Stranded In Cambodia

[Sunbelt Asia]

A client was in our office today and said three of his friends were on a bus going to Cambodia last week. On the way back on the Thai border, they were questioned by Thai immigration and told they could not enter Thailand for six months, as they had 6 tourist entry permits back to back. They now are stranded in Cambodia.

Anybody else hear this happening?

www.sunbeltasia.com

[unbiasbob]

Well Sunbelt, if true, that is horrible news for anyone making 30 day runs. What a place to be stuck. You would think they would be allowed to collect their belongings and get out. Follow up on this one should be interesting

[lopburi3]

Seems strange that this could have occurred last week and we just hear about it. Immigration in the past has always warned travelers if they will not be welcome back and if not welcome back would normally allow a short 5-10 day period to arrange outbound travel. It this has happened wonder if it were caused by travelers actions or by policy. Sure be interesting to hear more.

[Sunbelt Asia]

I understood, as well, that a person would have 6 days to leave the country. This guy swears the story is true and why he was in our office to speak to a lawyer to get legal himself.

I did ask him" what happen to the guys? “He said he has not heard from them since last week.

He refused to go to Cambodia to get his visa and wanted to go anywhere but there.

No idea if this is a true story or not but why I'm asking has anyone else heard reports of this happening since last week.

www.sunbeltasia.com

[unbiasbob]

on the surface it would seem that there is more to this story than as described by the person entering your office

[chingy_]

regardless out how the immigration officer are, im pretty sure they are decent enought to allow you to have time to book your ticket home, i don't believe that they would turn you down just like that, maybe they would say ok this is your last entry next time get a visa ...etc...ect...or like lop said 5-10 day period

must be something wrong with the dude to have that kind of treatment.

[31x]

I am not sure if you guys have dealt with Cambodian border "officials" but I would not give them the benefit of the doubt that they would do something humanly decent for a foreigner. There was a six month period where I had to do the lovely 30 day visa runs, and those guys made the Thai officials seem honest by comparison, they were so corrupt with their bribes.

Not sure about this scenario, but I would NEVER assume these guys would do something to benefit a white guy. That doesn't mean they didn't or can't, it just means I would not be surprised by anything they do.

I say this from experience, not by hearing rumors.

[udon]

Sunbelt, I think your client maybe being economical with the truth

It's very strange that this is the first time that this actual "back to back" ban has been reported or enforced "anywhere"

Got to be a lot more to this story!

[Snapshot]

A client was in our office today and said three of his friends were on a bus going to Cambodia last week. On the way back on the Thai border, they were questioned by Thai immigration and told they could not enter Thailand for six months, as they had 6 tourist entry permits back to back. They now are stranded in Cambodia.

YES ... I HAVE HEARD THIS STORY TOO ...

But it was 3 (three) months ago.

And who told this story?

A "friend" of mine who is a friend of someone who owns a visa-service?

And he was trying to have me to use his friends visa-service?

Any posters here on this forum who is running a visa-service trying to drum up some more business by scaring people?

[Sunbelt Asia]

Who knows? So far its just the one report so the odds are getting higher it was BS.

Until we hear another report, l'll chalk it up to that.

By the way, he said three guys on the bus not just one guy.

www.sunbeltasia.com

[udon]

Hi Snapshot,

please define the type of "visa-service" you refer to.

I notice Jack Golf is still offering a "visa-service" via the Malaysian border,

I would have thought he was on very thin ice offering that, nowadays

[Mr Hugh Jarse]

Hello snapshot

YES THIS ONE NEEDS MONITORING AS SUSPECT YOUR CLIENT WAS A DODGY LOOKING , SCRUFFY ETC EVEN DISRESPECTFUL TO OFFICIALS.

NOT SO VERY LONG AGO I HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH ANOTHER SE ASIAN CONTRY'S IMMIGRATION OFFICERS. I HAD TO DUNK MY PASSPORT IN A BUCKET OF WATER ENSURING KEY INFO WAS STILL VISIBLE AND THEN ASK FOR A NEW PASSPORT AT MY CONSULAR OFFICE. IT TOOK JUST ONE DAY AND THE COST OF A PASSPORT.

