Visa Run To Penang Jan 21, 2007

[coguard]

My Real Life Experience in a Penang VISA run

I arrived in Thailand, like a lot of other people, with a 30 day VOA. With my expiration date looming in the near future, I finally did some research, and with the incredible help of people like Lopburi and others, I thought I understood the Thai laws when it came to various Visa types.

So, off to Penang I went. Having poured over all the advice in Thaivisa.com, I used the services of NJBookCentre on Chulia Street. The purpose of this letter is to alert others like me what the difference is between the Thai law, and what really happens in Penang. Also, I have a few comments about the service of NJBookCenter that might change your mind about using them.

First of all, it doesn't matter one iota what the Thailand Government issues for rules and regulations – the Consular office in Penang doesn't give a ###### – they have their own rules, and NO ONE is going to change them. Okay, I can accept that – I have spent over 15 years traveling the world, and I understand the concept of "fiefdom". I can play by anybody's rules, as long as I know what those rules are. Here is how it went:

I flew to Penang, fully prepared with a TON of paperwork and documentation from the U.S. Embassy, the Bangkok Bank, and my own bank in the U.S. – all attesting to the fact that I have more than sufficient income and cash assets to meet the requirements of a Non-Immigrant O Visa. I also meet the requirements for a Non-Immigrant Type O-A Visa. I was met at the airport, with my name clearly posted, by one of the three brothers (or so I believe to be true), who perform the Visa agency services at NJ. He was very polite, I showed him ALL of the documentation that I had, I told him my age, and showed him my passport. I told him that it was extremely important to me to be sure to get a Non Immigrant O Visa, which I would later convert to a Non Immigrant O-A Visa in Bangkok, (for a fee, of course). He said he understood perfectly, and that I had MORE than sufficient documentation to get the O Visa. I came prepared with formal attire to make a personal presentation to the consul officer – NJ (that is his nickname), absolutely INSISTED that it would be totally unnecessary for me to appear before the consul. He was adamant that there was ABSOLUTELY no question tat I would receive an O Visa, that I should just go to my guesthouse, chill out, and return at 2:30 the next day to get my new O Visa.

I went and got a motel room, took a much needed shower and nap, and then decided that I needed a cold beer, and some English conversation, along with some food. I walked down the street until I came to this great looking, clean, backpacker's guesthouse and restaurant/bar, named the Banana Guesthouse. I went inside and had a few cold beers, in a nice, air conditioned, comfortable environment. While there, I met the owners, named Eddy and Lily, a Chinese/Malaysian couple who speak perfectly fluent English. As it turns out, they were also in the business of being Visa agents, and we started trading stories. Eddy and Lily were incredibly wonderful people, full of knowledge, and extremely courteous to everyone. They also served food at reasonable prices, and their newly renovated guesthouse had rooms to accommodate everyone's taste, and pocket book. I might also mention that they have FREE Wi-Fi high speed Internet access throughout their entire facility, including inside every room.

Eddy and Lily are the ones who told me about how the Penang Embassy had their own set of rules, and they also doubted that I would get an O Visa, which prompted me to later return to the NJBookCentre to get the real scoop. After talking to Eddy and Lily for several hours, I got a little nervous about the promises that had been made to me by the NJBookCentre, so I left the Banana Guest house, (but not without reserving a room there for the rest of my stay), and returned to the NJBookCentre, just to kind of see what went on.

I sat at NJ, out of the way, and listened to the three brothers greet each customer very cordially, take all their paperwork, and tell them to return tomorrow, or the next day, if it was after 12:00 noon. BTW: The rules in Penang are: The Embassy only accepts applications from 9 am until 12 noon. They issue new Visas from 2:30 until closing – no exceptions. So, if you get to Penang well before noon on one day, you can be sure to have your paperwork in hand, and be on the evening flight back to Bangkok the next day, (if you are in a hurry to get back). After listening for several hours, it soon became clear to me that two of the brothers were telling clients one story, and the third brother was telling a completely different story. It turns out that the third, (and quiet) brother, really KNOWS what is going on at the Embassy. When he was free, I talked to him for a while, explained my situation, and he promptly, but politely informed me that there was NO WAY I was going to get an O type Visa. He said he was aware that I was entitled to one, but the Penang Embassy has their own rules, and here they are:

1) NO ONE gets an O type Visa unless they have had one in the past,

2) In Penang, you must be 55 or older, even though Thai law says 50 or older to get an O Visa, even if you have had one in the past, and

3) NO ONE gets inside the Embassy for a personal interview with a Consul Officer –period.

