Penang Consulate

[Freed1948]

Does The Penang Consulate count the number of visas in your Passport or just the number from Penang?

[elviajero]

Based on recent reports they seem to be counting the total visas issued anywhere.

[overherebc]

18 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Based on recent reports they seem to be counting the total visas issued anywhere.

Doesn't that depend on the type of visa being applied for?

SETV's maybe.

Others eg Non O Multi showing finances, doubtful.

Non B with back up documentation, again doubtful.

To the OP, what specific visa/visas are you asking about?

[elviajero]

I assume they are asking about Tourist Visas as this type question is usually asked about Tourist Visas. I'm not aware of other visas that get limited/counted.

[Jhansoz]

37 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Based on recent reports they seem to be counting the total visas issued anywhere.

That is correct. I've been to Laos 3 times on TV and wanted to do Penang next time and i got red stamp.

[JackThompson]

Penang must be moved-up in the order of consulates to visit with a new passport - probably #1 or #2, along with Phnom Penh.  Then on to the rest. 

 

At this point, I think we only have 3 Consulates 'red stamping' - Vientiane, Phnom Penh, and Penang - with the last 2 counting TR-Visas from anywhere.  Vientiane will "honor" red-stamps from anywhere, but reports so far indicate they are only counting their own - but stay tuned.

[ajarnmarc]

Penang isn't likely to process any visa after you've received a red stamp, 

as the stamp is there for a reason,

and Penang isn't going to just look past that, 

and issue their own.

Penang handles their visas by the official requirements, 

they just do their business professionally, 

and don't choose to translate those requirements however they see fit, 

or feel upon any given day, as some other consulates might do.

 

[JackThompson]

1 hour ago, ajarnmarc said:

Penang isn't likely to process any visa after you've received a red stamp, as the stamp is there for a reason, ...

I have found the "reason" is quite arbitrary, as to when you get a "red stamp."  In one case, after being out of the country for 7+ months (Vientiane) - and in another case on only my 4th TR Visa (Phnom Penh), with the TR Visas from various countries, and 7-10 day mini-vacations between them.  Others report (recently) getting 4 in a row from Vientiane without a red-stamp.

 

Worst of all, the red-stamp from Vientiane says you "may need to show" where you stay and money.  I offered both - a condo-lease and ~100K in a Thai bank book - and they would not even look at the paperwork or additional bank-statements from non-Thai accounts.  I was told to "get a new passport" and come back.

 

Therefore, the only "reason" for red-stamps, would seem to be to help other countries sell more passports.

[notmyself]

18 hours ago, elviajero said:

Based on recent reports they seem to be counting the total visas issued anywhere.

 

From what I've been told (going there in 2 weeks) you need to throw in the occasional visa from your home country. 

[BritTim]

4 hours ago, JackThompson said:

Worst of all, the red-stamp from Vientiane says you "may need to show" where you stay and money.  I offered both - a condo-lease and ~100K in a Thai bank book - and they would not even look at the paperwork or additional bank-statements from non-Thai accounts.  I was told to "get a new passport" and come back.

The whole "red stamp" issue is irritating, but I have sympathy for Vientiane. The extreme numbers of applicants for visas there means they cannot afford the time for personalized service. They operate a production line designed to deal with, probably, five times the volume of visa applications handled anywhere else, making the process as painless as they realistically can under the circumstances. I believe the totally different set up in Savannakhet is a safety valve for those with red stamps still needing tourist visas. I really do think Vientiane are the good guys.