Border Bounce Experience – (Wang Prachang)

Sharing a recent border bounce experience, via the Wang Prachang border.

When exiting Thailand, the immigration officer asked me two questions:

• Are you planning to return immediately?

• Do you already have a visa?

I answered yes to both.

I was then asked to speak with another officer, who explained that there is a “new policy” in place. According to her, if you exit Thailand and re-enter immediately, you now need to pay 2,000 THB (cash only) in order to be allowed to do so.

I was honestly caught off guard and asked for more details. The explanation remained vague — I was told it was coming from the Malaysian side, but no clear or official justification was provided.

Eventually, I paid the fee (no receipt provided). The officer gave me a plastic card with a number to give to the Malaysian IO, stamped my exit, and I proceeded to the Malaysian immigration checkpoint.

On the Malaysian side, everything was extremely smooth:

No questions, I handed off passeport and the plastic card, just a stamp and a friendly “see you soon”.

Interestingly, when I showed the number I had been given, the Malaysian officer immediately understood the situation — without me needing to explain anything. It clearly seems like a well-established and coordinated process for people who are only crossing to stamp, not actually entering Malaysia.

My personal interpretation (this is only my opinion):

This practice may have been introduced after the recent restrictions on visa runs (didn’t exist before as I crossed many times there with an other type of visa). Since border traffic has dropped significantly, this “fee” could be a way to compensate for lost revenue, even though it does not appear to be an officially published rule.

Worth noting:

The border was completely empty. In the past, even though Wang Prachang was always a relatively quiet checkpoint, there were usually at least a few people doing visa runs. This time — nobody.

Just sharing this experience so others are aware and not caught by surprise.

Can anything be done if you are pressured for bribe money at an immigration office? I'm guessing not but I'd like to know if anyone has heard any stories. It happened to us...

I found this article in The Pattaya News email. While the definition of what the officials could apply to YouTube'ers, I get the feeling it is about somthing more serious, but doesn't go into detail. Does anyone know what this is all about?

I plan to do a border bounce journey to Cambodia the end of the month. I've never done a land border hop before. It is imperative I stay a night in Cambodia to coincide with my flight out Thailand in February. Can anyone recommend a border I can go to where the officials are not corrupt/ don't ask for tea money, as well as a decent hotel?

Good afternoon, I just wanted to warn you about illegal 'service charges' at the Hua Hin immigration office. I went on 4th September at 15:01 to swap visa in old passport to new passport. This is a free service. I was charged a service charge of 500 baht. The officer made a schoolboy error. The transfer was done to a colleague's personal bank account. I telephoned 1111 and was told, as confirmation, that there is no charge for this change of visa to new passport. If you are charged an illegal service charge, tell the officer ( they all speak english ) that this is illegal. I would recommend , infront of said officer, to phone 1111 and gain confirmation that you can pass on in live time. If you pay the service charge because they are witholding docs as happened with me, then make sure you pay by prompt pay, do not hand over cash. Tell them you have none. I reported this incident to 1111 and phoned immigration the next day as I had the woman's personal bank account with an exact record of my payment ( 15:01!!). She met with my wife in a panic and paid me back my 500 baht. If this has happened to you, please get in touch with me. I do not know how long these scamming police officers have been fleecing us foreigners. Stand up to this should it happen to you. Record if you have a phone. Try to get the officer's name and report via 1111. I hope this helps you.

Naaahhh really? 😂😂😂

[members only]

And so it begins :O

IF you are using an agency to secure your proof of funds to get a visa or extension inside the country at the immigration office let this be a warning to you.

It is not gonna work for that much longer.