This kind of shook me up, and I listened as he argued with his brother, who had made all these promises to me to get me an O Visa. Finally, I decided to leave, and to at least TRY to talk to an Embassy Consul, rather than to have gone al the way to Penang, and not tried at all. So, first thing the next morning, I dressed up all fancy, went to the Embassy, and sure enough, even though I was polite, greeted them in Pasay Thai, dressed well, and had all my paperwork, it didn't matter – Embassy POLICY is that no farangs are granted interviews – period. They also confirmed what the third brother told me, and what I have listed above as the Penang Embassy rules. I have learned that you NEVER argue with a foreign government official, especially when they have your passport and Visa in their possession, when you are on their "turf", and when you want to enter their country. If you don't care about going back, you can always take the chance of arguing, but I had to return to Thailand, and I wasn't about to jeopardize my chances by being anything but perfectly polite, so I thanked him, and left.

Later that day, at about 1:30, I went back to NJBookCentre, just to see what they would say. NJ, (real name Haji), had invited me to go with him to the Embassy, to see if I could get an interview. Once again, his brother correctly informed him that it was a total waste of time – interviews are not granted – at least, not unless you are willing to start screaming and shouting, which I was not about to do. So, I just waited, and sure enough, promptly at 2:15, I was given my passport, complete with my 60 day tourist Visa. I had already paid for ALL of my services from NJ, which included the 30 ringgit transportation charge to get a ride BACK to the airport on Friday, which I confirmed with NJ. "No problem", he said, "just be here at 2:00". So, off I went back to the Banana Guest House, for more beers, more pleasant conversation, more food, and free Internet Access.

The next day, Friday, I was at the NJBookCentre promptly at 1:50 p.m. – guess what – they were locked up tight!!! Turns out, Friday afternoon is prayer time for Muslims. Unfortunately, Air Asia doesn't much care about that, and they weren't about to hold my flight until prayer time was over, so I had to pay, again, another 30 ringgit, to take a taxi to the airport. I might mention here that one of the posts on Thaivisa.com recommended using NJ for transportation, as the local taxis tend to be more expensive – however, NJ charged me EXACTLY the same fare as a taxi – the only difference was that NJ never showed up to take me to the airport at all, so I paid twice for the same ride!!

Now that I am back in the LOS, I just have to spend more time at the Bangkok Immigration Office, (or so I believe), to get my Tourist Visa converted, for a price, to a Non Immigrant O Visa – I hope that this is true. At least, this is what I understand from reading the posts on Thaivisa.com. If anyone can give me some advice on this next step, I would appreciate it.

What did I learn – if ALL you want is a 60 day tourist Visa and nothing else, then NJ can fill your needs. However, if you are like most people, you are also going to want to get a decent place to stay, some good food, good conversation, and maybe even check your email. BTW: The Banana Guest House doesn't YET have their own public PC's, I watched as Eddy and Lily passed out to their customers, free of charge, Lily's brand new Sony Vaio Laptop, so everyone could check their email!! They plan to get some desktop PC's and set them up for free use. IMHO, if you want to go to Penang, and have a totally hassle free experience, then go to the Banana Guest House – they have EVERYTHING you are going to need, they tell the truth, and they are incredibly nice people. Their email address is: [email protected], and they even have a Website: www.banananewguesthouse.com. I couldn't give anyone a higher recommendation, and I want to thank them for all of their help and advice.

[lopburi3]

Believe there were a lot of misunderstandings starting with Penang status - it is a Royal Thai Consulate.

