Last week I traveled from Thailand to Cambodia. In Thailand, I stayed with an EU passport. I had a ticket booked on my 2nd passport. In addition, I had already arranged an approved e-visa on my 2nd passport. Arriving in Cambodia, I was refused entry because I did not have an exit stamp from Thailand in my passport. I indicated that I have 2 passports and showed him the exit stamp in my other passport. A strange guy who started shouting that he was going to send me back.
Finally bought a visa on my EU passport and let in. Was I dealing with an incompetent immigration officer here? After all, according to the airline, this should not be a problem. The trip in the opposite direction presented no problems, also changed passports.
Anyone ever experienced something like this?
Has happened to me numerous times, so I learned to circumvent it. No use in arguing with border agents. They don't possess the tools to understand anything.
*The Solution*: If I am NOT mistaken, Argentina, Australia, Cuba (nice place but stay in resorts only) Israel, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore do NOT stamp passports AT ALL. Depending on where I am going, I use one of them as "springboard".
These things happen. Next time, it might be another immigration officer and they might make a different decision.
It sounds like you followed the golden rule of exiting on the same passport as you entered (Thailand). But when you cross into a neighboring country, they will sometimes look at where you came from and see if you have an exit stamp from there.
You did the right thing. Immigration officers are people you shouldn't argue with: only explain and comply. Or accept being sent back.
jafo said:Has happened to me numerous times, so I learned to circumvent it. No use in arguing with border agents. They don't possess the tools to understand anything.
*The Solution*: If I am NOT mistaken, Argentina, Australia, Cuba (nice place but stay in resorts only) Israel, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore do NOT stamp passports AT ALL. Depending on where I am going, I use one of them as "springboard".
Thank you, this is very helpful. Some banks ask for a visa in your passport that you bank with. It is annoying to have to travel far all the time to change your passport.
Your local print office can easily create a stamp for you
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