Why are entry denials occurring at Poipet, especially for those with visa-exempt entries?

Apr 23, 2018
7 years ago
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Has anyone seen this?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the challenges and experiences related to entry denials at the Poipet border for travelers attempting visa-exempt entries into Thailand. Users share personal accounts of being denied entry, primarily due to insufficient funds and border regulations, especially affecting travelers from certain countries. Concerns are raised about the unpredictability of the entry process at Poipet, which is noted as a problematic crossing point. The conversation highlights the necessity of adhering to immigration rules, including financial requirements for entry, and suggests that alternative methods, such as flying into Thailand, may be more reliable.
Tod *********
you appear not to be the only person denied entry at Poi Pet.

This one was on a forum today.
Tod *********
@James *********
could be, all I was thinking about was having you enter the country by an easy land border
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
only problem is it's 20 hrs by bus from siem reap to Vientiane!! Do you think flying to KL, getting a tourist visa there and then flying to Thailand would be viable?
Tod *********
@James *********
then once you're stamped into the country you can fly domestically without going thru passport control.
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
that might be the best option.
Tod *********
@Ja***
, OR go to Vientiane and apply for a tourist visa on what ever passport you want to and then enter the country by land at Nong Khai.
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
As another option I was thinking of going to Phnom Penh to apply for a tourist visa on my Brazilian passport
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
yes but I've just realised that I will have to write that I have flown from Cambodia on the landing card which will arise suspicion when they see no Cambodian visa in my UK passport
Tod *********
@Ja***
, you could stamp out of cambodia on the brazil one and enter thailand on the uk one.
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I can't fly to Brazil!
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Amornrat *********
holy shit. I have a UK passport on me. Could I exit Cambodia on my Brazil passport and enter Thailand at don muang on my UK passport?
Amornrat **********
I can supply the name of a friend of mine (US) who got denied entry in December while on ED Visa, he waited three days in the airport lock up before they flew him, via Hing Kong back to the US. He got passport back only at LA airport....
Amornrat **********
@James *********
no, you are in detention. They decide where you go or which country you go.
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
they can't force me to fly to Brazil if they deny me entry though right? I mean I could fly to Malaysia or wherever
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Damn. I don't know a soul in Brazil!!
Tod *********
He didn't have a brazil passport so was coming in on a 30 day visa exempt entry not a 90 day one like you will get.
Tod *********
James, a person who just got denied and posted on this group said he didn't have cash when he tried to enter at the border, BUT when he flew in he had cash AND proof of onward travel and they still denied him entry, held him at the airport and are sending him back to country of passport origin.
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
yes I read that! But it would seem that they didn't have the 20k cash on them even when flying in.
Tod *********
@Ja***
, not to scare you but someone was just denied entry like you at the land border, then flew in and was denied entry at the airport too. They are being sent back to country of passport origin.

Good Luck, (y)
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes that's exactly what happened to me. I went to 2 borders though. The first border was at Baan pakard. They refused me and said I had to go to poipet where I was also rejected. So my exit stamp was cancelled twice! I hope this doesn't affect my likelihood of entering Thailand via air. Flying tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
Tod *********
you can see on this one, when they denied him entry into thailand they canceled the exit stamp and let him back into Cambodia ;)
Wanichya **********
ไม่มีปัจจัยในการยังชีพตามสมควร = dont have money for living
Gaudette *************
loll ..
Wanichya **********
But wrote in the polite way😂
Tod *********
@Ja***
, once you get back into the country, report back and let us know how it went when you were stamped in at the airport

