Visa Run, Poipet

[alizzara]

My husbad and I usually go to Poipet Cambodia for his visarun. Both times we were there, after crossing Thai immigration into Cambodia,the officials always ask us to pay a 500baht fee. They said in order to returnto Thailand within the same day, we have to pay that fee. But if we were tospend the night in Cambodia then we wouldn’t have to.

I know that the money goes straight to the official’s pocketbut what I want to know if it’s possible to not pay the fee? Has anybody hadany experience with this? Any helpwould be greatly appreciated.

[overherebc]

Was there two weeks ago. Use Poipet for my 90 day, (married Non O multi.) Paid 800 for entry in Cambodia, at the first big office on the right hand side for the visa sticker, walked to first office,stamped in, crossed the road stamped back out and back to Thai side. That has always been the same for long time, a few times it was 1000 baht but I had forgotten to take a photograph. Never paid anything on the other side.

No doubt many others have different stories.

[welo]

Return the same day

There is no such rule and people return the same day (well, the very same hour) without paying extra all the time.

You can get 'VIP' service for 300-500B where a tout/officer takes your passport and will get the Cambodian immigration stamps for you while you wait and have a coffee.

I've never paid any extra fee for returning the same day and have never been asked. Others might have had a different experience, and it might as well depend on your nationality.

It might also help to tell them you are going to visit the Casinos. I assume they get troubles if they piss off Casino customers.

Cambodia Visa Costs

Just pay in US Dollars! You can exchange Baht to USD at Kasikorn Bank located opposite 7/11 (green signs)**. Currently the 20 USD will cost you about 620 THB.

Also make sure you go to the *official* visa on arrival office which is located AFTER Thai immigration (=AFTER you stamp out of Thailand) next to the Angkor-style stone arch. The sign above the doors say 'The Office of the International Border Checkpoint of Poipet'. See photos here:

Make sure you bring a passport photo (any photo of your face with appr. the size of a passport pic will do, they are not very picky). Also, in the application form enter 'purpose: Tourist' and 'duration: 30days' even if you plan to return immediately.

The tout outside the booth will ask you for extra cash just say 'no sorry' and hand the application to the officer behind the window. They used to be annoyingly persisting ('have to wait looong time') but that has changed recently (the tout is actually whispering his demands). Even if claimed otherwise I always received the visa within 5 minutes.

Coming from Thailand, on the way to Thai immigration, touts will try to bring you to different places to sell you the Cambodian visa at higher costs (1000B)

** If you plan to travel Cambodia there is an ATM that hands out USD in the border/casino area just shortly after the Angkor-style stone arch. (You are free to walk around that area no matter what touts/officers tell you.)

[alizzara]

thank you for the quick replies. I think the 500baht fee that we paid must have been for the VIP service that you mentioned. However, they made it sound like it was obligatory to had the Cambodian stamp right there. It's good to know that we can avoid that extra fee.

My other question is then where do you get the Cambodian immigration stamp (without paying 500baht). My husband usually uses internet visa for his Cambodian visa and already has a multiple entry Thai visa so he won't need any more visa. Is it at the check point next to the Angkor-style stone arch?

thank you

[Maestro]

...where do you get the Cambodian immigration stamp (without paying 500baht)...

You haven't looked at the photos to which Welo linked, have you? Here they are again, one click closer:

You get the Cambodian visa at the place place marked "Visa Office"

[welo]

Maestro, I think you misunderstood. Alizzara was referring to the Entry/Exit stamps since they already had the eVisa and were charged for getting the stamps.

Alizzara, you get the stamps when you just keep walking after you pass the stone arch. It is maybe 150m straight down the road. Just follow the flow of people.

Sometimes officers will sit on chairs shortly after the arch and try to sell you the 'VIP' service. Just decline friendly but firmly.

You will end up in a small building where you retrieve your arrival/departure card, fill it (also fill the departure card, but leave the return date open), then pass it to the officer at the counter (together with your print of the eVisa). Nowadays they have finger print scanners there.

You will eventually get your ENTRY stamp.

I've heard stories that they might ask for 100B here if you tell them you go back the same day. I personally have never been asked. If I were asked I would tell them I go to the Casino, possibly maybe stay there a night, or something like that. But I think they rarely bother westerners.

After retrieving your ENTRY stamp you exit the small building and proceed towards the roundabout. The free shuttle bus to the bus terminal leaves here. There are touts waiting because they want to sell you a ride to Angkor Wat.

However, you want to cross the road to the opposite immigration booth for going back to Thailand. Be confident. There is NOTHING illegal or irregular about doing that. I have never been bothered doing that even with an elderly officer sitting on a chair right in the middle of that road.

At the immigration booth you hand over your passport with the departure card pinned into it (completely filled and signed), your second copy of the eVisa (albeit my guess is that they won't ask for it if you don't have it), and then retrieve your EXIT stamp.

Occasionally if a tourist bus from Angkor Wat has just arrived, you might have to queue. VIP service for jumping the queue was offered to me for 200B. Personally I don't think it is worth the 20minutes.

There you go! On your way back to Thai immigration.

[BigRick]

That is a VIP fee I got them down to 500 for two people and you may ask why pay them anything well I did not feel like waiting in line for an hour or deal with any hassles. 500 baht 2 passports stamp good to go beat the crowd both times.