Recent Visa Run To Penang

[tvh13]

I recently went on a visa run to Penang. I was taken by minivan on an arduous ride starting at around 10pm and arriving directly to immigration around 9:30am. In case your care I found that the front row of the minibus has more opportunity to stretch legs.

My mission was to secure an ED visa which I did. I traveled with a number of others looking for various types of visa.

There was a box flyers for Big Banana visa services on conspicuous display at the Immigration office and I noticed when walking the town that Big Banana had a large banner in front of their guest house advertising their services.

The employees seemed very friendly and extremely accommodating especially considering their work load. People who didn't have some of the documents they were allowing to have them faxed. One person who had made his second trip in a week trying for an ED visa they gave a second 3-month tourist visa when it became apparent that he was not going to be able to secure the needed paperwork from his "school".

I will say for those going. The trip is a long one and it is not something that you want to do twice. The main problems I saw were people coming without the requisite paperwork. I suggest being very careful when trusting companies (employers)and "schools" that promise visas. One person was promised a one year student visa only to find that the "school" would not supply its credentials. They sent him on a wild chase that was bound to fail and were not sympathetic to his plight. Better to be sure before you go than to deal with the frustration after driving in a minbus all night and be denied once you get there (and if you don't have a multi entry visa loose your status which I saw happen).

[Colabamumbai]

A legitimate school sends you the paperwork, but you must be out of the country to take the paperwork to your consulate or embassy to receive a 6 month or one year education visa, they send documents, including the name of the owner of the school, the principal, and sometimes the principals photo, all documents have the signatures of the owner and principal of the school. The school goes to the Ministry of Education here in Thailand, I'm not sure why, I guess that it is part of the legitimate process.The embassy or consulate retains only the letter and in my case returned all the documents to me telling me that the school can use them again for me saving them money to re do them. They just kept the attached letter saying that I had paid for the course. Thai Language Solutions will look after you professionally.

[Flatouthruthefog]

A legitimate school sends you the paperwork, but you must be out of the country to take the paperwork to your consulate or embassy to receive a 6 month or one year education visa, they send documents, including the name of the owner of the school, the principal, and sometimes the principals photo, all documents have the signatures of the owner and principal of the school. The school goes to the Ministry of Education here in Thailand, I'm not sure why, I guess that it is part of the legitimate process.The embassy or consulate retains only the letter and in my case returned all the documents to me telling me that the school can use them again for me saving them money to re do them. They just kept the attached letter saying that I had paid for the course. Thai Language Solutions will look after you professionally.

I am sure you are right.

But at the risk of changing the topic slightly, let me warn everyone of the experience of my close chum who (wrongly) followed my (outdated) advice to fly to Penang from Chiang Mai last week for a Tourist visa.

He came in from UK with a 2 month Tourist visa and wanted a new 2 or 3 month Tourist. He is 64.

He was refused point blank by the Thai male at the Penang Consulate on the grounds that "you are over 58 and must apply for a Non-Immig O or Retirement visa. Where is your evidence?"

Of course, he nearly fell over. He is a high spender with no aspirations to work here, get married here or Retire here. He did (Retirement plan), but is now changing his mind!!

Where on earth did the arbitrary figure of 58 come from, and why turnj down just the sort of tourist that Thailkand needs?

A total and uttere waste of time and money. Hhe came back in with 30 days and will then go home. Everyone loses, especially Thailand!

[lopburi3]

Flames removed - next time will get official warnings.

[tvh13]

A legitimate school sends you the paperwork, but you must be out of the country to take the paperwork to your consulate or embassy to receive a 6 month or one year education visa, they send documents, including the name of the owner of the school, the principal, and sometimes the principals photo, all documents have the signatures of the owner and principal of the school. The school goes to the Ministry of Education here in Thailand, I'm not sure why, I guess that it is part of the legitimate process.The embassy or consulate retains only the letter and in my case returned all the documents to me telling me that the school can use them again for me saving them money to re do them. They just kept the attached letter saying that I had paid for the course. Thai Language Solutions will look after you professionally.

I think that you mean someone applying for an ED visa must leave Thailand (if they are already here) and bring the appropriate papers to a Thai Embassy or Consulate? I read your post as saying that I must bring to my consulate or Embassy (which would mean a US Embassy) and I just want to be clear so that others are not misinformed. My school supplied me with the papers that you describe and I then when to Penang to the Thai Embassy to acquire my ED visa.

[Colabamumbai]

A legitimate school sends you the paperwork, but you must be out of the country to take the paperwork to your consulate or embassy to receive a 6 month or one year education visa, they send documents, including the name of the owner of the school, the principal, and sometimes the principals photo, all documents have the signatures of the owner and principal of the school. The school goes to the Ministry of Education here in Thailand, I'm not sure why, I guess that it is part of the legitimate process.The embassy or consulate retains only the letter and in my case returned all the documents to me telling me that the school can use them again for me saving them money to re do them. They just kept the attached letter saying that I had paid for the course. Thai Language Solutions will look after you professionally.

I think that you mean someone applying for an ED visa must leave Thailand (if they are already here) and bring the appropriate papers to a Thai Embassy or Consulate? I read your post as saying that I must bring to my consulate or Embassy (which would mean a US Embassy) and I just want to be clear so that others are not misinformed. My school supplied me with the papers that you describe and I then when to Penang to the Thai Embassy to acquire my ED visa.

Thai Embassy or Consulate as the visa is for Thailand, sorry for the confusion...