Best malaysian land border for hassle free entry?

[hovercraft]

Which border is recommended between Sadao or Wang Prachan for smooth entry. If I have to pay a "fixer" to get me in with a visa exempt stamp that's fine, but how much would that cost? 

 

I won't be doing it with a visa run company, I'll be going alone from Penang or KL. I have been to Padang Besar before and don't think there are any 'fixers' at that checkpoint.

[BillyBobzTeeth]

 

 

I've never done it that way but never had any problems at the Wang Prachan border going out and coming back in the same day on visa exempts.

 

The 'Fee' is 2000 baht, but you pay this on the Thai side.

 

You should be fine without the service if you're already in Malaysia and want to come back in.

 

 

[Saigon]

I actually did a border bounce at Padang Besar once a few years ago

but I wasn't even asked for the Fee or the Tea Money (whatever you

call it). I spent 1 night on the Malaysian side to stay on the safe side,

as Ubon Joe suggested.

[eastbaybob]

4 hours ago, Saigon said:

Padang Besar

I haven’t been there since the pandemic, but the female immigration officer there had more hatred of foreigners than anyone I’ve ever met in Thailand, and I had a Non Immigrant 0 visa. Those without visas had it much worse that I did.

[Rob Browder]

2 hours ago, eastbaybob said:

I haven’t been there since the pandemic, but the female immigration officer there had more hatred of foreigners than anyone I’ve ever met in Thailand, and I had a Non Immigrant 0 visa. Those without visas had it much worse that I did.

Yes, Pedang Besar went from the best crossings to a bad one - surpassing Sadao in hassle-factor.  But really, any report more than a month or so old isn't worth much.  It might not be bad, now - just stay out 1 or 2 nights, or similar.

 

If doing this, I'd go with the crossing mentioned above, where there is a "pay for same day return" service available - similar to how the Myanmar crossing near Kanchanaburi formerly worked.  Remember the "batman" stamp they'd put on your TM-6, to indicate you paid the piper?  Good old days - and no nauseating, 5AM van-ride, either.

[Caldera]

2 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

Remember the "batman" stamp they'd put on your TM-6, to indicate you paid the piper?  Good old days

 

Yeah I remember those Batman stamps. That was a fantastic border crossing for border runs from Bangkok. Good old days indeed.

[Saigon]

Yes, you should go to the land crossing at Wang Prachan

if you don't mind paying 2,000B as service fee for a border

bounce!

 

Any report should be helpful if it's more than 1 month old,

so you should appreciate that!

 

You never know what'll happen to you if you enter Thailand

on visa-exemption right now, whether it's a border bounce

or not, so you should get ready for a worst-case scenario!

[hovercraft]

23 hours ago, eastbaybob said:

I haven’t been there since the pandemic, but the female immigration officer there had more hatred of foreigners than anyone I’ve ever met in Thailand, and I had a Non Immigrant 0 visa. Those without visas had it much worse that I did.

 

I was there right after the covid visa extensions ended, they were actually friendly but the Male IO wanted me to stay 2-3 nights in Malaysia for visa exempt stamp but still let me in. Another time I went and had a SETV and the lady let me in with no questions asked. 

 

4 hours ago, Saigon said:

Yes, you should go to the land crossing at Wang Prachan

if you don't mind paying 2,000B as service fee for a border

bounce!

 

Any report should be helpful if it's more than 1 month old,

so you should appreciate that!

 

You never know what'll happen to you if you enter Thailand

on visa-exemption right now, whether it's a border bounce

or not, so you should get ready for a worst-case scenario!

I will be out of Thailand for a couple weeks so it's not a quick in and out. I still wouldn't be surprised if they want me to pay 2k THB because my passport is getting full. I think I will try Sadao first because it's closer to Hat Yai and easier to get transportation there from KL. Wang Prachan seems quite remote so that will be my back up plan.