I am currently in the process of taking my Khmer-Australian niece with me to Australia.

Rookie mistake - I had her Aus passport all prepared but no exit visa (I did not know about this). I have read through the forum and will go to the Immigration Office today to apply for her exit visa. I am hoping I can get it express if I pay more money?

My next problem is this - When we tried to leave the country yesterday, they stamped my passport “departed” before they told me that my niece could not go. When they wouldn’t let my niece leave because of the exit visa, I stayed (did not depart).

Do you know what I should do? Should I just apply for another tourist visa? Should I get a visa extension? Or can I get an exit visa too? I’m worried they won’t let ME leave now. I have only been here on current (but now stamped departed) tourist visa for 5 days.

While you're in the immigration office asking about the exit visa for your niece, explain to them what happened and show them the 'departed' stamp in your passport.

I can't see that being a huge deal.

As far as expedited service for an exit visa, I'm not sure, but it wouldn't hurt to plead your case and ask.

Let us know how it works out, good luck.

Thanks so much Brody. Do you know if the immigration office is open today (Sunday)? I have been given conflicting information.

Hey OzGirl. Can't help with specifics,
but the few cases of similar mis-stamped passports, or not stamped, that i know about have all been fixed up no problems.
It should be OK - be direct, humble but dignified, and don't forget to smile.
Good luck.

I once came in through a land border, got a visa on arrival, but with all the border hassles i forgot to go to Arrivals and so did not get stamped in. One month later when i wanted to renew visa in phnom Penh i had no dramas - just a half hour at immigration sorting it out. No charge.

AustralianAunt wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 11:14 am Thanks so much Brody. Do you know if the immigration office is open today (Sunday)? I have been given conflicting information.

Closed on Sundays - opens 7:30am Monday according to their Google site.

However, it's worth a shot - 023 890 380

Haha yes closed today. I wasted money going there today but at least now I know where it is Will head there first thing tomorrow morning. Thanks so much to everyone for the help!

AustralianAunt wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 3:19 pm Haha yes closed today. I wasted money going there today

Ooofah....maybe PSD-Kiwi will split the tuk-tuk cost with you seeing as he sent you on a wild goose chase.

PSD-Kiwi wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 12:28 am

AustralianAunt wrote: ↑Sat Oct 05, 2019 11:13 pm Does anyone know if you can go to the office on a Sunday to apply for the exit visa?

Open

SternAAlbifrons wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 11:22 am be direct, humble but dignified, and don't forget to smile.

This is probably some of the best advice you could get with regard to dealing with Cambodians, hell probably when dealing with anyone around the world.

I know this and tell it to myself but my low tolerance for bureaucratic ineptitude always gets the better of me and ends up making my life more difficult than it otherwise would be, lol.

Good luck AustralianAunt and plan for some heavy traffic on the way there.

If she's Khmer/Australian why not just get her both passports? Then you don't have to worry about anything visa related now or when she comes back. Khmer passports can be issued within a matter of days and are very easy to get if all the relevant paperwork is in order.

Bubble T wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 4:00 pm If she's Khmer/Australian why not just get her both passports? Then you don't have to worry about anything visa related now or when she comes back. Khmer passports can be issued within a matter of days and are very easy to get if all the relevant paperwork is in order.

I haven’t looked into that but will do. I’m not sure how easy it will be for us at the moment, as her mother cannot read or write to complete the application forms, and as we came up to Phnom Penh in a rush from Sihanoukville yesterday, I don’t think she has her family book with her. Is the family book and birth certificate all we need?

Her father (my brother) is deceased which has made the whole Australian passport application process very difficult. Would that matter when applying for a Khmer passport?

Family book and birth certificate are all that's needed. The mother being illiterate is fine and not unusual, the people at the passport place can help with the forms.