Visa Exemption with New Passport

[mark999]

I've had multiple tourist visas and exemptions over the last couple of years and I need to pop out of the country and come back one more time before I sort out a more long-term visa solution. I would like to spend a week or two in Cambodia rather than a border run service if possible. I have already bought a one-way ticket.

 

I have a brand new passport with the latest stamp transferred from the old passport. Some people say this "resets" everything, although obviously these days everything is on computer, so I have no idea if the new passport helps. Would I likely be OK if I fly back through Don Meuang with an onward ticket? Would I be safer to go via a land border? I did that last time via Koh Kong after ten days in Cambodia and it was fine. Or should I forget the holiday and join a border run service for the first time ever?

[DrJack54]

12 minutes ago, mark999 said:

Some people say this "resets" everything, although obviously these days everything is on computer, so I have no idea if the new passport helps.

New pp resets nothing. 

 

13 minutes ago, mark999 said:

 Would I likely be OK if I fly back through Don Meuang with an onward ticket?

Should be however your history in Thailand is not clear.

You mention METV and exemptions over 2 years. Vague.

15 minutes ago, mark999 said:

Or should I forget the holiday and join a border run service for the first time ever?

That is safe option. Where are you located. 

[mark999]

I've been here as a tourist for more than two years, using tourist visas and visa exempt. I meant multiple visas and exempts, rather than METV.

 

I did get interrogated at Don Meuang two entries ago. The guy suggested I sort out a retirement visa. I have just turned 50. I am still working this out and need to enter one more time as a tourist. I did one land border crossing on my own since then and it was fine. I am in Bangkok now. 

[Caldera]

4 minutes ago, mark999 said:

I've been here as a tourist for more than two years, using tourist visas and visa exempt. I meant multiple visas and exempts, rather than METV.

 

I did get interrogated at Don Meuang two entries ago. The guy suggested I sort out a retirement visa. I have just turned 50. I am still working this out and need to enter one more time as a tourist. I did one land border crossing on my own since then and it was fine. I am in Bangkok now. 

 

I wouldn't risk flying in with that kind of history and after having been questioned already.

 

If you want to holiday in Cambodia instead of joining an organized border run, the Koh Kong border crossing you've mentioned is a good option. You shouldn't have any issues there. 

[mark999]

3 minutes ago, Caldera said:

 

I wouldn't risk flying in with that kind of history and after having been questioned already.

 

If you want to holiday in Cambodia instead of joining an organized border run, the Koh Kong border crossing you've mentioned is a good option. You shouldn't have any issues there. 

 

Thank you. So certain borders such as Koh Kong are generally not too strict? I hear Poipet is strict. Are there other good border crossings? It was a hard slog going via Koh Kong, but I guess all the borders will be similar.

[DrJack54]

19 minutes ago, mark999 said:

I have just turned 50. I am still working this out and need to enter one more time as a tourist.

There in is added issue.

Approx 10 years ago I was obtaining triple entry tourist visa to Thailand in Saigon that consulate (that was prior to introduction of METV) 

The io said..."you over 50. Live Thailand. Get non O" 

You have alternatives. 

Agree with post from @Caldera 

Where are you located.

Avoid Poi Pet at all costs. In fact think border bounce agents don't even do that run

Here is report bounce from Pattaya. Similar threads from Bangkok.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1312731-border-run-pattaya-to-cambodia/

[richard_smith237]

58 minutes ago, mark999 said:

Some people say this "resets" everything, although obviously these days everything is on computer, so I have no idea if the new passport helps.

 

With 100% certainty - It does not...   

 

You are tied in with 

- Name

- DOB

- Photo

- Nationality

 

As soon as Immigration scan your new passport it will be tied to your old passport in their system.

 

All passports are now biometric...  so there is a digital photo and passport scanners and automated systems to verify the identity of the passport holder (I'm not sure if Thailand has this capacity - to scan and identify you based on your digital photo stored biometrically) - however, they can certainly tie in all the other information easiliy.

 

[mark999]

31 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

There in is added issue.

Approx 10 years ago I was obtaining triple entry tourist visa to Thailand in Saigon that consulate (that was prior to introduction of METV) 

The io said..."you over 50. Live Thailand. Get non O" 

You have alternatives. 

Agree with post from @Caldera 

Where are you located.

Avoid Poi Pet at all costs. In fact think border bounce agents don't even do that run

Here is report bounce from Pattaya. Similar threads from Bangkok.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1312731-border-run-pattaya-to-cambodia/

I'm in Bangkok, so I could get a border run service from here. I've already paid for a Cambodia e-visa and one-way ticket to Phnom Penh, not knowing whether I should fly or come back by land. Clearly I should've got my act together weeks ago! So am I fairly safe to go via the Koh Kong land border? I know there are some Cambodian fixer types at the border who say they can help with the paperwork or some such thing. Or should I just lose the e-visa and go for the van to the border option? Does having in-out border run stamps get in the way of getting any types of visa in the future? Thanks for your input everyone.

[DrJack54]

12 minutes ago, mark999 said:

I'm in Bangkok, so I could get a border run service from here.

This thread has some advice 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1327376-best-border-hop-border-crossing-with-non-o-multiple-from-bangkok/

[Pattaya57]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

With 100% certainty - It does not...   

 

You are tied in with 

- Name

- DOB

- Photo

- Nationality

 

As soon as Immigration scan your new passport it will be tied to your old passport in their system.

