14:30 arrival in Penang, still possible to obtain visa by next day?

[Danielll]

I will be heading to Penang to apply for a tourist visa, I won't be going with a visa run company because I'm meeting some friends there and need to stay an extra day. I need to arrive on the 30th of March which is a Thursday.

 

My issue is that...

1. There don't appear to be any buses that go from Phuket to Penang, only from Hat Yai.
2. The very earliest bus from Hat Yai looks like 8:00 - 8:30 am
3. The travel time from Hat Yai to Penang looks to be around 5 hours
4. You need to submit your visa application before 11:30 am

 

So based on travel times and visa submission rules I would need to submit the next day (Friday the 31st of March) instead which would then mean I need to wait until the following Monday to collect the visa. This also doesn't work for me as I need to be back before the 2nd of April (Sunday). 

 

Specifically in Penang, I have heard of some instances of same day tourist visa applications, or maybe some agents that are able to submit after 11:30 am without issue. So my question is, would there be any way I can guarantee I'll get my passport/visa back on the next day even though I've submitted my application late?

[ubonjoe]

You will not be able to apply that late in the day. It is no longer possible even using an agent. Same day pickup is also not possible.

There are visa run companies that go from Phuket to Penang that leave in the evening arrive the next morning to do the application. I assume you could leave on the evening of the 29th instead of the 30th. If am certain could make arrangements with them for a one way trip.

[Danielll]

 

Hi Ubonjoe, thanks for the help. The evening of the 29th is possible however all the visa run companies I looked at are on a return trip and include a hotel when I just need a one-way trip and no hotel. I've actually just found an Air Asia flight which is only around 1000 baht more than the bus at 1900 baht, leaves the evening of the 29th and arrives 8:10 am on the 30th. The fun part is it's over a 7 hour stop in Kuala Lumpur but seems like the way to go as based on your advice arriving late isn't an option and I thought it was a bit of a long shot anyway.

[ubonjoe]

The 7 hour layover in Kuala Lumpur sounds like a better option than a overnight ride in a van to me.

I was doing a edit of my post when you replied. I added the part about asking for a one way visa run.

[Evilbaz]

You could pay a bit more and fly direct with Firefly.

[Danielll]

Yeah, thanks for the suggestion, issue for me is I'd arrive a day early and have to pay for another night of the hotel and book another day off work.

[Lovethailandelite]

22 minutes ago, Danielll said:

Yeah, thanks for the suggestion, issue for me is I'd arrive a day early and have to pay for another night of the hotel and book another day off work.

Are you applying for the right Visa if your working?

[Deepinthailand]

6 hours ago, Danielll said:

Yeah, thanks for the suggestion, issue for me is I'd arrive a day early and have to pay for another night of the hotel and book another day off work.

Oh dear can of worms just opened

[Rhys]

Quote

 

 

Hmmm .... I wonder how this turns out....  generally apply in the AM...pick in the afternoon next day...

[4evermaat]

I think normally the visa run companies want to get there on monday.  This monday Thai Consulate might be closed due to Makka Bucha holiday (observed).  So tuesday would be the earliest anyway; your probably better off using an agent (Jim's Place) as the Consulate is likely to be PACKED.

 

But there should be direct phuket to penang [mini]bus service; they would pickup on the beach.  800-900 baht.  I thought there was a daily service.  

 

In any case, UbonJoe also made a good recommendation to ask the visa run company about a one-way ticket.

[overherebc]

Also check the new thread started on having a flight ticket booked out of Thailand, hotel booking etc and maybe cash to show.

[mitos]

Documents you’ll need

When you asking for Visa 2th time you must bring still: e.i. best of all bring at 1st time

• Passport
• 2x photo
• Copy Passport with picture and copy passport with last Visa (At Thai Consulate at working hours it’s Van where you can copied and take a picture)
• Arrival/Departure Card (which’re getting on the border)
• Travel ticket (the best of avio ticket follow train ticket, bus ticket, boat ticket, etc.)
• Your contract to your lodging (apartments or house or hotel or etc.) in Thailand where a momentary is your address
• Statement of your bank in your country (display of Bank which it’s must not been older then 3 months)

 

http://www.mitpod.com/thai-visa-penang-island-malaysia/