A personalized experience with visa run to Penang
One of the ways to "easily" obtain or extend a visa for Thailand while staying in Phuket and the surrounding area is a visa run to Penang in Malaysia.
This story is the experience of one person (we'll call him Gijs for now) with the visa process in Penang. It should not be considered "typical" or even used as a guideline. But let Gijs' experience serve as a warning to do the necessary homework before embarking on the journey to Penang.
Visa industry
One should be well aware that this seemingly simple journey to the former 'Pearl of the Orient' in Malaysia is not just a paper formality to stay in Thailand. Unintentionally one becomes involved in a large industry with hundreds of employees, who are happy to help arrange the paperwork for someone.
For whatever reason, the process is made obscure enough that one ends up in that industry, which involves agents in Phuket and Penang, visa attorneys, visarun vans, photocopiers, photo takers, taxis, hotels, and some other so-called specialists.
While this broad visa monster was not set up by Thai immigration officials, its complexity, inconsistencies, and the sheer difficulty of doing it yourself have allowed the entire process to grow in such a way that the aforementioned “industry” continues to grow.
Complexity and inconsistencies
Gijs warns that if one wants to fathom and understand the Penang visa process with all imaginable problems and pitfalls, one must be a strong personality with a good educational background, because a "simple soul" cannot figure it out on its own and is forced to depend on assistance , which of course costs money, sometimes a lot of money.
Gijs ended up paying more than 40.000 baht for a process he could have completed himself for a fraction of the cost. The kick, however, is the complexity of the Thai visa process and the seemingly random supplies you'll find on different days or with different staff members.
“I was not prepared for all the additional problems that I had to solve. You have to be brave to try this yourself,” said Gijs. “After I had already lost 40.000 baht, I was told that in 90 days I have to go back to Penang for another part of the process. I am confused and irritated.”'
Phuket Immigration
This was the first time Gijs needed a visa. He says he wanted to get it right and the confusing and contradictory information found online was of little help. So he went to the source, or so he thought. He visited Phuket Immigration three times, trying to determine exactly what he needed and also getting very different answers three times about requirements and necessary papers. He was over 50 and one Immigration official urged a 'Retirement'visum but Gijs wanted to work in Thailand. Going to the Immigration website didn't help either, because the official Phuket Immigration website is in Thai, which Gijs obviously didn't understand.
To Penang
There are two ways to travel from Phuket to Penang – by road or by plane. One can travel by private transport or use a minibus, dozens of which make the journey over poor roads to Penang to allow passengers to arrange their visa issues. Although warned of the risks, Gijs went in such a minibus and described his ride as nail-biting.
Gijs said the problems of the drive south are not a matter of bad drivers, indeed he described his driver as very experienced, pleasant and helpful. But the driver was racing against time. He had to cross the border on time and then deliver his clients to the agents in Penang in time so that the visa application could be submitted before noon. Miss the deadline and it takes extra days and costs and adds a lot of inconvenience to the whole process.
He said that during his journey there was one Eastern European passenger who had overstay problems when he reached the border. He did not have enough money to pay the fine, so the rest of the passengers had to help out financially to avoid further delays, which would cause the Thai consulate deadline to be missed. The hat was passed around to pay the fine for the man. “Just one person on the bus can cause delays for everyone else if everything is not okay at the border.”
By plane to Penang
The other way to get to Penang is to fly with Firefly or AirAsia. Competition from AirAsia this year has really brought prices down and made it a much more attractive option – just an hour in the air. Depending on where one is staying and how valuable one's time is, flying to Penang is worth considering.
The Thai Consulate General
The Thai Consulate General in Penang reported earlier this year that they can only accept the first 100 applications per day. This is not what happens as the two registered 'agents' in Penang (registered to deal directly with the embassy) have 'slots' for their clients. An agent in Penang says: “The Thai Consulate General processes as many as 200 to 300 applications on some days, but mostly through us. They limit the 'walk-ins' to 100 applications per day, if you arrive too late you have to wait until the next day. ”
The number of visa applications processed by the Consulate varies greatly from day to day, depending on the time of year and whether there was a public holiday the day before. A Penang visa agent described the embassy as "flexible."
“We have earned our good standing at the embassy over the years by 'building relationships' and making sure that the applications we send have already been checked to meet all requirements.”
The Thai Consulate General likes to work with the agents, because they act as intermediaries, who remove or improve the bad applications.
Do it yourself
It is absolutely possible to try for yourself the necessary visum but one must be willing to play the 'game' – make sure to be on time (i.e. well in advance) before the gates open, have absolutely the right documentation and have no problem being out in the sun or rain because there is no shade or shelter for the usually long queue.
Costs
Gijs says: “Bring more money than you think you need. I had two passport photos with me, but according to the agent they would not be accepted by the consulate. Don't worry, someone was waiting just outside the gate of the consulate, who wanted to arrange this for me and who could also have photocopies made of my documents.
It is enthusiastically advertised to help everyone through the visa process. And, to make it clear, often their advice is in their best interest, not the applicant's.
In the end, costs kept rising – extra documents to copy, new photos, 'problems' that can be 'speeded up' with an extra payment. Otherwise, the threat is always hanging over the applicants' heads that they will have to wait another day if they don't keep inserting the coins into the visa machine.
Finally
Gijs has learned from this trip. Next time he will go to Penang by plane, which saves him the long bus ride and therefore also a lot of time. He also advised organizing your own accommodation as the rates for the hotels in the 'visa packages' were at least double what you could book online. He also said the accommodations were mostly on the lower end of the quality spectrum. If you have hired a Thai lawyer or agent to help, it is advisable to bring someone who speaks both Thai and English. That can prevent misunderstandings, because the word misunderstanding seems to be a word that is often used as an excuse. Rest assured that any misunderstanding will cost the applicant more money.