Good Luck (y)
Tod *********
@Amornrat *********
they have a brazilian passport. That's why they were hassled at Poi Pet.
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Will do! Thank you
Masis *******
ı always used poipet land border when ı has to visa run on METV and there was not any problem. a week ago ı wanted to make a 30days visa excempt entry at poipet again but when ı was going out of Thailand border, the immigration officer warned me about the denial risk at the entry. he told me 90% ı will be denied if ı try to come back without visa and it happened. there was another 3 guy as same situation as mine. later they try to enter by air plane at donmueang and they entered but ı went back to my country to get a new METV. as a summary, if u dont have a thai visa, do not make visa run at poipet.
Amornrat **********
@Ben *********
not really, certain passport or people with a visa history can also be refused while on an METV.
Amornrat **********
@Masis ******
that explains some of the hassle. Due to the incidence between Thailand and Turkey in the past few years some border refuse straight away to stamp Turkey passport.
Ben **********
Well, a METV is ofcourse different than border bouncing to get a visa exempt stamp
Masis *******
since ım a Turkish citizen, ı have to run through big borders. I live in pattaya and the best option is Poipet for me.
Masis *******
this was my first visa excempt entry try and the agent who assisted me assured there would not be any problem. When ı got my METV ı will use poipet again..
Amornrat **********
I still do not understand why you guys run to POI PET.....
Tod *********
Just an FYI to everyone; Brazilians get 90 day visa exempt entries BUT they cannot bounce out and back in to get another one at ANY of the land borders with Cambodia or the Phu Nam Ron border in Burma.
Amornrat **********
We put it on our web page, but that is, obvious, not official, we just do as they told us, Brazil, no.
Amornrat **********
@Ananda *************
no, no official announcement.
Ananda ****
Is that information published anywhere? I mean the land borders Brazilians don’t get 90 days
Amornrat **********
@James *********
no idea, but from your history I assume they would think that you not an real tourist.
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Amornrat *********
thanks for confirming. I had no idea and was completely taken by surprise by this. Do you (or Tod Daniels) know how long I would have to stay in Cambodia before being let back into Thailand through the land border? I like to do bike trips sometimes
Amornrat **********
Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Chile and South Korea can NOT get 90 day visa exempt stamp at these two land border crossings. Need fly OUT/IN or apply Tourist Visa.
Amornrat **********
@James *********
, we run a visa service and since a couple of month these borders around Bangkok not stamp the " 5 countries under 90day exemption" anymore. They claim that you stay 90 days already...... But there is no law that states that, tehy just make it up.
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Good to know!
Ning ******
sa kaeo is kicking most people out, i help the custom head translate from thai to chinese why she rejected a guy's entry a few months back while doing my 1st border bounce for this year. she explain that she suspected he is working in bangkok, he has a past land bounce with visa extension on his passport as well as a 2 flight from china and 2 visa extension on the same passport - she ask him what is he doing in bangkok, he showed her pics of a office and says he is helping a friend. and he dont have more than 10k baht on him. she copied the company name and address. she told me that she kicks them back to cambodia, they take a flight back to bangkok. airport might let them back cos the flight ticket cost more than the bus fare to poipet. i did one at poipet last year, she allow me back after i buy a air ticket out of thai in 30 days - went with my thai boyfriend. i did one this year, she let me off after i shown her my embassy paper translated by mfa for marriage - will be the last, that place is a night mare. it took 3 hours, and she hold me back for 2 hours plus.... cant really blame her, her pack of lunch is still sitting at her table at 4-5pm saw many people got sent back to cambodia while sitting there.
Zachery **********
never go to poipet. ;)
Zachery **********
im already wiping the tears from my eyes
Rob *********
better stop now before I have a little cry...
Zachery **********
haha reminiscing hard atm lol
Rob *********
yep those were the days.... 33B to the AU dollar ... Leo 3 large for 100baht
Zachery **********
been there done that...miss the good ol days
Rob *********
2001-2005 you could have your Passport flown down to Penang while staying put in BKK....was cheaper than doing the trip yourself...:)
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Last time!
Zachery **********
2001-5 was a different story. lol
Tod *********
wiser words were never spoken ;) That is a no-go border crossing. Even most of the visa run services from bangkok don't use it anymore. :O
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
This was at poipet. The guy took a disliking to me and was looking for any reason to deny me entry. I only had 5k baht cash in me but lots more in my bank account. He wasn't interested in looking at my bank details.
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
that is Todd for your help and advice! Much appreciated
Tod *********
@James *********
you won't have any problem flyin' in.

Although I'd have 20K baht or the equivalent just in case you're asked .
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Wow I wish I had known that! So do u think I should be ok flying in from Cambodia?
Tod *********
James Stockley AHHH, that's what it is :O Brazilians can't bounce out and back in at ANY of the borders in Cambodia for their 90 day visa exempt entries :/
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I had one airport entry and one land entry last year and this year only one airport entry. That's it
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
90 day visa exempt. It's a Brazilian passport.
Tod *********
@Ja***
, that stamp just means that you were denied entry. It shouldn't affect you comin' in if you meet the requirements

remember if they want to be hard asses they can ask for proof of funds, proof of onward travel and proof of a hotel booking or confirmed lodging.

What were you entering on a 30 day visa exempt entry or a tourist visa?
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm not going back to poipet!!
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
ok thanks so presumably they'll.let me in at don muang with the cash in spite of having this stamp
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
so if I fly back via Don muang with the cash do u think they will let me in?
Tod *********
Unfortunately the requirement is you must show cash not a bank account.

-10K entering visa exempt

-20K entering on a valid visa
Tod *********
That stamp is from the Sa Kaeo border and it says the person didn't NOT have sufficient funds to enter the country.
Tod *********
or that's the reason they put down to deny entry :/
Tod *********
These are the reasons someone can be denied entry to thailand.
Thanattsitt *********************
Ning ******
where did you get this stamp?
Tod *********
@Ja***
, Poi Pet is the cambodian town on the other side of the border, you were entering at Aranyaprathet which is in Sa Kaeo province That's why the stamp has สระแก้ว on it
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Poipet
Tod *********
The stamp says Sa Kaeo immigrations (สระแก้ว)
Tod *********
It's a denial of entry stamp based on the immigration act of 2522 section 12

Unfortunately I can't make out the clause they are quoting because there is no clause 14. :/ and that's what it looks like is written on the line
Tod *********
I realized once i read the thai that it was clause 2 which in thai is ๒ and its just written sloppy.
เดวิด **********
Oh haha. I missed that one. You are always so on top of things!!
Tod *********
@เดวิด *********
(y) which is what I said 6 hours ago ;)
Frank **************
I think it is section 14 : Section 14

The Minister shall have power to issue public notice in the Government Gazette requiring the alien entering into the Kingdom to have with either money or bond, or shall have power to order an exemption under any condition. The public notice issued by the Minister under the first paragraph of this section shall not apply to children under the age of twelve years.
Robert *******
If this is your passport, did they tell you why and what the meaning is of this stamp?
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