A friend of mine left for Penang on Monday, arriving on Tuesday he gave his passport and fee to NJ bookshop. When he went back to collect the following day he had his passport and fee returned with NJ informing him that the consulate had run out of visa stickers!! They also added that none would be available until Jan and the consulate is struggling to deal with the number of applications as 450 applied on the same day as him....

My friend is arriving in Kota Bahru ( sp ) in a couple of hours to try there so if he calls me I'll update with the situation there.

Personally, I'm on extension of stay so this has no affect on me. I'm posting to help anyone heading to Penang in next few days so don't start jumping on me saying it's bs etc.... Call your agent in Penang for verification.....

If you talk to your friend tell him he can get a 2 entry visa there.

What a pain in the as* Penang is. You would think they would have an old stamp laying around in case of an emergency.

If you talk to your friend tell him he can get a 2 entry visa there.

What a pain in the as* Penang is. You would think they would have an old stamp laying around in case of an emergency.

My thoughts exactly. My parents are here at the minute on a 5 week holiday. I looked at their visa which they got in the UK and it's a stamp, not a sticker.

Hoping to here from other members who are in Penang at the minute.

Come on ubonjoe,an old stamp laying around for emergencys,that's forward planning and common sence ,and would help the Farang out. But NO,just piss them even more,with no visa's left, and ruin what is left of the ailing tourist industry.

Merry Xmas and pissed up New Year too you all.

Friend went to Laos this week and he got a double entry tourist no problems

Come on ubonjoe,an old stamp laying around for emergencys,that's forward planning and common sence ,and would help the Farang out. But NO,just piss them even more,with no visa's left, and ruin what is left of the ailing tourist industry.

Merry Xmas and pissed up New Year too you all.

I am sure there are a lot of very pissed off people at the moment but no more reports yet. Will be more unless they get a re-supply of stickers sooner or a stamp.

Merry Christmas

Edited December 25, 200817 yr by ubonjoe

I am sure there are a lot of very pissed off people at the moment but no more reports yet. Will be more unless they get a re-supply of stickers sooner or a stamp.

Merry Christmas

That would be the ultimate piss off. My heart goes out for those caught in this ridiculous circus.

There is a daily THAI flight from Bangkok to bring in new supplies...........

A friend of mine left for Penang on Monday, arriving on Tuesday he gave his passport and fee to NJ bookshop. When he went back to collect the following day he had his passport and fee returned with NJ informing him that the consulate had run out of visa stickers!! They also added that none would be available until Jan and the consulate is struggling to deal with the number of applications as 450 applied on the same day as him....

My friend is arriving in Kota Bahru ( sp ) in a couple of hours to try there so if he calls me I'll update with the situation there.

Do you have an update since your friend arrived? I leave in a few days for Penang tourist visa. Thanks!

Do you have an update since your friend arrived? I leave in a few days for Penang tourist visa. Thanks!

You better be quick. They will be closed after 30th for new year.

A December day at Penang Consulate:

The visa official: - "Hey Somchai, can u bring another box of stickers"

- Messenger: - "Kraaap"

After 10 minutes... :

Messenger: - "Solly mai mee, sticker mot leow"

- Visa official: - "Hmm.. Mai bpen lai" Khin kao khon... They can go back to Muang Thai, they get 15 days free of charge. No need saticker.

- Somchai: Chai... Mai bpen lai...

LOL

This year is pretty much over for the Penang cousulate anyway. They will be closed on Monday the 29th for a local holiday.

As well as the 31st to the 4th.

Source: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2781.php?pid=2911

I think that the actual reason is that they now, with the influx of applicants, went over their quota instead of being out of stickers.

That is absurd. Why would there be a QUOTA for tourist visas? Thailand wants to LIMIT tourism when the hotels are crying out for customers? Why?

Do you think it's absurd because you have proof of that or because your limited imagination tells you?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-Embassy...tor-t14674.html

Here one example (second post) that consulates are limited by quotas (be it either daily quotas, quotas for a certain type of visa, quotas for certain nationalities).

Furthermore, consulates in Vientiane and Penang don't regularly deal with common tourists who 'live in hotels'. They are mostly long time stayers.

Edited December 26, 200817 yr by sniffdog

Do you think it's absurd because you have proof of that or because your limited imagination tells you?

My limited imagination, of course.

The quota topic is a bit dated. August of 2004

It's not a quota to where they shutdown taking applications until after the first of the year.

It's a daily quota that some offices have. That's been reported for KL. They just cannot handle more than a certain number per day.

Vientiane now takes as many as can be accepted until 12 o'clock. They have started closing the gate early because they don't want a bunch of people stuck in line. One report was they opended the gate again after the line was gone and let a few more people in.

wow, supposed to grab a visa their on the 30th. Any update on this?

Last month I tried to head there the PAD had taken over the airport. This time no stickers.

Don't know why I bother sometimes

wow, supposed to grab a visa their on the 30th. Any update on this?

Last month I tried to head there the PAD had taken over the airport. This time no stickers.

Don't know why I bother sometimes

There doesn't seem to be much in the way of corroboration.

April's a long way off.

Lovely joke though you have to admit.

wow, supposed to grab a visa their on the 30th. Any update on this?

Not going to happen mate.

Closed monday 29th (local holiday) and then 31st to the 4th.

Possibly open on the 30th but you'll be waiting to pick up your visa until Jan 5th

Correct no confirmation yet. And the 30th is the only day this week they will be open.

There are other places than Penang.

Khota Bharu is issuing 2 entry tourist visas. They are open Sunday to Thursday. So open today to Tuesday then closed until next Sunday.

wow, supposed to grab a visa their on the 30th. Any update on this?

Not going to happen mate.

Closed monday 29th (local holiday) and then 31st to the 4th.

Possibly open on the 30th but you'll be waiting to pick up your visa until Jan 5th

Called my agent there and they said they now have stickers again and same day visas are no problem.

Cross my fingers I guess

Called my agent there and they said they now have stickers again and same day visas are no problem.

Cross my fingers I guess

hey

i go Penang for first time on january,5. Who is your agent and where ? and how much charge for make visa ?

can i get visa 2 entry ?? or only a single ?

Thanxxx

miche

You will only get a single entry and there have been a couple of recent reports of getting the Visa in one day.

I would have thought that the 5th would be very busy as it is the first day after the holiday.

hey

i go Penang for first time on january,5. Who is your agent and where ? and how much charge for make visa ?

can i get visa 2 entry ?? or only a single ?

Thanxxx

miche

Single entry only. Only Vientiane Laos and Khota Bharu Malaysia issue 2 entries.

Here is an agent that many members have reccomended.

Link: http://www.banananewguesthouse.com/

I don't know what they charge but reports are that using an agent does not cost much more than the 2 round trips to the consulate would cost. You can contact them by email.

I'd also recommend banana guesthouse/bar for VISAs

Do not go to Penang for multiple B year visa if your company has less than 8 million Baht registered.We just got back from there and were "allowed" to get a NON B single entry for 3 mnths.

just back from penang. Got a tourist visa in one day (30th) without any problems. I used Banana guest house and they are good.

just back from penang. Got a tourist visa in one day (30th) without any problems. I used Banana guest house and they are good.

Thank You.

It is becoming clearer that Visas can be obtained in one day in Penang.

just back from penang. Got a tourist visa in one day (30th) without any problems…

For my list I assume that this was a single-entry tourist visa.

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Maestro