Do It Yourself Visa Run

[mrmaxwell]

I'm booked in for a Visa Run to Cambodia for 2100 baht all up this week (which sounds like a fair price)

Before departing Australia my trip was extended to 2 months from the original 28 days - I had no time to apply for a tourist visa from the Thai embassy in Sydney so just got the 30 day stamp on arrival in Bkk which expires April 10.

Is it possible to do your own Visa run rather than using one of the many companies out there? Getting a govt bus from Bkk to? This will be my first Visa run so I didn't want the hassle of working out everything myself or something going wrong, but at the same I like an adventure and am always up for saving some baht!

What visa will I be getting? Just another re entry 30 day stamp?

Edited April 9, 2008 by mrmaxwell

[lopburi3]

You will not be getting a visa for 2100 baht. You will receive a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp if eligible (have not used 90 days in last six months). You can do yourself but the savings will probably not be that much - especially if you pay the extra "fees" that are likely to be asked/demanded.

[jfchandler]

I just did another visa run last week with this company:

http://thaivisarun.com/map.htm

They go to Ban Leam at the Cambodia border from Ekamai BTS for about 2000 baht total on a VIP bus including Thai food lunch onboard. Every time I've used them, their service has been great. And Ban Leam by many accounts is a much better (quicker, less hassle) choice that Poipet...

One thing to note: I particularly noticed this time, at the border crossing, the Thai immigration folks had printed signs posted saying proof of onward travel (outside Thailand) would be required for anyone entering the Kingdom without a visa (i.e. 30 day entry stamp on arrival).

I have a B visa, so that didn't pertain to me. But a bunch of other people onboard were in that status. But no problem. The visa run company, I gather, has an arrangement to provide some tickets that satisfy that requirement as part of their service, bus ticket I think, but not sure.

They also were offering Sunday departure tourist visa trips for a total package price of 5,900 baht, I believe.

[colino]

Pay the 2100 baht it is so much hassle doing the run yourself slow local bus's loads of touts at the border hassling you every step of the way , getting the Cambodian visa filling in all the paper work paying tea money to get your stamps from Cambodian immigration,

just take the air con bus with movies free drinks and lunch and let them do all the work

colino

[Big A]

Pay the 2100 baht it is so much hassle doing the run yourself

Agree 100% especially if it's your first (or even second or third)

[mrmaxwell]

Ok 2100 baht it is then...it will be great to visit Cambodia - for 30 mins!

[colino]

You normally get up to an hour in the casino for lunch and be careful with bringing Cigs and booze back, don't go over your allowance

[naka]

Ok 2100 baht it is then...it will be great to visit Cambodia - for 30 mins!

Actually it will not be "great" ... but never mind, it's just 30 minutes ... thankfully

Naka.

[sniffdog]

You didn't tell us where the visa run goes .... Poi Pet (Aranyaprathet) or Ban Laem.

Provided you hold a air ticket, you can use the casino bus from Suan Lum for around THB 300 return to Aranyaprathet....

So:

Casino Bus THB 300 (inclusive of breakfast).

Visa US$20 THB 650

Bus leaves around 4 am, arrives at 7 am in Aranyaprathet. After you've done exiting Thailand and entering/exiting Cambodia you can take a leisure stroll through the casinos.

The bus goes back to Bangkok around noon or 1 pm, arriving at around 4-4.30 pm.

You can even go by train (under a THB 100) or public bus (THB 350 or so return), but then you have to pay for a Tuk Tuk to the border (around THB 160 return).

THB 950 .... who says the savings are minimal? Aranyaprathet can be done at considerable savings .... it also depends how many 'service' the visa run company provides.

Edited April 9, 2008 by sniffdog

[jdinasia]

There's no way I'd do a visa run to Cambodia on my own again. Far too much of a pain in the ass! (and I have a non-imm visa)

on the other hand I would suggest hopping a bus to Mae Sot and spending the night and enjoying the trip and doing the run to Myanmar there.

[sjaak327]

I don't know, it's not so difficult to get to Aran and do it yourself. Yeah the cambodian immigration officers might be overly greedy when it comes to the tourist visa, but surely 20 USD, and maybe 100 baht stamp fee will keep them happy.

But Indeed doing the visa run with a company, is probably much more relaxing. How about that proof of onward travel at Aran, giving up on that one already ?

