Thai-Cambo border check points closed to visa runners with immediate effect

[thailandgr]

A large number of unconfirmed reports suggest that Immigration officers along the Thai-Cambodian border are no longer allowing Out/In border runs.

BANGKOK:-- Throughout the last 24 hours, Thaivisa.com has received reports that suggest officers at Immigration check points along the Thai-Cambodian border are no longer stamping visa exempt entries, and are therefore effectively closed for people wishing to complete an Out/In border run.

Reports started surfacing on Saturday afternoon (Sept 12), when several members posted similar information to the Thaivisa forum.

It remains unclear if this affects all land border checkpoints or only those on the Thai-Cambodian border.

It is also unclear if only those people staying in Thailand on visa exempt entries are affected or if this also impacts people who have a valid Tourist Visa.

This thread posted by a Thaivisa member says checkpoints along the Thai-Cambodian border, as well as the Phu Nam Ron checkpoint at Kanchanaburi, are no longer stamping 15 or 30 day waiver stamps, but are accepting those with a valid Multiple Entry Non-O or Tourist Visa.

More reports made to Thaivisa also seemed to confirm the information regarding the Thai-Cambodian border, and also suggested that those with valid Tourist Visas may also be affected.

Thaivisa forum member YuliyaSerg wrote (sic):

We called several visa run companies 2 hours ago, because we need to open our second part of double entry-tourist visa before 16th of September, and were planing to go to Cambodia on 14th September.

Both companies said only Laos now. After some time one company called back and said to wait tommorow, may be tommorow information will be more clear, and it wil be allowed to cross Cambodian border for people with valid visas only (open 2d part of tourist visas, etc.) If now, on 14th we need to go to Lao, it our last chance to open second part of our visas. Its really awful! We were not planing to go to La and have plans(((.

A post was also made in the Thaivisa Pattaya forum by member Nice Boyd, said he had spoke to a company offering visa services in Pattaya, where staff had informed him that all land border runs are suspended until Oct 1st.

It is important to stress that all reports remain unconfirmed at this stage and despite our best efforts late last night and early on Sunday morning, Thaivisa is yet to receive official confirmation from the Immigration Bureau.

Speculation is mounting that this sudden change in Immigration procedure along the Thai-Cambodian border in response to the Bangkok bombings.

Earlier this week, Thailand police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang revealed that Bangkok bomb suspect, Adem Karadag, had bribed his way into Thailand paying approximately 20,000 THB to enter using a fake passport.

[thailandgr]

It has been reported within the last 48 hours that immigration check points along the Thai Cambodian border have been refusing to stamp the passports of foreigners making a quick in and out border run.

Apparently, anyone seeking a quick exit, followed by an immediate reentry back into the Kingdom of Thailand, hoping to be granted permission to remain in the Kingdom for a length of 15 to 30 additional days is no longer being allowed to do so by immigration authorities.

Yesterday the staff of a Thai company specializing in visa services said, “All land border runs are suspended until October 1, 2015.”

As of yesterday morning another local visa service announced with some certainty that effective September 13, 2015, and until further notice, every Thai Cambodian border check point will not stamp a 15 or 30 day visa waiver.

However, foreigners whose passports contain a valid Multiple Entry Thai Visa will be allowed to both exit and enter Thailand just as they always have.

In addition, foreigners holding either a valid Multiple Entry Tourist Visa or a valid Multiple Entry Non Immigrant Visa will also be allowed to come or go, thus activating their second or third entry.




The holders of any other type of Thai visa, including extension of stay based on Non B or Non ED visas are advised to first check with a professional visa service before attempting to exit Thailand across the Thai Cambodian border.

It is thought that the sudden and drastic alteration to Thailand’s visa run policy is the result of the illegal activities that recently took place at the Cambodian border. The elimination of Thailand’s long standing in and out border run policy follows in the wake of Thailand’s Police Chief, Somyot Pumpanmuang announcing that at least one suspect in the Bangkok Erawan Shrine bombing bribed a Thai immigration official 20,000 Thai baht to allow him to enter Thailand on what turned out to be a fake passport.

Evidently, until immigration officials determine a method that will prevent foreigners from entering Thailand illegally by way of a cash offering at a check points along the Thai Cambodian border, the in and out border runs will cease to exist.