I've been reading posts lately about people having issues at Cambodian/Thai land border crossings.

I'm currently in Cambodia backpacking coming to the end of a 7 month Asia trip, I've used Thailand as my base during this time so have accumulated 6 Visa on Arrival Stamps including 1 Visa Run Extension at Ranong. The actual time I've spent in Thailand this year though is under 90 days. 

I've booked Christmas & NY Accommodation in Thailand & have a one way flight to Australia booked from Bangkok on the 11th January so would like to get back to Thailand soon.

 

Do you think I'll have any issues because of the number of times I've entered Thailand this year? I'm planning on going through the the Poi Pet Border (the first time I've used there this year) Will I have to get a flight? And if my border crossing goes to plan, do I receive 15 or 30 days entry? It was 30 days back in September at Ranong but it changes a lot. Thanks for any advice.

Since you already received 30 days it should be 30 days again.

 

The problems with people being refused are caused at the Thai side, where immigration will not let them leave due to their visa status. Since you are already in Cambodia, for some time already, it should not be an issue for you.

just go get FREE 60 day tourist visa in Phnom Pehn.and than no worries  :-) If you use an agent might cost ya $10 for service

 

otherwise u should have no problems at the thai border with getting a free 30 day visa exempt entry

All G7 country passport holders get 30 days land and flying in

2 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

just go get FREE 60 day tourist visa in Phnom Pehn.and than no worries  :-) If you use an agent might cost ya $10 for service

 

otherwise u should have no problems at the thai border with getting a free 30 day visa exempt entry

All G7 country passport holders get 30 days land and flying in

 

The OP could try, but a visa in Phnom Penh typically takes several days (starting at earliest Monday) and the OP is keen to get back to Thailand quickly.

 

To the OP: avoid Poi Pet. You might be OK, but it is the riskiest border point for your purposes. Assuming you cannot fly, I would suggest coming in at Ban Laem.

Agree on BanLaem if trying for an exempt - I would never consider trying Poi Pet.  You can get a shared-taxi to Ban Laem from Battambang for under $10 (front seat - not crowded into the back). 

 

An agent like "Lucky Lucky Motorcycle Shop" can get a Tourist Visa next-day, so you would receive it Tuesday evening.  That should be easy for them if you supply your outgoing plane-ticket from BKK to Australia.  They are open today, but not sure on Sunday.

Thanks very much for your help & advice. I was going to book a bus from Sihanoukville to Bangkok direct but not sure which border crossing they use, I assumed Poi Pet. Where about in Thailand is the Ban Laem Border? 

I'm not sure if I'll have time to go to Phomn Penh for a tourist visa. 

 

If it ends up I have to fly to avoid all risks, will there be any issues at the airport because my 6 Visa on Arrival stamps adds up to 180 days even though I've spent under 90 days total during these visits? 

10 minutes ago, emscot said:

Thanks very much for your help & advice. I was going to book a bus from Sihanoukville to Bangkok direct but not sure which border crossing they use,

You would use the the Kho Kong/Hat Lek crossing toTrat.

Map of Cambodia Border Crossings

Ubonjoe, I hope it is ok to ask here if I will have problems at Poi Pet doing a out/in with my Non O multiply visa based on marriage?

 

12 minutes ago, waynec78 said:

Ubonjoe, I hope it is ok to ask here if I will have problems at Poi Pet doing a out/in with my Non O multiply visa based on marriage?

 

That is hard to predict. Perhaps on a weekday you would have less chance of problem. The only posts on it being a problem was on a weekend.

If it was me aI would go to Ban Laem.

Thank you, I take it the only van service is from ON Nut very early in the morning.

 

2 minutes ago, waynec78 said:

Thank you, I take it the only van service is from ON Nut very early in the morning.

 

As far as I know yes,

ok thanks again

 

wow;this just out,  no more than 2 visa exempts by land /year!!

 

5 hours ago, emscot said:

Thanks very much for your help & advice. I was going to book a bus from Sihanoukville to Bangkok direct but not sure which border crossing they use, I assumed Poi Pet. Where about in Thailand is the Ban Laem Border? 

I'm not sure if I'll have time to go to Phomn Penh for a tourist visa. 

 

If it ends up I have to fly to avoid all risks, will there be any issues at the airport because my 6 Visa on Arrival stamps adds up to 180 days even though I've spent under 90 days total during these visits? 

 

Ban Laem is in Canthaburi province. Public transport is available, but you should not leave it too late in the day if you want to reach Bangkok the same day. On the Cambodia side, look for transport to Daun Lem from Battambang (from memory, bumpy road, but only about 2 hours).

 

If you enter by air, you might possibly face questioning, but it is extremely unlikely you would be refused entry. I think Ban Laem would also be fairly safe. Let us know if you encounter any unexpected difficulty.

Thank you both for your help. I'll speak to someone tomorrow about booking a bus to Bangkok & will make sure it will be a different border than Poi Pet. 

 

Will report back with the outcome, I'm hoping if I have a printed copy of my onward travel from Bangkok things will run smoothly if any questions are asked. 

7 hours ago, emscot said:

Thanks very much for your help & advice. I was going to book a bus from Sihanoukville to Bangkok direct...

 

Just to address this point - that used to work out to a bus to the border (usually Koh Kong from Sihanoukville - but verify this) and then you were dumped at the border with a "ticket" to use for a van on the Thai side, which goes to Bangkok. 

 

Maybe they actually have a bus on the Thai side now, but it used to work out to an overpriced van-ticket for the Thai leg of the journey.  Last I checked, the only bus that actually crosses the border runs from Bangkok to Siem Reap - though this may have changed.

 

What I always do is take the bus to Koh Kong, tuk-tuk to the border, cross into Thailand, grab one of the vans leaving every 30 mins or so to Trat, and then get onward transportation to Bangkok from there.  In general, this border crossing has been friendly on the Thai side (not so much on the Cambodian side, if traveling in the other direction).

22 hours ago, BritTim said:

 

Ban Laem is in Canthaburi province. Public transport is available, but you should not leave it too late in the day if you want to reach Bangkok the same day. On the Cambodia side, look for transport to Daun Lem from Battambang (from memory, bumpy road, but only about 2 hours).

 

If you enter by air, you might possibly face questioning, but it is extremely unlikely you would be refused entry. I think Ban Laem would also be fairly safe. Let us know if you encounter any unexpected difficulty.

It has not been a bumpy road for years, drive it last August and the year before as well.

Batt to the border on  a smooth road 90 minutes

I drove PP- Batt- and was in Chantaburi before 4 pm