A Cambodian friend of mine, who owns bars and restaurants and regularly meets foreigners, has recently been going live on Facebook to warn that people doing short border runs to Cambodia by air are increasingly being stopped, questioned, placed in holding areas, and then sent back to Cambodia by Thai immigration.

 

He says immigration officials are citing issues such as “documents not being in order” and “too many short-term trips.”

 

According to him, this increased scrutiny has been in place for a while and is still ongoing at the airports following new immigration directives.

 

I travelled back from Cambodia last month on a DTV visa. The officer did ask to see it, which was a bit unusual as it’s already in the system, but once I showed a printed copy I was allowed in without any problems.

 

I’ve also heard that similar scrutiny is being applied to people entering Thailand from Cambodia under visa-exempt entries.

 

He suggested that if people really need to leave and re-enter, they might have better luck going via a third country such as Vietnam.

 

Personally, I doubt many would go to that trouble, and if it’s just for a quick “bounce,” they might as well just go to Vietnam instead of Cambodia.

 

Perhaps other members have more up-to-date information?

Went to Phnom Penh last weekend for 3 nights.  Not a border run but for fun.  No issues leaving or returning but didn't expect any as on a re-entry permit.  The only thing to report was when trying to book fast track for our return entry we were told they couldn't currently offer it as all arrivals from Cambodia have to go through the regular lines.

 

As an aside entry and exit from KTI was how travel should be!  Fully automated entry and exit gates both ways, wonderful airport.

They sometimes have no mercy. Last time I crossed I talked to a blind music teacher that had been stopped and detained for three days, separating him from his group that went on without him.