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What are the steps and tips for obtaining a Thai visa in Penang, Malaysia?
Nov 24, 2017
8 years ago
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHEADS UP FOR THE ONES LOOKING TO MAKE A THAI VISA (ANY KIND).
I just did my second Thai Tourist Visa in Penang, Malaysia and it's so far the easiest way since I did many different locations.
Smooth entry at Penang immigration airport, no visa requested and they just take your fingerprints.
Also possible to switch passport in case you are bi-national as I am. They don't request any stamp out from another country in your passport as it is requested for example in Laos.
Then, go to Jim's Place (best ever agent in Penang) at Chulia Street.
They can manage it all for you, any kind of visa and also they can handle the onward flight ticket and hotel booking for you. Total cost : RM 290.00
Plus, if you want to avoid crowded Don Mueang immigration by flying back in, then take the minivan from Jim's Place to cross the boarder by land and direction to Hat Yai airport to take a domestic flight. The trip by minivan is around 4 hours, easy boarder crossing. Cost for the minivan is RM 40.00.
Just do not forget to get the 20K thai baht in cash with you as the Thai immigration officer might ask for it.
I wasn't ask for it on my first trip but was asked a couple of days ago. An american couple didn't get it and was a bit in trouble until they found an ATM to get cash.
Enjoy your smooth trip.
PS : last advice, get a room at Chulia Mansion on Chulia Street as it is 50 meters from Jim's Place and 100m. from bars to spend your nights there and a very good one.
I just did my second Thai Tourist Visa in Penang, Malaysia and it's so far the easiest way since I did many different locations.
Smooth entry at Penang immigration airport, no visa requested and they just take your fingerprints.
Also possible to switch passport in case you are bi-national as I am. They don't request any stamp out from another country in your passport as it is requested for example in Laos.
Then, go to Jim's Place (best ever agent in Penang) at Chulia Street.
They can manage it all for you, any kind of visa and also they can handle the onward flight ticket and hotel booking for you. Total cost : RM 290.00
Plus, if you want to avoid crowded Don Mueang immigration by flying back in, then take the minivan from Jim's Place to cross the boarder by land and direction to Hat Yai airport to take a domestic flight. The trip by minivan is around 4 hours, easy boarder crossing. Cost for the minivan is RM 40.00.
Just do not forget to get the 20K thai baht in cash with you as the Thai immigration officer might ask for it.
I wasn't ask for it on my first trip but was asked a couple of days ago. An american couple didn't get it and was a bit in trouble until they found an ATM to get cash.
Enjoy your smooth trip.
PS : last advice, get a room at Chulia Mansion on Chulia Street as it is 50 meters from Jim's Place and 100m. from bars to spend your nights there and a very good one.
TLDR : Answer Summary
This post describes a streamlined process for obtaining a Thai visa in Penang, Malaysia, particularly highlighting Jim's Place as a reliable agent. The author shares personal experiences, emphasizing the ease of entry into Malaysia, the lack of strict immigration checks, and the services offered by local visa agencies, including hotel bookings and onward flight arrangements. Key tips include carrying 20,000 Thai Baht for immigration and opting for a land crossing to avoid busy airports. Commenters share additional insights and experiences regarding visa types and the reliability of different agents.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Thai Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Richard ***********
We just got back from Penang yesterday. Used
@Jim **************
and got 1 year non B and 3 month O for my Cambodian wife. Thanks @Jim **************
! :)Christine ***********
@Tod ********
thats great news! I will go next week and report back. Remembered that friday is a holiday so doing a border hop today and going to penang next weekTod *********
@Chri*****
, I have read reports where people going to get Non-B's had their spouses go with them and get Non-O's at the same time.Christine ***********
@Tod ********
that is the initial visa i want my husband to go on seeing as i have a contract at a school. Would he be able to apply for thi s visa directly as i apply for my non b. Or does he have to do tv firstTod *********
@Chri*****
, it's the visa a person needs to be on when they have a spouse legally working here. That lets them 'piggy back' onto the year extension.Christine ***********
I know this post is old but what did you need to get a O visa for your wife Richard?
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERAs I previously said, not only simple Tourist Visa 😉👍👌
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Chris ********
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Joe ********
Banana Boutique provides a decent service also.
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHeard about them and went there on my 1st time but had bad experience and ran to Jim’s instead where I was totally satisfied and well served.
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Chris ********
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Steve *******
I guess it all depends on where you are in Thailand. Penang is known, and has been for a long time, as a user friendly consulate and Jim is certianly a good agent down there. However, its a bit ambiguous stating its the best for "any kind" of visa. That certainly isnt the case.
Steve *******
Chris Helfer. People know already, it doesnt need me to comment. I guess you're new to this
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI just stated by experience and Jim is doing more than just tourist visas. If you have other advices, you are free to let us know rather than just commenting like this. This might help more.