The criteria for issue of a non immigrant O visa is normally to visit family. If you want to retire you obtain an O-A visa in your home country prior to arrival. If you want to check out the situation first you provide that as a reason to issue a non immigrant O visa in your home country (which may or may not work). Penang used to be a local exception is that they would issue a non immigrant O visa for those of retirement age if they showed bank accounts (even multi entry). These days most seem to just obtain what you have, a tourist visa, and make the change at Immigration at the 2,000 baht fee. And then go on to extend for retirement.

[BronzeRider]

coguard

NJ is full of it. There is no 'agent' who has an inside connection to an embassy or consulate. The agents will say they can get you your needed visa for extra money - sometimes 800 baht. But the agents have no 'pull'. If the Thai consulate grants the visa, the agent collects an extra 800 baht, if the consulate does not grant the visa the agent gives you back the 800 baht. The results would be the same if you were to apply in person saving you the so called 'inside contact' fee.

The use of agents is so that you don't have to personally visit the consulate. The cost in peanag is around 150 baht for this service.

It's easy, but don't be fooled by NJ or others.

Your recommendation for banana guest house should be noted and I will also suggest Crystal Guest House (Mr. Lo) -- a very straight talker. I've know him for 15 years.

BR

[aussiestyle1983]

Great post. Penang was the last place you should of gone to get a non o. Singapore is very good in issuing non o's and KL is a half chance as well, but for a non o, penang is a no no.

If I ever go to Penang for a tourist visa (and I never will anyway) ill take your advice and stay away from NJ's.....

[Jim Abbott]

rofl, great story, I enjoyed it. Tripping it to Penang to grab a non o? LOL, everyone knows that's the last place to go for that. Blaming it on NJ Books? double LOL. Went to consulate greeting them in "Pasay Thai and dressed well" thinking they would make an exception for you? triple LOL. Got burned for taxi fare from NJ? quad LOL.

So you suffered all this "hardship" and you come here to bash the good dudes at NJ Books who have served me greatly many times. You say they charge 30 rinngies for taxi which is total bullshit. You stay at a fleabag guesthouse who allowed you to use their Sony laptop cause u r too lazy or cheap to go to a net cafe and then you tout the services of this roach/rat infested hostel.

I recommend that all good people go to Penang and use the great NJ Book service and stay in 4 star hotels while using dirt cheap net cafes to check emails. The OP got burned because the OP was a fool

[Jingthing]

The OP is a new user. I don't think it is right to personally insult him. He has provided a very detailed subjective report about his experiences and opinions in Penang. This will be useful to some. We are adults here; we can sift out subjective reports and come to our own conclusions.

[mopenyang]

rofl, great story, I enjoyed it. Tripping it to Penang to grab a non o? LOL, everyone knows that's the last place to go for that. Blaming it on NJ Books? double LOL. Went to consulate greeting them in "Pasay Thai and dressed well" thinking they would make an exception for you? triple LOL. Got burned for taxi fare from NJ? quad LOL.

So you suffered all this "hardship" and you come here to bash the good dudes at NJ Books who have served me greatly many times. You say they charge 30 rinngies for taxi which is total bullshit. You stay at a fleabag guesthouse who allowed you to use their Sony laptop cause u r too lazy or cheap to go to a net cafe and then you tout the services of this roach/rat infested hostel.

I recommend that all good people go to Penang and use the great NJ Book service and stay in 4 star hotels while using dirt cheap net cafes to check emails. The OP got burned because the OP was a fool

The unwarranted attack in your last sentence alone would be enough for me to avoid them. And I will should I ever have to go there.

[DFCarlson]

I recommend that all good people go to Penang and use the great NJ Book service and stay in 4 star hotels while using dirt cheap net cafes to check emails. The OP got burned because the OP was a fool

The quality of any recommendation depends on the reputation of the person doing the recommending.

Based on this unwarranted attack on the OP I think I would avoid anything recommended by "Jim Abbott" like the plague!

[coguard]

rofl, great story, I enjoyed it. Tripping it to Penang to grab a non o? LOL, everyone knows that's the last place to go for that. Blaming it on NJ Books? double LOL. Went to consulate greeting them in "Pasay Thai and dressed well" thinking they would make an exception for you? triple LOL. Got burned for taxi fare from NJ? quad LOL.

