Report border run Phu Sing Sisaket

[Brunolem]

I usually get a non-O visa, but since I was in pain because of cervical arthrosis, and because of the flooding situation in Isaan, I decided to go for a border run to Phu Sing, the closest checkpoint from my home in Sisaket.

Phu Sing is as remote as can be, some 40 km away from the main local highway, on a road to nowhere but the border, with not even one gas station and minimart on the way.

Yet, things are changing.

What used to be a small crossborder market in a wooded area up the mountain, is slowly becoming a smaller version of Poipet, yet without the farangs.

First, a few years ago, a casino-hotel was built, and the forest was replaced with concrete.

More recently, it appears that the local sponsors have added (year round?) bang fai festivals (read semi-legal betting) in order to attract bigger Thai crowds.

And it seems to work, judging by the buses, minibuses and cars that fill up a place that used to be empty.

Luckily, this doesn't affect farangs since the locals don't have to go through the same thorough border crossing process as we do.

Exiting Thailand was a one minute formality.

Then on to go to the Cambodian immigration, about...25 meters away!

There, the (small) problem remains the same, farangs need to get a visa (no e-visa) and because there are no farangs, the guy in charge is never sitting at his desk.

Someone has to go look for him.

Once, years ago, he was found busy taking a shower and went to see me bare-chested!

This time, it appears that he was at home enjoying lunch!

After about 20 minutes, he finally arrived and stamped a nice full page visa in exchange of 1,200 baht.

I then proceeded to the next window in order to get the entry and exit stamps, after sliding a 100 baht bill inside my passport.

This is "standard" procedure to leave something when one only stays for a few minutes, before going back to the other side of the border.

Yet, better put the money directly and show that you know, instead of waiting for them to ask for 200 or 300 baht.

After that, another 20 meters to the Thai immigration where I got a 30 days stamp in a couple of minutes.

Back to the car (don't even think about getting there without your own car), I drove to Sisaket City, about 120 km away, and went directly to the immigration for a 60 days extension (Thai child).

And there I was with my 90 days at a total cost of 3,200 baht...never mind the gas...

[ubonjoe]

Just remember you will on be able to do it one more thie this year. They are limited to 2 per calendar year now at land border crossings.

[JackThompson]

Note that if you local immi-office allow it (I think most do), you could extend your visa-exempt once for the standard 30-days anyone can get, then add the 60-days for "visiting family" to the end of that - for a total of 120 days before needing to go out for a visa or exempt entry, or applying for a conversion to a Non-O at immigration.

[Brunolem]

48 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

Note that if you local immi-office allow it (I think most do), you could extend your visa-exempt once for the standard 30-days anyone can get, then add the 60-days for "visiting family" to the end of that - for a total of 120 days before needing to go out for a visa or exempt entry, or applying for a conversion to a Non-O at immigration.

I have never heard of that.

I know the immigration staff quite well at Sisaket Office...most of the time I am alone with them, talking about this and that, and this 30 + 60 days never came up.

Actually, it is one of the officers who informed me about the 60 days, at a time when I thought it was 30 days for everybody.

I will certainly ask next time I will visit them...

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, JackThompson said:

Note that if you local immi-office allow it (I think most do), you could extend your visa-exempt once for the standard 30-days anyone can get, then add the 60-days for "visiting family" to the end of that - for a total of 120 days before needing to go out for a visa or exempt entry, or applying for a conversion to a Non-O at immigration.

I suggest anybody wanting to do it they ask the office where they will be applying for the extensions before getting the 30 day extension. There are some offices that will not do it.

[bberrythailand]

Any map location of this border ? Thanks.

 

 

[Brunolem]

2 hours ago, bberrythailand said:

Any map location of this border ? Thanks.

 

 

You get there from highway 24 which crosses all Southern Isaan provinces...

[bberrythailand]

4 hours ago, Brunolem said:

You get there from highway 24 which crosses all Southern Isaan provinces...

 

 

Thank you ! But I didn't know that maps still exist ! hahaha...

 

I was thinking about google map location more...

 

 

:-)

 

 

[ubonjoe]

9 hours ago, bberrythailand said:

 

I was thinking about google map location more...

Like this after doing a quick search. https://goo.gl/maps/RgEUmhVJ5ok