List of concerns with regard to a sudden move to Cambodia?

whiteboy · Post by **whiteboy** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 1:21 pm

I'm currently married and living in Japan, but in the near future I will get divorced and move to Cambodia to teach English there or work better jobs that might be available.

I'm aware that it is possible and cheap to apply for and buy a work visa when you arrive at the airport, but is immigration in Cambodia really strict? Will they be suspicious of me if I'm a US citizen that was married in Japan when they see things like my Japanese spouse visa in my wallet, etc.? It seems ridiculous, but I always want to know about a country's customs/immigration before I fly there.

I talked with a friend of a friend on a Skype call and he mentioned that it isn't easy to find English teaching jobs and that there is a lot of competition due to a flooding of foreigners...is this really the case?

Are there places where I would be able to use cheap/free wifi using my own laptop?

I have also read that people say that break-ins and robberies in the streets are common and to expect them? Is this true and is this the case for the big cities such as PP or SR? I have a really expensive laptop and a lot of luggage that I don't want to have stolen from me as soon as I leave the airport or a couple days/weeks down the road...

I'm have been to dangerous countries as a tourist before, but I have never lived in a dangerous country before (violent crime). I lived in China and only had one violent experience while living there almost 4 years. Would it be safe living in either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap?

Another big concern is the water/food/people. People living there have told me that I shouldn't worry about getting dengue fever or malaria from the mosquitoes in the big cities, but what about the bottled drinks? Is it easy to get Hepatitis A or B? Are there any other serious illnesses there I should worry about with regard to moving there? I have had my routine vaccinations (D-TAP) a little over a year ago, but not for Hep A,B, dengue, etc. Is this a really bad move or could I just cheaply have the vaccinations at a local clinic after my arrival?

Are there rabies-infected animals roaming the streets of PP or SR?

I'm apologize for all the questions, it is just because I'm most likely moving there on really short notice and nervous about it (possibly a little paranoid as well). I would appreciate any advice or help from anyone who is familiar with the country and its environment.

YaTingPom · Post by **YaTingPom** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 1:46 pm

You can't buy a work visa at the airport. Only an ordinary visa or tourist...

I stopped reading after that.

finy · Post by **finy** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 2:04 pm

If you're in Sihanoukville, make sure you have a metal door and windows.

Had dirty little hands through my windows a few times, and they robbed my neighbor.

Siem Reap seems to be better, but I'm in a big building.

You should just get a dongle.

prahocalypse now · Post by **prahocalypse now** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 2:56 pm

whiteboy wrote:Will they be suspicious of me if I'm a US citizen that was married in Japan when they see things like my Japanese spouse visa in my wallet, etc.? It seems ridiculous, but I always want to know about a country's customs/immigration before I fly there.

Is the spouse visa in your wallet or your passport? They won't look in your wallet. They probably won't look at it if it's in your passport, but if for some reason they do ask about your Japanese wife, just say "die already".

whiteboy wrote:
I talked with a friend of a friend on a Skype call and he mentioned that it isn't easy to find English teaching jobs and that there is a lot of competition due to a flooding of foreigners...is this really the case?

He lied. If you are white (and I am guessing that is so by your username), experienced and qualified, you'll have no trouble finding a job that pays $10-12 an hour.

whiteboy wrote:Are there places where I would be able to use cheap/free wifi using my own laptop?

Yes

whiteboy wrote:I have also read that people say that break-ins and robberies in the streets are common and to expect them? Is this true and is this the case for the big cities such as PP or SR? I have a really expensive laptop and a lot of luggage that I don't want to have stolen from me as soon as I leave the airport or a couple days/weeks down the road...

When you arrive, check into a guest house or hotel that has cctv. People will steal anything that isn't nailed down. Be careful of bag snatchers in the street. The good news is that if you get a job teaching English in Cambodia, your days of buying expensive stuff will be over.

whiteboy wrote:Are there rabies-infected animals roaming the streets of PP or SR?

They aren't often seen roaming the streets. More likely to be seen sitting on a bar stool.

NO JOKE DAVE · Post by **NO JOKE DAVE** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:04 pm

whiteboy wrote:what about the bottled drinks? Is it easy to get Hepatitis A or B?

There's certainly been at least one reported case.

NO JOKE DAVE · Post by **NO JOKE DAVE** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:05 pm

YaTingPom wrote:You can't buy a work visa at the airport. Only an ordinary visa or tourist...

I stopped reading after that.

Fascinating stuff.

Lucky Lucan · Post by **Lucky Lucan** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:11 pm

whiteboy wrote: Another big concern is the water/food/people. People living there have told me that I shouldn't worry about getting dengue fever or malaria from the mosquitoes in the big cities, but what about the bottled drinks?

You can get Dengue Fever in the cities. No problems with bottled drinks.

Are there rabies-infected animals roaming the streets of PP or SR?

Yes.

