One of the travelers would like to share his experience in Poi Pet.
I recently visited Cambodia and I wish to report an unpleasant experience I had during my entry. I entered the country at Poi Pet on 20/Dec, after taking the train from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet.Because I didn’t have a Visa, I went to the Visa Office to get one. On my way there, I was approached by several touts, but I turned them all away because I’ve always liked to do things professionally and not be a victim of scams.When I got there, I went to grab a form, but before I could do that,someone dressed with a yellow polo shirt handed me one.Then, I sat down at the chairs to fill the form and an immigration police officer offered me a seat next to his desk, located around 10 meters from the office counter. I kindly rejected and sat by myself.
When I finished, I stood up and the same officer called me immediately, which I found strange. I went to his desk and he asked me for a picture and 1000 Thai Baths. I saw earlier a sign next to the office counter saying that a tourist Visa cost 20USD, so I said “Why 1000THB? It says 20USD there”. He didn’t insist and told me to go to the office counter instead.
When I got there, I placed my form on the counter. The immigration officer was facing me at the other side and before he could grab my form, the man with the yellow shirt approached me and said that I had to pay 1000THB or 25USD. I asked him again the same question and he replied saying that I had to pay that amount, without giving me any explanation. At the same time, an American tourist standing nearby (he was waiting for his Visa to be processed) heard my conversation and said “If I were you, I wouldn’t bother. I spent 10 minutes discussing that with him and it didn’t work”.
With that, I paid 25USD. I actually regret not having asked for a receipt as evidence… It’s very important to stress that all this conversation was in front of an immigration officer, who kept quiet the whole time.
The man with the yellow shirt (there were actually 3 or 4; not just 1) had a logo on his shirt. Because he was so comfortable talking to me in front of the policeman, I assumed that he worked for the Tourism Office or a similar department.
When my Visa was ready, I went to get my entry stamp. When I exited that office, the same “yellow” dressed people were outside waiting for tourists. They told me and a few other people that they had a free bus that could take us to a “place where you can catch buses and taxis to Siem Reap”. I found that suspicious, but I decided to go. There were quite a few tourists inside the bus.
When we got there, we found out that it was a travel agency and not a bus/taxi terminal! I couldn’t be more upset, as it was far (maybe 1.5km) from where we were picked! The name is Angkor Amazing Holiday Tours & Transport Association. Because there was no transportation back, every tourist -including myself- eventually booked the agency’s transportation, which was quite overpriced. I shared a taxi with two Australian tourists and we paid 45USD for a taxi in extremely poor conditions. The trunk’s latch was damaged and we actually stopped for over an hour at a village to fix it. Before that, we drove very slowly because of the road bumps (the trunk was opened). In summary, the taxi ride took us approximately the same time as the public bus and there was no more daylight when we arrived in Siem Reap.
What is amazing is that we had to pay before the journey started. It should not be like that. I’ve been to many countries and I never had to pay a taxi ride at the beginning of the journey. Looking back, I regret having paid before we left because the taxi was in terrible condition and we took much longer than expected. In other words, the journey was not worth 45USD and I would reject to pay that much if I had paid in the end.
I’ve just described my whole experience and I’ll now say what I think about it. I do not understand how several travel agents are allowed to spend their days at the Visa Office approaching tourists and ask them for more money than what’s required. What’s worse is that this is all done with the knowledge of the immigration officers. So if the sign says 20USD and I had to pay 25USD, I’m sorry, but I can only think one thing: this is a scam between the travel agents and the immigration officers and the extra 5USD is shared by them. I can’t think of any other possibility, judging from the way my Visa was processed.
And let’s not forget one thing: I paid in USD, but I could have also paid in THB. However, if I paid in that currency, I’d have to pay 1000THB. But that’s 33USD!!! How do you explain that? What about the first immigration officer, who asked me for 1000THB when we were alone? Was he going to “cheat” me and keep the extra 13USD for himself? How can these things happen at a governmental office?
Overall, this was a very negative experience that gave me a bad image of the country even before I entered it. Scams like these exist everywhere, but I can’t accept the fact that it happened with the knowledge and involvement of the immigration officers.
You are likely from a developed country and are missing out on the experience of how these countries work. So you paid 5 more bucks for a visa. Big deal! Try to laugh at the situation and enjoy it. Embrace it! this is how things work in many countries and if you travel to those countries its best not to expect it to be as fair and/or organized as your home country.
I, much like you, felt the same my first time travelling and now i relax and take it for what it is worth. In the end you get scammed for 75 more bucks on your trip, which is half a days work in your home country (likely).
chris
February 28th, 2008
its not the money it is the feeling you get by it.
when i fall for a scam it is my onw fold, the try and i take it.
good luck for them (or not)
but from a immigration officier who juse his power, no that is hard for me to accept.
you now that it is wrong, they now that it is wrong.
i chose to give my money tho somebody how needs it.
that officier is doing great bisness there.
sanuk
March 3rd, 2008
I agree with number 2. It’s not about the money. It’s very easy to say the heck with it and just hand the money over instead of standing firm. But think about it, corruption is endemic in Cambodia. And it just takes one foreigner to give in for govt officials to demand every other foreigner for more money. The border officials at Poipet are getting bolder because no one says no. I have heard of tourists getting threatened with no entry to tourists waiting for a few hours because they refuse to pay. And it’s all because some foreigners gave in.
