Temp. Pp Expiring - Need To Do Visa Run - How?

[Thanh-BKK]

Hello

I have a "little" problem here that i was JUST made aware of.

I am german citizen, currently on a temporary, one-year passport. This is because my old one was full, and an employee (who got fired btw because of several similar incidents) told me that, instead of applying for a "real" one in time, it'd be better to get a temporary one which "is cheaper and faster to issue". Well, so i got one of those.

However it does expire on May 24th, and my next visa run (Poipet) is due on April 16th. A new, "real" passport has been applied for on march 15, it would take till approximately beginning May for it to be ready.

Now the guy from my visa-run-service (Jack Golf btw) called me and informed me of some trouble - that Cambodia issues visas only if the passport remains valid for three months! And he just remembered that already last time there was some hickhack because of only two months remaining, but then he didn't mention it because he was too busy.

However the situation now is: I have to leave the kingdom on 16th April. If i can't get a cambodian visa - what am i supposed to do? Can 30-day-border stamps be "extended"..? My passport's validity would exceed the validity of a new stamp by about one week, and anyway my new passport is on the way, which i could verify with a document from the german embassy (it's in german tough, stating that i applied for a new passport on 15th March and that it would take approximately six weeks).

Is there a way to get a cambodian visa (usually those are valid for three months, which is what i think why the rule is applied) that is only valid ONE month?

Please, someone advise me since i would need to reserve the visa run in the next two days.

Kind regards.....

Thanh

[lopburi3]

Believe you should be talking with your Embassy and hope that they can help you obtain an extension of stay or speed up passport, or obtain another temp passport to hold you over as do not believe any country in this region is going to allow you to enter on that old one. I would talk with your embassy first. If no luck there try immigration (but without a letter from your embassy don't expect too much) and be prepared to return to Germany. The person who suggested temp passport probably was not aware you were going to remain here on 30 day runs forever. You should always have a passport with at least six month remaining validity if you plan any travel - if not get a new one. You may be able to obtain another temp passport to hold you over if all else fails - you do not want to go officially illegal.

[Axel]

Yes, German embassy needs 6-8 weeks to get you a EU-passport.

You can ask them, as lopburi suggested, for another temporary one, usually valid for 1 year and not machine readable. (they do use the old green form and data in handwriting). If the embassy allows you to keep the old one, leave Thailand on that, enter Cambodia on the new one and back to Thailand on the new one. Using a land border Cambodia might want to see the old one as well.

Latest after return the embassy might want the previous one back to void it.

If the embassy does not agree for you to hold two books they void the previous one, give you a letter stating the new one was issued by them. Off to immigration to transfer the previous entry valid until April 16.

Once your regular p/port arrived, you have to return the temporary one.

May 8 is Friday, the gre one should be ready by Monday, May 10, time enough to go to the imigration office to transfer your entry permit before the holidays.

Good luck!

[Thanh-BKK]

Thank you both for replies

I phoned the embassy indeed, and they said there were two choices - they could issue an official document stating that my new passport is in the making (it is printed in germany, that's why it takes a while even tough i am registered in Bangkok) and then *hope* that the cambodian fficial would accept that.

The second choice would be, as suggested here, to get another temporary one like the one i have now. The problem would be the involved insanity - i need it for a single visa run, and a time of approximately three weeks (won't take any longer for the new euro-passport to arrive). The process would involve standing in line for three hours twice (because they can't issue the thing right away - have to come today to apply and again tomorrow to pick it up), twice the need to transfer visa (standing in line 2 hours plus at the cambodian border, i been thru that once already)and 1.350 Baht for the temp passport (which would indeed be used only for three weeks after which it would be voided again).

I am not doiung monthly runs as a choice - it is because i can't get a "proper" visa in the stupid green passport! It is only a temporary one, usually issued in case of emergency (lost passport and need to travel, etc). The first thing i do when i have the euro is to get my paperwork ready and go to Singapore to obtain a non-B. I am sick of visa runs to Poipet, even tough i love the service and the company on those buses by that company i go with (don't want to advertise, but it's nice).

Now the good thing is: The guy i am in touch with (he became a friend of mine, the guide from that visa run firm) was able to arrange it all for me. The process will involve a little extra cash (half the price of the temporary passport) to get me a cambodian visa in the old one. The Thai officers don't care - as long as the passport is valid any longer than 28 days, i'll get the stamp anyway. This was about the CAMBODIAN side So with the help of my friend i will be able to save $$, a load of time and hassle.

Again, thank you both for your time and replies... i do really appreciate it

Kind regards....

your Thanh