Be aware of Cambodian Immigration

Finally I boarded the tiny Silkair plane from Changi at 7.45am. I was so excited, could not sleep the whole night to witness the magnificent ruins in Angkor Wat, experience the warmth and hospitality of the Khmers and the 20 minute massage promised by Golden Temple Villa on our arrival in Siem Reap. Soon as we took off I was not sure of getting there as the turbulent winds kept rocking the tiny fly that was carrying us. For a moment I distracted myself with “Butt the Hoopoe”, the magical mechanical bird that takes you between two very different worlds, in the fantasy novel, “Haroun and the sea of stories” by Salman Rushdie. The Silkair flight was far from an ordinary one, making all sorts of noises and jerking all the way. It was like an old CTB bus ride. The safety demonstration was shown twice (result of a technical fault) almost as if we were going to use them. Nevertheless I buried myself in Lonely Planet, occasionally staring at the morning clouds. The journey to Phnom Penh took more than the specified duration of 55 minutes attributing partly to the delayed take off.

From the sky, Cambodia looks a dryland, although you can see many paddy fields. So we were finally close to our dream tour. Two months of planning, discussing, researching places to visit were all about to come true. It was 9 am when we reached Phnom Penh. The air port was at the other end of the spectrum compared to Changi. I upped my hopes even higher – less sophistication, under development, are all good signs of great exploration. We carried the necessary documents as per the Ministry of Tourism (

www.mot.gov.kh/presentation.php?CoID=10) in Cambodia. Soon as I handed over the passports they came up with a zillion questions. Do I have a Cambodian sponsor? (I thought he was kidding!) Do I have a letter from the Sri Lankan Govt? Think about it, why the f*** would the SL govt give an assurance on a person who wants to backpack among some god forsaken temple ruins? Besides that, does the Cambodian immigration office think the SL govt. is jobless to make such an effort?

So we tried explaining the procedure according to their ministry website, which was not even considered. Within the first five minutes we were told that we have to go back immediately. We called the Cambodian lady whom we met at Changi, who operates a hotel in Siem Reap (and was generous to offer a 2 dollar discount on the hotel rate, if we decide to stay at her place) to explain to the authorities. The Officer in charge went on for five minutes in Khmer about Sri Lanka, after which she said nothing could be done for us and very politely apologized. It was almost as if he did not want Sri Lankans to visit Cambodia.

While we were trying to explain things to them, they took our baggage and started checking it in. We were left helpless and our pleas to contact their ministry of tourism, the Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Singapore, were all discarded. We were treated like criminals in front of everyone there, including the other passengers. The only thing they did not do, was hand cuff us. Our humiliation, embarrassment and disappointment were taller than the highest temple of Angkor Wat and gloomier than the time of the Khmer Rouge rein, at least for us! At 10 a.m. we were back, sitting in the tail end of the return Silkair flight to Changi, without our passports. We were treated badly by the Silkair crew (the airline of our choice!) – I could not believe they were trained by Singapore Airlines – apparently the world’s favorite airline, with the best managed brand image. I have since changed my perception!

When we returned to Changi, we were escorted by a Singapore immigration officer who first listened to what we had to say. After carefully listening, he told us to take a seat in a special lounge while some checking was going on. Within ten minutes he returned our passports and told us the futility of trying to do anything with the Cambodian authorities as it could well ruin our future traveling to other countries. He was really a nice guy, not because he gave our travel documents back – but because he could differentiate between a genuine case and a fraud. Both our passports had multiple entries to other regional countries much better than Cambodia in many ways. In our case, the last place to run away and hide, would be Cambodia.

The loss due to this horror is not just 100% financial. The stress and emotional trauma can not be calculated. All the dreaming and time taken too, should be added. I believe, if you are carrying a South Asian passport, you are at the risk of being refused entry in to another country. Especially, at destinations like Cambodia.

There are three points I want to emphasize on; Firstly, systems between ministries and co-ordination must be carefully designed. I know two others who want to visit Cambodia early next year and I would discourage them from doing so. There is no way I am going to let two of my friends go thru this humiliation. Secondly, the airline concerned, Silkair (along with Singapore Airlines) should not have let us board the plane without all necessary documentation. Airlines have better access to information with regard to visas and travel than any of us. Thirdly, travel guides such as Lonely Planet, could give half-baked info with regard to traveling, so do not trust them completely.

Be aware of Cambodian Immigration

Silentdog - what an awful experience -

do keep us posted as to what was the reason you were not allowed to enter Cambodia - I have never heard of anything like this before.

We had the most wonderful time in Cambodia and are already planning a return visit in 2010

I hope you can get to the bottom of all this

Helen

Be aware of Cambodian Immigration

Unfortunate, but looks like you did not do your homework about the visa. In a simple google search that took less than a minute, I found the following information.

