Penang Consulate To Limit Issuance Of Tourist Visas To Three

[tropo]

On the contrary, let's hope that all the Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates in the ASEAN nations work together to formulate and implement a single coherent policy to eliminate abuse of the tourist visa.

Perhaps you should consult with the various ASEAN Nation Thai Embassies and Consulates and offer assistance in implementing a single coherent policy.

[ThaidleHands]

On the contrary, let's hope that all the Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates in the ASEAN nations work together to formulate and implement a single coherent policy to eliminate abuse of the tourist visa.

Perhaps you should consult with the various ASEAN Nation Thai Embassies and Consulates and offer assistance in implementing a single coherent policy.

An open letter to the Ambassadors and Consuls-General isn't a bad idea. Care to contribute?

Edited October 30, 2007 by ThaidleHands

[Jingthing]

Another case of the Stockholm syndrome? You want to HELP Thai officials crack down on people using tourist visas? That is sad.

[tropo]

An open letter to the Ambassadors and Consuls-General isn't a bad idea. Care to contribute?

Sorry, with the current crackdown on tourist visas it will soon no longer be my concern.

[Jingthing]

Here is my suggestion for them:

Run the name through Interpol database.

If clear, take money, give visa.

[thaiman]

Why such a harsh "moral" position against people who just want to relax and transfer their hard currency to a third world nation?

Thai logic! Reason: because they can.

Before thailand was poor and all money was welcome. Now they don't need anbody, at least that is their attitude.

[007]

Why such a harsh "moral" position against people who just want to relax and transfer their hard currency to a third world nation?

Thai logic! Reason: because they can.

Before thailand was poor and all money was welcome. Now they don't need anbody, at least that is their attitude.

True. Few tourists years ago, and they rolled out the red carpet for them. (Too) many tourists (incl. backpackers) now = too many foreigners and no need for the extra cash...

I worked as a teacher near Chon Buri town; asked my students about tourists. Consensus: too many tourists in Chon Buri town (not Pattaya or Sri Racha, but the handful tourists in Chon Buri) - as if!

And how about the major trading partners? Years ago it was the U.S., but now more and more China... And how long do Chinese tourists stay on holiday in Thailand? Less than a week(?) Therefore no need for repeat 60-day tourist visas, cause proper tourists don't stay longer than two weeks or so. Thai logic!

As for me, I planned to live in Thailand indefinitely when I moved here years ago. And yes, I planned using repeat tourist visas, cause I'm well below the age of fifty, unmarried, and not a businessman. I don't want to get headaches about visa troubles, so what I will do is move to a greener tropical pasture in a few years, taking my money with me.

Edited October 31, 2007 by 7

[tropo]

I worked as a teacher near Chon Buri town; asked my students about tourists. Consensus: too many tourists in Chon Buri town (not Pattaya or Sri Racha, but the handfull tourists in Chon Buri) - as if!

I've found Asians mostly use the word "too" incorrectly.

"too many tourists in Chon Buri" could mean "many tourists in Chon Buri" rather than "more tourists than we would like in Chon Buri".

Edited October 31, 2007 by tropo

[007]

I worked as a teacher near Chon Buri town; asked my students about tourists. Consensus: too many tourists in Chon Buri town (not Pattaya or Sri Racha, but the handful tourists in Chon Buri) - as if!

I've found Asians mostly use the word "too" incorrectly.

"too many tourists in Chon Buri" could mean "many tourists in Chon Buri" rather than "more tourists than we would like in Chon Buri".

Well, there really are few foreign tourists in Chon Buri town.

Edited October 31, 2007 by 7

[Frank33]

Third tourist visa in Penang - Don't ever come again ???

I just collected my tourist visa at the Penang consulate, and it was adorned with the rubber stamps "Do not apply new visa at Penang again" and "The holder has traveled to Thailand with Tourist visa 2 times. The Consulate General may not accept the application next time".

I had two previous tourist visas, one issued in Rangoon in February, and one in KL in August, but I had not been staying in Thailand continuously. In fact my travel history has been as follows:

1) 2 weeks in Thailand on 30 days pass.

2) 1 month in Burma.

3) 2 months in Thailand on Tourist visa.

4) 3 months in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore

5) 3 months in Thailand on Tourist visa plus extension.

Does anyone have a guess how long I will have to be outside Thailand before a Thai embassy or consulate will issue me with another tourist visa? Or will they even expect me to show that I have returned "home" (i.e. to the country that has issued my passport) before they issue a new tourist visa? What are my chances if I turn up at the Penang consulate in 50 years time ?

My future travel plans would be as follows:

6) 1 week in Penang.

7) 2 months in Thailand on Tourist visa (already obtained in Penang)

8) 3 months in Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos

9) Hopefully return to Thailand on tourist visa issued in Vientiane.

Given this travel history, what is the Thai embassy in Vientiane going to say when I turn up there in April 2008 and ask for a tourist visa? Are they going to shoot me?

Best regards

Frank

[waveydavey]

Third tourist visa in Penang - Don't ever come again ???

