Penang Visa Run Report

[cacahootie]

When I was looking prior to my trip, there didn't seem to be any super-recent trip reports to Penang for Tourist Visa run.  My case: US Passport, 7 visa exempt entries over the past 3 years.  In April this year, I did a one-day out & back by air to HCMC Vietnam in an attempt to get another visa exempt entry.  Was taken aside and given the special treatment.  I explained that my Thai girlfriend was waiting to get a passport so she could travel with me... and I somewhat stupidly told the IO that I was a software engineer that worked on the internet (admitting to working in Thailand).  Curiously this was like the magic ticket, and he just told me to get a visa next time, didn't ask for the 20k which I didn't have in my pocket.  So... for my first trip I went to Vientiane because I was already in Isaan and it is known to be very easy.  That was a rather uneventful trip and the situation matched the previous reports, so no update required.  Only thing to note is that I stayed at Muong Thong hotel right near the consulate, which I recommend for convenience sake.

 

So, August 27th was my get out of dodge date.  I flew DMK - Penang on AirAsia, got in Sunday afternoon.  Stayed at Le Dream hotel (which I highly recommend if it's in your price bracket, ~$60US per night and great place).  Monday morning I took a 9 ringgit Uber to the Thai Consulate, ended up at the gate about 10 mins before open and it was pouring buckets.  Huddled under the infamous Minivan-across-the-street's tailgate and chatted with him.  He told me return ticket required, and inquired if I needed one (which I did not, as my original round trip ticket from the USA happened to fall on Oct 13th).  I darted across the street and got in line when it became clear it wasn't a 5 minute downpour.

 

A word to the wise - where Vientiane has a very orderly queue process, Penang is a cluster****.  There's no orderly line, the signs don't match the window functions, and people don't seem to respect the concept of an orderly queue.  The windows opened about 15 minutes late, and there's a mad dash to get a queue number.  I already had my application form printed/filled, so I waved off the form offered and retired with #27 to await my number to be called.  Stupid me - the numbers are purely 100% an index for picking up your completed passport.  You will never queue in line according to these numbers as you do in Vientiane.  Luckily someone in line took pity on me and waved me in, having seen me with the huddled (uninformed) masses off to the side since the start.

 

When I got to the window, it was a quick process.  Handed my 2 photos, passport and application to the agent.  He asked for flight ticket, which I had in my binder.  Did not ask for proof of funds or anything else, like 10 days hotel.  Paid my 150 ringgit at this time (not on pickup like with Vientiane), and was on my way.  All told, it took me 45 minutes that morning.  I went off and enjoyed some Ais Kopi and Mee Goreng.

 

The next afternoon (Tuesday) I returned with another 9 ringgit Uber about 10 minutes before 2PM.  Again, the huddled mass did not resemble a line in any way.  Again, I was stupid and expected my number to be meaningful, which it was not.  Got in line and waited when I realized the reality of the situation and picked up my completed passport and visa.  Of note... a guy the previous day in line near me did not have a return ticket worked out and was hoping it would not be necessary.  He handed in his application and such and was directed to bring air ticket the next day; they made a note on his retrieval slip to that effect.  He had it folded up in his pocket and was hoping not to have to show it, but they did in fact ask for it and they kept it.  So the moral is maybe you'll be able to submit your application without air ticket, but they will request it when you pick it up, so just have it ready the first time around so you don't have to scramble.

 

Now we come to my mistake (though not critical).  Given my negative experience and Swampy, I planned to cross at a land border, and I booked a Weds afternoon ticket from Hat Yai to BKK on Thai Smile (16:25).  I took an 8:30 minibus from Penang.  I didn't really think this through though because while I knew Sadao was to be avoided, that's exactly where the minibus crosses.  D'oh.  To add insult to injury, Thursday and Friday were Malay holidays, so everybody was traveling to Thailand.  I stood in line at the Thai Immigration for 2 very unpleasant hours.  I arrived at the counter with my pre-filled arrival card (having paid the 20 baht "overtime fee" directly to the driver).  The IO studied my Passport as if it were the key to wealth and happiness, flipping through every page at least 3 times.  And gave me a few good, solid stink-eyes.  I had 20k in my pocket if requested, but ultimately he just stamped my passport and I wandered through.  My van driver told me after the fact that you can slip 50 ringgit into your passport and use the Thai line (which had between 0-8 people in it) after I exited.  I would have happily done that to get out of the stifling, armpit-stench of the waiting line had I known.  I'm not opposed to greasing the wheels of bureaucracy on a voluntary basis.

 

We waited another hour for the stragglers of our group to make it through the line and headed on to Hat Yai.  Was dropped in the middle of town, the very friendly van driver directed me to the tuktuk cluster and my tired and lazy self accepted the 300 baht quoted for 1 person to the airport.  So I bathed in diesel exhaust for 20 minutes and made it to the Airport at just about a comfortable time to make my plane.  Flew into BKK and sat in traffic for another hour, with another 60 + 30 days on my clock.  Next adventure - reentry permit for my trip to Japan and Singapore at the end of this month.

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Nice info. I'm sure people will find this useful. Thanks for sharing

[geisha]

A question please. As this office seems very crowded, when is the quietest time to go ? I'll be staying there the whole working week.thanks.

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, geisha said:

A question please. As this office seems very crowded, when is the quietest time to go ? I'll be staying there the whole working week.thanks.

