Pong Nam Ron border crossing and will i get an exempt stamp

[kurtcap]

Hi all

 

Iam a British citizen and my 48 page passport is nearly full, though that is not an issue as i have already been advised i have enough pages to do another visa run, however my question is can i get a visa exempt stamp at Pong Nam Ron   (iam aware it is 30 days as a G7 country from previous advice) on a day crossing at the border in cambodia. Please bear in mind the stamps currently in my passport which is now 5 years old. ( I plan to replace it back in the UK at the end of February)

 

2 x UAE work and residency visa

1 x Qatar  work and residency visa

18 x visa exempt at Swampy over 4 years and some with extensions, while on vacation from work

 

Over the last year i have

 

2  x visa exempt at swampy + extension

1 x SETV at Vientianne + extension

1 x Border crossing visa exempt + extension at Pong Nam Ron 

1 x SETV at Vientianne + extension (runs out 1st January)

[elviajero]

Deleted

Edited December 5, 2016 by elviajero

[steve187]

pong nam ron is cambodia border

[kurtcap]

7 minutes ago, steve187 said:

pong nam ron is cambodia border

yes

[KhunBENQ]

2 hours ago, steve187 said:

pong nam ron is cambodia border

Well observed.

Easy to mix up with Phu Nam Ron, a border checkpoint to Myanmar.

(two hot-springs at the border)

 

And Pong Nam Ron is often referred to by the name on the Cambodia side "Pailin".

 

 

[steve187]

yes i go to both for my border runs, last one was Pong Nam Ron, and the one before was Phu Nam Ron, next i am going to try Mai Sot, going to have a few days up there, heard its nice. I use a multi non O, so not sure about visa exempt. 

[kurtcap]

2 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Well observed.

Easy to mix up with Phu Nam Ron, a border checkpoint to Myanmar.

(two hot-springs at the border)

 

And Pong Nam Ron is often referred to by the name on the Cambodia side "Pailin".

 

 

 

2 hours ago, steve187 said:

pong nam ron is cambodia border

P;ease note the original post, i stated cambodia. " Pong Nam Ron   (iam aware it is 30 days as a G7 country from previous advice) on a day crossing at the border in cambodia. "  iam asking for advice but it seems there is more concern on correcting something that does not require it. Please just give me your advice guys thanks.

[steve187]

i have seen no reports that border visa exempt entries have been stopped.

someone will be along with the latest info i am sure, unless your attitude scares them away

 

quote " Please just give me your advice guys thanks."

 

my advice would be get a correct form of entry for long term stay in Thailand

Edited December 5, 2016 by steve187

[kurtcap]

1 minute ago, steve187 said:

i have seen no reports that border visa exempt entries have been stopped.

someone will be along with the latest info i am sure, unless your attitude scares them away

Apologies if it appears i was giving attitude, it was not intentional its just all responses are about location even though i had stated it, and not on the subject.

[BritTim]

I think most knowledgeable members here regard all land borders with Cambodia (not just Poi Pet) as potentially risky when you have spent significant time in Thailand on tourist entries. Pailin is probably one of the better Cambodian border points to try, but I would advise doing it a little early, and having a plan B if you are turned back.

[RHerberth]

How is the crossing Ban Pakkard ?

[kurtcap]

16 minutes ago, RHerberth said:

How is the crossing Ban Pakkard ?

its a piece of cake if only a visa run thats why iam asking the experts if they think i would get another visa exempt stamp, i only need until mid feb and this would give me that.

Edited December 5, 2016 by kurtcap

[elviajero]

25 minutes ago, kurtcap said:

its a piece of cake if only a visa run thats why iam asking the experts if they think i would get another visa exempt stamp, i only need until mid feb and this would give me that.

Unfortunately no one can give you a definitive answer, especially at the Thai/Cambodian border. The decision is entirely down to the IO's at the border, and if they consider anyone is working or overusing the visa exempt scheme they can deny exit/immediate re-entry. There is a 90 day in 1 year limit that gets applied at some Thai/Cambodian borders.

[kurtcap]

23 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Unfortunately no one can give you a definitive answer, especially at the Thai/Cambodian border. The decision is entirely down to the IO's at the border, and if they consider anyone is working or overusing the visa exempt scheme they can deny exit/immediate re-entry. There is a 90 day in 1 year limit that gets applied at some Thai/Cambodian borders.

i sort of guessed that was the case, i can go there earlier than jan 1st and ask them before checking out of LOS if they will allow me back in but doubt they will advise, what do you think?

