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What are the current visa application requirements for South Africans in Kuala Lumpur?

South AfricaVisa ApplicationNon-B VisaNon-O VisaThailandKuala LumpurEmbassyImmigrationExpat ExperienceVisa Rules
Oct 16, 2017
7 years ago
Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello all! We are at the embassy in Kuala Lumpur (we are South Africans) and now they said we should go back to SA to apply for the non B and non O visas! Is this the new rule? Is there anyway around this??
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A South African individual at the Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur is encountering difficulties applying for Non-B and Non-O visas, as the embassy advised them to return to South Africa for the application. Community members discuss alternatives, highlighting Penang's consulate policies as potentially more favorable and recommending visa companies to ease the process. Others share their past experiences and suggest obtaining tourist visas in KL to buy time for better arrangements.
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Ron *******
Answer to the SA problem maybe? Apparently there are a few around and a favourite with the Nigerian contingent.

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7 years ago
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Helmut *******
Thanks. Thats good to know. Useless for us who are trying to do everything legitimately.
7 years ago
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Helmut *******
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Brett ************
@Jim **************
 in Penang is the man who is best at helping you guys as he did all the necessary for my non B
7 years ago
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Helmut *******
Yeah apparently. Was there with a visa run company. They did push the police clearance, so make sure you have it.
7 years ago
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Helmut *******
Yeah And was going to do an extension if needed, but business offering position had prepared the paperwork before that was necessary, so I booked to go to penang and then I received mail from KL saying mine was sorted the day before visa run. Didn't want to change plans or book a last minute flight again as its expensive, so went to penang instead.
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Did you return to Thailand with a tourist 30 day on arrival? When you gave in your things?
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
If they do not want to help with the Non B and O visas , will KL do a 60 day tourist visa? Or do you think any visas done with paper work i.e. not visa on arrivals needs to be done in SA?
7 years ago
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Ron *******
You need bank statements to obtain the visa. You need cash if asked at Thai immigration. You cannot show cash at Embassys and consulates. They won't accept the application.

You cannot show bank statements at immigration.
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
*bankstatements thats the problem :)
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have proof out if Thailand it is the bankstat
7 years ago
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Ron *******
Elani, with no proof of funds I fail to see you will be able to obtain a visa here anyway. You do need to supply Bank statements at these Embassys and consulates. You also need to supply proof of flights out of Thailand.
7 years ago
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Tod *********
If I was to guess, I'd say KL shut down selling ANY type of visa to South African passport holders, BUT I do not really know for a fact.
7 years ago
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Tod *********
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Reiner *********
Penang is an easy consulate and may be u use Jimmys place as an agent to get all done, he knows what u need and if something is missing he can help directly....u can use the train as well from kk to Penang but a flight is quicker !
7 years ago
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Reiner *********
About 5 hours
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
How long is the train ride?
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
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Rebecca *****************
I'm south african and I did my non B in Penang, no issues. But I did it using a visa company crossing the land border - more time consuming but less stress (once you surevive the visa van). You don't even have to show up at the embassy, the agent submits everything, you tour Penang, get your non B the next day and off you go. But make sure your school /agency has supplied you with ALL the correct documents.
7 years ago
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Rebecca *****************
Hi Eleni, I will pm you. Danielle I agree , it's quite scary with a baby. A couple on my visa trip had a 3 month old. Everything turned out ok but it was quite nerve wrecking. Unfortunately with thai immigration laws there only a few options, and a few of us have used one company many times with no issues and no accidents.
7 years ago
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Danielle ******************
It is difficult to do visa runs in a van when you have a 5 month old to consider. Not to mention dangerous. I would never put my child in one of those vans.
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Can you give me the company name and contact details? Please
7 years ago
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Rebecca *****************
My friend has also done several tourist visa runs using the same visa company , most recent run in August - no issues. Malaysia tends to be more strict with south africans than other nationalities so I would definitely use a visa company to get you through the nitty gritty
7 years ago
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Rebecca *****************
December 2016, but the rules haven't changed around non B. The only rule changes have been on tourist visas.
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
When did you do it?
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
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Magdeleen ************
I am currently in Penang I just got told I mis a document and the documents are exacly the same as it was for my previous non B applications.
7 years ago
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Tod *********
@El***
, you & your husband could apply for single entry 60 day tourist visas at the thai consulate while you're in KL.

