Poipet Casino Question.

[Kismet]

My Thai friend visits the Poipet (Cambodian) casinos very often.

As a Thai national, he proceeds to Departure Thai Immigration and

gets a stamp and goes straight to the Cambodian casinos. He need

not have to go through the Cambodian Immigration.

And before 5.00pm he heads back to Thai Immigration Arrival counter

and he is stamp in. And he goes back home.

The big question is this. Can I as a foreigner on Extension of Stay (Retiree),

do the same time like the Thais. Just like them, stamp departed and

proceed straight to the Cambodian casinos without going to the Cambodian

Immigration. Then before 5.00pm, I head back to Thai Immigration and fill

up the usual Arrival/Departure Card and get stamp in.

After that I take the last 6.00pm bus back to Bangkok.

Am I allowed to do that ? Is it legal ?

Thanking you all in advance. Much appreciated.

[Dork]

No because Thai immigration insist on foreign passports showing entry/exit stamps from Cambodia. It doesn't matter what kind of visa or re-entry permit you have.

[Kismet]

Thank you for your advice. Much appreciated.

Edited June 1, 2013 by lopburi3
correct font

[phuketrichard]

all the casinos on the thai borders,

Burma, laos, Cambodia require u to purchase a visa for that country

[Dork]

all the casinos on the thai borders,

Burma, laos, Cambodia require u to purchase a visa for that country

At least in the case of Poipet, Cambodia doesn't require anything. Not even entry/exit stamps. The casinos are in a special zone between the Thai & Cambodian immigration checkpoints. It is only the Thai requirement for the stamps that means you need a Cambodian visa.

As the op says, Thai passport holders only entering the casino zone don't need to have any contact with Cambodian immigration.

[Tomtomtom69]

The border at Poipet closes at 8pm. So don't worry about coming back before 5pm, that seems to apply only to Thais visiting the casinos.