Poipet moves farangs upstairs to passport control - CANNOT GO WITH THAI WIFE

[hercdogules]

I searched and didn't find Poipet on the stickies, but this is important.

I just got back from Poipet for a one way turn around. I usually go through the Thai PP control line with wifie, skip the million Russians, go to Cambodia get the Visa, get "VIP" 300 baht and Cambodian tourist police go get my stamps for me, come back through Thai PP control, again skipping million Russians and other dregs of the earth (sorry but true) - saves a lot of time actually. BUT....

No longer may we go through the Thai passport control lines in Poipet (in OR out). I was invited to start doing this procedure at BKK long time ago. I am NOT SURE if this is new policy for the whole country. I AM SURE that this is now policy for PoiPet. We were even told the computer systems were completely separate for farang and Thai. I asked both in and out PP control people and so did wife in Thai. She basically sat outside and waited with a couple other wives for 1:30. Being a 25 year IT guy, I find that astonishing logically.

To Cambodia: queue time was 30 minutes today Jan 30, 2014 (Thursday)

To Thailand: queue time 1:30 minutes (totally sucked sweaty balls)

Never again to Poipet for me. I will go farther south back to the "secret spot" LOL...

This is a major dipshit move in my opinion.

[Jip99]

A 25 year old IT guy applying logic to a border run will put him about one step behind the other dregs of the earth. Immigration are not customer centric.

Last time I came back into Thailand through Poipet (I don't have to do visa runs) it took less than 5 minutes - but yes, Farangs now have to go upstairs in and out.

[hercdogules]

A 25 year old IT guy applying logic to a border run will put him about one step behind the other dregs of the earth. Immigration are not customer centric.

Last time I came back into Thailand through Poipet (I don't have to do visa runs) it took less than 5 minutes - but yes, Farangs now have to go upstairs in and out.

Took me 30 minutes in and 1:30 out. What do you think was the difference on the day it took you 5 minutes? Time, date? Or you just lucky? This changed since October 30, 2013, so you had to have come through between then and now if you went upstairs.

[Jip99]

A 25 year old IT guy applying logic to a border run will put him about one step behind the other dregs of the earth. Immigration are not customer centric.

Last time I came back into Thailand through Poipet (I don't have to do visa runs) it took less than 5 minutes - but yes, Farangs now have to go upstairs in and out.

Took me 30 minutes in and 1:30 out. What do you think was the difference on the day it took you 5 minutes? Time, date? Or you just lucky? This changed since October 30, 2013, so you had to have come through between then and now if you went upstairs.

Two weeks ago.

Lucky to a degree, although we had planned it so we got there (from Siem Reap) at about 2pm. We hoped the rush (and somtam breaks) might have been over. They were - no queues at all.

Going out was worse, we planned to get there before the Russiians (we had a group of 20+ students) but the minibus driver screwed up and about 60 Russians et al went through about 10 mins before arrived. Took over an hour even with $5 a head for 'fast-tracking'.

It looks like you have been spoiled by being able to go through with your wife.

As you say, perhaps a change of border

[ubonjoe]

The only reply I can think of to your topic is why are you making a border crossing if you you are married to a Thai is why are you making a border crossing? You could get an extension of stay at immigration and not have to do it.

[Rooo]

Last time I came back through Poipet back from SR it took us 21/2 hours + place is a brothel, everyone just jumping the official lines , from bus tours to workers getting back to Thailand.

Never again.

[falkan]

you are farang not thai right? or are you one of those who think because you lived here long time you can get vip? wake up son!

[Soutpeel]

I searched and didn't find Poipet on the stickies, but this is important.

I just got back from Poipet for a one way turn around. I usually go through the Thai PP control line with wifie, skip the million Russians, go to Cambodia get the Visa, get "VIP" 300 baht and Cambodian tourist police go get my stamps for me, come back through Thai PP control, again skipping million Russians and other dregs of the earth (sorry but true) - saves a lot of time actually. BUT....

No longer may we go through the Thai passport control lines in Poipet (in OR out). I was invited to start doing this procedure at BKK long time ago. I am NOT SURE if this is new policy for the whole country. I AM SURE that this is now policy for PoiPet. We were even told the computer systems were completely separate for farang and Thai. I asked both in and out PP control people and so did wife in Thai. She basically sat outside and waited with a couple other wives for 1:30. Being a 25 year IT guy, I find that astonishing logically.

To Cambodia: queue time was 30 minutes today Jan 30, 2014 (Thursday)

To Thailand: queue time 1:30 minutes (totally sucked sweaty balls)

Never again to Poipet for me. I will go farther south back to the "secret spot" LOL...

This is a major dipshit move in my opinion.

Its never been a policy to allow married farangs or those holding a work permit to use the Thai line, its been a courtesy extended thats all, the courtesy has now been withdrawn

[Soutpeel]

The only reply I can think of to your topic is why are you making a border crossing if you you are married to a Thai is why are you making a border crossing? You could get an extension of stay at immigration and not have to do it.

Maybe doesn't qualify for extension of stay

[mrtoad]

Interesting he talks about the dregs of the earth, but he is 30 day border hopper himself.