I just collected my tourist visa at the Penang consulate, and it was adorned with the rubber stamps "Do not apply new visa at Penang again" and "The holder has traveled to Thailand with Tourist visa 2 times. The Consulate General may not accept the application next time".

I had two previous tourist visas, one issued in Rangoon in February, and one in KL in August, but I had not been staying in Thailand continuously. In fact my travel history has been as follows:

1) 2 weeks in Thailand on 30 days pass.

2) 1 month in Burma.

3) 2 months in Thailand on Tourist visa.

4) 3 months in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore

5) 3 months in Thailand on Tourist visa plus extension.

Does anyone have a guess how long I will have to be outside Thailand before a Thai embassy or consulate will issue me with another tourist visa? Or will they even expect me to show that I have returned "home" (i.e. to the country that has issued my passport) before they issue a new tourist visa? What are my chances if I turn up at the Penang consulate in 50 years time ?

My future travel plans would be as follows:

6) 1 week in Penang.

7) 2 months in Thailand on Tourist visa (already obtained in Penang)

8) 3 months in Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos

9) Hopefully return to Thailand on tourist visa issued in Vientiane.

Given this travel history, what is the Thai embassy in Vientiane going to say when I turn up there in April 2008 and ask for a tourist visa? Are they going to shoot me?

Best regards

Frank

You shouldn't have any problems getting the Tourist Visa in Vientiane.

[oxymoron]

what's he concerned with? Does he have a grudge against tourists? It's too bad that he has to take to this in a personal matter. A smart man in position would continue issuing visas because it puts money in his pocket.

Hardly. He's a salaried government worker. He would probably prefer less people at his consulate...less work, same pay.

I believe that was meant in the figurative sense... that it is putting money in Thailand's pocket and not the literal sense that it is putting money into a solitary official's pocket.

It's debatable, but do you really think that a government employee in Penang has such altruistic throughts. I don't.

Do government employees anywhere think of the greater good? Not too many.

He's a young guy educated in the UK. My agent in Penang told me he reads the Thaivisa forum and wasn't too happy to read about people bragging about getting 4 or 5 TV's back to back from his consulate.

You guys are not too bright are you???? It has been posted the Thai Consul is an avid reader of TV yet you delight in slagging he and his Thai associates.

[The Professor]

I dont think this has been mentioned but I am sure that the pinned topic for "thaivisa.com visa run packages" didnt help the cause. Sounds to me like it would be the same as having thaivisa visa run packages to PP or Manila at this point.

[tropo]

He's a young guy educated in the UK. My agent in Penang told me he reads the Thaivisa forum and wasn't too happy to read about people bragging about getting 4 or 5 TV's back to back from his consulate.

You guys are not too bright are you???? It has been posted the Thai Consul is an avid reader of TV yet you delight in slagging he and his Thai associates.

It's very hard to curb free speach on a forum with over 50,000 members.

There's no point worrying too much about the Consul-General in Penang because he has already turned against tourist visa applicants in a big way.

This is clearly evident in the case of Frank33 (4 posts above) . He's about as genuine a tourist as anyone could be. He spends 1 to 3 months at a time in neighboring countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia and Burma) and on his FIRST application for a tourist visa in Penang he's told not to come back.

Furthermore, I believe that putting red warning stamps in passports is not a legitimate procedure and not "British" as some would say. They should be checking a database and making decisions on that, not on stamps in a passport.

Penang is off my travel itinerary.

I hope the Consul-General reads this: Sir, where is your logic?

Edited November 18, 2007 by tropo

[bangkokgas]

An open letter to the Ambassadors and Consuls-General isn't a bad idea. Care to contribute?

Sorry, with the current crackdown on tourist visas it will soon no longer be my concern.

Tropo,

Got your message, thanks. Agree with everything you said. End result: Thailand 0 Honest law-abiding tourists 1.

[Lite Beer]

An open letter to the Ambassadors and Consuls-General isn't a bad idea. Care to contribute?

Sorry, with the current crackdown on tourist visas it will soon no longer be my concern.

Tropo,

Got your message, thanks. Agree with everything you said. End result: Thailand 0 Honest law-abiding tourists 1.

Make that 0-2

[xyborg]

<br />

But how to open a Thai bank account without a WP and Visa in the first place? <img src="style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

<br /><br /><br />You open their front door, walk over to the clerk, give him/her your passport and a handwritten note (or hotel business card) with your current address and say you want to open an account.<br />Should take about 10-15 minutes, a few minutes more for activating the ATM card.<br />Don't forget to bring the 500 baht minimum deposit in cash.<br />

<br /><br /><br />Have you tried that lately ?? <br /><br /><br />

<br /><br />I did basically that (above), walked in, showed my passport, gave them some cash, walked out about 15 minutes later with another bank account. No hassles, no one looked at my visa that i know of (they copied my passport front page but not the visa page) <br />This was at Bangkok bank in Phuket town about 2 weeks ago. <br /><br />

<br /><br />BKK bank in Patong was one of the ones that denied him.. <br /><br />But do you have a non imm O (as per your over 50 comment) cos if so thats not the situation I mean, if they copied oit or not having a non imm O and being on retirement changes it..<br />

<br /><br /><br />

I'll clear up the bank account info for you thru what happened to me. Went to SCB with 1 million baht and asked to open bank account, was told cannot even though I already ha d a Bangkok Bank account . I walked down the road to Kasikorn and they said no problem and I opened it ona toursit visa. Later I called SCB helpline and asked them if I could open a bank account to try and understand why the branch had turned me down earlier, they told me "yes" I could open an account no WP needed and could even do it on a toruist visa. Then I told them I had been refused by their Seacon Square branch, they said it was entirely up to the manager of each branch!!!!!!