So you suffered all this "hardship" and you come here to bash the good dudes at NJ Books who have served me greatly many times. You say they charge 30 rinngies for taxi which is total bullshit. You stay at a fleabag guesthouse who allowed you to use their Sony laptop cause u r too lazy or cheap to go to a net cafe and then you tout the services of this roach/rat infested hostel.

I recommend that all good people go to Penang and use the great NJ Book service and stay in 4 star hotels while using dirt cheap net cafes to check emails. The OP got burned because the OP was a fool

Mr. Abbott,

I fully admitted in all of my previouse posts that I was new at this. I took the good advice of helpful people like Lopburi, and went to Penang prepared for whatever might be necessary. I was specifically advised to bring a decent set of clothes, and to ask for an interview with a consular officer. I don't understand your attacks on me, when all I was doing was following the advice of more experienced persons, like Lopburi.

As for your comment:

"" You stay at a fleabag guesthouse who allowed you to use their Sony laptop cause u r too lazy or cheap to go to a net cafe and then you tout the services of this roach/rat infested hostel"""

I don't know what the Banana Guesthouse MAY have been before, but the room I stayed in was definetely NOT a fleabag room -in fact, the entire Guesthouse had just been compleltely rennovated. As for your comments about the laptop, I brought my own laptop with me- I only made this comment to show the courtesy extended by the owners to OTHER clients.

I really don't understand your abuse at all. I thought this forum had rules about bashing other people - not everyone can be an expert in all things - that is why we have forums - to share knowledge and experience.

As for paying the 30 "rinngies" to NJ for transportation, not only is my comment true, but I have the reciept from NJ to prove it - in fact, I paid in Thai Baht, 300 Baht for each trip, or 600 Baht round trip.

I notice from the other posters, thankfully, that most people understand that I was trying to be helpful.

coguard

[lordsux]

rofl, great story, I enjoyed it. Tripping it to Penang to grab a non o? LOL, everyone knows that's the last place to go for that. Blaming it on NJ Books? double LOL. Went to consulate greeting them in "Pasay Thai and dressed well" thinking they would make an exception for you? triple LOL. Got burned for taxi fare from NJ? quad LOL.

So you suffered all this "hardship" and you come here to bash the good dudes at NJ Books who have served me greatly many times. You say they charge 30 rinngies for taxi which is total bullshit. You stay at a fleabag guesthouse who allowed you to use their Sony laptop cause u r too lazy or cheap to go to a net cafe and then you tout the services of this roach/rat infested hostel.

I recommend that all good people go to Penang and use the great NJ Book service and stay in 4 star hotels while using dirt cheap net cafes to check emails. The OP got burned because the OP was a fool

Jim Abbott

Member

**

Group: Members

Posts: 15

Joined: 2006-09-12

From: Flint, Michigan

Member No.: 34,502

I wanna be like you

[hotgeekus]

My friend, on this website, I share your experience. I like you am new to this 'stuff' and have not been doing visa runs for 1-3-5-10 years.

I too got flamed for my comments, calling it an embassy instead of a consulate, etc.

Don't let it get to you. The negative comments show why Thailand has strengthened its rules regarding this. People come to LOS and expect whatever they want for the least amount of money that they can not have in their own country. While I would avoid Penang due to the 'view' that it is the quickest and fastest place, I appreciate your comments....

[aussiestyle1983]

rofl, great story, I enjoyed it. Tripping it to Penang to grab a non o? LOL, everyone knows that's the last place to go for that. Blaming it on NJ Books? double LOL. Went to consulate greeting them in "Pasay Thai and dressed well" thinking they would make an exception for you? triple LOL. Got burned for taxi fare from NJ? quad LOL.

So you suffered all this "hardship" and you come here to bash the good dudes at NJ Books who have served me greatly many times. You say they charge 30 rinngies for taxi which is total bullshit. You stay at a fleabag guesthouse who allowed you to use their Sony laptop cause u r too lazy or cheap to go to a net cafe and then you tout the services of this roach/rat infested hostel.

