[After 11 years in Chiang Mai, I was Denied Entry]

2 hours ago, lkv said:

I thought you stated in one of your previous posts that you were Thai?

I am a farang living in Thailand. My wife is Thai.

I have never suggested to anyone that I am Thai or a citizen.

I wish I was.

I comply with every rule and rule change.

I smile and act subservient to Thai officials as do every Thai citizen.

I do this because my wife cannot come to my country and I wish to spend the rest of my life with her.

It must be love.

[After 11 years in Chiang Mai, I was Denied Entry]

10 minutes ago, BritTim said:

A cynical comment with a crumb of truth behind it ...

If your death is in any way suspicious, the Thai authorities will welcome a rapidly conducted cremation of your body. It inhibits any later investigation.

I did not mean what you say. I meant when I die of natural causes, I will be burnt and the monks have said I will be treated with respect.

I meant that I want to die here in my own home, with a loving family. The monks say they can do that.

The Thai authorities give me no such guarantee

[After 11 years in Chiang Mai, I was Denied Entry]

On 3/22/2019 at 6:17 AM, riclag said:

Mai mee bpat jai yang cheep

No money for support lifestyle or living

 

Thanks for the heads up and sorry for your issues 

Yes, I agree. I try to follow the rules and comply.

Nevertheless, I have some empathy for the poster. He got caught out on the constant rule changes.

I go to the regional immigration every few months. They tell me the new rules and ways to comply.

However, you need money in bank and an income stream of some sort. 

 The head monk at the wat says he will burn me when I die.

I hope Thailand authorities allow me that. I hope they don't change the rules again.

[Thai Immigration check Bangkok]

5 minutes ago, lkv said:

Let me remind you that this thread was about Immigration hassling people for passports and TM30's at the lobby of a condominium in Bangkok.

True but if you checked my post you would avoid the hassle. ie tell the landlord you will report to immigration next day to make sure you have complied.

You can be sure that the landlord will report you correctly. If you have all your documentation and copies, it will not you being harassed.

 You did not state how many aliens were found to have failed the immigration laws and arrested. Someone "dobbed" you condo in.

 

[Thai Immigration check Bangkok]

21 hours ago, lkv said:

"If you have done nothing wrong, you should not be concerned"

 

"It's normal, they are just trying to keep the good guys in and get the bad guys out"

 

"It's because of the bad guys that we, the good guys have to suffer"

 

will say the Thai apologists.

That is not correct. If you have gone through the correct procedure and have a few copies of those procedures, you will not be hassled.

You can also alert the landlord that you are presenting yourself to IO and I am sure they will report correctly to immigration.

As in any country, aliens need to comply with the immigration laws. Thailand is no different.

The way they do it means they do not have to build walls as other silly countries do

[Border Run Alternatives]

47 minutes ago, BritTim said:

In general, your understanding is good.

If looking to spend time in Cambodia after crossing at Ban Laem, you could consider going into Pailin for a quick look around and a meal, then heading to Battambang. This is not a must do trip, but perfectly OK for a change of scene. You could also consider spending a day or two in Chanthaburi which I consider rather pleasant. As I recall, there is golf in the area.

Cheers. You blokes are so good and thanks again for taking the time to do this.

[Border Run Alternatives]

3 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

Ban Laem is pretty much a few streets with a few shops.  The nearest town of any significance is Pailin.  The only golf I see on the maps is around Siem Reap, PP, and one near Sihanoukville/Kampot.

Thank you. So I pay the fee and return the same day. Cheers. 

Went to Siem Reap 2002 for a week. Been there, done that. Depressing place.

Everything I saw had been shot up by PolPot loonies.

[Border Run Alternatives]

11 minutes ago, Denim said:

 

Ban Laem is good.

 

Been many times , both with Jack Golf and in my own car.

 

Generally speaking, they do expect a 100 or 200 backhander for a quick turn around on the Cambodian side.

 

On the Thai side try not to look like a newbie otherwise the Thai hustlers will bother you.

 

I found a way to avoid all these hassles but too complicated to explain here.

 

Happy trip .

Thank you. So I get to the Thai border at Ban Laem, stay the night, front up at Thai border control at 8 am.

Get stamped through to Cambodia border control. (pay the $30 US for the visa)

I am still to look up any attractions in Ban Laem because I like to walk and visit the sights and sites.

So I have not decided if I will stay a night or a few days.

My Thai wife (my shadow) will accompany me on the ASEAN passport allowances (no fee, can stay for 30 days with a passport but no visa)

Then front up To Cambodian border control and pay..? for exit fees.

Go to Thai border control and be welcomed back like a long lost son.

Report to Prachinburi Immigration control within 24 hours of arrival back home?

Is that about it?

PS. Does Ban Laem in Cambodia have a golf course? I love trying to play the game. (Kabinburi has an excellent course if you play the game)

Cheers and thank you so much

[Border Run Alternatives]

9 minutes ago, BritTim said:

It is no longer particularly dangerous physically (assuming you are not trying to do business there).