Penang is the only place I have applied for a Thai visa where I think using an agent is worthwhile. If you do want to do it yourself, Tuesday or Wednesday mid morning for the application should be quiet. Pick up the next day around 3:00 pm if you are not in a hurry.

[BritTim]

7 hours ago, cacahootie said:

Next adventure - reentry permit for my trip to Japan and Singapore at the end of this month.

If you get the reentry permit at the airport, allowing 30 minutes for the process though it usually takes less time, it is pretty painless. Remember to have a photo, though it may not be needed if leaving from Suvarnabhumi.

[thecyclist]

29 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Penang is the only place I have applied for a Thai visa where I think using an agent is worthwhile. If you do want to do it yourself, Tuesday or Wednesday mid morning for the application should be quiet. Pick up the next day around 3:00 pm if you are not in a hurry.

You forgot Phnom Penh, where virtually nobody applies in person. Only agents can get you a TV without outbound flight/proof of funds in PP.

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, thecyclist said:

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

Penang is the only place I have applied for a Thai visa where I think using an agent is worthwhile. If you do want to do it yourself, Tuesday or Wednesday mid morning for the application should be quiet. Pick up the next day around 3:00 pm if you are not in a hurry.

You forgot Phnom Penh, where virtually nobody applies in person. Only agents can get you a TV without outbound flight/proof of funds in PP.

Maybe, I chose the wrong agent, and I did have many tourist visas (none from Phnom Penh) in my passport at the time, but I went to the embassy myself to sort things out when the agent (after wasting two days) was unable to deliver the promised visa. The main advantage of the agent in Phnom Penh is that, for a price, they can get you the visa faster.

[cacahootie]

16 hours ago, geisha said:

A question please. As this office seems very crowded, when is the quietest time to go ? I'll be staying there the whole working week.thanks.

tbh, it really wasn't that crowded compared to Vientiane.  I didn't really spend much time there, maybe an hour to 1.5 hours in total between the two days.  It's just a question of showing up early and being aggressive about getting in line.  I would assume Mondays to be the most crowded, but that's the day I applied and it wasn't so bad.

 

Edit: it just occurred to me that you probably don't need to get there right as it opens, it may be better to wait an hour or so after open for the initial flurry to die down.  Unlike Vientiane, the order you pick up in does not depend on when you applied.

Edited September 8, 2017 by cacahootie
clarification

[SicTransit]

Arriving 10-10:30 at the consulate on any weekday other than Monday normally works best for Penang.

[JackThompson]

19 hours ago, BritTim said:

Maybe, I chose the wrong agent, and I did have many tourist visas (none from Phnom Penh) in my passport at the time, but I went to the embassy myself to sort things out when the agent (after wasting two days) was unable to deliver the promised visa. The main advantage of the agent in Phnom Penh is that, for a price, they can get you the visa faster.

Call your agent in advance to see.  At least one major agent (Lucky, Lucky) is now reporting "No Expedited Service" so 3 days wait at any price.

[leonardjones625]

Thank you cacahootie

Did you even ask around about using agents?

[cacahootie]

7 minutes ago, leonardjones625 said:

Thank you cacahootie

Did you even ask around about using agents?

I did not inquire about agents.  I know there's a couple in town, and I definitely saw them picking up passports.  Banana Penang and Jim's Place are the names I hear come up frequently.

[PhuketSarah]

RE the land border entry- I went through Pedang Besar in early July,  on a reentry linked to  O/  Retirement. Was asked to show 20,000  -  didn't have it. Officer told me to enter Thailand without a stamp and go to the bank to update my  Thai  bank book. I refused,  and made noises like I was calling Bangkok  Immigration to verify I even needed to show 20 K, and he backed down. 

[Evilbaz]

I went to Banana in Penang and the lady in charge didn't have a clue about using the combination method for a retirement Visa.

She insisted I needed a minimum of 400,000 Baht in the bank?!

That would have meant over a million with my pensions affidavit.

Fortunately I started there early so still had time to make it to the Consulate where I sailed smoothly through.

It's the first and last time I've tried to use an agent for anything.

[cacahootie]

8 hours ago, PhuketSarah said:

RE the land border entry- I went through Pedang Besar in early July,  on a reentry linked to  O/  Retirement. Was asked to show 20,000  -  didn't have it. Officer told me to enter Thailand without a stamp and go to the bank to update my  Thai  bank book. I refused,  and made noises like I was calling Bangkok  Immigration to verify I even needed to show 20 K, and he backed down. 

Well, the thing is, the rules allow them to demand you show funds, so they're technically in the right.  It is a bit weird that they were going to let you into Thailand without a stamp, and also weird that they were willing to accept a bank book because usually it's cash or back over.  I'd have definitely been unwilling to enter Thailand without a stamp, better to go back to Malaysia and have your exit canceled and hit an ATM for cash there than be on the wrong side of the law in Thailand (not that it's likely to have been an issue).

[lordblackader]

You could spend US$60 a night on a hotel but wouldn't hand over <$20 to use an visa agent - all to their own I guess but if you'd used an agent your post would have been significantly shorter. 

Edited September 23, 2017 by lordblackader

[cacahootie]

Just now, lordblackader said:

You could spend US$60 a night on a hotel but couldn't both handing over <$20 to use an visa agent - all to their own I guess but if you'd used an agent your post would have been significantly shorter. 

It's about priorities, but regardless, the reason I don't use agents isn't the cost - I prefer handling bureaucracy myself.

[RickG16]

"tuktuk cluster".. If that isn't an official phrase, it should be...  Nice report!