Penang Visa Run

[finflix]

Hi

Having just returned from a visit to the Thai Embassy in Penang for a non B visa renewal I thought I would pass on the latest experience!!!! Please before you go check out The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Kingdom of Thailand, website and down load it print it and take it with you for defence purposes.

What should have been a simple renewal of a visa turned into the usual nitemare, associated with any offical body in this lovely country! Name a paper we had it everysingle one stated and more. Was it good enough? Of course it wasn't.....

My visit was to assist my biz partner, and keep him company on the journey. We drove down to Penang, a fairly simple experience, good roads etc (make sure you change money into Ringett before going across the border there is a toll booth immediately you enter Malaysia) Tolls total approx 35 RM each way. We both have held non b multiple entry visas, are both company Directors and shareholders. This alone should surely entitle us to be in Thailand? to make sure our business operates as it should. We can hardly do that from the UK. However, on our arrival at the Embassy with ALL the relevent documents and more, the young upstart at the counter slung the docs back without even looking at them and said single entry visa only. We tried to explain that this was just a renewal, but he wasnt listioning. Said NO single only! We insited on seeing another member of the staff, an older gentleman, very helpful. We explained what had happened, produced the Ministry of Foreign affairs list each item checked. All this time the other guy was trying to stop the older man from helping us. However he did take notice, wrote at the bottom of form, director/shareholder and multiple entry. He took the 550 Ringett and gave us a reciept for collection the next day. Thank goodness for someone who hasnt let a uniform turn him into some kind of dictator!

A happy outcome for us, jon was issued with a one year multi non B visa. Not a wasted journey. I sometimes wonder why we as ferang have to put up with the crazy rules of the institution. We are all struggling to make an honest living in Thailand, infact we have also invested in 4 properties, separate and not linked to our Graphic Design studio. Yet each day and month gets harder as rules are changed and changed again, interpretted in any way each official sees fit. As for the favourite UNDER THE TABLE help. PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT DO YOUR BUSINESS THIS WAY! For evryperson who does this encourages the rife corruption and greed. Which has become worse in the 7 years I have lived and worked in Thailand.

I hope this is of some help to anyone out there struggling with the politics, and shortsightedness of the country we have chosen to make our home.

Maria

[smartecosse]

glad you got to speak to someone with a brain.

its a shame that "officialdom" seems to hire only those without.

[seonai]

Personally I always used the Indian guys in the backpackers area of George Town. You just pay and they bring your passport back in two days with whatever stamp you want and you are free to sightsee and enjoy. They are very reliable and have 'friends' in the Embassy cos they do this job as a living

[LivinLOS]

So you both had active current work permits and the correct level min wage tax history then ?? As that seems to be required these days for a multiple in local SE Asian countries.

If so why not just got for the 12 month in country visa extension ???

[smartecosse]

because they might not have 4 Thai employees per work permit / farang

[LivinLOS]

I thought if you didnt have the Thai employees you wouldnt get the WP.. If you dont have a WP (and the tax history etc) you dont get a non imm B multiple in local SE Asian consuls.. So the OP is raving about the embassy / consul being in the wrong when in fact he wasnt entitled to the multiple really.

Tho I dont work here and so have never done the WP / company thing, only I read you dont get multiples locally unless fully qualifying same as an extension. If you want a multiple in that case you need a home country / non SE Asian embassy.

[finflix]

Thanks for all your comments folks... we were trying to add a bit of information to help...

as for Livin LOS... perhaps get your facts right before you mention raves eh?

Jon

I thought if you didnt have the Thai employees you wouldnt get the WP.. If you dont have a WP (and the tax history etc) you dont get a non imm B multiple in local SE Asian consuls.. So the OP is raving about the embassy / consul being in the wrong when in fact he wasnt entitled to the multiple really.

Tho I dont work here and so have never done the WP / company thing, only I read you dont get multiples locally unless fully qualifying same as an extension. If you want a multiple in that case you need a home country / non SE Asian embassy.

[smartecosse]

I thought if you didnt have the Thai employees you wouldnt get the WP.. If you dont have a WP (and the tax history etc) you dont get a non imm B multiple in local SE Asian consuls.. So the OP is raving about the embassy / consul being in the wrong when in fact he wasnt entitled to the multiple really.

Tho I dont work here and so have never done the WP / company thing, only I read you dont get multiples locally unless fully qualifying same as an extension. If you want a multiple in that case you need a home country / non SE Asian embassy.

thai employees are NOTHING to do with work permits one a non b. They are only required if and when you wish to get an extension to the non b. I had that last year but this year I have gone back to multiple entry non b.

i got a multiple no problem 2 months ago in KL with the correct paper work. Getting a multiple and getting an extension are two ENTIRELY different things

[LivinLOS]

I realize they are entirely different things (incountry extensions v visa issuing) only I thought they had the same basic requirements..

I remember reading how people where having a hard time getting thier first year of company proof for the extension and were also not getting multiples locally, hence having to go get a single non B each time for the first year (time and cost prohibitive) as they could neither get an extension or a multiple in local region consuls. That was only earlier this year.

Simple solution is always leave the local region for multiples, so far I have never had a question getting them from home country.

[smartecosse]

Simple solution is always leave the local region for multiples, so far I have never had a question getting them from home country.

but for those that actually work here although its nice to head off for a holiday / visa renewal back home its not always possible due to time

[LivinLOS]

You dont actually have to go home.. You just have to be outside of Thailand..

[smartecosse]

You dont actually have to go home.. You just have to be outside of Thailand..

i think you are missing the point i was trying to make. For those of us that work here that cannot get an extension the easiest & most onvinient places to get a multi b were KL and Singapore

My post that you quoted was in reply to your post saying that you need to go to your home country / non SE Asia country.

ANYWAY as long as you have the correct paperwork and do not get a muppet behind the counter you can get multi's in SE Asia (at the moment)