Edited April 9, 2008 by sjaak327

[jdinasia]

I don't know, it's not so difficult to get to Aran and do it yourself. Yeah the cambodian immigration officers might be overly greedy when it comes to the tourist visa, but surely 20 USD, and maybe 100 baht stamp fee will keep them happy.

I find either entrypoint into Cambodia to be a pain in the butt. With everchanging restrictions and needs etc on BOTH sides of the border. I'd never do it again as a borderrun (I would go through Poipet if I decided I could deal with an overland trip to Siem Reap again ... but with the cost of a flight being so low to PP --- I don't see that happening either)

If I did do a run through either Cambodian entry point I'd certainly get a visa here in BKK first.

[sniffdog]

Saving Winner: Do it yourself Poi Pet

Ease Winner: VIP Service Jack Golf

[Richie1971]

I'm booked in for a Visa Run to Cambodia for 2100 baht all up this week (which sounds like a fair price)

Before departing Australia my trip was extended to 2 months from the original 28 days - I had no time to apply for a tourist visa from the Thai embassy in Sydney so just got the 30 day stamp on arrival in Bkk which expires April 10.

Is it possible to do your own Visa run rather than using one of the many companies out there? Getting a govt bus from Bkk to? This will be my first Visa run so I didn't want the hassle of working out everything myself or something going wrong, but at the same I like an adventure and am always up for saving some baht!

What visa will I be getting? Just another re entry 30 day stamp?

go with VIP Service Jack Golf the only thing you have to do is wake up to get the bus, incidentally one of the Jack's Golf girls is worth the trip alone! suay mak mak

[warwick7735]

Hi

I drove to poi pet and did my first 90 day visa run with no problems, I even passed the jack golf bus on the way. I just parked the car in car park, was approached by a young guy who was offering to fill out all the paperwork for 200baht, I accepted. 5 minutes later exited Thai folowing this guy to the other side, paid a local BIB 1500baht he wanted 2000, he walked off, started talking to the remaining BIB and this guy about football, a few mins later he come back with new cambodian visa, entry and exit stamps, just walked back into thai again following this guy, all done in 15mins. Met girlfriend in market and spent the next couple of hours walking round. Pretty painless trip, so much so we went back to the market the following sunday with some more friends.

Would I do again if I had to, yeah no problem.

You dont save much either way, it's just you get to plan your trip and the time u spend there

Thats just my opinion

[mrmaxwell]

The Visa Run is to Ban Laem with Visa Run Services. 1900 baht + 200 baht for bogus bus ticket if you have no proof of travel (I have a paper e-ticket for home flight).

I'm sure it is best this first time to go with a professional and just observe the process. If I ever need a visa run again I will consider doing it myself.

[WAERTH]

Pay the 2100 baht it is so much hassle doing the run yourself

Agree 100% especially if it's your first (or even second or third)

I have always done the runs myself and never had any hassles. Always all smiles with immigration on both Thai and Cambo side, cracking jokes with them. I do not understand why so many people always seem to have problems. And I used to have overstays regularly .... (although in the last 2,5 years I have been totally clean!) .... but never any problem whatsoever, dress nicely ... wai ... smile ... say you are sorry ... make some jokes ... pay the fine (no extras ever demanded) ... and be on your way.

Waerth

[jdinasia]

Hi

I drove to poi pet and did my first 90 day visa run with no problems, I even passed the jack golf bus on the way. I just parked the car in car park, was approached by a young guy who was offering to fill out all the paperwork for 200baht, I accepted. 5 minutes later exited Thai folowing this guy to the other side, paid a local BIB 1500baht he wanted 2000, he walked off, started talking to the remaining BIB and this guy about football, a few mins later he come back with new cambodian visa, entry and exit stamps, just walked back into thai again following this guy, all done in 15mins. Met girlfriend in market and spent the next couple of hours walking round. Pretty painless trip, so much so we went back to the market the following sunday with some more friends.

Would I do again if I had to, yeah no problem.

You dont save much either way, it's just you get to plan your trip and the time u spend there

Thats just my opinion

So you drove your own vehicle and spent 1700? certainly no savings there!

[mrmaxwell]

You didn't tell us where the visa run goes .... Poi Pet (Aranyaprathet) or Ban Laem.

Provided you hold a air ticket, you can use the casino bus from Suan Lum for around THB 300 return to Aranyaprathet....

