@Nathan ********

when you went to Myanmar immigration desk, just up from the boats, your boat driver or assistant went with you, they usually hold people's passports, and present to the officer when it's your turn, and he'll slip 500 baht of the money in your passport, or an envelope, or folded paper, to the officer, they don't make a big scene about it obviously. I saw this everytime, 5-6 times last year. Myanmar immigration have less to worry about when taking bribes than the thai immigration on the otherside.

@Marc *******

I think you misunderstand. Immigration will scaremonger you into paying an agents to 'smooth' things over on your return. Maybe if you got all your paperwork in order and the 'three proofs' also, and with a not overly substantial visa history, you can try your luck at going solo, I just haven't had the patience to test it. An immigration officer can deny you without real reason using any number of other reasons, and if they just told you earlier that day, and to your face, to use an agent, they could get frustrated and cause problems, in this case, it means returning to the Myanmar side, where your visa is limited to a few miles, and possibly an overnight stay while trying to find an agent there. It would be interesting to know from those that have gone solo recently at this checkpoint. But I've read posts here from people being denied entry, and asking for help and what to do despite being told the agent route by immigration, and the answer is to find an agent that can smooth entry, for a fee. This isn't the only border point doing this, there are many. Also this affects mostly those with some visa history, especially tourist visas.

@Damo *****

I see 500 baht is slipped to the Myanmar immigration officer with each passport.

@Gary **********

it's not a fee charged to leave the country, but to smooth over your re-entry. Speaking to a few others, either on a boat or at either side of the water, they were all scaremongered into paying the agent fee. Maybe one was refused entry when arriving back on the thai side, and had to arrange with an agent to come and see him through onced paid. The way I see it, is that agents act as the cash collectors, that deal with the public, taking this dirty business away from the immigration desks and officers, and with it, any chance of being caught red handed taking cash over the counter while in a government position. And the agents kick on at a more suitable time and place, like pub carpark, out of office hours, so just a single cash transaction rather than maybe hundreds daily. At another bordercrossing last year I saw at least 10 minibuses, all full, 11-12 people, so 110-120 people, all paying agents fees. Even at just 500baht per head is 55,000-65,000 per day, so 275k - 325k per week, and 1.25million per month. There could be another 10 minibuses due that day, so a possible 2.5million a month collected, at just 500 baht per head. 30 million a year, at a very small, low traffic border crossing. It certainly won't be any less.

@Nathan ********

I have done the same 5-6 times last year. The last two or so hours drive through the mountains is a beautiful drive. But Ranong is not a bad place to stay a night, some good value hotels around and including 'the farmhouse hotel'. And the breakfast/cafe/coffee scene there is active. Very cheap weed in the few local shops. There's a few farmstays on the top of the mountains outside Ranong, but often very quiet, and more accommodations in Lang Suan, which is a huge hub for distribution of the big heavy fruits grown around the mountains, durian/Jack fruit etc. And if you've not witnessed the breakfast/morning scene in Surat thani city, a 2-3km trail of street vendors along the waters edge there, and a morning market with vendors just laying out their goods on the road from 5am until morning. And I found a stewed pork shop, the same owner serving for over 50 years now, allegedly not a day off sick. There's certificates and newspaper/magazine articles on the walls, and photos with celebrities, and the fella looks at you while chopping the pork, not the pork itself. And he talks to every customer who comes in. I say talks, he shouts at every customer. They're setting up from about 3am everynight, amazing place. Under the CBD hotel. An alternative but similar road trip is to Pedang Besar/Sadao on Malaysian border. Fascinating border towns, like something out of a movie, 'Dusk till Dawn'. But close by, in the national park, the Wang Prachan Boundary post is a soft checkpoint to bounce, but nothing is guaranteed without an agent, which should be arranged regionally in advance. You can meet them as they arrive in the parking area just before the checkpoint if you prefer to drive/arrive yourself.

Price was 1900 all last year, use that price as a guide. There's a tiny office in the far corner of the 7-11 forecourt 'local boat charters', can assist.

@Rob ******

sounds like every immigration office countrywide. But yes, they will recommend you use local agents, and if they do so, and you ignore them, you'll understand the meaning of 'at the sole discretion of the immigration officer serving you' more than most. I wouldn't call it a scam any more than immigration as a whole. You can chose to agree to it, if you pay you get the service, no problem.

@Gregor *********

the very small immigration office, 2 front desk officers and occasional supervisor in back office, they like you to use the local businesses when visiting, to help the local economy and such. Being such a small office, they really can control the in's and out's, so they might recommend you engage one of the local agents to grease the wheels. Since that border point is not currently used by regional agents sending minibus loads, they don't get much tea money, so they do what they can to get by. With the exception of fingerprint readers, that 'port' has not progressed, nor had a lick of paint or even a jetwash in 24 years, since I first visited. And your 'fee' ensures that the immigration offices both sides stays open until you return. They are also relaxed and even forgiving about the annual limit of 2x land entries, but best to point this out to your agent first. And the price includes 'private boat transfer' but they'll always get someone else on your boat, but immediate departure, immediate service at Myanmar Immigration, and immediate departure back. Although I paid 1900 on 5-6 occasions last year, the last time it was more, but I was late, and expiry was that day. Money well spent.

@Terary *********

that is true, but not a long term solution beyond 1yr.

@Kieron ******

so on the beach road, when the police first found the phone in your possession, they asked for 20,000 Baht, and you refused ? Did you try to politely barter ? Offer 5000, 8000, 10k, and so on ? What numbers did you call on the phone ? Did you mention somewhere here you had 100k baht on you also ? In cash ? Why so much cash ? Did the police find that too. Do you feel the phones owner, the lady was in on it ? How did you disrespect the police, as you said ? Sounds like a cheap sting, and when you've refused the bung whilst holding 100k baht in your hand, they've got shirty. Could have even been a genuine lost phone, and the sight of the 100k made them seize the opportunity. Why you not pay the 20k ? That was your mistake right there, especially with 100k in the hand, and 200k in the bank.