Buying a bus ticket for proof of entry/exit

[BillStrangeOgre]

Hi, I’m a Brit applying for a single entry tourist visa to Thailand at the embassy in Phnom Penh 

I have to provide proof of entry and exit from Thailand. I will be using the bus.

My question is, when I submit all the documents can I provide a copy of a bus ticket  that shows I will leave Thailand 90 days after entering? The visa will be for 60 days but can be extended once I arrive.
Will they give me a 60 day tourist visa with a bus ticket to leave after the visa has expired?

if anyone can help with this, thanks in advance 

Bill

[bear9]

Purchase a more expensive fully refundable flight ticket. Use this ticket for your visa application then cancel the ticket and get the refund when the visa is approved 

[Caldera]

In Phnom Penh in particular, it's well worth to use an agent to apply for a Thai tourist visa. It costs you $20 more, but saves you two round-trips to the Thai embassy. The agent will submit a flight itinerary along with your application that meets the embassy's requirements and costs you nothing.

[bear9]

Which route will the bus come back into Thailand?

 

You should avoid the Poipet border crossing 

[Parker2100]

Having a bus ticket to Laos for exit got me in trouble once.  Not because it was wrong.  It was because a cheap ticket out when arrive by air in is suspicious.

 

You shouldn't have an inexpensive exit ticket when you arrive.

 

[thecyclist]

In PP it's better to go through an agent. Or you could buy a dummy ticket for around 400 Baht. They provide you with a genuine booking that is good for a couple of days. The PP embassy likes giving people a hard time. I am not sure, but kinda doubt they accept a bus ticket.

[BillStrangeOgre]

Thanks for all the answers

i went to the Thai embassy here in Phnom Penh and they told me a bus ticket in and out is acceptable.

I found a company that let’s you change the travel date once, up to 48 hrs before departure 

I looked at the dummy plane ticket but that gets cancelled after 48 hrs. I submitted my application yesterday (Fri 20th) and won’t get my passport back until next Thursday (26th)

They also require 1 passport photo, bank statement, $40 (only $)

Painless process at the embassy, hardly anyone there.

Submit documents, mornings only between 9-11am 

Collection afternoons only between 3-4pm

 

I’ll update if I get it

cheers

Bill

[bear9]

6 hours ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

Thanks for all the answers

i went to the Thai embassy here in Phnom Penh and they told me a bus ticket in and out is acceptable.

I found a company that let’s you change the travel date once, up to 48 hrs before departure 

I looked at the dummy plane ticket but that gets cancelled after 48 hrs. I submitted my application yesterday (Fri 20th) and won’t get my passport back until next Thursday (26th)

They also require 1 passport photo, bank statement, $40 (only $)

Painless process at the embassy, hardly anyone there.

Submit documents, mornings only between 9-11am 

Collection afternoons only between 3-4pm

 

I’ll update if I get it

cheers

Bill

Which land border are you planning to cross at?

[BillStrangeOgre]

37 minutes ago, bear9 said:

Which land border are you planning to cross at?

I’ll be crossing at Poipet 

I was stopped there last time by immigration and asked why I didn’t get a visa? They still let me in but this time I’ll have one (if I’m there)

[bear9]

11 minutes ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

I’ll be crossing at Poipet 

I was stopped there last time by immigration and asked why I didn’t get a visa? They still let me in but this time I’ll have one (if I’m there)

I advised you in this thread 2 days ago not to use that Border this is the worst entry point to use.

 

Search poipet in this forum and you will see 

Edited October 21, 2023 by bear9

[BritTim]

11 minutes ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

I’ll be crossing at Poipet 

Cross your fingers. There is a good chance you will luck out. However, in spite of it being the most convenient land crossing for most people coming from Cambodia, the horror stories about Thai Immigration at that crossing are legion.

[BillStrangeOgre]

Thanks for all your replies

If I’m issued with a visa next Thursday, i’ll then be attempting a border crossing at Poi-pet next Saturday 

I’ll let you know how it goes

Cheers

Edited October 22, 2023 by BillStrangeOgre

[bear9]

27 minutes ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

Thanks for all your replies

If I’m issued with a visa next Thursday, i’ll then be attempting a border crossing at Poi-pet next Saturday 

I’ll let you know how it goes

Cheers

Doesn't seem logical why you would choose the most risky option out of anywhere to do the border crossing you choose to ignore the advise of others. Ive never used the Poipet border crossing because i actually take notice of all the reports about it on here.  

[Highlandman]

On 10/19/2023 at 7:54 PM, bear9 said:

Which route will the bus come back into Thailand?

 

You should avoid the Poipet border crossing 

That's the only one which cross border buses use. 

[BillStrangeOgre]

1 hour ago, Highlandman said:

That's the only one which cross border buses use. 

That’s right.
I don’t think busses cross the Ban Hat Lek border anymore. Sihanoukville to Trat route 

 

The embassy last week told me I can submit proof of bus tickets into and out of Thailand to obtain a visa

last time I crossed that border back in March, I had no visa and was asked why I didn’t get one. A close call but they still let me in. This time I’ll have a visa

i know there are no guarantees and a lot depends on immigration at the border on the day…still, if I get my visa on Thursday I’m reasonably confident I’ll be allowed to enter

thanks for all the feedback, I appreciate it

i’ll report back how I get on

Cheers

[Caldera]

1 hour ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

I don’t think busses cross the Ban Hat Lek border anymore. Sihanoukville to Trat route

 

You could still do it on your own, that's a much friendlier border than Poi Pet. Public transport from Phnom Penh to Koh Kong, a tuktuk to the border, public transport from the border to the bus terminal in Trat.

[MrJ2U]

On 10/19/2023 at 7:44 PM, Caldera said:

In Phnom Penh in particular, it's well worth to use an agent to apply for a Thai tourist visa. It costs you $20 more, but saves you two round-trips to the Thai embassy. The agent will submit a flight itinerary along with your application that meets the embassy's requirements and costs you nothing.

I did that.

 

After a week in Phnom Penh I was sad to leave.  I had a blast.

Great food, nice hotel, beautiful girls.  

 

It's a great way to get a tourist visa and have an adventure. 

[Highlandman]

3 hours ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

That’s right.
I don’t think busses cross the Ban Hat Lek border anymore. Sihanoukville to Trat route 

 

The embassy last week told me I can submit proof of bus tickets into and out of Thailand to obtain a visa

last time I crossed that border back in March, I had no visa and was asked why I didn’t get one. A close call but they still let me in. This time I’ll have a visa

i know there are no guarantees and a lot depends on immigration at the border on the day…still, if I get my visa on Thursday I’m reasonably confident I’ll be allowed to enter

thanks for all the feedback, I appreciate it

i’ll report back how I get on

Cheers

I don't think there were ever any cross border bus services between Thailand and Sihanoukville using that border.

[BillStrangeOgre]

…so to update, I will give my experience. 

I received my visa from the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh on Thursday

I travelled Siem Reap to Bangkok today by bus, via Poipet border crossing.

I was stopped by Thai immigration and asked to provide proof on onward ticket. I supplied a bus ticket out of Thailand back to Cambodia.
I also had to provide a hotel booking.

There were a couple of questions, where are you going in Thailand? And where will you be going after Thailand? I told them Chiang Mai, Phuket etc. Then told them I would be returning to Siem Reap (as per bus ticket out) Then travelling in S.E.Asia 

I was then stamped in for 60 days

 

Proof of onward bus ticket is acceptable 

Bill

[GypsyT]

Thanks for telling!

I may take similar visa trips despite my limited bus trips in Vietnam scared hell outta me...