Border Bounce to Padang Besar from Phuket

[Saigon]

Hi All,

 

I'd like to share it with you how I did a 'Border

Bounce' to Padang Besar from Phuket.

 

1.  Phuket to Hat Yai

 

I took a night bus leaving Phuket Bus Terminal 2

(New Bus Terminal) at around 10pm, arriving at

Hat Yai Bus Terminal around 5am the next day.

There are at least three bus companies running

between Phuket and Hat Yai, and I paid around

400B for a ticket.

 

If you should take the 1st bus in the morning,

you'll probably get all the way to Padang Besar

in the evening, though.

 

2.  Hat Yai to Padang Besar

 

You can hop on the mini-van at Hat Yai Bus

Terminal (where you arrive from Phuket) for

Padang Besar (60B / 1hr), but I walked to Hat

Yai Railway Station (2km) to catch the train

at 7:40am to Padang Besar Railway Station

on the Malaysian side (50B / 50min). I just

wanted to clear immigration in the railway

station out of curiosity, though.

 

3. 1 night stay in Padang Besar

 

I stayed at one of the places in Padang Besar

on the Malaysian side. It actually was Ramadan

right then (it still is for the next 3 weeks), so all

the restaurants were closed from sunrise to sunset,

except some Chinese restaurants that were open

in the morning.

 

4. Passport control both at Malaysian and Thai

Immigration

 

I walked through Malaysian Immigration and then

Thai Immigration at Padang Besar. There was no

problem going through Immigration on the Malaysia

side. And I walked up the road to Immigration on the

Thai side.

 

Yes, I had to go to the office (not to a kiosk to hand

over my passport to the IO), where the officer was

waiting for me, and started to talk to me about my

last job I had on my Non-B visa, and then asked me

these questions.

 

a.  Don't you have a visa to enter Thailand this time?

b. Where are you going and staying?

c. What are you going to do?

 

I answered the questions (in Thai) before I got stamped

in no problem. This is actually my 3rd visa-exempt

entry into Thailand since my last Non-B expired last

year but is my very 1st one in this calendar year. I

wasn't even asked to show 20kB cash, let alone an

onward ticket out of The Kingdom.

 

5.  The Thai Immigration to the mini-van station

 

I walked to the mini-van station from the Immigration

Complex (1.5km / 20mins). A bike taxi should cost 50B.

 

6.  Mini-van station at Padang Besar to Hat Yai

 

It cost 60B and took 50mins.

 

7.  Hat Yai back to Phuket

 

I got to Hat Yai Bus Terminal past 10am and was

going to take a 11:45am bus back to Phuket but they

said that there was no 11:45am bus running on that

day (there wouldn't be enough passengers. I'm not

sure) so I had to wait for a 1pm bus. And I got back

to Phuket 8 hours later. Again, there are some other

bus companies operating between Hat Yai and Phuket.

 

I hope that helps.

Edited March 30, 2023 by Saigon

[DrJack54]

Sounds horrific. 

[BritTim]

Good report. With the Ranong to Grand Andaman crossing now reported to be open, I think I would prefer that instead.

[JoseThailand]

4 hours ago, Saigon said:

1.  Phuket to Hat Yai

 

I took a night bus leaving Phuket Bus Terminal 2

(New Bus Terminal) at around 10pm, arriving at

Hat Yai Bus Terminal around 5am the next day.

There are at least three bus companies running

between Phuket and Hat Yai, and I paid around

400B for a ticket.

Would've been easier flying, and not that much more expensive.

[Red Phoenix]

Thanks, a helpful account for those wanting to do same.

Note that since you did a land-border crossing there is no need for an onward flight-ticket, so it is only logical that the Thai border immigration officer didn't ask for it. 

[Daithi85]

Good write up.

Any one using this border crossing should definitely carry the 20,000 cash because sometimes they do ask to see it.

 

[Saigon]

Hi All,

 

Thanks very much for your comments!

 

Yes, I wanted to share my experience with

those who are interested in doing a border

bounce. I do know it'll be much easier to fly

but you'll then be very likely to be asked to

show an onward ticket when flying back to

Thailand.