While Cambodia is rebuilding itself, morality should also not be neglected. Look at China as an example. One of the major powers in the world but lacking in morals.
Joanna
March 7th, 2008
Greetings. I’m the one who wrote the long letter above. Not with the purpose of posting it in a blog (otherwise, I’d make it much shorter), but to send it to the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Tourism. In addition, I sent it to the e-visa office for their information. None of the Ministries replied me so far and they probably never will because I already sent them my letter two months ago. Meanwhile, the e-visa office asked my permission to publish the letter, which I happily accepted, hoping that other people will “learn with my mistakes” (my main suggestion is to ask for a receipt; that will deter immigration officers from charging more than the official visa fee).
Introductions and explanations aside, I just wish to say that I respect reply 1 and that’s exactly my approach when I shop at a street market or hail a tuk-tuk. However, my experience took place not only inside a governmental office, but with the involvement of governmental staff, so it wasn’t the amount of money that upset me, but the principle.
Following what reply 3 said, I also believe that if more people complain to the appropriate entities like I did, perhaps the immigration officers in Cambodia will behave differently in the future.
Happy travels.
Pedro
March 9th, 2008
I have recently travel to the Poi Pet border. And on the way to the border, I have misleade to other way to fill up the application from for the visa. But lucky my friend can speak thai and somehow he ask for the police officer and told me which way to go. Once I arrived to the office I gave my passport to the officer. After that I left, but the guy who were mislead me before are waiting for me in front of the door, he keep saying follow him and i refuse. I follow the flow where the most people go. But when I stop to look at the sign. That guy he shout at me and he wants me to follow him. I refues again, but when I was keep following the big flow where most people go. That guy were stop at one place and talk to the immigration officers. Than the immigration officer ask me to go in to the room and sit down. So I did. The immigration officer ask for my passport and he say to do the visa need 1000 TBH and one photo. When I looked around the room, it is so small, and there are no english word at all, except his unifome. Then I ask him why is no english in this place at all, he told me that he is an immigration officer and told me to look at his badge. And he realise that I was suspected him. So told me the direction where to make my visa. And when I left there, that guy was waiting in fron of the door and he said “Fuck the tourist.” and I smile back and left. And he was not follow me after that.
venus
March 10th, 2008
About these experience, can you give a suggestion?
I’ll get to Poipet on 29th of March and I’ll be alone.
I’ve just get the visa online.
Could you give me some information to get to the immigration office? I’m afraid to meet dangerous people like you..
Thank you very much
Sylvie
March 21st, 2008
Well, if you sum it all up the Bangkok Airways flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap (around 4900 regular fare, 3900 reduced fare) would have been not more expensive but much more pleasant and faster.
Sometimes i can not see the reason in all these stress just to save 5 Bucks (or spend more in this case) :D
cheers
Sigmund
March 23rd, 2008
Reply for number 6. I have took some pictures from the Poi Pet Border. It is for the direction to go to the immigration officer and to get the visa. Please let me know how can I sent those pictures to you.
Cheers
Venus
March 28th, 2008
I agree with Chris’ remarks of Feb 2008. Just take it in your stride and enjoy the trip.
See, its not really a question of a developed country, a developing country, an under-developed country or whatever! It happens everywhere. I was travelling some time back in Italy and, in Venice, I was charged Euro 150 for a meal worth maybe just Euro 40, only because I forgot to ask how much the meal would cost! I paid and then put it out of my mind. After that I enjoyed the rest of the trip!
Ashim Choudhury
April 17th, 2008
The way they look at it is that they {cambodians} are very poor. You are fair game. That is all there is to it.
john thomas
April 21st, 2008
Oh dear lady, the fee is $20US + $5US for processing the visa.
Yes that is the price. It is because of the lack of english that these people don’t bother too much to explain the whole situation to you. The US dollar is such weak currency that it now exchanges for $27US, that is not the $13US difference you complain about.
The touts you went with, it is a known tactic. You get a ‘free’ ride but end up paying 10x the fee you normally should pay.
Carlo
April 23rd, 2008
This is all a matter of principal. $5 in the right person’s hand can feed him/her for a month in coutries like this. $5 in the wrong person’s hand could fund terrorism and only make countries like this poorer. Who do you want to support?
Diana
May 1st, 2008
I was subjected to the same scam only last week. Paid 1,000 baht for a $20 visa. That’s a 50% increase. Difference with me that it was done by the uniformed immigration official himself not some visa tout. Considering the length of time that this post has been going it is pretty obvious that nobody cares and the whole Cambodian government must be in on it.
I was also asked for 100 baht for some, again uniformed, guy to fill in my entry card. I did manage however to avoid that.
Before any of you come back and say “it is not much money and I should forget it” corruption should not be tolerated especially by government officials. It does nothing for a countries international image.
