Rejoined my Kenyan gf who flew to Penang and to easily and quickly get her tourist visa and enter Thailand, where I have a retirement visa.

She tried getting an educational visa in Nairobi but was told by Thai consulate there it was unlikely and her best option was to go to Penang for a tourist visa.

Surprise when we went to Penang Thai consulate to be told all African visas ~ except for South Africans and Ethiopians ~ were put on hold and must be OK'd by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok....

We were told it could be 2-4 weeks before we get a decision.....which could be a NO.....They offer no explanation for this action but I surmise it's perhaps Ebola-related.

Any Africans here who have found workarounds?

It can also be scam-related or it can be narcotica-related.... They have a tendancy here not to hide behind P-Correctness and tell and act how things are.

Africans is known to have a lot on their "plate" which everybody knows about.... It is a pity that innocent people hurts,, but do not blame it on Thailand, blame it on their fellow africans that do so little to contribute..

I hope it is allowed to say as it is...

Glegolo

it is nothing new for people to not be able to get visas other than in their home country.

Kenya is on this list from the embassy in Vientiane. http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/docs/Restricted%20Countries%202013.pdf

You could try and contact the embassy in KL to see what their policy is. http://www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/th/organize/17230-%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%95%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD-%7C-Contact.html