I was having lunch today at a Japanese food distribution comapny/restaurant off Thonglor soi 20 with my japanese wife and knowing lunch would take an age to arrive, we picked up some of the Japanese free press ("Daco" "Voice Mail" e.t.c). Much to my suprise, in these publications, they are advertising visa trips to Penang saying that air tickets out of Thailand are no longer required as are hotel bookings! Suspicious by nature, I asked the wife to clarify what i had read and confirmed this. She also found two articles saying that the head of the penang consulate had been replaced and that (I won't labour you with the japanese) "Penang is now easier than before to obtain tourist visas". Just letting you know -I for one would be delighted if Penang had done a U-turn.

Someone might want to try this out if he has a few days to spare in Penang in case they deny the application because no plane ticket was shown.

Yes indeed. But I can only assume these people know what they are doing - they are charging anywhere between 9,000-12,000 baht (ait ticket, 4 star hotel e.t.c.). It would'nt be like the Japanese in my experience to gamble on business.

been to penang for tv from 25.-27. march. if you arrive before 11h one nite only. used a service for 20RM (cheaper & easier than go to the consulate twice) got single tv without ticket or reservation, but passport as stamped: "...may not accept application next time". if you are from bkk, check this out: http://travel.thaivisa.com/visa-run.html. have a nice time

been to penang for tv from 25.-27. march. if you arrive before 11h one nite only. used a service for 20RM (cheaper & easier than go to the consulate twice) got single tv without ticket or reservation, but passport as stamped: "...may not accept application next time". if you are from bkk, check this out: http://travel.thaivisa.com/visa-run.html. have a nice time

I missed this thread, but if they are still giving out warning stamps it's still a waste of time going there.

If you can obtain the visa you want I would not consider it a waste of time. There are many travelers who decide to extend there stay a few weeks and have no interest in running back-to-back tourist visas from that location.

If you can obtain the visa you want I would not consider it a waste of time. There are many travelers who decide to extend there stay a few weeks and have no interest in running back-to-back tourist visas from that location.

Allow me to edit my previous comment:

...but if they are still giving out warning stamps I shall not waste my time going there.