Cambodian Customs

[believe]

What's the deal with asking for money? Am I the only one who doesn't want to give them a dime for any transactions they make?

I went to Cambodia and the guy at the customs counter said I needed a visa. I was like, "I was born in Phnom Penh." Not giving a f- what I said, he insisted I needed one, saying that they won't let me through if I didn't get one. I was like, whatever, just sign me up. Then, he said I needed a small picture, a 1"x2" or something. In my head, I was like WTF? I just got off the airplane. How in the world was I suppose to get a damn picture for him? Long story short, I ended up giving him $5 and he gave me a visa for unlimited entrance to the country.

Same thing happened when was checking out of Cambodia for my departure flight. The customs officer asked for $5. I refused to give him any. What warrants him extra money for the job he was assigned to perform? This kind of culture has to stop!!!

 

[Barbara]

What's the deal with asking for money? Am I the only one who doesn't want to give them a dime for any transactions they make?

I went to Cambodia and the guy at the customs counter said I needed a visa. I was like, "I was born in Phnom Penh." Not giving a f- what I said, he insisted I needed one, saying that they won't let me through if I didn't get one. I was like, whatever, just sign me up. Then, he said I needed a small picture, a 1"x2" or something. In my head, I was like WTF? I just got off the airplane. How in the world was I suppose to get a damn picture for him? Long story short, I ended up giving him $5 and he gave me a visa for unlimited entrance to the country.

Same thing happened when was checking out of Cambodia for my departure flight. The customs officer asked for $5. I refused to give him any. What warrants him extra money for the job he was assigned to perform? This kind of culture has to stop!!!

Welcome back, believe. Hope you enjoy your time at Cambodia. I think the customs get used to people give them money that's why they act that way. I heard that sometimes they pretend to loose your passport so that you give them money so that way you can get your passport back. That's why I don't like to go to that kind of country. I think Cambodia country has no laws if you have money you can have all kind of laws in your hands. Very sad for the poor people.

 

[believe]

Welcome back, believe. Hope you enjoy your time at Cambodia. I think the customs get used to people give them money that's why they act that way. I heard that sometimes they pretend to loose your passport so that you give them money so that way you can get your passport back. That's why I don't like to go to that kind of country. I think Cambodia country has no laws if you have money you can have all kind of laws in your hands. Very sad for the poor people.

Thank you for the warm welcome, Ma'am . It's good to be back, but I do miss Cambodia .

I hear you on not wanting to deal with it. I'm glad, in some ways, you felt the same as I did. I did not hear about them being deceiving and take someone's passports, but I could imagine a crooked bastard would do something like this. I heard that they only do this to overseas Cambodians. Is this true?

 

[Hamster]

I heard things similar to this from previous visitors to Cambodia. It sucks but understandable. They probably don't get paid much to resort to this kind of act to have more money in their pockets.

 

[Barbara]

Thank you for the warm welcome, Ma'am . It's good to be back, but I do miss Cambodia .

I hear you on not wanting to deal with it. I'm glad, in some ways, you felt the same as I did. I did not hear about them being deceiving and take someone's passports, but I could imagine a crooked bastard would do something like this. I heard that they only do this to overseas Cambodians. Is this true?

I don't know, believe. I have never been to Cambodia in my life. I just heard from people that had gone there.

 

[goupon]

Yea, the same as me when visiting srok khmer... U need connection for them not to ask for tip/fee... When I came back, this guy asked for money. I said, sorry i don't have any... I think it's every where in 3rd world country esp poor country. My director when to China to conduct business and when he came back and told his experience, it's the same as srok Khmer. So I said to him, welcome to Asian.

 

[Rei]

Welcome back Believe, it seems like you had a blast other than this money corrupted issue. I've heard it before myself from family and work. I'm looking into going to Cambodia in the next few years, so it's good to read and learn about everyone's experiences on here. =]

 

[PkaLotus]

Welcome back, paoun Believe.

 

[PkaLotus]

Yea, the same as me when visiting srok khmer... U need connection for them not to ask for tip/fee... When I came back, this guy asked for money. I said, sorry i don't have any... I think it's every where in 3rd world country esp poor country. My director when to China to conduct business and when he came back and told his experience, it's the same as srok Khmer. So I said to him, welcome to Asian.

I do agree with you, Goupon dear

 

[PkaLotus]

I heard things similar to this from previous visitors to Cambodia. It sucks but understandable. They probably don't get paid much to resort to this kind of act to have more money in their pockets.

I feel the same way you do, Hamster dear

 

[ami]

seriously u got the right 2b angry but @ least i like Cambodia country than Vietnam country.

 

[goupon]

What's the deal with asking for money? Am I the only one who doesn't want to give them a dime for any transactions they make?

I went to Cambodia and the guy at the customs counter said I needed a visa. I was like, "I was born in Phnom Penh." Not giving a f- what I said, he insisted I needed one, saying that they won't let me through if I didn't get one. I was like, whatever, just sign me up. Then, he said I needed a small picture, a 1"x2" or something. In my head, I was like WTF? I just got off the airplane. How in the world was I suppose to get a damn picture for him? Long story short, I ended up giving him $5 and he gave me a visa for unlimited entrance to the country.

Same thing happened when was checking out of Cambodia for my departure flight. The customs officer asked for $5. I refused to give him any. What warrants him extra money for the job he was assigned to perform? This kind of culture has to stop!!!

Reading the US Dept site, you still need a Visa to enter/exit Cambodia even if you have American Passport.

