Border runs to Cambodia temporarily suspended

[zekelin]

Hello, I stay in Pattaya and in the past I used to do border run to Cambodia with some company here.

 

Now, with the problems on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, several agencies have informed me that they have suspended the border runs there.

 

My visa expires on July 5th.

 

Does anyone know of any companies that offer border crossings from Pattaya to anywhere else that are currently available?

[DrJack54]

OP, just try few agents... 

Here is a couple.... 

 

https://www.1stclassvisaruns.com/  

 

https://friendlythaivisa.com/

 

[webfact]

Thai Forces Close Sa Kaeo Border Amid Tensions

 

Picture courtesy of Facebook MGR online Live

 

The First Army has ordered the closure of border crossings in Sa Kaeo due to growing tensions with Cambodia.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1364576-thai-forces-close-sa-kaeo-border-amid-tensions/

[DrJack54]

Off topic post along with replies removed

[DrJack54]

OP, is Laos a possible option? 

Depending on Location fly to Udon Thani and bounce to NK

Be aware that in recent times overnight/even two required for bounce without agent. 

[norsurin]

It might be possible at Chong chom border in surin.

[transam]

9 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, is Laos a possible option? 

Depending on Location fly to Udon Thani and bounce to NK

Be aware that in recent times overnight/even two required for bounce without agent. 

Ubon, Chong Mek, Laos border, no overnight stays there, in and out, 30 minutes.....🤗

[DrJack54]

Trolling post along with reply removed

[bubblegum]

24 minutes ago, norsurin said:

It might be possible at Chong chom border in surin.

No it's not. All of them are closed.

[GanDoonToonPet]

One of the two main Bangkok visa run companies has suspended its run. BBC reports flights to Siem Reap suspended too. 

[Tod Daniels]

Okay boyz and squirrellz this is what it's looking like (at least from Bangkok) 
 

As of now, every border in Cambodia is closed to foot traffic for foreigners to bounce out/back at. That's because the military took control of the borders (unlike last time when the governors of those provinces could decide to keep them open, now they can't) 

This is the break down of the companies 

• CPS <- a GIANT company that mostly lugs Laotianz to the border and back (sometimes with 20 plus vans) looks like is going to Savannakhet
• Meesuk Travel <- mostly lugs Pinoyz is going to Nong Khai
• Smile <- looks like is running to Nong Khai 
• SWD Transport (Thai Visa Service out of On Nut) <- is going to Savannakhet
• Bangkok Buddy <- don't know where they're running 

 
Prices have to go up (not for ASEAN countries or russianz because they get in to Lao free) but for 'regular foreigners' because of the Lao visa on arrival and the "gate fee" (costs that agents pay to get their people out/back without any issue) 
 

There also seems to be some "variable pricing" based on how many visa exempt entries you have in your passport (not from this year, but IN your passport period) and it looks like 4 is the cut off where you'll be charged 1000baht more (again not for any country that gets unlimited visa exempt entry (russian/pinoyz/lao/malay etc) 
 

There's a service advertising out of Hua Hin that will take people to bounce at the Ranong/Kawthaung border with Burma; they were mentioning Bangkok and Pattaya, but don't know the particularz about it    

That's about all I know but tell you what, it's sure gonna be a LONG slog from Bangkok to Savannakhet (9 hours) or Nong Khai (10 hours) just to border bounce.

Plus remember Nong Khai isn't the soft touch border it was before for you "I'll bounce myself and save money" people 😮 The guards at the border are telling people to stay out 2 nights, show proof of onward travel in 60 days and/or proof of lodging (pretty much what ever they want to tell them really 😕 )  

That was all the info I could find and as of now it's accurate, but this situation is really in flux and the companies are scrambling to figure out what to do, come up with pricing and a time table so contact who ever you're going to use to bounce with and see what they say 

Sadly I don't know anything about the Pattaya border run services 

[zekelin]

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, just try few agents... 

Here is a couple.... 

 

https://www.1stclassvisaruns.com/  

 

https://friendlythaivisa.com/

 

Yep I asked them already. They suspended the border runs

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, zekelin said:

Yep I asked them already. They suspended the border runs

You haven't outlined your history of stays in Thailand. 

Guessing extensive as you could have opted for mini holiday to somewhere like Saigon. 

Perhaps you are visa exempt for some nearby countries. 

Must have concerns entering Thailand visa exempt via air

[thesetat]

You could always take a short flight to Vietnam. 

[DrJack54]

42 minutes ago, thesetat said:

You could always take a short flight to Vietnam. 

