Cambodian 18 Hour Rule

[Khutan]

Has anyone heard of the 18 hour rule for entering and leaving Cambodia.

My wife and I went to Chantaburi a few weeks ago and well what trip to a waterfall is complete without going to the Cambodian Casino???

Like a good boy I pay the 1000 baht for the visa and of we are driven to the Casino at Prum.

For one reason and another My wife and I had a disagreement, so I was annoyed with her.

When I got to the checkpoint, I was told by this guy that because I have a "Visa" then I must stay in Cambodia and did I know they had this law. I stated I did not know that, and they told me I would have to stay another 15 hours.

I politely told the boarder guy that I believed that under International Law, they had no right to detain me and I didn't even have to show my passport to leave. I was told by the boarder guy that "We do not have these laws here".

Since I could smell a scam coming, I replied, Ok, I am tired I will go back to the casino and get a room and sleep for 12 hours. He was a little shocked and asked me "What about your wife" I told him we were not happy and she can wait there up in Thailand for the next 15 hours.

He was less happy and then told me that since I did not know about this law then it was ok for me to walk back to Thailand........

Walking off I was wondering if all officials in Cambodia are as generous when you "don't know a law".

Has anyone else had this problem or heard of this "18 hour law" ?

Matt

[jayenram]

As far as I know, there is not a law that states you must stay in Cambodia for a particular length of time. However, as always, there is a scam by some Khmer immigration officers and they ask you for a further Bht 100.00 if you wish to leave the country the same day that you arrive, i.e. do not stay overnight. As by this time they already have your passport in their hands (necessary to insert the departure stamp) most punters pay up to avoid any trouble. I have heard from friends that some officers are increasing this 'pay as you go' amount to Bht 200.00 or even Bht 300.00.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I politely told the boarder guy that I believed that under International Law, they had no right to detain me and I didn't even have to show my passport to leave.

All Nations have border control. I know of none that will let you go in or out without production of your passport or travel document to the duty officers

[huski]

Has anyone heard of the 18 hour rule for entering and leaving Cambodia.

There is absolutely no law that you need to stay in Cambodia, as many others on this board will tell you in their visa runs to the border and back in one day.

However, as always, there is a scam by some Khmer immigration officers and they ask you for a further Bht 100.00

It is usually a 200 baht "fine" to leave that DAY and its because Cambodia wants you to come in and spend some money as a tourist. so if you are there for a quick visa run then they are going to make some quick money.

I politely told the boarder guy that I believed that under International Law, they had no right to detain me and I didn't even have to show my passport to leave.

Don't mess around with officials in Cambodia, no matter how nice you think you are. If it is an officer and he asks for your passport, show it.

[Khutan]

Thanks for the advice, I don't think I will be making too many more "Day Trips" to the Casino at Prum.

I think the setup at Chom Chon is better where you just pay the immigration guy and unofficially enter the Market and Casino area and pick up your passport wjen you return.

In no way do I support leaving a country without a passport. I also don't think it is a good idea to debate the finer points of this aspect of International law and possibly mislead people. I am happy to debate the matter in email and provide specific instances of what I know and done.

As far as messing with Cambodian authorities - agreed, They are not there for fun, but I just thought interesting his attitude when I said my wife could wait the extra time for me whilst I slept.

Thanks again for the input.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I politely told the boarder guy that I believed that under International Law, they had no right to detain me and I didn't even have to show my passport to leave.

All Nations have border control. I know of none that will let you go in or out without production of your passport or travel document to the duty officers

I reiterate border advice. Ignore it at your own peril.

[samran]

Those Cambodian border guards are some of the biggest scammers on the face of the earth. They get a bit testy when things don't go their way either.

When I crossed at Poipet one time on the way to Angkor I was held up by an official who didn't believe I was Thai. Admittedly I dont particularly look like a typical Thai, but I had a Thai passport and spoke to him in fluent Thai. He held me and the immigration line up for 5 minutes trying to trip me up and getting me to admit that I really wasnt in Thai (in Thai mind you!) and got progressively angrier as I just smiled at him and denied his charges.

I am sure he was looking for a 100 baht "reassurance" that I was Thai, but I held my ground and he eventually gave up as the line got longer. A battle of wits and patience...and I won!

[fox]

Quote (mattnich) : .......... and I didn't have to show my passport to leave.

This sort of advice could get you into serious problems.

You must show, I repeat again...... You have to show your

passport for checking and stamping (and some cases, scanning),

before you are allowed to leave that country or any country for that matter.

Failing to do so, you could be detained, and charged for illegal entry,

or other immigration offences...... unless of course you could prove otherwise.

Assuming that you have lost your passport, you have to make a police report,

and you have to contact you Embassy/Consulate, to get you a special document

to get you out of the country in a legal and proper manner.

Warm regards and have a nice day.

[sabaijai]

There are countries that don't require any sort of immigration check at all - no show of passport, etc - upon leaving. The US and Mexico are two I can think of off hand, but I'm sure there are more. Probably not in SE Asia however ...

[Khutan]

I was making an observation about the passport, not giving travel advice.

I would NEVER advise anyone to leave a country without going through the proper process, after all you are a guest in that country (in this case Cambodia) and it is a more than reasonable expectation that you abide by the laws.

To say again it would be EXTREMLY FOOLISH to leave a country without doing the proper immigration procedure. This is even worse in the case if you are entering a country that has not issued your passport.

As a side issue. Airlines do have the right to check your passport regardless of what you claim, be you a Diplomat, Head of State etc etc. I think from memory it is one of the Hague Protocols or agreements (I think 1995 or 1993) to which IATA Airlines are a party. If they carry a passenger to a country to which they have not been granted leave to enter (eg Visa or Visa on Demand) then they can and normally are forced to carry that passenger back to the destination.

As far as messing with the officials in Cambodia, from the doubtful pleasure first hand experiance (still complete with scars), never stuff around with these guys, their sence of humour is not the same.

On the point of scanning Passports, there are still a number of countries that issue passports that cannot be scanned. It is frustrating to line at immigration and end up behind a group of people who have Passports that cannot be scanned. You see the Immigration Officer there hand typing the Passport Number, Name Issuing country etc while the guy next to him has already processed 2 or 3 people.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The US has given the countries whos citizens can enter America without a visa until October to commence issuing machine readable passports, with readable finger prints. Otherwise their visa free status will be revoked. It will take some time before everyone has a new P/P but that's when it begins.

[fred110]

I was at Chan Yeam (near HAt LEk) for a visa run on Jan. 7, and because I did not stay one night I had to pay 300 baht. They have the guns, what can you do? But tell me, can I use the same Cambodian visa again? It is good for 30 days.

[jayenram]

But tell me, can I use the same Cambodian visa again? It is good for 30 days.

No way! Not even the Kmers are that daft.

[Khutan]

My Cambodian Visa says Valid for -1- Entry.

I would have thought it unusual to get a multi entry visa enless you went to an embassy or consulate - unless you paid some sort of "Special Processing Fee"