[Tomtomtom69]

Actually all foreigners have to go upstairs now, but even when they were together, I never saw many Thais crossing at Poipet, there were always 20 times more Russians alone than Thais. I think that's because Thais still have a negative view of Cambodia - nearly every Thai I tell I'm going to Cambodia has something negative to say about the place even though they've never been there.

[Jip99]

Actually all foreigners have to go upstairs now, but even when they were together, I never saw many Thais crossing at Poipet, there were always 20 times more Russians alone than Thais. I think that's because Thais still have a negative view of Cambodia - nearly every Thai I tell I'm going to Cambodia has something negative to say about the place even though they've never been there.

I have experienced that as well from Thai wives who are joining their Farang husbands on trips to Siem Reap/Angkor Wat.

Very quickly they come to realise that no one is out to shoot them and no one is staring at them because they are Thai (although many are taken for Khmer).

They are invariably impressed with Angkor Wat and many are surprised at the standard of service - and English speaking ability - of the Cambodians.

[phuketrichard]

I will go farther south back to the "secret spot" LOL...

Pailin is no secret, a great place to do border runs, no scams, no people holding the lines up

[OJAS]

The only reply I can think of to your topic is why are you making a border crossing if you you are married to a Thai is why are you making a border crossing? You could get an extension of stay at immigration and not have to do it.

Maybe doesn't qualify for extension of stay

He might if he is supporting himself here financially through providing IT services - legitimately, I assume. 40,000 THB shouldn't really be all that difficult to scrape together each month in that line of business, I would have thought.

[fifthcolumn]

I posted details of my runner less than a werk ago in the SEA travel section so this isnotbing new.

This guy is doing everything wrong and the cause of his (and our) problems

Thai wife holding his hand

"VIP" visa

B300 buys you what exactly? Ability to sit your fat ass in the shade while they illegally process your visa. Well done.

If you cant do the runner, get an extension.

Another guy just ruining it for the rest of us.

Refuse corruption - stand in tje bloody line!

[fifthcolumn]

I will go farther south back to the "secret spot" LOL...

Pailin is no secret, a great place to do border runs, no scams, no people holding the lines up

Pailin, for those living in BKK? Surely you jest.

[Jip99]

I posted details of my runner less than a werk ago in the SEA travel section so this isnotbing new.

This guy is doing everything wrong and the cause of his (and our) problems

Thai wife holding his hand

"VIP" visa

B300 buys you what exactly? Ability to sit your fat ass in the shade while they illegally process your visa. Well done.

If you cant do the runner, get an extension.

Another guy just ruining it for the rest of us.

Refuse corruption - stand in tje bloody line!

"Holier than Thou" award of the day.... so far

[ubonjoe]

It is not any further than Ban Laem (309k to 334k) where some visa run companies go to.

[fifthcolumn]

There is no way you can do Ban Laem from BKK in a day. Years ago I did it from Pattaya, when it first opened as a matter of fact. Catching bus to minivan snd reverse, barely made it back to Pattaya by sundown and decided that was not worth the effort, just go with the visa service for b1700.

[ubonjoe]

There is no way you can do Ban Laem from BKK in a day. Years ago I did it from Pattaya, when it first opened as a matter of fact. Catching bus to minivan snd reverse, barely made it back to Pattaya by sundown and decided that was not worth the effort, just go with the visa service for b1700.

There are some visa run companies that go there from Bangkok. Jack golf was going there until they closed.

I think there may be some from Pattaya doing it also.

Google maps gives a drive time of less than 4 hours from Bangkok (about the same as Poi Pet). Perhaps the roads have been improved since you did it.

[inthepink]

There is no way you can do Ban Laem from BKK in a day. Years ago I did it from Pattaya, when it first opened as a matter of fact. Catching bus to minivan snd reverse, barely made it back to Pattaya by sundown and decided that was not worth the effort, just go with the visa service for b1700.

Ban Laem / BKK in a day is easy.

[inthepink]

I posted details of my runner less than a werk ago in the SEA travel section so this isnotbing new.

This guy is doing everything wrong and the cause of his (and our) problems

Thai wife holding his hand

"VIP" visa

B300 buys you what exactly? Ability to sit your fat ass in the shade while they illegally process your visa. Well done.

If you cant do the runner, get an extension.

Another guy just ruining it for the rest of us.

Refuse corruption - stand in tje bloody line!

How is he ruining anything for you?

[samran]

Sorry to be pedantic, but we are really talking about Aranyaprathet here aren't we? Poipet is in Cambodia...?

[inthepink]

Sorry to be pedantic, but we are really talking about Aranyaprathet here aren't we? Poipet is in Cambodia...?

And you don't have to enter Cambodia when you go on a border run to Aranyaprathet?

[ericthai]

There is no way you can do Ban Laem from BKK in a day. Years ago I did it from Pattaya, when it first opened as a matter of fact. Catching bus to minivan snd reverse, barely made it back to Pattaya by sundown and decided that was not worth the effort, just go with the visa service for b1700.

Yes you can, I too started going to Ban Leam when they first opened, even though it his more KM it took me less time as I was in and out of Cambodia within 10 minutes instead of 1-2hrs. However I have a car and didnt take a bus. I used to see Jack Golf and several other buses from BKK.