Penang Current Tourist Visa Situation?

[kinch]

I've been told by one agent that the Penang Consulate is being more reasonable since Jan 1. I'm referring of course to the earlier reports that individuals with two or more Penang-issued tourist visas in their passports were being denied and having a nasty big red stamp to that effect placed in their passports.

Of course an agent *would* say that, so am looking for independent confirmation.

I have 2 x Penang-issued 60 day tourist visas + 1 x Australian-issued double entry ditto in my passport and would like to hear reports from anybody in similar situation who has been to Penang since January 1, 2008.

I should clarify that I am talking about flying there and making the application - this has nothing to do with recently posted about JG skulduggery.

(I'm also aware that Vientiane is currently looking good (2x, etc.), but still would prefer to go to Penang if there's a reasonable expectation of being lucky there.)

[The Professor]

it would certainly be nice if Panang was back in biz. I guess we should be emailing the various agents down there for a consensus. I wouldn't be surprised if they lightened up a bit. I think readers of this forum were scared off from there so a report may not be forthcoming

[kinch]

it would certainly be nice if Panang was back in biz. I guess we should be emailing the various agents down there for a consensus. I wouldn't be surprised if they lightened up a bit. I think readers of this forum were scared off from there so a report may not be forthcoming

Must be some brave or foolhardy soul who's tried it in the last week or so...

[bangkokgas]

A curious situation . I don't quite understand why some consulates are difficult and others....well, I was going to say easy, is compliant a better word? Penang -a cost cutting measure perhaps? (for that read "let's close it down). If some heads of consulates are more difficult, why so? Isn't there a standard? No, only joking...T>I>T. and all that. For sure, Penangs hotels and gust houses, restaurants and so on are going to suffer if the only people that go there are "genuine" tourists or non-immy holders looking for extensions. I don't see/meet too many tourists in Penang who are on their travels looking for a Thai visa - they usually have one already from their home country. Vientiane meanwhile has queues a mile long, literally, for tourists who are quite confident they will recieve a visa. hey ho - the next few weeks/months should prove interesting given Mr.S is not exactly a great fan of farang.

[Tony121]

I went to Penang a few weeks back, and the people in front of me were told they had to many tourist visa's , but were not told if they would get a visa or not.

[kinch]

Today I received another reply from a second Penang agent saying 'no problem'... but as I stated in my original post, they would say that, wouldn't they?

I can't imagine the Penang Consulate ever being shut down (Face Thing) and given that I would imagine that consulates are expected to be largely (shall we say) self-sufficient little revenue centres, one might expect that over time things will mellow out after this little hiccup.

I decided to bite the bullet and go to Vientiane next week, but hope that Penang is open for business 6 months down the track because none too keen on standing in a line under the sun.

Wouldn't worry too much about the big S... he'll be back in the kitchen where he belongs before you can say 'a bag of fried bugs a day keeps the docterrrrr away'.

[The Professor]

the agents make 200 baht on a tourist visa so I dont think they'd go out of their way to mislead a customer

[kinch]

the agents make 200 baht on a tourist visa so I dont think they'd go out of their way to mislead a customer

I'm not sure why a guy who is going to make 200 Baht from me whether or not my application is successful wouldn't make optimistic noises regardless of the actual situation at the consulate. Replying to an email with 'sure thing, no problem' is not what I'd call "going out of one's way"... it costs him nothing and the potential downside (to agent) is more or less nil.

[jstumbo]

the agents make 200 baht on a tourist visa so I dont think they'd go out of their way to mislead a customer

I'm not sure why a guy who is going to make 200 Baht from me whether or not my application is successful wouldn't make optimistic noises regardless of the actual situation at the consulate. Replying to an email with 'sure thing, no problem' is not what I'd call "going out of one's way"... it costs him nothing and the potential downside (to agent) is more or less nil.

exactly. What agent in his right mind would say "They do not give out visas anymore, you should go to Laos instead. Our company does not want to be in business anymore"

[kinch]

After a 6 or 9 month drought brought on by all us reprehensibles developing a sudden fascination for the delights of Lao culture, they of the white uniforms and tin medals down in Pulau Pinang will have gotten mighty bored with living within their official means.

When that happens, if they've got any sense (I know, I know) they should (i) disintermediate and (ii) take out a banner ad at the top of this forum

Edited January 24, 2008 by kinch

[devaram]

I was in Penang last week and got my third visa with no warning stamp

I went to one agent and they weren't sure if they could get it for me and then I went to "Jim" of Jims Place and He was sure he could get it.