Barang_doa_slae · Post by **Barang_doa_slae** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:24 pm

No particular advice should be needed if you have traveled to some foreign countries beforehand but trying your best not to make it to the deathpats list.

whiteboy · Post by **whiteboy** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:24 pm

YaTingPom wrote:You can't buy a work visa at the airport. Only an ordinary visa or tourist...

I stopped reading after that.

I'm sorry, I was mistaken. I meant I will apply for the Ordinary visa at the airport. I can always apply for the work visa after I find an English school to work for over there.

About how long does it take to obtain a work visa and I assume you are not allowed to work legally on the Ordinary visa yes?

NO JOKE DAVE · Post by **NO JOKE DAVE** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:28 pm

whiteboy wrote:
YaTingPom wrote:You can't buy a work visa at the airport. Only an ordinary visa or tourist...

I stopped reading after that.
I'm sorry, I was mistaken. I meant I will apply for the Ordinary visa at the airport. I can always apply for the work visa after I find an English school to work for over there.

About how long does it take to obtain a work visa and I assume you are not allowed to work legally on the Ordinary visa yes?

The official line is that you need a work permit as well as an Ordinary visa in order to work. I know more people that don't have one than do, all of whom are working here.

whiteboy · Post by **whiteboy** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:29 pm

prahocalypse now wrote:
whiteboy wrote:Will they be suspicious of me if I'm a US citizen that was married in Japan when they see things like my Japanese spouse visa in my wallet, etc.? It seems ridiculous, but I always want to know about a country's customs/immigration before I fly there.

Is the spouse visa in your wallet or your passport? They won't look in your wallet. They probably won't look at it if it's in your passport, but if for some reason they do ask about your Japanese wife, just say "die already".
whiteboy wrote:
I talked with a friend of a friend on a Skype call and he mentioned that it isn't easy to find English teaching jobs and that there is a lot of competition due to a flooding of foreigners...is this really the case?

He lied. If you are white (and I am guessing that is so by your username), experienced and qualified, you'll have no trouble finding a job that pays $10-12 an hour.

whiteboy wrote:Are there places where I would be able to use cheap/free wifi using my own laptop?

Yes

whiteboy wrote:I have also read that people say that break-ins and robberies in the streets are common and to expect them? Is this true and is this the case for the big cities such as PP or SR? I have a really expensive laptop and a lot of luggage that I don't want to have stolen from me as soon as I leave the airport or a couple days/weeks down the road...
When you arrive, check into a guest house or hotel that has cctv. People will steal anything that isn't nailed down. Be careful of bag snatchers in the street. The good news is that if you get a job teaching English in Cambodia, your days of buying expensive stuff will be over.

whiteboy wrote:Are there rabies-infected animals roaming the streets of PP or SR?
They aren't often seen roaming the streets. More likely to be seen sitting on a bar stool.

Do people often steal even when there are CCTV's? One of my luggage bags is huge and is most likely too large for any of the lockers...unless there are places with big lockers?

So taking my laptop in my backpack just to go to a local cafe to use the wifi there is probably going to lead to me being robbed? If that is the case, I will just stick with using the wifi inside the guesthouse/hostel/etc.

Sitting on bar stools...so a lot of the locals have rabies? I don't really want to get close to the local prostitutes there. Aside from getting the usual STD's...I assume I may end up with some bonus tropical infections as well...

Barang_doa_slae · Post by **Barang_doa_slae** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:30 pm

whiteboy wrote:
YaTingPom wrote:You can't buy a work visa at the airport. Only an ordinary visa or tourist...

I stopped reading after that.
I'm sorry, I was mistaken. I meant I will apply for the Ordinary visa at the airport. I can always apply for the work visa after I find an English school to work for over there.

About how long does it take to obtain a work visa and I assume you are not allowed to work legally on the Ordinary visa yes?

There are no business visas only ordinary ones. Once you have a job, your employer should apply for your working permit.

Lucky Lucan · Post by **Lucky Lucan** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 4:00 pm

whiteboy wrote:
YaTingPom wrote:You can't buy a work visa at the airport. Only an ordinary visa or tourist...

I stopped reading after that.
I'm sorry, I was mistaken. I meant I will apply for the Ordinary visa at the airport. I can always apply for the work visa after I find an English school to work for over there.

About how long does it take to obtain a work visa and I assume you are not allowed to work legally on the Ordinary visa yes?

There is no work visa, there's only a work book/ permit.

Playboy · Post by **Playboy** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 4:44 pm

They will not care about your ex Jap wife at all

Get the Ordinary Visa on arrival (formerly known as the business visa)

Work Permit applications after employment is secured

Almost every where has free WiFi

Crime is minimal if you are half sensible - e.g. do not stagger drunkenly around at 2AM in dark areas

Water and food are fine (ish) do not bother drinking the tap water, bottle water is very cheap. Food will occasionally give you some hurried trips to the bathroom at first, then sporadically thereafter

I have had dengue twice in 14 years, once in the city, once from Battambang, maleria never

Rabies I have only heard of one case involving an expat in all my time here

That is all I have for now, have no idea about the TEFL Jobbing situation

Cheers