Poipet Pasport office - avoid

[twiceayear]

Just to pass on to anyone in similar situation.

We attempted to get our son his Cambodia passport at the Poipet passport office (its about 2-1/2 hours away). It was a ridiculous waste of our time.

We took:

Mother's birth certificate, mother's ID card, Mother's cambodia passport, mother's document from police stating where she lived (took as she had a friend go to this office about one month ago and they requested it). My passport. I also took our oldest son's Cambodia passport and his birth certificate just in case.

When we arrived I got out my wife's birth certificate, her ID card, our son's birth certificate and my passport - as those were the documents we were told on the phone by the passport office that we would need.

First we were told that we needed copies of the Cambodia birth certificates. We were literally standing two feet from a copy machine. I pointed that out. Nope. They said we needed certified copies of the birth certificate FROM THE LOCAL POLICE WHERE MY WIFE WAS BORN. Then we were told we needed the document from police stating where my wife lives - Ok, I pull that out. Then they said I needed the same document proving where I live! I showed them my visa. Then they said - nope, the document for my wife was not ok either - she needed to go to where she is registered and get the document from there.

So at this point, I pulled out our oldest son's Cambodia passport and I pointed out that we successfully obtained his Cambodia passport with the four documents I had pulled out initially. They were very unhappy. Said everything has changed. And then the kicker - they then decided that we needed all the above AND we would have to go to Phnom Penh as they couldn't process applications from barangs. And with that the gentleman literally walked out of the office and down the street.

An entire waste of a day. Regardless of what should happen I would have to recommend that anyone in similar circumstances simply avoid that office. I think later this month when we head down to Pailin we may try stopping at the office in Battambam.

[Marinaris]

Qui-Gon Jinn:
Credits will do fine.

Watto:
No, they won't-a. What? You think you're some kind of Jedi, waving your hand around like that? I'm a Toydarian, mind tricks don't work on me. Only money. No money, no parts, no deal!

[Spigzy]

Poipet - avoid

FTFY.

Sorry to hear about your sex life; move to PP?

[v12]

Just to pass on to anyone in similar situation.

We attempted to get our son his Cambodia passport at the Poipet passport office (its about 2-1/2 hours away). It was a ridiculous waste of our time.

....

Looks to me, you forgot step 0: Handover Tea money.

[gavinmac]

Looks to me, you forgot step 0: Handover Tea money.

Right, just be subtle, like this:

[twiceayear]

Just as a follow up for anyone in similar situation.

We went to the office in battambam. They insisted that our son could not get a passport until he was at least 1 year old. I asked if that was for all children and they said no - only children of foreigner's. So I produced the passport of our first son and showed that he got his well before his 1st birthday. After brief internal consultation…. they decided that this was a new rule from HE himself to prevent kidnapping of children. At least here, I think they genuinely believed that my son wasn't eligible for a passport - there was no hint of wanting extra money to make it a possibility.

I asked what his mother should do since she had a medical appointment in Thailand? They had no answer for that one.

So we went to Phnom Penh. We had no issue getting our first son his passport there. We used the same woman we used the first time - she took us through the process all the way until the last guy was to sign off. (and again they kept insisting they couldn't print our son's name on his passport they way it should be - and again I politely stood my ground and said I wouldn't change my son's name).

Anyways, they guy didn't like the fact that I'm not Khmer and my wife is Khmer. Said the birth certificate had to be entirely in Khmer. What total nonsense. I pointed out that the certificate was issued by the Cambodian officials where my wife is registered. Simply put the guy is a schmuck. I asked the woman what day he wasn't there - she couldn't give a definite answer. After thinking about it for a while, I told my wife there was no way we were changing the birth certificate and would simply attempt to get another document made in Khmer that matched the birth certificate from the place she is registered.

So we called a friend of my wife's from where she is registered and she arranged for the local folks to simply make a document entirely in Khmer - cost of $20. And had that sent up to the woman in PP courtesy of another friend that is a minivan driver - so that will cost me a case of beer next time we visit - and a few weeks later the passport showed up.

Truly ridiculous overall experience.

[newnewnewbie]

Try and keep away from any public officials here, have your wife and her family deal with it without your presence, as it makes everything much harder, or even impossible when a white guy appears and expects to be treated the same way as a local. It won't happen.

[vladimir]

Said the birth certificate had to be entirely in Khmer. What total nonsense.

Why do you consider that ridiculous? It's the official language and it's an official document which will be used to verify his citizenship.

I would be pleasantly surprised if they would accept anything else, tbh.

[twiceayear]

Its ridiculous as the Cambodian government itself produced the birth certificate. I had nothing to do with it.

For one arm of the Cambodian government to refuse to recognize an official document from another arm of the Cambodian government is ridiculous.

[newnewnewbie]

It's best to find a local agent or have your local friends find the people to handle your official affairs. It would be a mistake to do that on your own, it's just a waste of time and money.

[vladimir]

There is a reason Poipet rhymes with Toilet

Need help?

[vladimir]

Its ridiculous as the Cambodian government itself produced the birth certificate. I had nothing to do with it.

For one arm of the Cambodian government to refuse to recognize an official document from another arm of the Cambodian government is ridiculous.

I am specifically referring to you comment that the document should be in any language other than Khmer, and I suspect you know that.

We're not in Kansas, anymore, Dorothy. aka, if you don't like it, leave it.

Chicago is great this time of year, right?

[Cubitt]

Can anyone recommend a Phnom Penh or Siem Reap travel agent who has recently (preferably 2019) gotten a passport for a young Cambodian born child or baby that has a Cambodian mother and a foreign father? Even better , if the parents are not married. Thank you

[newnewnewbie]

Your wife needs to find a local fixer to help her out,
and do it through the office in Chbar Ampov. Unfortunately I am unable to do more, it's a local thing, and all up to your companions capabilities finding the people who can help her. But I advise for you to keep out of it completely yourself.

[twiceayear]

Its ridiculous as the Cambodian government itself produced the birth certificate. I had nothing to do with it.

For one arm of the Cambodian government to refuse to recognize an official document from another arm of the Cambodian government is ridiculous.

I am specifically referring to you comment that the document should be in any language other than Khmer, and I suspect you know that.

We're not in Kansas, anymore, Dorothy. aka, if you don't like it, leave it.

Chicago is great this time of year, right?

----------

I made no comment about what language the document SHOULD be in - the Cambodian government issed it. Not myself.

But I suspect you already knew that and are just an asshole.