Getting multiple SETVs from Penang

[asdfrules]

I'm looking for good places to do my next few SETVs.   Some questions about Penang.

 

    1. Will they issue you many visas in one passport?  ~How many?
    2. Do visas from other consulates affect your chances at Penang?  How?
    3. Any special requirements like bank statement, onward ticket, hotel booking, sacrifice of first born son?

    4. I read Penang now requires a flight to your home country.  Seems excessive.  Can anyone confirm this?

 

I'm a Canadian. 

Stayed in Thailand a few years on SETVs (and years before that on ED and Non-B). 

Recently spent a year back home.  Now 10 months in Thailand.  Like this: 

1. Exempt + extend
2. Vientiane + extend
3. HCMC + extend
4. New passport issued from my Embassy in Bangkok
5. Vientiane + extend (currently only this 1 visa in my passport)

I plan to move around more in a year or two when I can afford it, but would like to optimize Thai visas for the longest just in case.

 

And please, I know how off topic these things get, especially when the trolls come out to complain about visa abuse.  I've heard it before and it doesn't help anyone looking for answers.  If you just have to complain, please start your own thread.

[NorthernRyland]

I've never been to Penang but I think it's probably best to avoid given the current reports. You're pushing your luck at this point also (in my admittedly conservative opinion) so I would prepare for the worst and have cash available, bank statements printed out and a plane ticket at least out of country (doesn't matter where).

 

When I was in Vientiane last week some kid who just got a new passport was getting his second TV in a passport which only had one other TV from Vientiane, however the old passport was literally full of TV's exclusively from Vientiane. He was living in Udon Thani and clearly abusing the hell out of the consulate going every 3 months but he still gets away with it (for now).

[JackThompson]

On 4/22/2018 at 9:42 AM, genericptr said:

When I was in Vientiane last week some kid who just got a new passport was getting his second TV in a passport which only had one other TV from Vientiane, however the old passport was literally full of TV's exclusively from Vientiane. He was living in Udon Thani and clearly abusing the hell out of the consulate going every 3 months but he still gets away with it (for now).

This is standard.  If you show up with a "red stamp" on a previous Tourist Visa, the consulate staff will tell you to get a new passport, so they can issues additional Tourist Visas.  They appreciate his business.

 

Savannakhet is more practical in approach - likely due to lower customer-volume.  They want to see verification you have money to live on and for a ticket-out, then will issue the visa without the pointless counting / red-stamping bit Vientiane does.