 

You forgot fingerprints at the IO desk. As soon as you scan fingers your whole Thailand history pops up on computer

[Caldera]

2 hours ago, mark999 said:

Thank you. So certain borders such as Koh Kong are generally not too strict? I hear Poipet is strict. Are there other good border crossings? It was a hard slog going via Koh Kong, but I guess all the borders will be similar.

 

Yes Poi Pet definitely wouldn't be a good idea with your history.

 

Do you plan to stay in Phnom Penh or travel elsewhere in Cambodia? There are other border crossings besides Koh Kong that are relaxed and not too busy, depending on where you are in Cambodia they would be more or less of a hassle to get to.

 

If your primary goal is a new visa exempt entry into Thailand, not a holiday in Cambodia, do a border run from Bangkok with a company that offers them and you're pretty much guaranteed a hassle-free experience. 

[Bangkok Alex]

If you decide to use a border service and don't mind spending a couple thousands more, I recommend doing it by private taxi service.

 

6k thb, they pick you up at 5am from your place in Bangkok and bring you back there about 2pm. No hassle and much more comfortable.

 

Can contact Friendly Thai Visa on Line, Robert is great. Hope that helps you or others.

[Chivas]

Certainly new passport changes nothing.

In fact (and I'm sure it applies to everyone) when you put your 4 fingers of right hand onto scanner and then are about to do the same with left hand the IO waves you away from it because the system already recognises you

 

Its all on computer every entry doubtless going back decades

[zzzzz]

15 hours ago, mark999 said:

 

Thank you. So certain borders such as Koh Kong are generally not too strict? I hear Poipet is strict. Are there other good border crossings? It was a hard slog going via Koh Kong, but I guess all the borders will be similar.

Koh kong is a good choice but the roads onward in Cambodia are bad to Sihanoukville (great new express way to Phnom Pehn ) and than kampot/Kep

all borders in Cambodia are ok except at times Poi Pet,  ( busy and lots of scams being run) been thru all of them coming from Thailand over the years

Edited November 10 by zzzzz

[Caldera]

4 hours ago, zzzzz said:

Koh kong is a good choice but the roads onward in Cambodia are bad to Sihanoukville (great new express way to Phnom Pehn ) and than kampot/Kep

 

Yes, the road from Koh Kong to Sre Ambel is still a mess and has been for a long time.

 

The OP has indicated flying to Phnom Penh, so from there to Koh Kong, the first stretch on the new Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville expressway to Sre Ambel would be great, then the second stretch from Sre Ambel to Koh Kong would be a pain.

[mark999]

Thanks, everyone. Yes, as I already have my ticket and would like some time in Cambodia, it looks like the best thing to do is come back via a land border. I've done the Koh Kong route once already this year. It would be interesting to try somewhere else if the road is easier. Anyway, the plan is to get a proper visa situation sorted out so that this will hopefully be my last border run for the foreseeable future.

[DrJack54]

25 minutes ago, mark999 said:

Yes, as I already have my ticket and would like some time in Cambodia,...,

Great. 

Please report back your reentry to Thailand.

Would assist others. 

[zzzzz]

11 hours ago, mark999 said:

Thanks, everyone. Yes, as I already have my ticket and would like some time in Cambodia, it looks like the best thing to do is come back via a land border. I've done the Koh Kong route once already this year. It would be interesting to try somewhere else if the road is easier. Anyway, the plan is to get a proper visa situation sorted out so that this will hopefully be my last border run for the foreseeable future.

PP- Battambang-Pailin -

Phsar Prum / Ban Pakard crossing to Pong Nam Ron- Chantaburi-Pattaya-Bangkok

[Rob Browder]

6 hours ago, zzzzz said:

PP- Battambang-Pailin -

Phsar Prum / Ban Pakard crossing to Pong Nam Ron- Chantaburi-Pattaya-Bangkok

Ban Pakard is agent-driven, I think.  I used to use Ban Laem in the past - but haven't seen a recent report. 

[mark999]

2 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

Ban Pakard is agent-driven, I think.  I used to use Ban Laem in the past - but haven't seen a recent report. 

Agent-driven meaning that it might not be so good for individuals crossing the border? If anyone does have information, please let me know. 

[zzzzz]

13 hours ago, mark999 said:

Agent-driven meaning that it might not be so good for individuals crossing the border? If anyone does have information, please let me know. 

i've used it alot, very friendly an easy

once i was in my thai tagged car leaving Cambodia, gate was up so drove right past immigration, gate entering Thailand was up as well
didn't realize i was in Thailand till i noticed i was driving on the wrong side
so went back to thai immigration an parked an started walking back to Cambodia,  Officer came out an asked where i was going as I  wasn't stamped out of thailand, had to explain an he smiled 

 

[mark999]

Sounds good. I'm getting a little nervous and thinking of dumping my air ticket and jumping on a van to the border tomorrow morning if there is any chance that I will be denied entry. But if there is little risk of being turned away at the border, I will spend a week in Cambodia and try one of these borders. Not much time left of course and I should've sorted this out much earlier! Thanks.

[mark999]

I've returned to Thailand via the Koh Kong border and it was fine. There are Cambodian guys hanging around offering help for a fee. I don't suppose it's really necessary to pay for their service. Everything went smoothly. I will now get an appropriate visa so that I don't need to stay as a tourist. Basically it seems like many of these border crossings are relaxed for long-term tourists at the moment.