Is it advisable to use a land border run company for a DTV visa entry stamp in Thailand?

Jan 12, 2025
6 days ago
DTV reset- land border

I have a DTV and am using a land border run company to go to Cambodia. I actually have been in Thailand less than 90 days on a visa, but I am planning to exit because I did not get a visa for my young child, who entered visa-exempt. I did not get the DTV for her at the same time I did because I don't plan to use the DTV much longer than a few months at a time. I am using the land border company because it is the most efficient way to get a new entry stamp. However, I've been informed that the border agent has never encountered a DTV visa and will charge an extra 1500 baht for an entry stamp for 180 days. Their reasoning is that an entry stamp for a longer period should cost more than the base fee . I objected to this but the visa company says they cannot override the border agent's decision. I may just overlook this as unfamiliarity with new visa and pay it to avoid any problems. Just looking for advice on this or advice on if it is even a good idea to get a new 60-day stamp this way.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is planning to conduct a land border run to Cambodia to obtain a new entry stamp for their DTV visa but faces unexpected charges from the border agent due to unfamiliarity with the DTV system. Several commenters advise against using land border runs, citing potential scams and safety concerns. They highlight that children under 15 do not incur penalties for overstaying but may receive a stamp in their passport indicating overstay. Many suggest exploring other options, such as flying or managing the visa process independently, as the additional fees and safety risks of the land border may outweigh the benefits.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Irene ******
It's a scam of the travel agency and the inmigration officers. Next time don't use an agency
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
irene yael Yes, I'd rather not pay, but I just did the border run with the agency. was treated very well there, but I paid good money, so I hope so. I know that you can do border runs without an agent, but doesn't work for my situation. I don't want to go on long train rides with a young child or risk being forced to spend the night on the Cambodian side, which would have added extra costs and is more challenging with a youngster. Just preferred to pay extra to ease the process for me.
Luit *****************
@Irene *****
Why a scam? Agencies need profit.

When everything is just legal and according rules, you can do it yourself without costs.
Jared *********
Just go somewhere on your own. No need for an agent at all
Wannikea *********
Did you get a 30 day extension for the child yet? 1900 baht at immigration
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
yes
마리오 ***
If your child is under a certain age there is no penalty for overstay, but they do get an overstay stamp in their passport. As long as they are with a legal parent/guardian that has proper entry authorization on their next re-entry then no issue.

The border run agent should have told you this.
Luit *****************
It is just a free market, you want something, they decide about a price, it is up to you if you want to pay that price.

The 60 day stamp and the 180 day stamp should both be free, so anything they ask for it can be considered as too much, but they deliver a service of no difficult questions asked to you. You decide the value of that service.
Alistair **********
Don’t do land crossings you know loads of people get kidnapped to work in scam call centers. No joke. And to save a few hundred baht. Madness.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alistair *********
Yeah, it's crossed my mind, but there are some well-established border run companies that do regular business. This one has good reviews on Google.
Alistair **********
Anonymous participant that’s fine probably. Just careful on your own.
Luit *****************
@Alistair *********
People get kidnapped? Do you have proof?
Alistair **********
@Luit ****************
Human trafficking for forced labor in scam centers along Southeast Asia’s land borders is a significant and growing issue. While exact annual figures are challenging to determine due to the clandestine nature of these operations, estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of individuals are trafficked into these centers each year.

Key Insights:

• Scale of Trafficking: Reports indicate that hundreds of thousands of people are trafficked by criminal gangs and forced to work in scam centers and other illegal online activities in Southeast Asia. 

• Financial Impact: Organized crime rings are generating close to $3 trillion in illicit revenue annually through human trafficking-fueled fraud in Southeast Asia. 

• Regional Hotspots: Countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos are identified as hotspots for these scam centers, with significant involvement from Chinese criminal networks. 

Understanding the Operations:

Victims are often lured by false promises of employment opportunities, only to find themselves trapped in guarded compounds where they are forced to work extensive hours, sometimes up to 20 hours a day, six days a week. Their tasks typically involve engaging individuals on social media and dating apps to persuade them to invest in fraudulent schemes, such as cryptocurrency scams. Those who fail to meet targets or attempt to escape face severe punishments, including torture and other forms of violence. 

Challenges in Addressing the Issue:

The clandestine nature of these operations, combined with the involvement of organized crime syndicates, makes it difficult to obtain precise statistics. However, the scale of the problem is evident, with reports highlighting the extensive networks and the significant number of individuals affected.

Conclusion:

While exact numbers are hard to ascertain, it is clear that human trafficking for forced labor in scam centers along Southeast Asia’s land borders is a severe and escalating issue, affecting hundreds of thousands of individuals annually. Addressing this crisis requires coordinated international efforts to dismantle these criminal networks and provide support and rehabilitation for the victims.
Luit *****************
@Alistair *********
People looking for employment opportunities are victims.