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Chris ********
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Geert ***************
Don't get to excited...
The street is full of offices like Jim's 😂
They can help for Tourist Visum 2 months 1 Entry but nothing else ⁉️
The extra Fee is for handling your Passport and get a Fake Returnticket.
Easy to do yourself, and in front of the Embassy there are people to make fake tickets 👍🏽
All this Offices are just a Scam 🤥
For Any other Visum... You won't get in Penang ⁉️
Penang have cheap Guesthouses everywhere, Chula is very Expensive!!!
And now there is a Tourist Tax of 5 Mr/Day/Person...
The street is full of offices like Jim's 😂
They can help for Tourist Visum 2 months 1 Entry but nothing else ⁉️
The extra Fee is for handling your Passport and get a Fake Returnticket.
Easy to do yourself, and in front of the Embassy there are people to make fake tickets 👍🏽
All this Offices are just a Scam 🤥
For Any other Visum... You won't get in Penang ⁉️
Penang have cheap Guesthouses everywhere, Chula is very Expensive!!!
And now there is a Tourist Tax of 5 Mr/Day/Person...
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI’m just giving advices on how to make it smooth if you don’t have time or don’t want to manage it by yourself. Jim’s doing more than just easy tourist visa so you are not right. If you want to make it by yourself you are free to do of course. Visa agents is a business that’s right but no need to state it’s a scam. About the location you wanna stay, up to you and your budget, of course Penang has many cheap guesthouse but not everybody is looking for backpacking style of life and some are able to spend a couple of baht to get a really nice affordable room there. Have also more expensive ones than Chulia mansion of course. And if you cannot afford the new tourist tax of 5 MYR per day then better go to another destination.
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Chris ********
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Jeremy ********
Do you have a contact for Jim?
Jeremy ********
@Chris *******
I got it after I posted this...Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHave a business card pic in the previous comments
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Chris ********
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Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERAs it is Malaysia, RM is Malaysian Ringgit or MYR. Then RM 290.00 is around THB 2300.00 ;-)
Martin ********
thanks
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Martin ********
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Martin ********
whats the cost in bhat as i dont have a fucking clue what RM is, thanks
Koi ****
Thx Chris for your detailed update. As you were travelling from Malaysia to Hat Yai, would that be counted as one land crossing? Max 2 crossing per year still stand right?
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
Thanks for the confirmation 😉Tod *********
What
IF a person is entering the country by a land border with a valid visa for thailand it doesn't count toward the TWO entries by land in a calendar year. That is only when entering the country on 30 day visa exempt entry stamps.
@Tho***
, said (y) IF a person is entering the country by a land border with a valid visa for thailand it doesn't count toward the TWO entries by land in a calendar year. That is only when entering the country on 30 day visa exempt entry stamps.
Thomas ********************
It's only about exemptions
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERGood question, I don't know if the crossing boarder rule just apply for the exemption entry stamp 30 days or even when you get already a proper visa,
@Tod ********
any update on this point ?Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI guess so
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Chris ********
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Simon ********
They are even polite at penang. Which is rare at any immigration
Caroline ********
thanks Chris, I made the same experience with Jim's Place (even so Jim himself wasn't there, but his staff James) !
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERJim his the PR there ahahah and his staff manages it all :-)
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Chris ********
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Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI forgot to mention the time spending for it so you can fly there in afternoon, just arriving there after check-in at your hotel just go to Jim's Place to sign documents needed and pay before 8pm. The next day they go to the embassy to make it for you so you have a free day to visit Penang. The day after you go back to Jim's Place and will get your passport back at around 2:30pm. If you booked the minivan, this one will start around 3:30pm. It takes around 4 hours to go to Hat Yai, the dropping point is the bus station but you can ask the driver to drive you to the airport for a nice tip. Just book your flight back not to early as you it might take time at the boarder to cross depending on how crowded it is. The last time, I was about to miss my flight at 8:30pm so better be precautious and book the next flight around 9:30pm.
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERDefinitely the reason why I did both times like this.
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHe's also reachable on Facebook messenger, here is his link :
@https://www.facebook.*********************
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERAnd don't need to book with him, just show yourself there at his office, very easy, if you go there before 8pm then they will manage your visa on the next day and get it back to you the day after at 2.30pm
Noel ********
@Chris *******
thank youChris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERNot really a website but here you have his business card for contact info :
Noel ********
@Chris *******
does Jims Place have a web site or contact details to make booking ect?Reply to
Noel ********
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Tod *********
Thanx for the update. Good tip to cross by land and fly to Bangkok domestically. That avoids the possibility of being questioned coming off an international flight by passport control at Don Mueang (y)
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Tod *********
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