[Spellbound]

SOMETHING IS HAPPENING I FEEL

Now this made me suspicious while I was at the immigration desk TODAY.

Ok today 16 July 04 I checked in on Thai airways back to London and used the fast track immigration as I was flying business class. Passed my passport and boarding car to the inspector as usual. He then did the normal stuff, ie type the TM number into the computer. He then proceeded to check every stamp in my passport, including and as far back as 2001. I asked him if all was OK as I always use BKK and never overstay. He just look at me and said “ how many time you come this year “ I just 4 /5 times but always use BKK to leave Thailand. He replied you come Thailand many times.

Now this worries me, because EVERY TIME they have always stamped the exit stamp next to the entrance stamp, but this time he has stamped my exit stamp on a different page in my passport, and has written (4) next to it.

He then passed me back my passport and boarding card, when I said thank you, he just replied with a very non tonal UH. (He did stamp the TM visa, but because I suspected something was adrift, I had it photo copied in the airport.)

Don’t know if this is relevant to the posting above, but it did make me think that maybe some of the officers have a different view on the rules. Or is it the fact the new computer system they are using in conjunction with the USA flashing up some criteria on different travellers.

I am back in BKK in 3 – 4 weeks, will keep you posted if anything funny goes on when I return.

My travel dates are below, so you can see how many times iv'e been in and out of Thailand. Perhaps SUN BELT or the good DOCTOR / LOP can advise if they think there is an issue here.

My travel / stay-thru BKK this year are:-

Entered Thailand BKK from Dubai 29.Dec.03 ----Departed BKK 08.Jan 04 to Singapore

Entered Thailand BKK from Vietnam.17 Jan 04 ----Departed BKK 23.Jan 04 to London

Entered Thailand BKK from London 22 April 04 ----Departed BKK 09 May 04 to London

Entered Thailand BKK from London 10 June ---------Departed BKK 13.June 04 to Sri Lanka

Entered Thailand BKK from Sri Lanka 20 June 04 ----Departed BKK 23 June 04 to London.

Entered Thailand BKK from London 08 July 04 ----Departed BKK 16 July 04 to London

I have never used a land entrance / exit from Thailand, I always fly into BKK international, so surely they know i do not overstay, Just wondering about the 6 x rule ????????????????????????

[shellman]

i just came back from cambodia 2 days agoi myself, i went there with a friend who needed his 30 day stamp (i never understood why he does not get at least a 2 month tourist visa). no problems for him and it is his 8th return on 30 day permit with no interruption. what i want to add, anyone going to aranyaprathet, they are checking passports at the military checkpoint a few km before you get into the town, i don't know if they are only checking private cars or also minibus and bus, but be aware of the possibility if you have overstayed your visa and want to clear it at aranyaprathet...

cheers

shellman

[ovenman]

Now this made me suspicious while I was at the immigration desk TODAY.

Your pattern of entry/exit to/from Thailand is not at all suspicious and not even remotely back-to-back. I think you simply encountered the isolated incident of an immigrations official acting like a <deleted> simply 'cause he can. This behaviour is occaisionally encountered everywhere, not merely Thailand. However that said , Thai immigrations officials often do seem to waste a lot of time while stamping people out of Thailand.

[surfercaesar]

It seems like "Snapshot" maybe right,it's probably a scare tactic!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

SOMETHING IS HAPPENING I FEEL

Now this made me suspicious while I was at the immigration desk TODAY.

Ok today 16 July 04 I checked in on Thai airways back to London and used the fast track immigration as I was flying business class. Passed my passport and boarding car to the inspector as usual. He then did the normal stuff, ie type the TM number into the computer. He then proceeded to check every stamp in my passport, including and as far back as 2001. I asked him if all was OK as I always use BKK and never overstay. He just look at me and said “ how many time you come this year “ I just 4 /5 times but always use BKK to leave Thailand. He replied you come Thailand many times.

Now this worries me, because EVERY TIME they have always stamped the exit stamp next to the entrance stamp, but this time he has stamped my exit stamp on a different page in my passport, and has written (4) next to it.

He then passed me back my passport and boarding card, when I said thank you, he just replied with a very non tonal UH. (He did stamp the TM visa, but because I suspected something was adrift, I had it photo copied in the airport.)

