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Bangkok Visa Run


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I used to live in ranong where making visa runs was as easy as can be. Wake up, take a 5 min bike ride to the immigration, stamp out and hop on the boat. I would be back less then an hour later with 30 days on my passport.

Now im in BKK and dont feel like going to ranong. Ive never made a cambodian visa run before. i heard is quite shady and involves bribing people on the other side of the border in order to get your stamp. Im not sure if this is still the case as my friend who told this to me had that experience about 2 years ago a few times.

Can somone please explain every step of the journey for me. i tihnk im going to do it on thurday so if I need to reserve anything I should get on it I guess. What are the total fees for the visa and such?

Thanks.

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By doing it yourself you might be able to save between 200 and 400 baht. Anyone who tells you differently is wrong. In my opinion the extra effort and inconvenience involved in "doing it yourself" is not worth the savings of between $5 and $10.

In light of your handle, however, that might represent a significant savings to you, so guide yourself accordingly.

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No actually, my handle does not reflect my finacial standing :o

I actually forgot that the visa itself is like 1000+ so i didnt realize I wouldnt be saving much.

So if I pay the 2000 baht and go with this guy does that mean all fees are paid and I dont need to bribe anybody or pay anything else?

Thanks for the info

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Not sure about the other services that do the visa run, but I have taken Jack Golf several times. Things change from time to time depending on the current crack down at the boarder, but most of the time Jack golf will handle everything at the boarder. All fees are taken care of and includes free buffet lunch at one of the casinos. Last time I went we had to stand in line at the Thai immigration and get our stamp out and then walk over to the Cambodia immigration and get the stamp in. From there Jack golf handled the stamp-out of Cambodia while we ate lunch, then after lunch we got the stamp-in at the Thai boarder, loaded back up for the trip home. I took the 5:30 bus and was back in BKK around 2pm. In the past all we did was the stamp-in and out on the Thai side and they handled everything on the Cambodia side.

Hope this helps you.

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I have done this before. The fastest one I have ever done in my visa runs.

Air Asia 9:20 AM, BKK to Kuala Lumpur,

arrive in KL 12:30 noon

Go out immigration and then go up to check in counter again

take Air Asia 1:40 PM, KL to BKK, arrive in BKK 2:45PM.

Air fare depends how early you reserve. Last time I paid about 4000 something bahts for air. It is the most relaxing visa run compared to the 10 hours in the Thai bus to Aran, only maybe 2000 more bahts difference.

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This Iain dude has obviously an issue with Jack Golf.

Jack Golf is by far the best service around (in my honest selfish opinion). Very comfortable double decker tour bus as opposed to the crowded minibusses which most other providers use.

Especially the weekend tour to Ban Laem is great. In and out in 45 minutes (and that's including the lunch!).

It's a little slower than those providers using minibusses, but much more comfortable (out: 5.30 am back: 3 pm)

Also similar (comfortable) service exist in Pattaya with VIP Mercedes Vans (around THB 2,500).

Do it yourself can save you about THB 800.

Train to Aran THB 94 round trip

Tuk Tuk Aran-Poi Pet THB 120 round trip

visa fee THB 1000

SARS fee THB 20 (if you can't avoid it)

Total THB 1234 baht ...

Edited by sniffdog
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I did Jack’s run about 4 months ago and it went pretty well. I took the early bus and was back in BKK by 1:30pm. It was a Wednesday so I think that helped. Definitely avoid the weekends with the extra gambling traffic.

The lunch wasn’t great, but everything went smoothly. Very little queuing, and just a few signatures, and they took care of the rest of the paper work. I usually use my visa runs as and excuse for a vacation, but in a pinch I’d use Jack’s again. I think time of week has a big effect on trip time.

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Seems like many are recommanding services from Jack Golf.

Might try them out this 28th.

I will strongly suggest you try a service run by the local people, Mr. Jack needs to take care of his own visa sometimes, and he is not able to deal with the locals, that's why the quality of his service changes all the time.

Saw the other day, when cops came to Soi 12 in the morning, picked up 2 guys with overstay from Jack Golf Tour bus, Mr. Jack just vanished, didn't even say one word to the cops. I guess that explained Iain's point.

Describe Jack to me.

My bet is that you are a newbie competitor along with your alter ego Iain.... :o

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