Had Too Many Visas?

[Coling2k2]

OK. I just went on another visa run to Penang. I went to banana guest house as always and they seem to think I will be refused. Here's my visa history

Landed Phuket - 27th Jan 2009 - 30 day visa

Visa run Penang - 25th Feb 2009 - 60 day tourist

Visa run Penang - 8th April 2009 - 60 day tourist

Left Thailand - 16th May 2009 - In Europe until I flew to Malaysia for a wedding then

visa in Penang - 13th Nov 2009 - 60 day tourist visa

Visa run Penang - 11th Jan 2010 - 60 day tourist visa

Visa run Penang - 12th March 2010 ..........

Say I can't have more than 3 tourist visas in a one year period. Obviously I've already done this once but they're saying I can't. They're also saying I can only get 3 on entry visa's in one year. I was thinking Maybe I could do 2 border runs which would bring me past the 8th of april that would make 2 of my visa's over a year old. But then he said there is a limit to how many times I can just enter malaysia without notice. This is really quite troublesome for me as I have flights booked in June with a friend to go back to the United Kingdom and was hoping to reside in thailand 'til then. Was going to do my Dive Masters course. Any help you guys can give me would be great.

Thanks,

Colin

[guavagirl]

As far as I know you should be fine. They are refusing people who have had 3 or more 60 day tourist visas and then gone to get a 30 day extension at immigration. From what you have said you have never done this. Plus, you were in Europe for a few months in between.

Go see Jim up the road from Banana. He can sort you out or least of all let you know if you can get another visa.

Good luck!

[lopburi3]

There is no limit on border crossing visa exempt entries - Consulate has nothing to do with them.

[Coling2k2]

So you're saying that I can cross the border as many times as I want? Is this true of Malaysia as well. I was counting my Malaysian stamps and it seems I've also done that more times than I'm supposedly allowed. Worst comes to worse I don't mind doing a border run every 2 weeks if thats what it takes. Just is important I am in Thailand in June, then KL for my flight. Will go see Jim in a minute and post back on here the results. Sincere thanks for the help guys

[lopburi3]

One flame removed for that and language.

[Coling2k2]

Ok. I think my current plan is to go to the consulate tomorrow with a printed bank statement showing that I have sufficient funds to stay here until June. Also print off my flight details flying out of KL on june 13th and ask them for a 2 month visa. Thinking that explaining to them that my hotel rent is already paid for. Hopefully I can get a visa out of them this way. Either that or according to another thread on here, you can fly to KL and back and get 30 day visa's indefinately. So if I fail then all I have to do is go back over land and in 2 weeks time fly to KL and back. Then wait 30 days and repeat until I have made it to June then I can leave. Does anyone know of any problems I may have doing this? Should I expect any hassle at any point? And is there a charge for border crossing visa's? Also any other details I should be aware of? Once again, thanks everyone for the help

[PhilHarries]

If you are applying for a tourist visa there is no requirement, AFAIK, for you to prove sufficient funds (well I've never had to). In fact that might work against you as I have read somewhere that some consulates are getting funny about issuing back-to-back tourist visas. Don't ask me for a link to that as it's only a faint memory but lopburi3 is your best guide.

[Coling2k2]

I've never had to prove funds for tourist visas. But every agent here (penang) is saying that I won't get another tourist visa as I've had too many and my best bet is to go down there and be nice. I thought that maybe I can go and if I at least show them 70,000 baht and a plane ticket out of KL in June then maybe they will let me if they were originally gonna reject me. Does it cost at the border to get an on entry visa?

[lopburi3]

15 day visa exempt entry is free at border for those allowed that method.

[Coling2k2]

What do you mean by those allowed that method? I'm british but do have a history of visas in my passport. Only entered visa free once over a year ago by air. This crossing will be by land from penang. Do you know if I'm more likely to have success in KL. My friend has flown to KL 'cos he is in the same boat as me and is thinking he has more chance. Will my internet banking print off and flights print off help do you think if I go to the consolute in penang myself? This really sucks as I'm just here on holiday after saving my ass off in England and was not aware of multi entry visas. Having to leave early will really mess up plans I have with a friend

[lopburi3]

You would be eligible for visa exempt entry - but many people reading would not be.

And yes expect your chance would be better in KL.