I recommend that all good people go to Penang and use the great NJ Book service and stay in 4 star hotels while using dirt cheap net cafes to check emails. The OP got burned because the OP was a fool

Mr. Abbott,

I fully admitted in all of my previouse posts that I was new at this. I took the good advice of helpful people like Lopburi, and went to Penang prepared for whatever might be necessary. I was specifically advised to bring a decent set of clothes, and to ask for an interview with a consular officer. I don't understand your attacks on me, when all I was doing was following the advice of more experienced persons, like Lopburi.

As for your comment:

"" You stay at a fleabag guesthouse who allowed you to use their Sony laptop cause u r too lazy or cheap to go to a net cafe and then you tout the services of this roach/rat infested hostel"""

I don't know what the Banana Guesthouse MAY have been before, but the room I stayed in was definetely NOT a fleabag room -in fact, the entire Guesthouse had just been compleltely rennovated. As for your comments about the laptop, I brought my own laptop with me- I only made this comment to show the courtesy extended by the owners to OTHER clients.

I really don't understand your abuse at all. I thought this forum had rules about bashing other people - not everyone can be an expert in all things - that is why we have forums - to share knowledge and experience.

As for paying the 30 "rinngies" to NJ for transportation, not only is my comment true, but I have the reciept from NJ to prove it - in fact, I paid in Thai Baht, 300 Baht for each trip, or 600 Baht round trip.

I notice from the other posters, thankfully, that most people understand that I was trying to be helpful.

coguard

Don't worry about Abbott's comments mate, he's just a troll.

Your story will help many others avoid going to Penang for a non O so really you have helped many others from wasting their time and money.

[naka]

rofl, great story, I enjoyed it. Tripping it to Penang to grab a non o? LOL, everyone knows that's the last place to go for that. Blaming it on NJ Books? double LOL. Went to consulate greeting them in "Pasay Thai and dressed well" thinking they would make an exception for you? triple LOL. Got burned for taxi fare from NJ? quad LOL.

So you suffered all this "hardship" and you come here to bash the good dudes at NJ Books who have served me greatly many times. You say they charge 30 rinngies for taxi which is total bullshit. You stay at a fleabag guesthouse who allowed you to use their Sony laptop cause u r too lazy or cheap to go to a net cafe and then you tout the services of this roach/rat infested hostel.

I recommend that all good people go to Penang and use the great NJ Book service and stay in 4 star hotels while using dirt cheap net cafes to check emails. The OP got burned because the OP was a fool

The OP did not sound like a fool ... But you do !

Naka.

[tropo]

I recommend that all good people go to Penang and use the great NJ Book service and stay in 4 star hotels while using dirt cheap net cafes to check emails. The OP got burned because the OP was a fool

I was considering using NJ Book service for my next visa run, but after your recommendation I shall avoid them. On my last visit I stayed 4 star, but shall be considering Banana Guesthouse for my next run.

Coguard, is there any chance you could include some details about the Banana guesthouse i.e. their location, prices etc.

[PeaceBlondie]

My daughter just asked what stamps are in my current passport. Let's see...here's one of the first stamps: a non-immigrant O visa, dated November 2005, issued by.....Thai Consulate, Penang. I took Lopburi's advice, and everything worked out just as he said, for me to get an O that could be converted to a retirement O when I returned to Thailand, which is just what happened.

Of course, that was 14 very long months ago. Things have changed. Penang went from being a very convenient place to get a good visa, to one of those places in SEAsia where nothing's easy anymore. The folks in Penang had to change their tune to Tina Turner's: "We never do anything nice and easy."

[PREM-R]

I recommend that all good people go to Penang and use the great NJ Book service and stay in 4 star hotels while using dirt cheap net cafes to check emails. The OP got burned because the OP was a fool

I was considering using NJ Book service for my next visa run, but after your recommendation I shall avoid them. On my last visit I stayed 4 star, but shall be considering Banana Guesthouse for my next run.

Coguard, is there any chance you could include some details about the Banana guesthouse i.e. their location, prices etc.

The OP gave this link which gives prices in Ringgits but there does not seem to be a map.

website.