Source: (sometimes somewhat loosely) translated article from The Thaiger on line
Has so much changed in the last 5 years? I entered Thailand without a visa in December 2012. In order to stay longer and to get the Retirement Visa, I had to have a longer visa first.
We decided to go to Penang a few days before. I booked a room there through Agoda and we went by train from Hua Hin to Butterworth.
Then the taxi to our residence at Batu Ferrenghi. The next day we checked with the Thai Embassy or Consulate - whatever and saw what time they had to be there and I think I also searched the internet to see what papers I needed. I could easily arrange everything with the young man who was standing there with a car in which he had a camera, computer and printer.
With that to the consulate, indeed we had to wait a long time and when it was my turn, I was given a visa for two months without further ado.
With this visa I could later apply for my Retirement Visa O in Hua Hin. That also went without any problems.
We did not lose 40.000 Baht, just did everything ourselves and there was no problem!
lots of nonsense in this.
Every day there is someone at Banana Boutique Hotel in Penang who will arrange everything for you.
You will receive your passport back the next day or another day later depending on which visa you want.
Costs 400-500 Baht, saves you a lot of hassle and time if you go to the embassy yourself.
ALREADY done 3 times and perfect.
How you travel to Penang is different, by ferry from Satun is fun and you see a lot.
By minibus is the cheapest (all in with hotel) but dangerous.
Plane the fastest and most expensive.
My wife went with such a visarun company.
They are big scammers.
Because everything was fine with my wife, but according to the driver everyone had to pay extra.
So she asked why she has to pay he just said because otherwise she wouldn't be helped.
And she had to pay 2000 bath exsta others had to pay 4000 to 5000 bath.
There was also no logic in just seeing what they could pull out of the People.
Doesn't make sense because this was not at immigration but just at the bus and the money was put into the company's own pockets by the company itself.
The trip was 1800 bath, I had asked are there any other costs.
No, this was all I had to transfer the money first, then she was picked up on Wednesday.
Afterwards I called that company and complained a lot, you know what they said you are in Thailand then you know that is normal.
I demanded the money back because otherwise I would publish how she worked on the internet.
Then I was told the following, if they found out that I did that, they would come by and we would never be able to put anything on the internet again.
My wife wanted us to forget about it
Amazing Thailand
I once applied for a 1-month visa in Kuala Lumpur, then I thought I had lost 3 baht for a single entry visa??? Doesn't really interest me that much up to a 1000 euro. (Dutch price for single I thought) At least in Germany where I always get it otherwise.
Just checked and came up with this form from the KL embassy.
http://www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/contents/images/text_editor/files/TR%20non%20list_kc%20(1)%20(3). Pdf
That story of 40.000 baht seems grossly exaggerated to me. If you are at the mercy of "agents" it will cost quite a bit more, but 40.000 baht is unbelievable.
And if you're a little bit smart, you can indeed just arrange it yourself. Have the right documents, passport photos and passport at hand. Get to the Thai Consulate/Embassy, on time, then see where you end up. Maybe you should come back the next day, so what. That's not the cost.
Weird story.
Another tip: Before you travel to Penang, speak to one of the Tourist Police representatives in the Immigration office (they are always present in Phuket during office hours) who are helpful and can avoid language problems. Good luck with the application!
I recommend the consulate in Kota Bharu, which is easily accessible from Sungai Kolok (Narathiwat). No hassle or high costs for your visa.
Been to Penang many times from 1990 to 2009 for any kind of visa. From Hua-Hin by night bus to Hatyai. At the bus stop are several restaurants and booking offices for a minibus to Penang. At the border you all go out and you have to go through customs individually. Had 1 time 2 days overstay, just pay and no problem. The Minibus stops in the old part of town at their 'agents', usually guesthouses with an internet cafe. I always had more documents with me than needed and of course a few copies of everything. Showing off a kilo of extra paper is less of a problem than what you can otherwise have. At the time, the agent (owner of the guesthouse who also had a currency exchange office) looked for what he would need himself. Gave me the necessary form and advised how to fill it out. They asked between 500 and 1500 Baht over all these years. I looked for a Guesthouse in the area for only 250 baht, sober but neat. Until the last time the cop told me the system had changed. They served it in person. the agent helped me with the documents needed and called someone to take me there on a motorbike. There was a line, but I don't think it lasted more than half an hour. I was supposed to come back 2 days later but told I was a single parent and had 3 young children at home who were alone. I was able to come back the next day and was in time for the minibus that took me to Hatyai. The Touring car from Hatyai to Bangkok dropped me off in front of my house in Hua-Hin. So 1 night on Penang, 2 nights on the bus. Usually I went there for an 'O' visa, had the divorce certificate with me and birth certificates for the 3 children. Never had a problem, not even at the border. I have done Visa runs in Ranong (Myanmar) and also in Chiang Sean to Laos, last time in Nongkrai.
We have known for a long time that it is different everywhere. However, for some people it is also 'different than usual'. How could that be? There are those here who speak of a period from 10 to even 30 years ago. I suspect that some things have already changed in that time and that this is no longer representative in this time. My experiences with immigration, embassy, etc. have always been positive. Never had to use an agency or anything. I would like to add that I always informed myself well in advance and that I always met the necessary conditions 100%. Now nothing has changed for me, it still runs smoothly if I want to get my year extension.