Kevin Skinner
May 30th, 2008
Spot on, Kevin!
You said in a few words what I said in many paragraphs. But again, the only reason why I wrote such a long text (read reply 4, which is also mine) is because it was a formal letter that I sent to a few ministries. Sadly, none of them replied me and even more sadly, it’s clear from your experience that nothing changed.
Happy travels.
Pedro
Pedro
May 30th, 2008
Next time just buy your visa online, print out the form and present it at the border.
When I do visa runs to Cambo, I pay as little as 1800 baht which includes round trip, lunch, handling of all paperwork and the cost of the Cambodian visa. So to pay 1000 at the border just for the visa is crazy.
ThaiTony
June 12th, 2008
Pedro, here’s an email I got:
Dear Kevin,
We’re sorry for your experience in Poipet border. Your complaint will be forwarded to the relevant department.
We would suggest e-Visa for your next trip to Cambodia to avoid scam. For e-Visa information, please visit our website at http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh
–
Regards,
WanChing Lee
e-Visa Consultant
————————————
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel: (855) 23 224 973
Fax: (855) 23 224 972
Email: wlee@mfaic.gov.kh
Kevin Skinner
June 12th, 2008
ThaiTony, I was not on a visa run…I have a 12 month retirement visa for Thailand. I was travelling with 2 friends, both Farang but with multiple entry visas for Cambodia. We decided to use one of those carts to transfer our baggage across and perhaps the Cambodian officials thought I was on a visa run as I had no visible baggage.
Kevin Skinner
June 12th, 2008
ThaiTony: I did try to get an e-Visa in advance to avoid all the hassle, but to my double disappointment, one can only process the payment using Paypal (1st disappointment) and Paypal doesn’t recognize the territory where I live in (2nd), so my hands were tied.
Kevin: let’s hope you have better luck than me, since my complaint didn’t even tickle them.
Cheers!
Pedro
June 12th, 2008
Absolutely no excuse for the touts on either side of the border. It is not a $5 processing fee, it is a scam. A scam that seems to have the blessings of the Thai and Cambodian border authorities. They have no right to insist on 1,000 baht and certainly no right to charge more than the $20 fee. Cambodia is already being scammed by numerous international NGOs which will no doubt continue until the Cambodians themselves take control of their wonderful country.
Roachie
June 18th, 2008
I think it’s not too late or too much to repeat what I wrote on comment # 4.
For those reading this blog and planning to go/return to Cambodia, ask/demand a receipt at the border if they overcharge you. I could be too optimistic, but I’m confident it will make them think twice before proceeding with the scam.
Pedro
June 18th, 2008
There is no $5 processing fee, it is extra money for the officers. In 2001, I insisted on only paying $20 and had my passport thrown out the door into the dirt. Picked it up and went back in, paid 1000 baht. Extra money at the border is nothing new…
huski
June 25th, 2008
anybody suggesting… little money … not much… etc. you are all asskissers. stay home, its better for all of us.
jim
January 11th, 2009
the goverment … however … official posts a processing fee… so all of you … learn read first befor you travel…
http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/e-visa/vindex.aspx
jim
January 11th, 2009
Jim you’re an idiot, you have obviously never flown into Cambodia before or you would know its only $20. The $25 charge is listed for an evisa.
donkey
January 11th, 2009
so how much you pay at the boarder then, huh… when you via poipet…
peops talk about going into the nonsense country by land not by air….
via airtravel it shld be clear that there must be some international standart meet… however that isnt sure anymore in this region (see bangkok dec 2008)
anyway peops only go there because they are forced by the stupided immigration law of thailand… otherwise this country would be left alone like countries in africa …
Jim you’re an idiot, you have obviously never flown into Cambodia before or you would know its only $20. The $25 charge is listed for an evisa.
jim
January 11th, 2009
Jim, don’t tell people to ‘learn to read’ a website that correctly charges $25 for an E-visa. This topic is about border immigration charging more than the $20 fee which is stamped on every on arrival visa.
donkey
January 11th, 2009
you guys dont get it, huh. the usd 5 is for the fill in of the visa form. if you do it your self you wont pay for it. anyway, why you guys dont go to the cambd. emb in bkk and get the visa from there… then you only have to goto the checkpoint at the boarder of poi pet etc…
anyway any body travelling in and out of this country thailand shld bear in mind her his saefty…
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_wit_fir_percap-crime-murders-firearms-per-capita
jim
January 12th, 2009
Stupid Cambodian visa officials.. yesterday i did a visas run from thailand through the Had Lek border, only because they stopped issuing 30 day overland visas… the price there is now 1200 baht.. i.e. $34.40 USD! i have two cambodian visas already with the correct $20 fee stamped on it. The immigration guy threw my passport back in my face when i insisted on having a receipt, and after 5 minutes ofs calling him a corrupt pig i finally gave in and paid the fee. They also refused to stamp the issue fee onto the visa. I loved travelling through cambodia during december, it WAS a great place but this corruption had made me decide to NEVER go back there, Vietnam and Thailand all the way…!
Hikurangi
January 22nd, 2009