 

[elviajero]

17 minutes ago, kurtcap said:

i sort of guessed that was the case, i can go there earlier than jan 1st and ask them before checking out of LOS if they will allow me back in but doubt they will advise, what do you think?

Yes, you should ask before exiting, but the chances are that they won't let you exit if they don't intend to let you back in using visa exempt entry.

[JackThompson]

Just to clear up the issue of this border-area, which I found confusing when first researching using them:  There are 2 border-checkpoints between Thailand and Cambodia which can be reached from Chanthaburi on the Thai side, and Palin on the Cambodia side, known as "Ban Packard" and "Ban Laem". 

 

Both are considered "friendly" in comparison to the Aranyaprathet/Poipet crossing.  You can contact visa-run companies that use one of these crossings, explain your visa-history, and ask if they think you would be likely to get a Visa Exempt there.  They would have the latest info on the situation. 

[alexlm]

I was in Pong Nam Ron this year.

The Thai officer at the departure of Thailand told me I could not come back "because of the computer telling him I could not".

 

But I came back anyway - the arrivals in Thailand were done with different officers than the departure and the arrival officer stamped me in without any trouble, although the first one said I could probably not come back.

 

The funny thing in this place was the Cambodian immigration - their "office" to stamp your visa on arrival was a plastic table and chairs on the grass outdoor in the field 

 

Anyway if they don't let you in you can travel to the other border 20km from Pong Nam Ron and try this other one. Maybe they'd let you in.

[autoc]

Any map with all the borders where farang are allowed into Cambodua ? Thanks.

[autoc]

4 hours ago, JackThompson said:

Just to clear up the issue of this border-area, which I found confusing when first researching using them:  There are 2 border-checkpoints between Thailand and Cambodia which can be reached from Chanthaburi on the Thai side, and Palin on the Cambodia side, known as "Ban Packard" and "Ban Laem". 

 

Both are considered "friendly" in comparison to the Aranyaprathet/Poipet crossing.  You can contact visa-run companies that use one of these crossings, explain your visa-history, and ask if they think you would be likely to get a Visa Exempt there.  They would have the latest info on the situation. 

 

 

Ban Packard" and "Ban Laem" ?

 

But Koh kong is closer to Chantaburi and Trat ! So 3 border points next to each other ?

 

 

[alexlm]

Ban Laem Thai Immigration is great too - i never got a problem there. They allow at least 3 visa exempt entry per calendar year.

If Pong Nam Ron say no. Try Ban Laem... I think it's 20km north of Pong Nam Ron so you just need a taxi/motorbike taxi or whatever to travel the 20km...

Edited December 6, 2016 by alexlm

[kurtcap]

5 hours ago, JackThompson said:

Just to clear up the issue of this border-area, which I found confusing when first researching using them:  There are 2 border-checkpoints between Thailand and Cambodia which can be reached from Chanthaburi on the Thai side, and Palin on the Cambodia side, known as "Ban Packard" and "Ban Laem". 

 

Both are considered "friendly" in comparison to the Aranyaprathet/Poipet crossing.  You can contact visa-run companies that use one of these crossings, explain your visa-history, and ask if they think you would be likely to get a Visa Exempt there.  They would have the latest info on the situation. 

As  you appear to be educated well on this subject and are clearing things up for us all please advise me why my previous visa exempt stamp at the very same border has "Pong Nam Ron" on the actual stamp? If your clearing things up was accurate would it not say "Ban Packard" or "Ban Laem"? You just confused everyone further.  

[kurtcap]

1 hour ago, autoc said:

Any map with all the borders where farang are allowed into Cambodua ? Thanks.

attached

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, autoc said:

Any map with all the borders where farang are allowed into Cambodua ? Thanks.

Also this Google map from the e-visa site.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?ll=12.37168888882424%2C104.361086&spn=2.58554%2C3.621642&hl=en&msa=0&source=embed&ie=UTF8&mid=12ZbsV8mzWzOtktnqnz_vTYlwhrg&z=8

[thecyclist]

Ban Packard and Ban Laem are both under the jurisdiction of the same immigration,namely Pong Nam Ron, therefore same on Thai side but different stamps on Cambodian side.
With your visa exempt history I would do the visa run with an agency,they can make sure that you won't have problems.Did mine for the second time this year with Thaivisaservice a couple of weeks ago and the latest was they were allowing unlimited visa exempts for the time being.But to make sure that this is still the case,call the guy up before you go.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00UD using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

[gomangosteen]

Some clarification. Pong Nam Ron township is not a border crossing

It is approx 30km from the border with Cambodia, on Highway 317.  It does however have an immigration office, for 90 day, reporting etc.