You will need a valid passport and a Cambodian visa to enter Cambodia. Tourist and business visas are valid for one month beginning with the date of entry into Cambodia. Cambodia offers on-line visa processing. You may also apply in person at the Cambodian Embassy located at 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011, tel. 202-726-7742, fax 202-726-8381. Tourists and business travelers may also obtain a Cambodian visa at the airports in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and at all major border crossings. Cambodian immigration officials at airports now collect fingerprints upon entry using an inkless, electronic process. You will need two passport-sized (4cm by 6cm) photographs and a passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of entry into Cambodia. Cambodia regularly imposes fines for overstay of an expired visa. If the overstay is 30 or fewer days, the charge is USD $5.00 per day; for overstays of more than 30 days, the charge is USD $6.00 per day. You should contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Cambodia or visit the Embassy of the Kingdom of Cambodia website for the most current visa information.

http://www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/cambodia.html

Lucky you only pay $5. If you process Cambodia Visa in US, it would be $37 for 3 months.
https://www.evisa.gov.kh/

I guess we need to do research before traveling outside USA

 

[lovepink]

I think they know you are tourist and have it easy, so they try to extort as much money as possible while you are there. I think last time my parents went there as soon as they landed and by the time they actually left the airport building, my parents were extorted for around $275 USD.

 

[pocketkiriyama]

I think they know you are tourist and have it easy, so they try to extort as much money as possible while you are there. I think last time my parents went there as soon as they landed and by the time they actually left the airport building, my parents were extorted for around $275 USD.

Same we were $150 poorer.

 

[pocketkiriyama]

Welcome back, believe. Hope you enjoy your time at Cambodia. I think the customs get used to people give them money that's why they act that way. I heard that sometimes they pretend to loose your passport so that you give them money so that way you can get your passport back. That's why I don't like to go to that kind of country. I think Cambodia country has no laws if you have money you can have all kind of laws in your hands. Very sad for the poor people.

Funny thing was when I was at customs my passport somehow disappeared for a moment. I knew a lot about what to expect in Cambodia so my first thought was "these guys must be trying to pull one on me" I came prepared too with numbers to the US embassy and everything. I'd blew up so much shit that their government would get a good thrashing from every media outlet out there. But then I found my passport in my dad's backpack. He put both his passport and mine's in his backpack and then forgot about it after a minute. The guys at customs were freaking out because I look like I'm about to kill someone. You know I can give some money to those guys because they stroll our 8 luggage to the van or that guy at the visa area but I will not give them $5 dollars just to fill in 5 lines of my own information at immigrations.

 

[pocketkiriyama]

I was there for 3 weeks and spent around $3000 there. It was the most expensive international trip I've ever been. I was in Japan for 9 days and that set me back about $600. Half of the cost was from taking the train all over the place. Somehow I find that food in Japan was about the same in price as in Cambodia but the quality is vastly different. No we did no get jipped as I did find some cheap foods here and there but I did not expect to be paying $8-$10 per meal. The reason is that Cambodia is too dependent on US dollars. Making their own currency weak and thus the inflated prices of foods and goods.

 

[pocketkiriyama]

Oh by the way believe, do you have any pictures to share?

 

[Barbara]

I was there for 3 weeks and spent around $3000 there. It was the most expensive international trip I've ever been. I was in Japan for 9 days and that set me back about $600. Half of the cost was from taking the train all over the place. Somehow I find that food in Japan was about the same in price as in Cambodia but the quality is vastly different. No we did no get jipped as I did find some cheap foods here and there but I did not expect to be paying $8-$10 per meal. The reason is that Cambodia is too dependent on US dollars. Making their own currency weak and thus the inflated prices of foods and goods.

That's funny to heard that about Japan. I heard completely opposite. My cousin was there back in Christmas and he said everything was little pricy in Japan, especially foods. So how was your trip,PK. I want to know your experiences in Japan. I watched some videos as I am still doing my research. I found there are lot of con than pro. Especially for tourists people because Japanese doesn't like to talk English, and everything is in Japanese barely English. They suggest to go with tour guy. Any way, let us know how was it. I looking forward to hear your experience

 

[pocketkiriyama]

That's funny to heard that about Japan. I heard completely opposite. My cousin was there back in Christmas and he said everything was little pricy in Japan, especially foods. So how was your trip,PK. I want to know your experiences in Japan. I watched some videos as I am still doing my research. I found there are lot of con than pro. Especially for tourists people because Japanese doesn't like to talk English, and everything is in Japanese barely English. They suggest to go with tour guy. Any way, let us know how was it. I looking forward to hear your experience

I was actually comparing the price of Japanese food here in the states to Japan. For example, a 3 oz. Wagyu steak would set me back $75 but in Japan it would be $50. I could dive deeper in our discussion but we shouldn't hijack this post so I'll post some pictures in the photography section and we can discuss it there, Barbara-san.

 

[sokhenstudios]

Too avoid paying any fees at the Cambodian airport, make sure you have all the documents filled out correctly. If you are a U.S. Citizen but your passport says born in Cambodia the K(Khmer) Visa is free but you must provide your own pictures, if not prepare to pay tea money. If your passport says anything else but Cambodia like mines says Thailand, expect to pay full price for a K Visa. When I renewed my passport I just went to the Cambodia Embassy in Long Beach, I had to pay 5 dollars but they had to make copies of my parents passport showing that my parents are Khmer. Because I got the Visa already from Long Beach, they were reluctant to ask for any money. Cambodians without a U.S. Passports do get pressured more than U.S. Citizens but if you make a scene they will process your documents as they don't want to be embarrassed.

The next scam is when your picking up your luggage, all of a sudden these Cambodian airport workers are so nice to you, try to pick up your bags and help you push your luggage. Of course they want a tip even a dollar is fine but If you don't want to pay just say no and push your own damn luggage.

The last but most important is the Koy or customs guy at the front door. Now they will try to get you to pay, lift your luggage, if you ignore them they will let you pass. Just don't be disrespectful because they can always start counting everything you are bringing into country and charge you a fee.