Don’t know if this is relevant to the posting above, but it did make me think that maybe some of the officers have a different view on the rules. Or is it the fact the new computer system they are using in conjunction with the USA flashing up some criteria on different travellers.

I am back in BKK in 3 – 4 weeks, will keep you posted if anything funny goes on when I return.

My travel dates are below, so you can see how many times iv'e been in and out of Thailand. Perhaps SUN BELT or the good DOCTOR / LOP can advise if they think there is an issue here.

My travel / stay-thru BKK this year are:-

Entered Thailand BKK from Dubai 29.Dec.03 ----Departed BKK 08.Jan 04 to Singapore

Entered Thailand BKK from Vietnam.17 Jan 04 ----Departed BKK 23.Jan 04 to London

Entered Thailand BKK from London 22 April 04 ----Departed BKK 09 May 04 to London

Entered Thailand BKK from London 10 June ---------Departed BKK 13.June 04 to Sri Lanka

Entered Thailand BKK from Sri Lanka 20 June 04 ----Departed BKK 23 June 04 to London.

Entered Thailand BKK from London 08 July 04 ----Departed BKK 16 July 04 to London

I have never used a land entrance / exit from Thailand, I always fly into BKK international, so surely they know i do not overstay, Just wondering about the 6 x rule ????????????????????????

Nothing wrong with your movements in my view.

[kippers]

I have been a lurker on this board for a very long time now, but after reading this particular thread i felt that I must comment.

I have more than 14 re-entries through Aranyapratet and have never had a problem, occasionally the officers at the Thai re-entry booths look at my previous stamps, but not usually.

My last entry was yesterday and no problems again.

A month ago I was told by a very releiable source that this was the main gossip floating around Pattaya, so I specifically asked the officer this question "is there any limit as to the number of back to back re-entries one can make" her answer was emphatiically no.

As far as checking vehicles prior to reaching the border , this has been going on ever since the Anti-thailand fracass occurred last year in cambodia, i have been subject to a couple of these, I also asked the question "why" to the police that stopped me and was givin the the answer " we are looking for cambodians, Burmese, lao and people with dark skin".

Indeed this hasn't ben limited to just the border approaches, earlier this year they were stopping buses from Bangkok arriving at pattaya doing the same checks.

i think that because such a large percentage of us rely on the 30day runs this has developed very much into a very beleivable URBAN MYTH.

[udon]

Spellbound, your pattern of arr. and dep. makes it obvious that you are visiting on business, you have nothing to worry about.

Checkpoints: These have been in place for 3 years at least.

This is a military area, & there is a large garrison stationed nr the checkpoint, nothing for farangs to be concerned about. Cambos might sweat a bit.

[billd766]

I went to Poipet on Thursday for my first trip on Jacks bus and we were not stopped or checked anywhere.

There were no problems (apart from getting up early) and the bus and staff were very good.

I hope that I do not have to use it again but if I have to I would not hesitate.

[lopburi3]

I have never used a land entrance / exit from Thailand, I always fly into BKK international, so surely they know i do not overstay, Just wondering about the 6 x rule ????????????????????????

Nothing wrong with your movements in my view.

Don't believe your pattern of travel and use of fast track processing would fit most tourists or offshore workers/business travelers so it may have been flagged for close check and he may have been looking for you to explain why the short visits so often. Don't believe it would have anything to do with the so called six use thing. I suspect this will happen a lot more often as people get used to new computer programs and every out of the ordinary move gets flagged.

That is just a guess as I have no knowledge of current systems or procedures but from talk on other sites and the need for terrorist controls believe we are in for a lot more close checks everywhere.

[Just a little curious]

Well I'm off to Cambodia tomorrow, first time in a long time. The problems I've been hearing are quite concerning.

I should be going on the train in the morning and back again in the same day. Has anyone heard of any problems on this route?

I've been working on a Non B but coming back on a Tourist visa. I leave for England in 4 weeks. Probably wise that I take my ticket with me isn't it?

