Update on Panang

[leighd7]

Just a update on my visa run.

KL was a no go wanted onwards flights, which i dont have as I am a free spirit.

So proceeded to Penang.

Many Visa agents here for 40 Malaysian Ringgit fee.

I decided to let them take care of it, then come the problem, she went through my passport and reminded me on how many entries I had already had for Thailand which was nine.

Ouch she gave me a choice and said you can go to the embassy yourself and take a chance reminding me that they have become pretty strict now mentioning the new government and telling me that the rules are being more firmly applied and three visas are the limit.

She told me if i pay 250 ringgit she would guarantee my visa and if for some reason they didn't she would refund. also if i did go and they refused that they would no longer be able to help.

She said you might be lucky and not get a red stamp like people have previously.

I had a grumble and a moan about the current situation but decided to put my trust in her and pay the bribe.

Received my passport today with a single entry and no red mark..

So the new government clamping down on stop people staying long time on tourist visas and suppose to be clamping down on corruption..

How corrupt is that pay the immigrations and you defy both their policies..

When they going to realize that they have made a big mistake and this is not the way forward.

As i found today it only makes bigger corruption in the tourist Industry.

Fly in to malaysia 3 months no questions no forms just finger prints.

Come on Thailand wake up now will you........................

[elviajero]

• There is no 3 visa limit issued by the MFA (government). The 3 visa limit applies to getting 3 from Penang. If you hadn't had 3 from Penang in the past you would probably been issued a visa.

The corruption took place in Malaysia not Thailand and at a consulate with Malay employees. Not sure the Thai government have much control over that.

You can't complain about corruption when you pay people to commit the corruption.

Agents have been scamming tourists for years. The recent visa changes haven't increased that problem.

[leighd7]

I not complaining i just passing on my situation to help other when faced with a similar decision.

how are you so so sure about 3 visa limits ?

So many stories but never anything to read official.

wish some one write it all out what is exactly allowed and what is not.

[Asiantravel]

' and three visas are the limit.'

are they talking here about back-to-back visas and over what time frame is this limit of three being applied? Over the life of a 10 year passport?

[elviajero]

I not complaining i just passing on my situation to help other when faced with a similar decision.

how are you so so sure about 3 visa limits ?

So many stories but never anything to read official.

wish some one write it all out what is exactly allowed and what is not.

Because no limit has been announced by the MFA and people with 3 or more tourist visa continue to get more. And because limits applied by individual embassies and consulates has been going on for years.

As it stands there is no limit to the number of tourist visas someone can have or a limit to the time the can stay in Thailand using tourist visas. The only limits are applied locally by embassies and consulates as needed. If you reach the limit in one country you just need to apply in another.

Local limits are not meant to make life hard for genuine tourists but for people working in Thailand using tourist visas.

[Asiantravel]

I not complaining i just passing on my situation to help other when faced with a similar decision.

how are you so so sure about 3 visa limits ?

So many stories but never anything to read official.

wish some one write it all out what is exactly allowed and what is not.

Because no limit has been announced by the MFA and people with 3 or more tourist visa continue to get more. And because limits applied by individual embassies and consulates has been going on for years.

As it stands there is no limit to the number of tourist visas someone can have or a limit to the time the can stay in Thailand using tourist visas. The only limits are applied locally by embassies and consulates as needed. If you reach the limit in one country you just need to apply in another.

Local limits are not meant to make life hard for genuine tourists but for people working in Thailand using tourist visas.

but what is the point? How does switching from making your tourist Visa application in one country to another country make life hard for those who are working here ? wouldn't it be better to just have clarification, transparency and consistency regarding how many someone is entitled to over a set period of time?

[leighd7]

They also said when you return home it resets your limit again.

And these are very old rules not new ones but have been told to enforce them.

Many people I know had up to 4 entry in Laos and then told no m

[elviajero]

Because no limit has been announced by the MFA and people with 3 or more tourist visa continue to get more. And because limits applied by individual embassies and consulates has been going on for years.

As it stands there is no limit to the number of tourist visas someone can have or a limit to the time the can stay in Thailand using tourist visas. The only limits are applied locally by embassies and consulates as needed. If you reach the limit in one country you just need to apply in another.

Local limits are not meant to make life hard for genuine tourists but for people working in Thailand using tourist visas.

but what is the point? How does switching from making your tourist Visa application in one country to another country make life hard for those who are working here ? wouldn't it be better to just have clarification, transparency and consistency regarding how many someone is entitled to over a set period of time?

Well I guess it makes it harder and as such will put some people off. Prior to 2006 it was easy for people to live/work here by just doing a border hop every 30 days. Since then the MFA/immigration have tried various ways to deter people. The problem I see is that they want to tighten up on illegal working but without effecting the genuine tourist.

I think it's transparent already. There is no limit. Embassies/consulates have the right to issue or decline a visa to anyone. It's better for tourists if the embassies and consulates have this flexibility.

[DanceAllNight]

i have a question

i have 3 exempt stamps from 2014, but did not stay the full 30 days each time, a SETV from Vietnam, followed by 2 back-to-back DETV from Vientiane... if i go to Penang, will i be denied... OR... can i apply for 3 more tourist visas from them?

At least I don't need a visa for Malaysia...unlike Laos or Vietnam.

[Asiantravel]

i have a question

i have 3 exempt stamps from 2014, but did not stay the full 30 days each time, a SETV from Vietnam, followed by 2 back-to-back DETV from Vientiane... if i go to Penang, will i be denied... OR... can i apply for 3 more tourist visas from them?

At least I don't need a visa for Malaysia...unlike Laos or Vietnam.

passport holders from some countries don't need a Visa for Vietnam either

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Vietnam

[JackThompson]

Local limits are not meant to make life hard for genuine tourists but for people working in Thailand using tourist visas.

But consulate personnel have no way of knowing the difference, hence the problem. To stop illegal-working, you throw those who hire them, and those who are caught working, in prison - for a year or more. No one would risk it - and the problem is solved.

But then Thai companies would not be able to talk foreigners into working illegally during "probation periods," and schools would not be able to hire teachers illegally. Some do not want their "flexibility" restricted, so this does not happen.

As per my post here - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875379-single-entry-visas-in-malaysia/#entry10209257 (same OP and story) - it is similar in my country. In that case, illegal workers are allowed to wipe out our shrinking middle-class, and move to a more profitable labor system, more similar to that in China, etc.

I think it's transparent already. There is no limit. Embassies/consulates have the right to issue or decline a visa to anyone. It's better for tourists if the embassies and consulates have this flexibility.

Transparent, IMO, would be "You may stay in Thailand up to X months per year on Tourist Visas," or "You can obtain only Y tourist visas from this consulate over a Z-month period," or "You must show $X in funds to qualify." Those are published, and then everyone at the consulate follows those rules precisely. As it is, applicants who wish to follow the rules are left feeling like criminals trying to "get away with something," in many cases, due to uncertainty.