What are the best options for applying for an ED Visa in Southeast Asia, and what are the experiences with embassies in Penang and Vientiane?

a 90 day ED visa is 2000baht in Vientiane and in Penang it is 300 RM ..

@Ch***

, (y)

I would stay away from the thai consulate in Phnom Penh as they have a longer waiting period to get your passport back than other consulates in the area.

Chris I'd say Penang will probably give you an Ed Visa fine if your paperwork is in order. I'm saying "ask your school" simply as they presumably know for all their other students, for that school and the specific course you are following and the paperwork they prepared, whether their other students got the visa OK at consulate X or Y- they are going to be able to advise you on this better whether a consulate is OK *for that school* than random people on Facebook. For general travel advice though Penang is a nice place for sure.

I have got several tourist visas there, it is one of the easier consulates historically. I have been there plenty both getting visas and not getting visas, I have spent several months there total out of maybe a year in Malaysia. It's a really nice place for sure, my favourite part of Malaysia and a really beautiful city. And the consulate is relatively easy going although they have tightened up a bit recently on the tourist visa front. So- as a place to go, it is great, IMO. Regarding whether Penang will give you an ED visa specifically though you need to ask your school. I got my own ED visa in Vientiane.