[Sunbelt Asia]

Spellbound,

I feel just like the good Dr., that your pattern of travel seems ok. Interesting he wrote the number (4) in your passport though. From what I have heard, it doesn't fit into the definition of "back to back"

Thanks for sharing.

www.sunbeltasia.com

[udon]

If going by train you won't have much time to get processed and back to the train in time. Being a Sunday, it might be very busy at Immigration.

Do NOT pay the creep from the health dept (Cambo) just ignore him.

If you miss the train get the 1st class bus back, the last one leaves Aranya at 1500 hrs.

[unbiasbob]

I wonder how people have the patience to do 29 day visa runs. It would seem to me that this is a lot of hassle to go through to stay here. I know I wouldn't be able to handle it. Every 4 weeks an all day excursion by land to Cambo with the lines and touts and ripoffs. I give you guys who do it a great deal of credit. I'm not worthy

[whattodo]

I wonder how people have the patience to do 29 day visa runs. It would seem to me that this is a lot of hassle to go through to stay here. I know I wouldn't be able to handle it. Every 4 weeks an all day excursion by land to Cambo with the lines and touts and ripoffs. I give you guys who do it a great deal of credit. I'm not worthy

I agree, i do 90 day runs at the moment and thats a pain in the ass despite only 6 hour return journey,its the scams that get me at the border, will open new thread regarding this as something i should of done a couple of weeks ago realy but did not think many forum members were doing cambo runs from Buriram.

[LivinLOS]

Its not just the complete ball ache of havng to so the runs its also the fact that not being on a non imm of one sort or another means a lot less abilities and rights while you are here... Plus imagine the difficulties if you live somewhere like Ko Tao or Phan Gan, days and $$ wasted for each run !!

Under 50 and not married your options are slim.. I just went and did a Penang run but even then 1900 for the extra 30 days and 90 day visa runs are a major hassle for me (perhaps I am just lazy).. So I am thinking the 3 mil investment visa is probably the way I will be forced to go.

As I have lamented so many times before.. Why is it Thailand wants tourists but wont give any assistance to long stay high spending farangs.. I am a 52 week of the year toursit.. You would think they would find a solution to benefit Thailand instead of shady tour companies.

[possom]

anybody got any facts about this story of guys being stranded in cambodia ?????? ( apart from people who benefit from legal advice to farang )

[kankaroo]

OK, its currently 10.45pm and I am feeling the warmth of my Thai beer bottle spreading throughout my body :-) feeling this is well deserved after just returning from yet another 30 day Poipet visa run.

Anyway why I am writing this is because today I was a little nervous doing the run because of all the gossip that has been flying around lately.However I felt confident with my brand spanking new UK passport (issued this week) in hand and thought I would sail through the border. Last time I used Poipet they had to fit the exit stamp almost over another one because there was absolutely no space left in my pport, and most of them were BKK-Poipet runs.

But today when I showed them my new pport they asked me where the last one was to which I replied "it is finished and is not with me". The woman at the ALIEN ENTRY desk simply threw it back at me and said she would not let me through without her boss interviewing me !!!! Yes I was bricking it by this point as in around 2 years of living here NOTHING like this has ever happened so you can guess what I was thinking. Anyway her boss walks over to me and asks me to follow him to the office (the exit booth office, Poipet) while he runs a check on me. I stand there to watching a Thai soap opera in this office for about 15 mins before he comes back -with another officer. They had a sheet with a computer printout of every crossing I have made in & out of Thailand. I was asked to take a seat. I took a seat and just looked at the officer, then at the sheet and thought F####.

He asks me a few questions about my old pport which I tell him, grills me about amI working in Thailand etc etc which I say no. He then asks me why have I been here so long. I laugh and say "extended holiday". Fortunately he laughs also, charges me 20 baht for his time and escorts me out of Thailand personally!!!!

PPPPPPPPPHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW, is not the word for it.

After that it was just the usual procedure. I dont know if this was just a bit of bad luck on my behalf but it I didnt enjoy my day so muh , lets put it that way. Anyway my typing is getting a bit sloppy as I am a few beers ahead of when I started this so I will finish.

POINT of this message (I think) is they still dont really give a flying one about the back to backs..............ENJOY but be carefull

Kankaroo.

[whattodo]

Have never had problrm with Thai immigration on these runs its the Cambo immigration that i am referring too,(all Scams)