigration. 

Ridiculous.

 

All this not to be confused with illegal practice of many many years ago where expats could send passports with an agent to border while they sat in Bangkok or wherever.

In any event I don't believe your account. 

 

Even in recent years you need to physically exit Thailand at border and reenter.

That involves obtaining entry doc (or eVisa) to bordering country. 

 

All of which has nothing to do with the fairytale that you outline. 

Edited January 16 by DrJack54

[mrwebb8825 1375]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You stated that you never left Thailand......from your post...

." I never even left Thailand." 

 

Meaning immigration on Thai side of border sent your pp over to Cambodian side for entry stamp all while you had a coffee with Thai immigration. 

Ridiculous.

 

All this not to be confused with illegal practice of many many years ago where expats could send passports with an agent to border while they sat in Bangkok or wherever.

In any event I don't believe your account. 

 

Even in recent years you need to physically exit Thailand at border and reenter.

That involves obtaining entry doc (or eVisa) to bordering country. 

 

All of which has nothing to do with the fairytale that you outline. 

What YOU believe or don't believe is the only irreverent factor here then. I was also stamped in and out w/o ever leaving Thailand in 2003 south of Hua Hin because the border was closed due to conflict.

Don't let your personal experience limit your acceptance of the truth.  It never happened to me so it can't be true is pretty narrow thinking.