 

Thai immigration when crossing from Poipet into Thailand frequently deny entry for reasons that would never be used anywhere else, and are certainly not according to the Immigration Act. Having denied entry, they will tell you to enter Thailand by air from Siem Reap (a terrible idea which you should ignore, going instead to a different land crossing, probably Ban Laem).

 

The reason for Thai immigration's actions at Poipet/Aran are, to some extent, open to speculation. I am nearly sure it is to set up an environment where they can operate an extortion racket. If you express sufficient distress at not being allowed to enter, you will be approached by someone on the Cambodian side of the border who will inform you that he can arrange legal entry for 20,000 baht. His claim is true, if you can call the paying of bribes "legal". Most of that money goes to Thai officials. The Thai side retains plausible deniability by keeping the number of people buying themselves in low, (but charging a lot per victim) and never being seen to take money directly from those arriving.

That resolves the issue for me. Thank you. It is Ban Laem for me. Cheers mate.

[Border Run Alternatives]

Thank you BritTim and Denim for your information and especially for replying. You give the Guru, ubonjoe a well earned break.

Just one more question if I may push your education.

PoiPet is close to where I live (Kabinburi).

Everyone says don't go near there for a visa run.

 I know that there are many casinos in Cambodia near the poipet border crossing and even Thais have told me it can be dangerous.

But any information as to why?

 

 

[Border Run Alternatives]

1 minute ago, BritTim said:

You can stay the night if you wish, but it is unnecessary as long as you are willing (if necessary, sometimes avoidable) to pay Cambodian immigration for the same day return.

Thank you. I was going to Pakse in Laos, but the thought of another 11 hours in the coach as opposed to 3 hours on a train won me over. Do I need a visa from Cambodia embassy in Bangkok or can you get one at the border, as you can in Laos? I did one run to Vientiane in January and it was easy, all that worry for nothing.

Thank you and cheers mate.

[Border Run Alternatives]

5 minutes ago, oMega69 said:

What is the latest on Ban Laem Cambodia to Thai land boarder . . still a Yes/Yes . .

passport + photos + 20k THB . . . have a friend moving from KH to TH want to entry this boader. . no worries ?

Same post but I want to go from Thailand to Ban Laem. I am prepared to stay the night. Non O multi entry on marriage visa.

Cheers.

[SUPERSPORTS SPORTS EXPO 2019 - up to 70% off]

errr

[UK police: Schoolgirls who went to Syria are not terrorists]

This silly teen said she had no regrets. She lives in a refugee camp, no doubt with other ISIS losers.

If she said she had regrets, those losers would kill her. Can anyone else see that. She cannot talk publicly now.

[UK police: Schoolgirls who went to Syria are not terrorists]

11 hours ago, ivor bigun said:

All i can say is that my old home town in the UK had a small Muslim community 40 years ago when we went to live there they dressed like us ,there was a Christian and a Jewish meeting hall where they were,the shops sold pork and spirits,over the years more and more came ,they took over both the Christian and the Jewish halls, then the Mosque was built,now it looks like another country ,the women are covered up ,there is a boys and seperate girls school ,no shop in their areas would dare sell alchohol,advertizing is censored ,they have become a seperate race ,they do not mix and you would not go there at night.even in the day you would stick out like a sore thumb,

Sent from my SM-A720F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

All I can say is that in my old R and R location, the population had a very small western population 49 years ago. The locals dressed like locals of their race.

There were some Christian and muslims but they did not outnumber the local population. There were no bars and no loudmouthed rude and drunk "foreigners"

There was no easy young girls, everyone was a traditional person.

Now, it looks like another country. Everyone wears cheap western casual clothes or sexy outfits that would have had the original population outraged.

Now Pattaya is full of bigoted and racist yobbo's and a traditional local would stick out like a sore thumb.

[UK police: Schoolgirls who went to Syria are not terrorists]

Just now, overherebc said:

Depending on what % of the population they make up.

When a small minority the conform to western norms because they have no collective voice. Once they reach a certain point ( % ) they will revert under pressure to their old ways.

You have evidence of that?

Australia has between 5 - 6% of the population that is muslim.

0. 00001 are on a watchlist as being Islamist. The majority are trying to get ahead.

But the odd idiot brings out the rednecks who condemn a whole race or a whole religion.

Just as Hitler did. Surely as a successful western democracy, we need not pour hatred out

to a very small population that is not Islamist. Just a minority religious group.

 There are many more fundamental Christians that scare me as much as muslims.

[UK police: Schoolgirls who went to Syria are not terrorists]

13 hours ago, overherebc said:

Do you really believe that you can actually have any kind of meaningful interaction with these people?

 

yes, many muslims live in the west and are active contributors to our diverse society.

[UK police: Schoolgirls who went to Syria are not terrorists]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Her regrets or lack thereof have no bearing under Magna Carta.

Maybe not the Magna Carta. More the Human Rights Commission.

That aside, she needs support and counseling and a loving environment.

And her support by a compassionate west will always negate any inflame posts by crap muslim politics.

The west will never defeat muslim by making war.

We will defeat them by showing we are tolerant, forgiving, supporting and lets face it, a far better culture.

