I'm going to Penang on Sunday on a visa run. I was planning to give my paperwork to one of the visa agencies and let them do all the work. But a friend told me that it isn't allowed anymore, and that applicants must go to the embassy/consulate themselves. Can anyone here confirm that?

thanx.

No reports about that being true. Agents are still allowed.

-- edited. I I suspect that you will need to be at the consulete for them to verify your identity.

Edited October 25, 201312 yr by paz

Since when?

Lots of recent reports of people just handing over passport, documents and application with no need for a trip to the consulate.

That was just my expereince when doing a visa run. Local agency may do differently.

When did this happen? There are periods of see in person ID requirement but normally only a few days at most. And even then are are exceptions made from my personal experience.

Check with the people at the Banana Guesthouse upon arrival.

They will know.

I emailed them a few days ago and haven't received a reply.

Friend of mine did a visa run to Penang last week, mini bus driver collected all the passports and returned them the next day with visas added - no trip to the Consulate was required.

Minigood hotel is cheaper an faster than Banana gh for visa service

( next day for all visas before noon)

2 month tourist visa... give passport + 2 photos in the morning, pref before 10:30 am, to banana or wherever you're staying (many hotels do the same) recieve same day @ 16:00..... just done it.

Edited October 26, 201312 yr by lemonjelly

Tourist visas should never require a personal visit (any travel office can do them) but during clampdowns they may require for non immigrant visa issue from special visa services.

Do they stil give non-O multiple in Penang , and if yes what requirements to show....Not that I need it now but might next year , just orientating what options I have around the area ,thanks .

Tourist visas should never require a personal visit (any travel office can do them) but during clampdowns they may require for non immigrant visa issue from special visa services.

Just for reference, my friend who recently didn't have to go to the consulate when on a visa run in Penang was applying for (and got) a non immigrant 'b' visa.

2 month tourist visa... give passport + 2 photos in the morning, pref before 10:30 am, to banana or wherever you're staying (many hotels do the same) recieve same day @ 16:00..... just done it.

and it cost you 50 MYR for the service PLUS an additional 60 MYR for rush, correct?

MInigood charges 50 myr as most places do, BUT you get it back by noon the next day, banana cant get it to u before 2 om ( so cant make the firefly flight back to phuket)

A friend just returned from Penang saying her whole busload of people had to go to the embassy themselves, that the agent couldn't do the visa for them anymore. Can anyone confirm if agents are still allowed on the whole or if this might have been just an isolated company taking this approach? I've just booked flights to go to Penang for my non-B in May and since I'm going with my 4yo kid, I was really hoping to just dump the paperwork to an agent!

Thanks.

I have seen no reports about it. Suspect it was company problem.

I would suspect it may have more to do with the current missing airline and passport scams in general and is likely true for all. I have seen it happen before.

I did a visa run by mini bus to penang perhaps three years ago and we were required to show up in person to pick it up the following day.