So:

Casino Bus THB 300 (inclusive of breakfast).

Visa US$20 THB 650

Bus leaves around 4 am, arrives at 7 am in Aranyaprathet. After you've done exiting Thailand and entering/exiting Cambodia you can take a leisure stroll through the casinos.

The bus goes back to Bangkok around noon or 1 pm, arriving at around 4-4.30 pm.

You can even go by train (under a THB 100) or public bus (THB 350 or so return), but then you have to pay for a Tuk Tuk to the border (around THB 160 return).

THB 950 .... who says the savings are minimal? Aranyaprathet can be done at considerable savings .... it also depends how many 'service' the visa run company provides.

What are the details for this Casino bus? Sounds ok...

[sniffdog]

Everyday (don't know round Songkran) several buses leave Lumpini Park (opposite the HBSC bank) to bring Thais to the casinos in Poi Pet.

They leave between 4-6 am .... Everybody is allowed to join this trip. Visa runners are charged more than Thais (because these buses are sponsored

to bring customers into the casinos). Last time I paid THB 300 return, while my Thai GF paid 100 baht o/w and got the return trip for free. A breakfast

(spartan) is included in the Resort Casino.

Best is to show up around 3:15am so you're first in line ..... they don't allow people to join if all seats are taken (Some seats are already reserved

for people entering the bus at Bang Na).

As said, the bus arrives around 7:00 am at the parking lot near the Thailand exit. You can do the visa run, visit some of the casinos (free entry)

and then get the bus back at noon or 1 am. There's usually also a bus back at 5:00 pm.

They drop you off again in the front of HSBC at 4-4:30 pm.

[mrmaxwell]

So there is only a US$20 fee to get back into Thailand with a 30 day stamp?

Saving 1000 baht + sounds pretty good, surely it cannot be that difficult as long as you keep your wits about you and don't get scammed at the border.

[sjaak327]

The 20 USD is for a Cambodian tourist visa. Make sure you have the 20 USD in cash, they might accept it, otherwise offer them 100 baht on top of that, and you're in.

Quite honestly, you will not save a lot of money doing it on your own, and you won't save any time either. Jack golf, Thaivisarun.com and thaivisaservice.com all are in the 1800-2000 baht range, they arrange transport + visa and a lunch at the border, I think that option is the most comfortable.

[POMCHOB]

You didn't tell us where the visa run goes .... Poi Pet (Aranyaprathet) or Ban Laem.

Provided you hold a air ticket, you can use the casino bus from Suan Lum for around THB 300 return to Aranyaprathet....

So:

Casino Bus THB 300 (inclusive of breakfast).

Visa US$20 THB 650

Bus leaves around 4 am, arrives at 7 am in Aranyaprathet. After you've done exiting Thailand and entering/exiting Cambodia you can take a leisure stroll through the casinos.

The bus goes back to Bangkok around noon or 1 pm, arriving at around 4-4.30 pm.

You can even go by train (under a THB 100) or public bus (THB 350 or so return), but then you have to pay for a Tuk Tuk to the border (around THB 160 return).

THB 950 .... who says the savings are minimal? Aranyaprathet can be done at considerable savings .... it also depends how many 'service' the visa run company provides.

Hi, i enjoyed the Train up to a point ,very cheap, until it broke down, none of the staff could explain to my Thai wife what was happening ,so we all marched through a field to the nearest road and flagged a bus for the rest of the ride about 20kms outside Aranyaprathet. We had only two hours before the border closed and i needed the stamp on the day which i did get.

When we went to get the train in Bangkok it was 1hr:30 mins late.

Also the train leaves about 1pm which makes it tight to get back to the station in Aranyaprathet and its the last train back, So we missed it and had to get the Bus Back.

A fun day out had by all!!! Good Luck from Pomchob.

[mrmaxwell]

Well now I am booked in with Jack Golf VIP for the run tomorrow. My 30 days expired on the 10th so it will be interesting to see what happens. I missed my original booking as I was sick in bed with the flu. Jack Golf said should be no problem, maybe an overstay fee will be payable.

Edited April 12, 2008 by mrmaxwell

[WAERTH]

Well now I am booked in with Jack Golf VIP for the run tomorrow. My 30 days expired on the 10th so it will be interesting to see what happens. I missed my original booking as I was sick in bed with the flu. Jack Golf said should be no problem, maybe an overstay fee will be payable.

