Questions regarding upcoming Cambodian trip

[jimmie50]

10 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

Re later txt, if 3 on a bike, no insurer will pay out if there is an accident

I have no intentions of getting on any motorbike with anyone other than the driver.  I refuse to be more than a single passenger and will make that very clear to Cam.  I will also remind him...probably daily...that I am old and my bones or brittle.  I would rather get to our destination unscathed and in one piece versus as quick as possible.  

[jimmie50]

On 8/23/2026 at 8:53 AM, hank75 said:

You may want to try sending Cam a small amount just to ensure you have it properly set up, and that transfers can be made to your name or his. Receiving isn’t the problem, it’s ensuring that you can transfer remotely from your bank to WU, so don’t go to a physical outlet, try and do it all online.

So, WU says they do not have brick and mortar shops in Cambodia but have partnerships with several banks.  As it happens, their main partner is the same bank that Cam uses...ACLEDA.  I set up an account online with Western Union and was able to successfully send to Cam's bank account $50 USD using my debit card.  I should be able to send him money that way if I get in a situation where the ATM does not work or I have problems using my debit card there for some reason...or run low on cash.   To be honest, I was a little hesitant to send him money this way because up until now, he has never asked for anything.  Well, I should clarify that statement...we originally met at Hotmale and I was his client, so of course he asked for and received his fee and very generous tip.  But since the relationship changed from client to boyfriend, he has never asked for anything.  I hope this experiment doesn't start something I may regret later on down the road.  But, better to find out it will work in advance instead of waiting until I arrive in Cambodia and then have problems.  I also learned on my various trips to Thailand to have a secure VPN that allows me to appear from anywhere in the USA, as some of my accounts have enhanced security features that block access to their websites and accounts from overseas.  I assume it will be the same or even more so for Cambodia.   

[ShivRoy]

On 8/20/2026 at 9:41 PM, floridarob said:

What year was that?

circa 2016 or so

[floridarob]

54 minutes ago, ShivRoy said:

circa 2016 or so

I'm sure it's still not crazy expensive, but the world has gotten more expensive.and greedy 😔

[jimmie50]

Been busy trying to make sure I have all of the required documents that I will need on arrival in Cambodia to apply for the Retirement Visa.  I plan to apply online in advance for the 30-Day Ordinary E-Class Visa.  This is different from the routine tourist visa most people get on arrival.  Both in the books I have read and the online expat groups, this has been stressed to be sure it is the ‘Ordinary’ E-class…not the tourist VOA.  I had passport photos done yesterday, including a digital file.  The digital photo I need to submit online with the E-Visa application.  The hard copies will need to be sent with the application and documents to the Immigration Office in Phnom Penh.  I also have letters from Social Security and the pension board in California verifying that I am, in fact, fully retired and what my monthly income is.  I obtained a criminal background check from the local police department.  The only document I am lacking is the Health Certificate, which I can obtain in Siem Reap once I have arrived there.  I plan on using a local visa agency and they will make the arrangements for the Health Certificate.  If any of the documents need to be translated into Khmer, the agency will also take care of that for me.  In total I will probably spend around $600.  The initial fee for the 30-Day Ordinary E-Class Visa is $30 and can actually be paid online via credit card.  The fee to convert the visa into an ER retirement extension will run around $300.  The visa agency in Siem Reap will charge anywhere from $100-200, depending on what else they need to do in the way of documentation.  I am assuming this will all need to be paid in cash, so will carry enough large bills to handle these expenses.  Somewhat nervous about handing over my passport to the visa agency to send to Phnom Penh, but I am told this is a fairly routine procedure.  Will have a photo copy of the passport to keep with me as well as digital and hard copies of everything.

If anyone has been through this before and is aware of anything I may be missing, please let me know.  Cam is not much help with this stuff as he does not really know how it works.  He will only be helpful once I am there and need assistance with communication.

[jimmie50]

Well, the short break has ended and Cam is back working on the fence project.  On Monday they cleared the area around the back of the property where the back wall will go.  Tuesday they started digging for the footer.  Cam has placed the order for more supplies.  They have plenty of brick to complete the entire project, but he needed to order more steel rods, concrete, sand and gravel.  He also had to order the netting that will go above the brick portion of the fence.  He calls it netting…I refer to it as wire mesh.  To be honest, until they actually have it, start to install, and then he sends me photos I really am not sure what it is.  They plan to build some sort of gate for the back wall to allow for access from that side.  I assume it will be wood, but he hasn’t said other than they plan to make it…not order it.

I finally discovered why he always refers to money in USD and Baht…never Riel.  During our video chat yesterday he was telling me they will probably spend an additional $500 to finish the fence project.  He then was talking about the new house.  He said they would probably hire two or three local people to help when they start construction on the house as it will be too much work for just the three of them (Cam, his father, and his brother).  Other family members will be able to help from time to time, but they have families and jobs.  He mentioned they would pay them daily and would not need them every day.  He mentioned a dollar amount they planned to pay and I asked him if that was in Riel.  He laughed and said he never uses Riel when talking to me about money because I don’t know anything about its value or exchange rate.  He always uses USD or Baht so I will understand.  LOL.  So it has been for my benefit.  Such a sweetheart!   

[bkkmfj2648]

10 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

Been busy trying to make sure I have all of the required documents that I will need on arrival in Cambodia to apply for the Retirement Visa. 

Thanks for documenting this process for us.

This is one area that I wish our forum had more information about = what is required in country X to retire in and how was forum member's said experience.

I find it very useful instead of trying to be a pioneer and to go it alone.

Yes, there are tons of Youtube videos out there about this topic for many countries - but it is very rare to find this information from a gay retiree perspective with feet on the ground experience.

That is why I painstakenly documented my "trying to live as an elderly gay retiree in country X" experience last year in the Vietnam and Philippines sub-forums last year.