Sri Lanka passport holders are required to have the following documentation in order to get a visa, and it seems like Sri Lanka passport holders must get a visa in advance. http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/e-visa/vindex.aspx

www.recambodia.net/visa-requirements.php

Applicants from Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Sudan must provide the following:

Letter of Sponsor from his/her company, local NGO or from any Travel Agent, or school if he/she is a student

Return air ticket to and from Cambodia

Two passport-sized photographs (please affix a photograph on each form)

Passport (validity for 6 months from departure date for Cambodia)

All applicants from Sri Lanka must provide the following:

Letter of sponsor from the embassy of Sri Lanka

Return air ticket to and from Cambodia

Two passport-sized photographs (please affix a photograph on each form)

Passport (validity for 6 months from departure date for Cambodia)

excepted they are employed by the UN, IMF,WORLD BANK, ADB and others International Organisation .

Silentdog , you wrote a flowery message full of detail about your flight , but , you failed to give the reason for your admission to Cambodia . It is not up to the airways to do your job for you in regard to ALL entry stipulations for entry into a foreign land .

I feel sorry for your trials and tribulations , but as in another post , it took but 5 minutes to find ALL of the information and documation that were and are required for tourists from your country to enter the kingdom of Cambodia . It would be unfair and rather childish of you to turn other possible tourist to Cambodia off due to your own negligence , please reconsider this .

Have a nice day .

Not a nice experience for you, but unfortunately it could have been avoided had the correct procedures been followed.

As the above posters have said, sri lankan nationals have to obtain a visa from their own country, and do not qualify to use an evisa or obtaining one on arrival.

Obiously there is a problem in that you were able to obtain an evisa, but it does clearly say on the front page of the evisa site that sri lankan%26#39;s (amongst others) are not supported.

Again, it is unfortunate that your airline treated with you some contempt on your return flight, but, if it is anything like the uk, then it is the passengers responsibility to make sure their documentation - passports, visas etc are all in place. For example, most countries tell you that there has to be a min of 6 months on your passport on your return, some people are able to get on planes with this, but get turned away when they reach their destination

Whilst I feel for you, it could have so easily been prevented. i do hope that in the future you are able to make the trip, with the appropriate visas in place first!

Amen. Totally agree.

Also, highlights the grain of salt everyone should give one-post new members who seemingly join TA just blast something or to promote something (like a driver).

This really gives bad image about Cambodia, but other countries would do the exact same thing.

Everyone just takes it for granted that Airlines Companies are obliged to warn them about the visa or re-entry thing, but that warning thing is not stiuplated or required by law anywhere.

I feel bad for those who are treated unfairly because of their natinalities. But it is the only way they can tighten security in their countries.

I can%26#39;t believe people actually expect anyone to check other sites when the Cambodian Tourism Authority site was the source for visa info! If the authority can%26#39;t get it right,who else is expected to?

The Tourism Authority is SUPPOSED to provide ALL nec info for ALL countries! I checked the site and as silentdog said,there is NO indication of any special requirements for S Lankans!

Also,I have seen enough times,people who did not have a visa/relevant visa requirements,being refused at check-in counters,by airline staff.So how come this airline failed to inform/prevent this from happening?

I travel a lot,and I keep thinking,';wow! what if this happened to me instead!And Cambodia was sched for Jan 09! Ofcourse,I am changing the destination!

I am curios,why were these airlines silentdog%26#39;s favourite airlines? I have used them both,once each and was not at all impressed! There are MUCH better birds out there,and much cheaper too! Don%26#39;t believe the very costly ads!I assume thats where you got the idea they are the best airline,eh,silentdog?

I can%26#39;t believe people actually expect anyone to check other sites when the Cambodian Tourism Authority site was the source for visa info! If the authority can%26#39;t get it right,who else is expected to?

The Tourism Authority is SUPPOSED to provide ALL nec info for ALL countries! I checked the site and as silentdog said,there is NO indication of any special requirements for S Lankans!

Also,I have seen enough times,people who did not have a visa/relevant visa requirements,being refused at check-in counters,by airline staff.So how come this airline failed to inform/prevent this from happening?

I travel a lot,and I keep thinking,';wow! what if this happened to me instead!And Cambodia was sched for Jan 09! Ofcourse,I am changing the destination!

I am curios,why were these airlines silentdog%26#39;s favourite airlines? I have used them both,once each and was not at all impressed! There are MUCH better birds out there,and much cheaper too! Don%26#39;t believe the very costly ads!I assume thats where you got the idea they are the best airline,eh,silentdog?

I checked the government site and it states you have to apply in person at a Cambodian Embassy or you can apply via e-visa , but that states an e-visa does not apply to Sri-lankans .

Airlines can ask to see a return ticket because they are responsible for your repatriation if entry is refused , a visa is not their concern .

A visa gives you only the right to %26#39;Knock on the door %26#39;so to speak , actual entry is entirely up to the immigration official on arrival , they do not neccessarily need to give a reason for refusal of entry .

Personally , i found Phnom Penh airport immigration staff to be the most polite of all places i have travelled to , and customs are a travellers dream .