[Coling2k2]

And is there any limit on visa exempt entries? I'm hearing 3 here in Penang but no one here seem's to be an expert and you have 28k+ posts on here so I sorta trust you just a bit more

[thaiphoon]

There is no limit on the number of times you can enter the Kingdom on visa exempt entry, but 4 back to back entries at land border crossing may well lead to immigration questioning you as to what you are doing.

[Coling2k2]

Ok, looked at my passport and didn't even accept my forms at the consulate. Gonna be training it down to KL tonight and hopefully have more luck there. Supposedly its almost guaranteed there. I left my bank card in Thailand so gonna be shoe stringing it. So if you could all cross your fingers for me that would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks again for all your advice guys and to sum up. Don't waste your time coming to Penang for a 3rd Tourist Visa unless you can afford to pay the bribe. I'll let you guys know how things go in KL

[Marksamui]

Coling2k2, you are currently outside Thailand yes? You are on a British passport. I am confused why you don't just book a flight into Thailand. You will get a 30 day visa exempt stamp on arrival. If you travel in on land you will get 15 days, by air 30 days.

[thaiphoon]

The Op needs a visa to cover his stay until June. Single entry tourist visa plus extension will fit that bill.

[Coling2k2]

Hoping to get the Tourist Visa in KL tomorrow. Does anyone know of the success rate down there. It would seem that corruption is the cause of grief here from what I've been hearing from locals. So I'm thinking that if I get the Tourist Visa in KL, I'll just go back via land. as for the extra 30 days, I'm reluctant to get the extension due to the famous problem of then getting another tourist visa. I was thinking of when I get back to England of claiming I lost my passport and getting a new one. Would this solve me many problems or is there a sufficient computer system in place in Thailand to thwart that plan of cleaning my slate. Also does anyone know what the visa charge is down in KL. I've heard 1800 but its only 1100 in Penang. And if I don't get the visa I'll whip out a credit card and fly back in and work shit out from there with a bit more spare time. What do you guys think?

P.S. guavagirl, you were right about Jim up the road from Banana, he's an absolute legend

[thaiphoon]

Have seen no reports of tourist visa decline at KL. Single entry visa fee 1,000 baht (equivalent). The 'extension problem' only appears to be at Penang, so the answer is to avoid using that consulate. When back in the UK, on current information, you can apply for 12 month multiple entry Non-O visa through Hull on the basis of visiting friends. 90 day permission to stay on each entry, border runs every 90 days, do a final border run just before your visa expires to receive new 90 day permission to stay stretching your visa to 15 months.

http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/downloads-and-visas.aspx

[Coling2k2]

Yea, the Hull one has been suggested to me twice now and clearly will be what I'm doing next year. May get a new passport regardless. This ones looking messy. Its not the 'Extension problem' that I have, its the amount of tourist visas in my passport already. Oh well, can only try. Will keep you guys updated

[Coling2k2]

Just a quick update to keep everyone informed about the current situation. The KL consulate looked at my passport and actually sccepted my forms this time. I will return tomorrow at about 2.30 to see how the results go. I jst found out my friend had the exact same problem as me and ended up coming to KL as well. He actually had more tourist visa's than me and yesterday recieved yet another one, hassle free. Fingers crossed I get the same results. But yea, its looking good down at the KL Embassy

[Coling2k2]

Alright. Accepted hassle free. So put the word out guys. Unless you wanna pay a 1500 baht bribe to banana guesthouse in Penang then head to KL instead for your tourist visa's. Once again, thanks alot guys for all your help. Its been massively appreciated

[bodunchar]

Hi

My question is am I limited to 3 tourist visas from any one consulate - but I am eligible to go to a different consulate (eg penang, perish the thought) to get a fourth tourist visa?

I have 3 tourist visas from KL, one has been extended at local immigration.

I remember seeing posters in the consulate warning they will give a limit of 3 back to back tourist visas. I phoned them today and they confirmed this.

Does that mean I can get one from Penang? I see Penang doesnt even have a phone number or a link for info on tourist visas... Doesnt look very friendly!

Thanks

[lopburi3]

With any extension of a tourist visa Penang would not be a good choice from most reports. With three consecutive tourist visas you may or may not get another at most locations and it may vary from one day to the next.

[bodunchar]

With any extension of a tourist visa Penang would not be a good choice from most reports. With three consecutive tourist visas you may or may not get another at most locations and it may vary from one day to the next.

Thanks lo' your a star.