An overstay fee will definitely be payable. But no sweat about that, it is 500 baht a day. So bring enough cash with you. Have a nice trip ....

Waerth

[tracer5050]

Thanks for the advise . I have listen and useing a visa run bus is alway worked for me.

[falkenbach]

consider to buy e-visa to Cambodia by yourself, as with e-visa you got stamp in your passport of the same size as thais visa exemption, while usual visa on-arrival will take the whole page.

[blocat]

I've done it both ways (own car/bike and with visa run company) to several different crossings

My advice pay the 2000bht odd and use a visa run company. Easier, faster, less stress, almost no touts, CHEAPER!!!

[rutteketuut]

Pay the 2100 baht it is so much hassle doing the run yourself

Agree 100% especially if it's your first (or even second or third)

I have always done the runs myself and never had any hassles. Always all smiles with immigration on both Thai and Cambo side, cracking jokes with them. I do not understand why so many people always seem to have problems. And I used to have overstays regularly .... (although in the last 2,5 years I have been totally clean!) .... but never any problem whatsoever, dress nicely ... wai ... smile ... say you are sorry ... make some jokes ... pay the fine (no extras ever demanded) ... and be on your way.

Waerth

You are a very lucky farang,no extras ever demanded.Don´t you have white skin?It does not matter how you dress or etc.The only thing they want from you is money,certainly at the Cambodian borders.Be reasonable man.As mansioned before book trip in an office no problem at all.By the way,last month I drove my truck to Mae Sot (Tak province) long drive from Pattaya (620 km) stayd one night in an airconditioned room (very nice),paid 350 baht.Next day went to get my stamps no cheating at the border,no touts.I paid 500 baht at Myanmar immigration,no photographs or paperwork,very friendly.Had to go back to Thailand before border closed at 6 PM.,Filled in the Thai arrrival departure card,got my 90 days without any problem?Then drove back to Pattaya.

[spencerdharmagrafix]

I don't know, it's not so difficult to get to Aran and do it yourself. Yeah the cambodian immigration officers might be overly greedy when it comes to the tourist visa, but surely 20 USD, and maybe 100 baht stamp fee will keep them happy.

But Indeed doing the visa run with a company, is probably much more relaxing. How about that proof of onward travel at Aran, giving up on that one already ?

You can go to poi pet so easily for 215 baht from mor chit bus terminal

it takes about 5 hours or so get a film too. once there you can get a sogthaew in front of the station for 10 baht to the border

walk across into cambodian side have a foto with you for the application and you wont need to pay the damned 100 baht "fine" the cambodians ask for

i never pay the 100 baht and tell them that it its illegal and that corruption is ruining the country - to which they react red faced and shut up.

i fill in my own forms and walk to stamp myself which avoids them asking me for money.

Unless you refuse to support coprruption you shall be experiencing corruption for the rest of your days so stop paying them please.

There is a songthaew service back to the town of aranyaprated for 10 baht same as there was to go to border.

the visa then costs (i think if i remember correctly) 1200 baht (not sure i forgot)

if you make it back to the station before 1 in the afternoon you can get a train (slow 9 hours) back to bangkok or get a bus back to Mor chit at any time till about early evening.

so it would be about 1800 baht there and back.

I do find it better to go myself as those arranged tours always keep you cooped up all the time i prefer the freedom of going myself..the Thai buses are mostly much better than any "VIP" arranged service, and stop a few times on the way so you can have a cigarette or go to toilent/buy snacks.

if you wish to do it on the real "Cheapo" take the train as it only costs 135 baht one way..but a 9 hour journey leaves you needing a room which cheapest and cleanest would be at Aran Garden 2 - about 275 baht a room with tv fan and toilent in room.

the slow "cheapo" way works out the same as the quick way because of the necessary overnight stay.

only other benefits of the cheapo is if you have bad knees and cant sit in the b us for hours then in the train you can walk up and down also go and stand between carriages and smoke as all thais do. Plus there are hawkers getting on and off the train all the time selling sweetmeats and otyher goodies so you can scoff your way to Aranyaprated.

Train gets hot though and only has 3rd class so be prepared to sit on a hard wooden seat.

I also heard from a Thai friend who goes to casino at poi ped that the VIP Bus the Thais take from suan lum costs 160 baht one way and dont need a flight ticket.