I am a U.S. citizen that had been living off and on in Thailand for close to 4 years. On my most recent visa run from Thailand, I was rejected entry upon arrival in Bangkok due to lack of sufficient cash on me as well as the number of previous runs I conducted(my mistake, my fault, a whole different situation).
Thai Immigration then settled on letting me "decide" which country through AirAsia to fly to (the airline on which I originally flew from Siem Reap into BKK to do my visa run). In lieu of spending a night in detention, I opted to fly back to Siem Reap. Upon arriving at Siem Reap, AirAsia pulled me to the side so I could then be questioned by Cambodian Immigration. They asked the simple questions of - what the reasoning for my denial, my plans in Cambodia, and my next destination. I explained I'd be traveling on through to Phnom Penh and subsequently Vietnam. They seemed satisfied with my answers and then told me what they were going to do was cancel my exit stamp that was given on the same day (since I had left Siem Reap earlier that morning to fly to Bangkok) and then I would be able to stay on the previous visa I entered in with originally.
In Phnom Penh, I lost my passport, received a new one. With that new passport, I was instructed by the US Embassy to now go to Cambodian immigration to get a new visa stamp transferral.
Once I arrived at immigration here in Phnom Penh, my IO (immigration officer) was surprised and immediately made note that I was currently illegal. According to his database I left Siem Reap and did not return on a valid visa. I explained to him the situation as to how I was led aside, assured that the cancellation of exit stamp was all I needed, and then escorted out personally by immigration police. Now, in hindsight, that should have been a red flag that I was let in so conveniently, however, with the stress of the day and the assurances of immigration police there I wrongly assumed I would be okay and at that point I viewed it as a positive that I would not have to pay for yet another visa (since I left and returned the same day). I understood after meeting with immigration in Phnom Penh that I am indeed here illegally and am trying to rectify this situation as soon as possible.
Now, it has been close to 2 weeks in which they have held onto my passport. Each visit to the immigration officer yields a "Not sure yet" or "not ready yet" with his assurances that things are just slow and will take time. I shouldn't worry blah blah etc etc. I am here illegally, however, I do not want to be, and I do not have a valid passport since they are holding onto mine. I have a clean record in all countries that I've lived in. Have not been arrested before.
So, ultimately, my question is why is it necessary for them to hold onto my passport for so long? What could they possibly be doing with it? What are possible fines I will incur? Do I face the possibility of deportation? Or if anyone here has had experience with a similar issue before.
I have a clean record in all countries that I've lived in. Have not been arrested before.
TLDR; rejected entry in thailand and sent to siem reap, was let in by immigration police at siem reap airport without a new valid visa, they "canceled" my previous exit stamp, I received a new passport - thus had to transfer my old cambodian visa, but due to siem reap immigration police canceling my stamp there is no record of my new entry, but now I am currently holding an illegal status with no passport or timeline as to when I'll have it returned.
Thanks again to all. and hopeful for feedback of any kind.
Cambodian Visa Issues/Trouble
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And the Thais successfully foist another one off on Cambodia.kyrix wrote:I am a U.S. citizen that had been living off and on in Thailand for close to 4 years. On my most recent visa run from Thailand, I was rejected entry upon arrival in Bangkok due to lack of sufficient cash on me as well as the number of previous runs I conducted(my mistake, my fault, a whole different situation).
Thai Immigration then settled on letting me "decide" which country through AirAsia to fly to (the airline on which I originally flew from Siem Reap into BKK to do my visa run). In lieu of spending a night in detention, I opted to fly back to Siem Reap. Upon arriving at Siem Reap, AirAsia pulled me to the side so I could then be questioned by Cambodian Immigration. They asked the simple questions of - what the reasoning for my denial, my plans in Cambodia, and my next destination. I explained I'd be traveling on through to Phnom Penh and subsequently Vietnam. They seemed satisfied with my answers and then told me what they were going to do was cancel my exit stamp that was given on the same day (since I had left Siem Reap earlier that morning to fly to Bangkok) and then I would be able to stay on the previous visa I entered in with originally.
In Phnom Penh, I lost my passport, received a new one. With that new passport, I was instructed by the US Embassy to now go to Cambodian immigration to get a new visa stamp transferral.
Once I arrived at immigration here in Phnom Penh, my IO (immigration officer) was surprised and immediately made note that I was currently illegal. According to his database I left Siem Reap and did not return on a valid visa. I explained to him the situation as to how I was led aside, assured that the cancellation of exit stamp was all I needed, and then escorted out personally by immigration police. Now, in hindsight, that should have been a red flag that I was let in so conveniently, however, with the stress of the day and the assurances of immigration police there I wrongly assumed I would be okay and at that point I viewed it as a positive that I would not have to pay for yet another visa (since I left and returned the same day). I understood after meeting with immigration in Phnom Penh that I am indeed here illegally and am trying to rectify this situation as soon as possible.
Now, it has been close to 2 weeks in which they have held onto my passport. Each visit to the immigration officer yields a "Not sure yet" or "not ready yet" with his assurances that things are just slow and will take time. I shouldn't worry blah blah etc etc. I am here illegally, however, I do not want to be, and I do not have a valid passport since they are holding onto mine. I have a clean record in all countries that I've lived in. Have not been arrested before.
So, ultimately, my question is why is it necessary for them to hold onto my passport for so long? What could they possibly be doing with it? What are possible fines I will incur? Do I face the possibility of deportation? Or if anyone here has had experience with a similar issue before.
I have a clean record in all countries that I've lived in. Have not been arrested before.
TLDR; rejected entry in thailand and sent to siem reap, was let in by immigration police at siem reap airport without a new valid visa, they "canceled" my previous exit stamp, I received a new passport - thus had to transfer my old cambodian visa, but due to siem reap immigration police canceling my stamp there is no record of my new entry, but now I am currently holding an illegal status with no passport or timeline as to when I'll have it returned.
Thanks again to all. and hopeful for feedback of any kind.
Follow my lame Twitter feed: @gavin_mac
Well, it seems you've fucked up pretty well.
I think i would take someone able to speaks the local lingo as well as English with me to the Immigration Office to find out what's happening and what the route to solving the problem is. Since their command of English is probably limited a translator might come in very handy.
Most probably the solution is money.
I think i would take someone able to speaks the local lingo as well as English with me to the Immigration Office to find out what's happening and what the route to solving the problem is. Since their command of English is probably limited a translator might come in very handy.
Most probably the solution is money.
Last edited by Kachang on Tue Aug 22, 2017 5:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Traveling between countries without the correct documentation. ???
Not a good choice.
Complaining because they don't respond in the way you would like,
Priceless.
There are several degrees of Dumb,
And you hit the 100% Dumb quota.
Not a good choice.
Complaining because they don't respond in the way you would like,
Priceless.
There are several degrees of Dumb,
And you hit the 100% Dumb quota.
I refuse to go out with nothing more than a whimper followed by a small farting sound and a shit stain on my bed sheets..
Just thought I'd share that with you.
Just thought I'd share that with you.
I was moreso looking for advice or recommendations on the situation. I know I fucked up; plain and simple. Believe me, 100% is an understatement. I definitely hit overkill on the stupidity meter with my own actions. However, I have resolved the situation now. Thanks.
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