Far above their racist, red neck attitude to the west. We are better than them and lets show it to these silly young muslim girls 

[UK police: Schoolgirls who went to Syria are not terrorists]

3 minutes ago, overherebc said:

You have no idea how little I care about low lifes like these.

She and her friends turned their backs on UK, a country that was willing to give them a good life, education and good prospects.

It is entirely fitting that UK should turn its back on them and I hope it does.

Because of their actions it's entirely possible that members of various armed forces died and it wouldn't surprise me if they enjoyed that fact.

Now that she is pregnant and is sitting in a refugee camp because her ISIS husband or whatever has dumped her is, as they say in Russia, Tufky Shitsky.

I still pay tax in UK and it annoys me greatly that some of it will be going to ingrates who in my mind I wouldn't give light in a dark corner.

Yes, you bordering on intolerance and racism are probably the sort of trials these girls were subject to all their lives.

Some loonies promising a free caliphate probably appealed to these girls to get away from mental oppression that you and others

handed them out every day. 

Try wearing someone elses shoes for a while.

Compassion to these girls will possibly help defeat muslim extremist talk. 

And compassion and human rights is what makes western society superior to oppressed societies and countries.

And will defeat the next red neck uprising that is destroyig our civilisation.

[UK police: Schoolgirls who went to Syria are not terrorists]

These women are not terrorists. Probably traumatised young women who made a brain dead decision to go fight for ISIS.  Be interesting to see what sort of children they breed up in the next 20 years.  They were not mature enough to make any coherent informed decision a few years ago. Their parents need to accept some responsibility for this. Britain needs to take some blame too. What caused these girls ideals to be poisoned.  Why did they not feel they were accepted by the general population.

The muslim community also needs to accept responsibility for not trying to educate these young women to be part of British society.

That part of my post was easy to write. What happens now is basically up to the young girls and the support they get.

 

[Border Run Alternatives]

Lets not argue over the bridges, this is not the post for that.

This is not a griping post. IT is ALL about information on border runs

[Border Run Alternatives]

On 2/11/2019 at 12:21 PM, 72BKK said:

 

Sorry but i have always paid $35 and not $30 for the Laos visa at the border.

Please can anyone confirm if now it's $30 or always $35 as the last 5-6 times i have been there?? 

cause i am going right in 2 weeks...

Because Australia paid half the cost of the Friendship Bridges (foreign aid by way of PM Keating) ,

Aussies appear to get a minor discount on visas. And very few hassles. Laos is a relaxed country anyway.

Stay a few days there if you can. Very good cheap food, accommodation and many varieties of Lao beer from dark to amber.

Aussies pay US $30 at the moment. My slightly used US money was refused. A new $100 US could not be changed.

The border official rubbed his fingers on a part of the bill and declared it to be genuine.

He wished me a good stay in Vientiane and charged my Thai Baht 1300. 

It cost 10,000 Lao kip to leave the country. Cheers mate

 

[Border Run Alternatives]

35 minutes ago, Prissana Pescud said:

It cost me $30 US one month ago. No hassles at Vientiane border. Cheers and enjoy Laos. So welcoming and easy, relaxed after all the uniforms in Thailand.

 I wish I had gone there

Don't pay money to a scumbag agent.

Get the coach/ bus /taxi to the Lao border.

It will cost 1500 baht max if you do not have new $30 US dollars. If you do not understand that everyone is scamming;

you do not understand Asia. Good luck and enjoy

[Border Run Alternatives]

1 hour ago, oMega69 said:

Savannakhet visa run.

 

My agent told me they not accept USD for the Lao visa... sounds strange to me "they want u to pay 1500thb so the IO officers can make more profit"  at the friendship bridge Nongkai boarder point i pay USD all the times.. hm.

Any one been using USD here lately ?

It cost me $30 US one month ago. No hassles at Vientiane border. Cheers and enjoy Laos. So welcoming and easy, relaxed after all the uniforms in Thailand.

 I wish I had gone there

[visa run to vientiane]

I live near Kabinburi. I caught the coach from Pattaya to Nong Khai via Nakon Ratchisima.

Was supposed to take 8 hours but took 9.5. Also the coach arrived 1 hour late.

The coach was carefully driven, I did not feel unsafe.

Stayed the night in Nong Khai and caught the coach to Vientiane next morning. It took Nearly 2 hours to finally reach the hotel in Laos.

The formalities were minimal at the border. It cost me 1300 baht or $30 US for a Lao visa.

I spent 4 relaxing and stress free days there. Very cheap, good food, the people were wonderful. Lao beer has about 6 different varieties. A change from Thai lager.

It cost me 10,000 kip to leave Lao. Formalities at Thai border were minimal.

I caught the 10.30 bus back to Kabinburi. It took 11 hours because I returned on a Sunday and caught the weekend traffic crush. Stop/start coach trip.

My first border run. I was nervous but need not have been. My Issan wife accompanied me. She got to practice Lao.

Many thanks to ubonjoe especially,and briggsy for valuable advice. Thanks Joe. In Lao- kop jai. lol