Relocation to Siem Reap

Hello Arthur L Howard,

Welcome to Expat.com 😀

Your discussion has been moved to the Siem Reap forum, so you can more easily connect with people living there.

Cheers,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

@Cheryl

Thank you 🤗

@Arthur L Howard Hi! I would consider Angkor CBD Inn for a place to stay while you sort things out. You can find them on google maps. The location is very nice for downtown access. The manager also will assist you with retirement visa extensions if you like. I stayed there long term a few times. Very nice place. The area is Wat Damnak so lots of nice restaurant choices and coffee shops. Check it out on google maps.

@mpmilestogo

Thanks, I will check it  out and any other input or information including health care options appreciated also especially  since you seem to be a seasoned expat there. 🤗

Don't know about seasoned. I would do this though. I would have two US checking accounts established before you leave and link them so you can transfer funds between. Perhaps one would be Charles Schwab. The other should not be Bank of America.  Also be sure to understand how social security works if you live in Cambodia. I would maintain social security in a US bank account and do money transfers to a Cambodian bank. Once you get the retirement extension get a Cambodian bank account. I use ABA. Other people use other banks.  You mentioned health insurance. You may want to look at Forte and AG Cambodia as options. A lot of people self insure here. I have gone once to the hospital here and paid $150 for an ankle injury. It included X-rays, medication, and a followup. My partner is khmer and she has a variety of health issues we deal with. Finally make sure you get the right visa when you enter Cambodia so you can extend it to the retirement extension. There's a whole host of minor things. Make sure your smart phone is unlocked so you can get a Cambodian sim card, find a decent VPN client you can use on your phone and tablet or laptop, maybe take a look at different Cambodian real estate websites and the marketplace here for different options for lodging. Decide how you want to receive banking alerts and verifications for your US banks.

It's a good idea to find a place first for a few weeks here. It takes 2 weeks or so to get the visa extension since the passport must be shipped back to Phnom Penh. If you start in Phnom Penh, you can get the extension in a few days. Kim is highly recommended for visa extensions.  If you want her contact info, PM me. If you wait and come here, be sure to get the visa extension underway soon after arrival since it does take a few weeks.

Thanks again for the info. andwhat is  the right visa to choose upon arival to enable me to apply for the retirement extention visa?

Choose the ordinary visa. It will cost a little more. There’s a thread here I think about getting the visa.  It’s all pretty easy. Be sure to have US dollars. think that’s all they take. Maybe it’s changed. Been awhile since I came in to Cambodia. Since 2022. Take care. All the preparation you do now will benefit you here.

@mpmilestogo

Cambodia entry visa's are one of the easiiest ones in the whole world.As i was looking into the Philippines for instance much more expensive and complicated.I keep coming back to Cambodia for a better fit especially the likes of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh in which presently my sights are on Siem Reap.