So the bank has rules but its up to each manager if they want to follow them or not, even when you wave 1 million baht at them. I must say Kasikorn jumped quite high when the 1 mill appeared!!!

[tropo]

I'll clear up the bank account info for you thru what happened to me. Went to SCB with 1 million baht and asked to open bank account, was told cannot even though I already ha d a Bangkok Bank account . I walked down the road to Kasikorn and they said no problem and I opened it ona toursit visa. Later I called SCB helpline and asked them if I could open a bank account to try and understand why the branch had turned me down earlier, they told me "yes" I could open an account no WP needed and could even do it on a toruist visa. Then I told them I had been refused by their Seacon Square branch, they said it was entirely up to the manager of each branch!!!!!!

So the bank has rules but its up to each manager if they want to follow them or not, even when you wave 1 million baht at them. I must say Kasikorn jumped quite high when the 1 mill appeared!!!

Xyborg, thats very useful information on opening bank accounts in Thailand but it's wasted in this thread. Perhaps you should start another dedicated thread with this information as a lot of people on tourist visas have queries about opening bank accounts in Thailand.

[Canada]

So, if I understand correctly, if I don't already have a warning stamp, I can get at least one more tourist visa. Correct? I am finishing 2 triple entry visas from Canada next month.

[cali4995]

Yes Canada, that's how I've been interpreting it as well. If you don't yet have the infamous

"red stamp' then you should be clear to get at least one more TV. The funny thing is, they

only currently seem to be giving out warning stamps in Penang, Malaysia. If you applied at

one of the Thai consulates in Laos for example, I don't think it would be an issue. And people

have reported getting additional TV's even after receiving the warning stamp. Go figure?

I recently started another 6-month cycle with a visa-exempt entry, and the immigration

officer couldn't have been more nonchalant about stamping me in? If you haven't used any

of your visa-exempt days yet, you've got a couple of options left, which is nice.

[mike_rad]

If Penang's out of the question, what about Kuala Lumper, or even Singapore?

--

[tropo]

So, if I understand correctly, if I don't already have a warning stamp, I can get at least one more tourist visa. Correct? I am finishing 2 triple entry visas from Canada next month.

Previously we thought this to be true but I wouldn't take it to the bank. I've heard of people being refused tourist visas with too many tourist visas from other consulates and no "red stamp warning".

I would recommend that if you decide to go to Penang for a tourist visa, you go with visa exempt days up your sleeve. ie. less than 90 days of visa exempt days within the previous 6 months....just to make sure that if you are refused a visa you can re-enter Thailand to take care of business and investigate other options.

[Canada]

So, if I understand correctly, if I don't already have a warning stamp, I can get at least one more tourist visa. Correct? I am finishing 2 triple entry visas from Canada next month.

Previously we thought this to be true but I wouldn't take it to the bank. I've heard of people being refused tourist visas with too many tourist visas from other consulates and no "red stamp warning".

I would recommend that if you decide to go to Penang for a tourist visa, you go with visa exempt days up your sleeve. ie. less than 90 days of visa exempt days within the previous 6 months....just to make sure that if you are refused a visa you can re-enter Thailand to take care of business and investigate other options.

Thank you. I do have 90 days up my sleeve. Does anyone know for sure if they are usable in the case of a refusal of tourist visa? If I was refused abroad, would immigration at Suvarnabumi know and take issue? Thanks.

[The Professor]

There are not a lot of "for sures" on this issue at the moment.

[tropo]

Thank you. I do have 90 days up my sleeve. Does anyone know for sure if they are usable in the case of a refusal of tourist visa? If I was refused abroad, would immigration at Suvarnabumi know and take issue? Thanks.

I think it's highly unlikely that you'd be refused a visa rather than getting a least one more with a warning stamp (depending of course on your visa history).

If in the unlikely event you were refused a tourist visa, you'd just re-enter Thailand on a 30 day visa exempt stamp.

If a person had already used up their 90 visa exempt days they'd definitely be in a spot of bother.

As one member put it: why risk going to a consulate where there is a good chance of you getting a warning stamp in your passport?

[NanLaew]

As far as people working illegally..., they shouldn't be deported, they should be given a medal!

Is that permissible in your own country?

BTW, last year it was clearly communicated by immigration officials that the 30 day stamp counting crackdown did not mean that people couldn't still live in Thailand all year, just that they would have to leave the country to get tourist visas. Broken promises I think.

I am with you on that one 100%. Although whenever has a promise and a handshake meant anything outside of Texas?