I wouldn't recommend rushing down there expecting a visa but if you must go, the weather seems to have improved at least for now.

This is a sensitive subject because the Consulate apparently started giving red stamps because of people talking too much on this website about getting an easy visa from Penang so PLEASE try to use some discretion about what you say and be respectful or better yet say nothing....

[tropo]

A curious situation . I don't quite understand why some consulates are difficult and others....well, I was going to say easy, is compliant a better word? Penang -a cost cutting measure perhaps? (for that read "let's close it down). If some heads of consulates are more difficult, why so? Isn't there a standard? No, only joking...T>I>T. and all that. For sure, Penangs hotels and gust houses, restaurants and so on are going to suffer if the only people that go there are "genuine" tourists or non-immy holders looking for extensions. I don't see/meet too many tourists in Penang who are on their travels looking for a Thai visa - they usually have one already from their home country. Vientiane meanwhile has queues a mile long, literally, for tourists who are quite confident they will recieve a visa. hey ho - the next few weeks/months should prove interesting given Mr.S is not exactly a great fan of farang.

The queues really aren't that long. I got their on a Thursday and a regular visitor there told me they were longer than usual.

Arrival - 8am, departure after paying for visa 9:30am

A friend arrived at 9am and he departed about 10am.

If I'd arrived at 10am I would have been out in 30 mins or less because hardly any people arrived late.

It appears to be a waste of time arriving early.

[tropo]

the agents make 200 baht on a tourist visa so I dont think they'd go out of their way to mislead a customer

I'm not sure why a guy who is going to make 200 Baht from me whether or not my application is successful wouldn't make optimistic noises regardless of the actual situation at the consulate. Replying to an email with 'sure thing, no problem' is not what I'd call "going out of one's way"... it costs him nothing and the potential downside (to agent) is more or less nil.

exactly. What agent in his right mind would say "They do not give out visas anymore, you should go to Laos instead. Our company does not want to be in business anymore"

Any agent in his right mind would say that if it was true that they could not get a visa. What agent in his right mind would suggest a person come all the way to Penang for a tourist visa if they knew that person would not get one?

If these companies openly lied to people they would not stay in business long.

[mike_l]

A curious situation . I don't quite understand why some consulates are difficult and others....well, I was going to say easy, is compliant a better word? Penang -a cost cutting measure perhaps? (for that read "let's close it down). If some heads of consulates are more difficult, why so? Isn't there a standard? No, only joking...T>I>T. and all that. For sure, Penangs hotels and gust houses, restaurants and so on are going to suffer if the only people that go there are "genuine" tourists or non-immy holders looking for extensions. I don't see/meet too many tourists in Penang who are on their travels looking for a Thai visa - they usually have one already from their home country. Vientiane meanwhile has queues a mile long, literally, for tourists who are quite confident they will recieve a visa. hey ho - the next few weeks/months should prove interesting given Mr.S is not exactly a great fan of farang.

The queues really aren't that long. I got their on a Thursday and a regular visitor there told me they were longer than usual.

Arrival - 8am, departure after paying for visa 9:30am

A friend arrived at 9am and he departed about 10am.

If I'd arrived at 10am I would have been out in 30 mins or less because hardly any people arrived late.

It appears to be a waste of time arriving early.

I just got back from Vientiane and the queues this time for me were much worse than previously. Last time my experience pretty much mirrored what you wrote, but this time it took about 3 hours waiting (from 9am) to submit the application on the Monday, and then another 3 hours waiting at the Nong Khai border checkpoint to pass immigration on Tuesday! Lesson learned - don't go on a Monday if possible.

Edited January 29, 2008 by mike_l

[tropo]

I just got back from Vientiane and the queues this time for me were much worse than previously. Last time my experience pretty much mirrored what you wrote, but this time it took about 3 hours waiting (from 9am) to submit the application on the Monday, and then another 3 hours waiting at the Nong Khai border checkpoint to pass immigration on Tuesday! Lesson learned - don't go on a Monday if possible.

Were you heading for an AirAsia flight in the late afternoon? If I had to wait that long at the Immigration checkpoint I could have my flight.

[robbiecia]

Penang is a gamble for tourist visas, if you are denied, its a waste of a trip. Better to head to Laos........most people seem to be having more success there.

[sniffdog]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=166996

[astral]

See http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=166996 as quoted by sniffdog.

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