The farce of my first Visa Run.

[ChrisUK]

I've been coming to Thailand for 16 years, for stays varying in length from two weeks to three months. These periods of time have only required either a visa exemption (up to 30 days stay), or a tourist visa (up to 60 days stay), or a Non-immigrant O visa (for up to 90 days stay), applications for the latter two being made in the UK giving the fact that "I'm over 50 on an extended holiday" as the reason.

This trip, having experimented in previous years with ever increasing lengths of time in Thailand, I decided to take the plunge and stay for a continuous six months period. I again applied for a non-immigrant O visa (multiple entry) from a Thai consulate in the UK. This would enable me to make 90 day stays, which could be consecutive if I did the well known "visa run" whenever my entry stamp indicated I had to leave. That date occurred just before New Year, so I submitted myself to the rigours of the farce of a visa run to comply with the regulations of leaving the country, albeit for less than an hour before returning.

I just wanted to get the job done with the minimum fuss and discomfort possible, so opted to use a travel agent in South Pattaya which advertised the visa run to Cambodia in a 6 person "VIP" minibus for 2,500Bt. On requesting this visa run, I was told it was not available, but would be in a 9-person minibus at 2,000Bt. On the day of travel, I was picked up at my condo at 6.30am which, after an hour of picking up fellow travellers, ended up with 11 others. The journey to Banpaen at the border with Cambodia took about 4 hours over varying roads, including many bumpy ones. A couple of 'comfort' stops made the journey just about bearable.

On arrival, we were hearded towards the frontier post and guided through the channel to get an exit stamp from the Thai side. On the Cambodian side, we gave our passports to others at a desk under the instructions of our guide. We were then guided through a walkway of stalls selling spirits and cigarettes before passing through a makeshift 'casino' to a buffet restaurant where chicken and rice and a few other items were available as part of the package. After about one hour, we were then guided in our own time back through the same route as we came to the border. Still on the Cambodian side, the guides filled out the forms for us before returning them to us to take back across the border for the re-entry stamp on the Thai side. The Cambodian 30 days visa had been inserted while we had lunch.

People who had just a 30 day stamp had to pay 200Bt to the guides (Cambodian law was the reply given to irate queries from some). 60 day stamps had to pay 100Bt. 90 day stamps, such as mine payed nothing! (Don't know why.)

After waiting another hour for all of our group to return from Cambodia, we eventually took another 4 hours to return to Pattaya with comfort stops on the way. I alighted at my condo at about 5.30pm.

Whilst it was convenient to have the guides fill out all the paperwork, it was done at a small table with dozens of passports being handled out in the open there. It was only on closer examination back in my room that I noticed two errors on the card stapled to my passport, - an incorrect spelling of my name and a digit missing from my passport number! I think I could have completed this card myself without such errors. Given the semi-chaotic scene at the Cambodian border with the guides filling out all the forms as quickly as possible, such errors were inevitable. It's a pity I did not realise this at the time and have the errors corrected. I trust they will not affect my records with the Thai immigration authority.

The whole process seems to be a crazy farce of mammoth proportions, requiring everybody(except those on retirement visas) to leave the country every 90 days. It's an expensive and total waste of everybody's time as far as I can see. The only benefits go to the industry created to satisfy the need for 'Visa runs' and the Cambodian authorities who issue a pointless visa which is used for about one hour.

Having discussed this with others, I now wonder if it would be worth applying for a retirement visa myself, negating the need to do a border run every 90 days, even though I will only be staying in Thailand for no more than 6 months each year. I would appreciate comments from others who may be doing similar while staying for much less than the full year.

........ in a 9-person minibus at 2,000Bt. ......
........ It's an expensive and total waste of everybody's time as far as I can see....

2000 baht and it is expensive? what do you eat in Thailand? do you live in a Thai style apartment with the toilet hole on the ground? Are you sure you have the money to apply for retirement visa? :bounce:

Up until under a year ago I had to do the 90 day visa run myself. I paid 2,500 baht a time for a taxi (two passengers + driver), including lunch, visa "assistance", etc, avoiding most of the problems of the minibus; bear in mind that the fare includes the Cambodia visa at 1,000 baht. If you can find someone going at the same time the extra 500 baht is well worth it - I was normally back in Pattaya by 2pm or before, having left at 7am.

The main problem with visa runs, certainly a year ago, was that as the numbers had dropped off dramatically and fuel prices risen, so many tour companies doing visa runs phone around beforehand and combine trips to fill up the buses - good business, but hardly conducive to a pleasant journey!

If you are only here for 6 months a year (2 x 90 days) it may not justify the financial requirement for a retirement visa, unless you apply in the UK based on funds held there; you could also be turned down in subsequent years on the grounds that you are not actually "retiring" to Thailand. Cost-wise there would be little in it (visa run vs re-entry permit).

[llz]

[2000 baht and it is expensive? what do you eat in Thailand? do you live in a Thai style apartment with the toilet hole on the ground? Are you sure you have the money to apply for retirement visa? :bounce:
Scottie from some of your past posts I guess you don't have to worry too much about money. However I think you are still able to realise that for less fortunate people, spending 2000 THB to no purpose can be at least irritating ...

[Brad the Impala]

NO PURPOSE!

The purpose of recent tightening of visa regulations is to make life more difficult for sleazebag khee nok farang on perpetual tourist visas. Although Chris has managed to extend his visa to six months by leaving the country, those new restrictions would have prevented those trying to stay year round, with no "apparent" source of income.

If Chris can afford a six month holiday, I think he can afford to leave the country in a more civilised and fun way than a cheapo border crossing! How do you suggest they limit visas Chris? Give everyone six months, because that would have suited you this trip?

The train from Bangkok to Aranya Prathet cost me 48 baht, followed by 80baht to the Cambodia border @ Poi Poipet.

A Cambodian e-visa cost $20, processed within 24 hours on line in advance. No other fees required to cross the border.

This was for the purpose of visiting Cambodia, not a visa run.

I'll remember not to book with these guys then... yikes :blackeye:

I think there's more to the "expensiveness" of Chris.
I did some border runs in the past and the first one was bearable, because it was new and I always could say, that I've been in Cambodia (1 meter for about 2 mintues).
Doing the 2nd and 3rd borderrun gave me the same shivers as Chris; a completely out-of-question action in order to legalize a stay in Thailand. The actions at the border, the useless waiting, the crappy organization......all that made it "expensive", or in other words: paying for something you actually not want is always expensive.

Why not chance the law, and do the extention at any immigration department. Increase the cost up to THB 2,500: THB 1,900 for the extention and THB 600.00 for the Cambodian government. Everybody happy: Immigration, Cambodia and of course, las but not least: the border runner.

ChrisUK: I would think that either a Non Immigrant O-A visa issued in the UK or a retirement extension issued in Thailand would be well worth the effort and expense.

Some drawbacks: The O-A visa from the UK will require a criminal background check and a medical exam (but you don't need to transfer any monies to Thailand). The retirement extension in Thailand would require an income verification letter from the UK Embassy in Bangkok and/or the transfer of B800,000 to a Thai bank. If you stay in Thailand more than 90 consecutive days, you need to make an "address report" to Thai Immigrations. This only takes a few minutes, but can also be done by mail.

Some advantages: Stay as you please without wasting a day scampering to/from the nearest border crossing. No need to get a visa before each trip to Thailand which would exceed 30 days.