DTV is for people already having a well paying remote job, or having money enough to pay for long term soft power or medical trajectory, so a completely different group of people.
Alistair **********
Yes, but some are kidnapped too! Its getting more common now so seems sensible to to be extra wary if you are doing a land crossing that's all if hanging around the boarders.
Phonemyat *******
@Luit ****************
come on uncle watch more news. Recently a lot Chinese got kidnapped Thai Myanmar border.
Biff *******
For that money you could avoid sitting in a van for 20 hours and just fly in and out.
John *******
Some land borders are sketchy
Alistair **********
@John ******
getting worse too, 100’s of thousands are kidnapped yearly now to work in scam centers.
Wesley ********
It’s a scam. You have a visa. They shouldn’t be charging you anything
Lola ********
My understanding is children don’t get penalized for overstaying
Greg ********
@Lola *******
1) They could be refused entry next time 2) Their insurance might just be invalid if in country on overstay - it has happened before
Maurice **********
Scam!

My wife went over land border in Poipet and I flew from PP to Bangkok - all was all fine!
John **********
I know you've tried to explain it but I don't understand why you would not get your kid a DTV as well. That being said a kid under 15 has zero penalties for going on overstay other than an overstay stamp in their passport, no fine, no blacklisting, basically they can stay as long as they want with no consequences other than the stamp
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
I know there is no blacklist or penalty, I just want to keep visa things above board as much as I can. Also, the reason was that I had some time constraints for leaving my visa application country and I wanted to do a walk-up application, which I knew would not be avialable in a few months.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I will in the future, John Stanners, but the approaching visa exempt expiry date is the more pressing issue.
John **********
Anonymous participant so rather than just doing a border bounce why not apply for the DTV for the kid while you are out of Thailand anyway?
Wannikea *********
Children under 15 cannot be fined or banned for overstay. Wait till your 180 days is due then take the child to border bounce to activate a new 180 day stamp for the both of you.
James ********
@Wannikea ********
wise advice ✅
Romain ****
@James *******
not wise in a matter of insurance
James ********
@Romain ***
I really don't know what you are saying. Insurance is not a requirement for those who enter as Visa Exempt Entry. The issue of children under the age of 15 is not a problem.
Romain ****
@James *******
I explained in a comment that insurances mostly have exclusion if insured person is staying illegally, which will be the case with the kid overstaying
Wannikea *********
@Romain ***
I asked my friend whose wife is a top agent for a Thai insurer, he said it wouldn't factor in. But I imagine it would depend on the type of insurance and from where.
Romain ****
@Wannikea ********
very good idea to keep child illegally in the kingdom. Although not penalized, you know that any insurance covering the child will be void if staying illegally (exclusion for most insurance)
Stefan ******
@Romain ***
and what are visa options are there for young children? There are none for the privilege visa holders for example.
Romain ****
@Stefan *****
one more reason to not populate the planet more 😆😆
Greg ********
@Wannikea ********
They can be denied entry next time! My pal had to check this many times when he left with his son on years overstay.
Wannikea *********
Absolute scam. What border crossing Poipet? Avoid it at all costs.
Greg ********
My pal goes to a Cambodia Border from Jomtien to do a run on Visa Exempt. Charge at border do it yourself is 3500 Baht Inc Cambodia fees. It was 2500 when the visa exempt was 30 days but went up when it went to 60
Dany ********
what a scam. just take a flight if possible.
Greg ********
@Dany *******
What might be worse is you do not pay the facilitation fee and then they take a very close look at your visa. Are you carrying all of the papers and proof you applied initially with you?
Dany ********
@Greg *******
no need for that. people are frequently going in and out with their DTV and get a fresh 180 days with just their passport + evisa printout. there is no facilitation fee. just book a super cheap return flight. less headache, and often even less time consuming
Greg ********
@Dany *******
I agree that6 doing the flight route is the best option. We know that but at a border that has a facilitation fee for same day processing if you do not pay they might just scrutinize the visa more closely. I saw 4 Filipino girls get refused entry at one because they could not point to their accom on a map. They were not on the bus back to Bangkok they came on - stranded in middle of no mans land.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
I would do a flight out, but I actually I'm unsure of how border guards view back-to-back visa exempt stays and I don't have time to post up in a foreign country right now and wait for a tourist visa or a dependent DTV to be processed.
Greg ********
Anonymous participant My pal has been here a year now on back to back visa exempt plus 30 day exemptions. Goes to a Cambodian border from Jomtien. Costs him 3500 THB all in inc Cambodian Visa etc. Costs about the same with an agent but he has time restrictions so drives himself.