 

There are two border crossings east of Pong Nam Ron. Spellings vary, to me they are Ban Laem / Daung and a little further south, Ban Pakkard / Prum, as shown 1 & 2 on the map. I've used both over the years, in my experience BP is quieter/quicker, but I'm not in any hurry anyway.

 

Ban Laem / Daung is the larger of the two. Border market here, though far smaller than Rong Kluea at Aranyaprathet / Poipet further north. 

 

While Ban Pakkard / Prum has the bare minimum, a fancy gateway seems standard. Prum is a dreary little town, markets, hotels, two casinos and duty-free shops.

[kurtcap]

Guys, i appreciatte all the interest in the name of the border crossings etc but as i said earlier iam seeking advice not opinions on what the name of the crossing is called. This has been given by a couple of people but most have just confused the entire forum with their opinions on the names etc. Please see attached the "actual " stamp i received at the border crossing (some are referring to it as Ban Pakkard.) This was what was stated in the original post and that it was at the border with Cambodia. Please let me move on with the advice i have received and accept this information.

[JackThompson]

2 hours ago, kurtcap said:

Guys, i appreciatte all the interest in the name of the border crossings etc but as i said earlier iam seeking advice not opinions on what the name of the crossing is called. This has been given by a couple of people but most have just confused the entire forum with their opinions on the names etc. Please see attached the "actual " stamp i received at the border crossing (some are referring to it as Ban Pakkard.) This was what was stated in the original post and that it was at the border with Cambodia. Please let me move on with the advice i have received and accept this information.

 

I think you are asking for an answer to a question which no one can provide with certainty.  There are no known / precise rules for Visa Exempts.  The in-force policy changes, and is variable by location - essentially a crap-shoot with the IO you deal with and whatever their supervisors told them recently. 

I gave up even trying for Visa Exempts years ago, for this reason (though I understand you are short on passport-pages).

 

Factors that seem to influence the decision are the number of prior Visa Exempts and how much recent  time in-country.  You have a lot of Visa Exempts in the past, and have spent significant time here in the past year - so no guarantee you will get another Visa Exempt, even at either of the "relatively friendly" 2 checkpoints within the Pong Nam Ron district. 

 

If you try it, be sure to have 10K Baht in cash to show; a plane-ticket out within 30-days might also help.  They might not ask to see anything, or they might say, "No," even if you have the money and ticket.   I wish there were set-rules we could refer to, but there aren't.

 

The good thing about all the map-stuff, is you now know that you can try the 2nd entry-point, if denied at the first.  Good Luck. 

[jacko45k]

iam aware it is 30 days as a G7 country from previous advice

 

And I thought this G7 preferential treatment had been stopped for land crossings without a visa and everyone now got 15 days..... was I misinformed?

[ubonjoe]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

iam aware it is 30 days as a G7 country from previous advice

 

And I thought this G7 preferential treatment had been stopped for land crossings without a visa and everyone now got 15 days..... was I misinformed?

You were misinformed. Nothing has changed.

[autoc]

On 12/6/2016 at 4:27 PM, gomangosteen said:

Some clarification. Pong Nam Ron township is not a border crossing

It is approx 30km from the border with Cambodia, on Highway 317.  It does however have an immigration office, for 90 day, reporting etc.

 

There are two border crossings east of Pong Nam Ron. Spellings vary, to me they are Ban Laem / Daung and a little further south, Ban Pakkard / Prum, as shown 1 & 2 on the map. I've used both over the years, in my experience BP is quieter/quicker, but I'm not in any hurry anyway.

 

Ban Laem / Daung is the larger of the two. Border market here, though far smaller than Rong Kluea at Aranyaprathet / Poipet further north. 

 

While Ban Pakkard / Prum has the bare minimum, a fancy gateway seems standard. Prum is a dreary little town, markets, hotels, two casinos and duty-free shops.

 

 

Hello,

 

Thank you so much, so the best choice seem to be BAN PRAKARD . PRUM

 

I cannot find them on Google maps to use it with GPS, any location ?

 

And this border can be crossed by walking just as HAD LEK / KOH KONG ?

 

Thanks again.