 

Ranong is much closer to Phuket than Padang

Besar is, but I've heard that the Immigration up

there has been strict because they do know that

those who leave Thailand are coming straight

back to The Kingdom from Myanmar on visa-

exemption (if they don't have a re-entry permit on them.)

 

The reason I mentioned that I wasn't asked by

the IO to show an onward ticket is I've heard of

reports of having been asked to when coming

back to Thailand from Cambodia through the

notorious land crossing of Poipet!

 

And I was ready to show the balance on app that

I had more than 20kB in my Thai bank account.

 

Lastly, I nearly forgot to tell you that when I left

Thailand the IO disappeared into the office from

his kiosk with my passport in his hand. He didn't

tell me anything or write anything in my passport,

though. What a nerve-wracking moment! 555

Edited March 31, 2023 by Saigon

[SebBkk]

I did visa run there also without using a company 2 days ago, for those wondering, they force you to stay 1 night in Malaysia ( even they told me you must stay 2-3 nights). You can’t bounce and back the same day.

[BritTim]

6 minutes ago, SebBkk said:

I did visa run there also without using a company 2 days ago, for those wondering, they force you to stay 1 night in Malaysia ( even they told me you must stay 2-3 nights). You can’t bounce and back the same day.

According to other reports, it may be possible to return the same day if you pay a bribe (or, maybe, that is only true at Sadao?) Did you see or hear anything to suggest same day return was possible if a bribe was paid at Padang Besar? Do you know whether different rules are applied when leaving via immigration inside the train station?

[Caldera]

2 hours ago, Saigon said:

And I was ready to show the balance on app that I had more than 20kB in my Thai bank account.

If and when they do ask to see money, chances are that they only accept cash. From reports, success with attempting to show them apps or bank statements is hit and miss, but mostly miss.

 

At the Malaysia border in particular, people have been sent back to go to an ATM to withdraw cash in the past. At airports, no such luck, so it would be too late to remedy any failure to show cash.

[SebBkk]

3 hours ago, BritTim said:

According to other reports, it may be possible to return the same day if you pay a bribe (or, maybe, that is only true at Sadao?) Did you see or hear anything to suggest same day return was possible if a bribe was paid at Padang Besar? Do you know whether different rules are applied when leaving via immigration inside the train station?

Impossible to bribe there ????

Even if some motorbikes and people walking around tell you it’s possible, at the end, the immigration officials refuse.

 

i don’t know at the train station

[Jaggg88]

If you want to fly then just purchase a fake onward ticket, costs about $10. The rules for re-entering on a visa-exempt state you must show 20,000 in Thai cash so whether the IO accepts your Thai banking app balance is up to him/her. I've never been asked to show the money or ticket at immigration in 20 years but I've only ever done 2 land border bounces. Although I have had to show the onward ticket to airlines when coming on a one way ticket - sometimes, not always, as it depends on the agent checking you in.

[BritTim]

1 minute ago, Jaggg88 said:

If you want to fly then just purchase a fake onward ticket, costs about $10. The rules for re-entering on a visa-exempt state you must show 20,000 in Thai cash so whether the IO accepts your Thai banking app balance is up to him/her. I've never been asked to show the money or ticket at immigration in 20 years but I've only ever done 2 land border bounces. Although I have had to show the onward ticket to airlines when coming on a one way ticket - sometimes, not always, as it depends on the agent checking you in.

Of course, flying out and returning by land is another possibility, and may actually be safer for those returning visa exempt if they are long stay tourists. Long stay tourists run a risk when seeking visa exemptions at airports.

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, Jaggg88 said:

The rules for re-entering on a visa-exempt state you must show 20,000 in Thai cash so whether the IO accepts your Thai banking app balance is up to him/her.

Cash does not need to be baht.

Equivalent currency is ok.

 

Bank app, bank book etc not accepted. 

 

[Red Phoenix]

6 hours ago, Saigon said:

Hi All,

 

Thanks very much for your comments!

 

Yes, I wanted to share my experience with

those who are interested in doing a border

bounce. I do know it'll be much easier to fly

but you'll then be very likely to be asked to

show an onward ticket when flying back to

Thailand.