That'd buy you some more time to come back to thailand and make a new plan
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sorry new to this! :)
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
30 days on arrival?
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
If I had known this I would have gone to another country as well!!!!!
7 years ago
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Magdeleen ************
Yes.. and get documents from my school but I am going to Vietnam. I never wanna see Malaysia ever again.
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
No way! KL refused us point blank! Done! And I have my husband and baby (5 months) soooo disappointed!! What must you do now? Go back to Thailand on a tourist visa?
7 years ago
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Magdeleen ************
No. I have all the documents some agent told me they want to see a letter from the department of education in the province I teach not a national one. It is really ridiculous. I shoul have gone the Vietnam as I wanted to. So if you can go there it is easy. I did a non B in KL 3 months ago and it was the easiest thing ever..
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Urgh!!!!!! So they will not be submitting a visa for you?
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
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Dani ********
😞
7 years ago
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Tod *********
@Elani ******
, there's no way around it in KL. :( They changed their issuing policy a while back.

You would need to use another thai consulate either in Malaysia or another nearby country.
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
So much effort and there is NOTHING on their websites indicating this! Did you return to Thailand on 30 day visa on arrival?
7 years ago
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Helmut *******
They didn't say anything about sending it, but rather to fight to process it so I left my paperwork with them. Not sure how they were going to do it l, but that's what they said to me. I then was sent an email saying it was approved and I just needed to drop off and collect. Crazy.
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Helmut ******
 did you let them do your visa which they send it to SA but it can take 1 + month?
7 years ago
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Helmut *******
Good luck. Had a similar issue a month or so back and they eventually sorted mine out after 3 weeks while i was back in thailand, but i went and redid it in Penang instead and there were no problems at all.
7 years ago
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Ron *******
You will need to show bank statements and flights out of Thailand. KL are pretty strict on the rules.
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Applying for the 60 day tourist visa tomorrow and fetching it Thursday. Does anyone know if there is a form which I can fill in to say that I have the
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baht with me cash? My bank statements from SA is outdated and we took the funds out of it??
7 years ago
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Ron *******
That's not looking good to get an application in Thursday? I would assume the agents have the majority of slots booked?
7 years ago
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Tod *********
@Elani ******
, wednesday the 18th is a holiday at the thai consulate in Penang. It's listed on their calendar here

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7 years ago
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Tod *********
Well spotted
@R**
, (y) the 18th is a holiday and the immigration office is closed :O
7 years ago
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Ron *******
I'm in Penang now visiting some Indian friends. There is a holiday this week here but I've no idea what it effects.
7 years ago
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Ron *******
Ok good luck. Keep us informed how it go's.
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Waiting to here from the school - if need be we will fly tomorrow to do it Wednesday and fetch it Thursday. This is so stressful- if it was just me I would be fine but having a baby with makes things worse urgh! The school will hopefully let me know within the next couple of hours!
7 years ago
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Ron *******
You better get your finger out if your going to Penang. You've missed the slot today but you only have until 11am in the morning to lodge your application. They have also set a limit of 200 applications a day.
7 years ago
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Ron *******
KL airline desks often want you to have an onward flight if your entering Thailand visa exempt. If you have no onward flight they are liable to refuse boarding.
7 years ago
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Tod *********
The thai consulate in Phnom Penh is not the most user friendly thai consulate in S/E Asia. Plus they have a 3 day turn around to get your passport back once you turn in your application.

I'd honestly try Penang. It's between 800 and 1200 baht one way from KL to Penang on Air Asia
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Is Kota Bharu still helping the SAfricans?
7 years ago
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Ron *******
I'm not certain you could enter Vietnam on a SA passport without a visa too.
7 years ago
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Tod *********
Other than Kuala Lumpur, Penang & Kota Bharu are the only other thai consulates in Malaysia.

You'd have to fly to another country and try a thai consulate there OR come back here and figure it out.
7 years ago
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Ron *******
I've no idea where you can fly too regarding Cambodia from KL.
7 years ago
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Ron *******
If your going back to Thailand, you better make sure you have the required funds on you in cash if your attempting to enter visa exempt. 20,000 baht per person
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Can one fly from here to for example Cambodia or somewhere to do the visa?
7 years ago
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Ron *******
Then it's back to Thailand because that's it.
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I dont want to fly there and turns out they wont help me either!
7 years ago
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Ron *******
Fly from KL
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Omw!!!!
7 years ago
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Tod *********
350+ KM
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
How far is Penang from KL?
7 years ago
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Tod *********
@Elani ******
 There are no reports that Penang has adopted the same policy as Kuala Lumpur has in regards to S/A passport holders.

FAR more people go to Penang than the thai consulate in KL. I'd say if there was a problem we'd have heard of it already.
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Oh my goodnesssss! Would you risk going to Penang? Or rather another country?
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
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Tod *********
Penang is still okay with issuing them to people from S/A.
7 years ago
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Maurice *********
Go to Kota Bharu...

KL is a bitch
7 years ago
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Jim *******
On the opposite coast. Nearest Thai town is Sungai Golok. Long way to go.
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Probably a bit of a retarded question, where is that?
7 years ago
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Elani *******************
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