Would mean reenter Thailand visa exempt and depending on history may be problematic.

Current thread running on "safe entry services" at airport.

Could be an option.

 

Here is link to current thread with success. 

Note standard cost would be 4500b 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1364034-has-anyone-used-friendly-thai-visa’s-airport-safe-entry-service-only-real-experiences-plz/ 

 

[Jack1988]

maybe he can also consider to just exit via air going to another asian country for a few days and then return using the safe entry service, in case he is afraid to get denied at the airport

[visarunner]

just checked the updated websites of www.thaivisaservice.com , they do runs Thursdays, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesdays. www.meesuktravel.com goes to Laos as well.

[Marcel Samson]

Can i fly to Pnom Penh and back to do a Visa Exempt in 01 day/02 days or is the airport also closed to Cambodia?

[rwilem]

4 hours ago, Tod Daniels said:

That was all the info I could find and as of now it's accurate, but this situation is really in flux and the companies are scrambling to figure out what to do

On the ground and real-time  reporting on fast-breaking border closures and their ramifications. Top notch job. 

[Tod Daniels]

This is SWD Transport/Thai Visa Service (the company that leaves from Lotus's On Nut for border bounce/visa runs) new program. 

[DrJack54]

Hells bells 5200b for Western pp holders + 1000b if more than 4 visa exempt stamps. 

Perhaps flying along with safe entry service might become attractive option. 

Grueling minivan run. 

[Yagoda]

14 hours ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

BBC reports flights to Siem Reap suspended too. 

The BBC is wrong. Air Asia still takes reservations.

 

Screwing little people and peddlers for ego needs is one thing, hitting the big corporations is another.

[Upnotover]

10 hours ago, Marcel Samson said:

or is the airport also closed to Cambodia?

No. Plenty of flights as normal.

[zzzzz]

18 hours ago, norsurin said:

It might be possible at Chong chom border in surin.

NO, all Land borders closed

U can fly r/t for around 4,000 baht
i've got a flight tomorrow

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

U can fly r/t for around 4,000 baht
i've got a flight tomorrow

Where's the destination. 

No concerns returning visa exempt via air? 

[Tod Daniels]

13 hours ago, Marcel Samson said:

Can i fly to Pnom Penh and back to do a Visa Exempt in 01 day/02 days or is the airport also closed to Cambodia?

There's no problem flying in and out of Cambodia, or flying out and back to any location, The real problem is getting stamped back in on another free stamp 60 day visa exempt entry at the airport. especially if you just had one..

 

They are hella hard on "bouncers" <- people living here milking free 60 every stamps, and deny entry to a couple thousand people a week at the airports. 

 

If you're thinking of flying out and back as a way to get a new free stamp entry (especially if you're on one now) you should think about using a safe entry company.

 

They guarantee you get in at the Bangkok airports no matter what you entry/stay history is. 

[GanDoonToonPet]

The chickens are coming home to roost now. No convenient land border hops for most, only a long expensive journey or flights plus bribe to corrupt officials.

 

I think I'll contact the British Embassy and Home Office to tell them what's going on. I'll suggest that the permission of stay for UK visitor visas be reduced from 6 months to 2 for Thai tourists and they must pay £600 surcharge per entry.

[ChaiyaTH]

4 hours ago, Tod Daniels said:

This is SWD Transport/Thai Visa Service (the company that leaves from Lotus's On Nut for border bounce/visa runs) new program. 

One has to be pretty desperate to do such a insane long visa run over land lol. 

[Quentin Zen]

6 minutes ago, norsurin said:

Hope they close the border for months so Thailand can get rid off these border runs for people abuse the system.

Do you not have faith in the laws in place?  That's not very pro-Thailand.  Respect Thailand's decision for each and every person.  We understand that you would deny everyone and ban everyone and send them all to the gulag.   Well, how about North Korea?  What is wrong with border runs?  Would you like all borders closed forever, destroying tourism, jobs, and Thailand's economy?  OMG, that's very anti-Thailand.

 

Note:  The Big Boss took me up in his helicopter while we ate lobster.  I got my 238 stamp this year and we laughed about all the farangs who were not invited to dinner.   We ate on the 93th floor, private jet back to Thailand, and a parade will be held tomorrow.   I just spent over 498,000 baht in three hours in BKK while people say I "abuse" the system on 5,000 baht a month.   oh, well.  

[zzzzz]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Where's the destination. 

No concerns returning visa exempt via air? 

Phnom Pehn 
I'm on a extension with re entry permit