 

Ranong is much closer to Phuket than Padang

Besar is, but I've heard that the Immigration up

there has been strict because they do know that

those who leave Thailand are coming straight

back to The Kingdom from Myanmar on visa-

exemption (if they don't have a re-entry permit on them.)

 

The reason I mentioned that I wasn't asked by

the IO to show an onward ticket is I've heard of

reports of having been asked to when coming

back to Thailand from Cambodia through the

notorious land crossing of Poipet!

 

And I was ready to show the balance on app that

I had more than 20kB in my Thai bank account.

 

Lastly, I nearly forgot to tell you that when I left

Thailand the IO disappeared into the office from

his kiosk with my passport in his hand. He didn't

tell me anything or write anything in my passport,

though. What a nerve-wracking moment! 555

For info > A fully legit onward-flight ticket reservation only costs 10 to 15 US $, so there is no need to buy an actual flight-ticket (even the cheapest burner-ticket).

[Saigon]

I've also heard of reports that you must

spend at least 1 night in Malaysia before

coming back to Thailand on visa-exemption

(better to stay there for a few nights). That's

the reason I decided to spend 1 night in

Padang Besar on the Malaysian side, not

to come back to Thailand from Malaysia

on the same day, to stay on the safe side.

 

There have actually been so many reports

of having to pay a bribe to leave and come

back to Thailand on the same day through

Wang Prachan. Some are reported to have

been asked to pay 1,300B or 1,500B, and

others 2,000B, with kids for nothing.

 

As for the bank app, no tourist will be allowed

to open a bank account in Thailand so you can

forget about that.

 

Cheers

[Kalorymetr]

How did u answer the questions? I take you didn't tell him about your condo, but hotels and traveling?

[Caldera]

2 hours ago, Saigon said:

As for the bank app, no tourist will be allowed to open a bank account in Thailand so you can forget about that.

Many frequent visitors have Thai bank accounts, and for good reasons. Tourists can still open them, although it's not as easy nowadays as it used to be.

 

Whether it would be a good idea to show a Thai bank account to an immigration officer as a tourist is another question though - it would probably NOT help convince them that you're just a regular tourist. Quite the opposite maybe.

 

The official requirement is to show cash anyway, so if there's any risk of being questioned, that's the way to go.

[BritTim]

17 hours ago, Saigon said:

As for the bank app, no tourist will be allowed

to open a bank account in Thailand so you can

forget about that.

While difficult, it is possible to find bank branches that will agree to let you open an account on a tourist entry if you are willing to give them an incentive by buying their accident insurance. (The staff get a small commission for selling insurance.) In the worst case, there are agents who will assist.

[Kalorymetr]

Elite visa is a type of tourist visa and allows opening a bank account, they even help you with it.

[Saigon]

Hi,

 

I answered HER (not HIS) questions like

'I quit my job last year but have still been

staying in the same place.'

 

Yes, I've also heard of stories that they could

open a bank account at a branch in BKK as

a tourist.

[JoseThailand]

On 3/31/2023 at 4:44 PM, Saigon said:

As for the bank app, no tourist will be allowed

to open a bank account in Thailand so you can

forget about that.

Bangkok Bank readily opens accounts for tourists.

[K2938]

13 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

Bangkok Bank readily opens accounts for tourists.

Not any longer after the huge influx of Russians apparently

[StayinThailand2much]

On 3/31/2023 at 9:53 AM, Saigon said:

And I was ready to show the balance on app that

I had more than 20kB in my Thai bank account.

Don't they want to see it in hard cash only?

[StayinThailand2much]

9 minutes ago, K2938 said:

Not any longer after the huge influx of Russians apparently

They did until very recently.

[StayinThailand2much]

On 4/1/2023 at 2:11 PM, Kalorymetr said:

Elite visa is a type of tourist visa and allows opening a bank account, they even help you with it.

For that kind of money they really should. And send me a pretty girl to my room twice a week...

[JoseThailand]

1 hour ago, K2938 said:

Not any longer after the huge influx of Russians apparently

They're still doing it. The only caveat is that you need to buy accident insurance from them.

[Saigon]

Maybe you'd try some branches from

different banks in BKK. You might be

lucky to find one that would allow you

to open a bank account as a tourist!