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What challenges are faced when applying for a Thai visa from Penang?

Thailands Visa ProcessPenang Consulate IssuesBank Statement RequirementsVisa Application ChallengesExpat Experiences in Malaysia
May 17, 2025
21 days ago
Zae***
ORIGINAL POSTER
So I’m reaching out currently I’m in Penang doing this process I got here April 25 working with and agency and has been such a crazy ride. Currently waiting on an approval here.

I’ve been asked 3 times for banks statement’s the first time was 6 months the following week again was currently balance. And this week May 12. I was asked again. Mind you the balance way over the required amount 500,000 baht.

Last week they did ask 4 questions on what I do, the Busienss and to provide information which I have done. I have a social media and live stream agency on TikTok and other platforms like twitch which you would think be easy to just be approved and go.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post describes an expat's difficult experience applying for a visa in Penang, Malaysia, involving multiple requests for bank statements despite having an adequate balance. The comments highlight common frustrations with the consulate's slow processing times and repeated document requests. Other users share similar experiences, noting that it's a common issue among applicants, leading to long waiting periods and the need to provide additional documentation. The conversation emphasizes the challenges expats face when navigating visa applications in Malaysia.
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Lizzie *****
Mine asked the bank statement 3 times too with this msg

1 . Other request documents ( Foreign bank statement in English (Maintaining cash balance more than 20,000,000 won each month for up to 3 months) with a letter from the bank stating the balance equivalent to Korean Won or Certificate legalized by Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Korea)

- my bank said no and I didn’t know how to get such certificate the bank statement So I emailed the embassy visa department and they helped me through the process

Email the embassy, they’re helpful :)
21 days ago
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Zae***
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@Lizzie ****
 thank you so much 😊
21 days ago
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Zae***
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Finn *******
I’m in Penang now and I applied in Kuala Lumpur

They just want a bank statement from me showing an ending balance of 500,000 baht
21 days ago
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Zae***
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Finn ******
 also did you go through and agency
21 days ago
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Finn *******
Did online myself but they asked for 8 documents at first and then submitted

And came back and wanted to see I have 500,000 baht in my account
21 days ago
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Zae***
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Finn ******
 ok thank you so much
21 days ago
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Zae***
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Zae***
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Finn ******
 did go person or online
21 days ago
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James ********
Zaeeee All applications are now online.
21 days ago
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Zae***
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 appreciate you so much
21 days ago
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James ********
Zaeeee please update us when you hear from the Thai Embassy or Consulate...

Good Luck 🍀
21 days ago
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Zae***
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 I will promise I will thank you
21 days ago
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Lexi *********
My friend had the same experience, but she’s actually Malaysian. It took her about 5 weeks and after being asked for her bank statements twice, they made her bring them to them in person. Once she did that, they approved it like the next day. Just took forever to get to that step.
21 days ago
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Zae***
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lexi ********
 wow 5 weeks is insane the agency pretty much told me 7 days and than 7-14 days and now they told me 25 days so the frustration is definitely real thank you for telling me your friends experience
21 days ago
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Tod *********
And now you see WHY few if any people are using the three consulates in Malaysia (KL, Penang, or Kota Bharu)

They are SLOW, they are problematic (as in they request the same documents over and over)

Even working with an agency you're totally at the mercy of the consulate staff and have no recourse seeing as everything is thru the online system 😕

You should have researched it better and went to a more "user friendly" consulate in S/E Asia 🙁

Good luck with it
21 days ago
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AllSabaai ******
@Tod ********
 agree with you ka

And his agency was not good to not advise him to avoid there.

The agency is not only do paperwork

The real agency is which is aware about what is happening around and consulting with you with the right guidance

Not only dump documents
21 days ago
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Zae***
ORIGINAL POSTER
@AllSabaai *****
 exactly agreed def agree
21 days ago
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Zae***
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Zae***
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 i agree the process in Penang super long and problematic
21 days ago
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Zae***
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 I try to research much as I could about it before I applied and actually trusted the agency but truth be told I could of file it without the agency and feel like the process would be way better. One the agency in Thailand told me one thing an when I got Asia they information was very wrong why I also encourage those actually ask the agency in the country they gonna file and have go to instead the ones in Thailand as each embassy is different and the requirements I been reading different at each one.
21 days ago
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Tod *********
Almost ANY thai consulate in the area would have been better than those in Malaysia 🙁

You're in the process now, so you wait it out and hope for the best
21 days ago
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Zae***
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 thank you Tod if this doesn’t work here where would be a better place to reapply
21 days ago
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Zae***
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John *******
What is your nationality?
21 days ago
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Zae***
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
 United States
21 days ago
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