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What is the best visa service in Penang for a Non-Imm B work visa?

Visa ServicesThailand ImmigrationNon-Imm B VisaPenangExpat TravelDocument Collection Services
Oct 4, 2017
7 years ago
Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello. I have booked my own flights from Samui to Penang, and am staying three nights. Can anyone recommend a good Visa service in Penang? Ie. pick up my documents etc, then pick up my passport with Visa the next day? This is for a Non-imm B work Visa (my lawyer has prepared all docs), or would you recommend just going to the office myself? Thank you!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The original poster seeks recommendations for a reliable visa service in Penang to handle a Non-Imm B work visa application, including document pickup and passport return. The conversation reveals that there are various options available, including using local guesthouses that provide visa services, or handling the application personally to save costs. Several users provide insights about recent flight connections between Samui and Penang as well as accommodation suggestions.
Davide ***********
Firefly? now they restore flight Samui - Penang?
7 years ago
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Narelle ************
I flew Surat Thani to kl and then Penang all on air Asia about 2 weeks ago. Can't book it as one trip
7 years ago
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Davide ***********
I was sure before had Suratthani - Penang, maybe they suspended same Samui - Penang
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
Most people from Koh Samui I meet in Penang going by minivan,... Horror!!! 😱😱😱
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
AirAsia doesn't do Surat to penang. Not sure if anyone else does?
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
@Davide **********
 Ohh did not know about that one :-)
7 years ago
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Davide ***********
why not Suratthani - Penang ?
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yep, with BKK Air first leg.
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
You can go Samui to KL and then Penang I believe.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
No, sorry
@Dav***
. I'm doing long haul SAM-URT-KL, then KL-PEN, all with AirAsia.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
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Linden *******
Silly money flights from samui to, dont know why anyone pays it and so close to mainland to
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
BKK Air with a resident's card isn't too bad, but it's still extortionate, compared with domestic flights anywhere else in the world. It's because they own the airport, so have a monopoly. But without a direct flight, the trip is a pain in the ass.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
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Linden *******
Visa office closes on wkend n takes 2 days all in all to get it and they drop off passdports etc early morning. So for a 1st time run ur cutting it fine
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I can get in Monday morn, pick up Tuesday arvo. It's not my first non-imm B one year visa, just first in Penang. This is why I want to use a service :) I have my work permit and all company docs etc, so hopefully there won't be any issues? Fingers' crossed.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
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Julia ************
Also, a really nice place to stay with amazing value for the money is Chulia Mansion Hotel. Super clean rooms, comfortable beds and really big breakfast buffet. Almost next to Jim‘s place as well.
7 years ago
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Julia ************
The one I mean looks like this:
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Julia ***********
 you. are. an absolute. star. Thanks so much! I think I'm a bit on the old side for "party" hostel, but I'll defs look up the Chulia Lane Red Inn! Cheers again. x
7 years ago
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Julia ************
Well, when I was in hostel mood I stayed at Tipsy Tiger but that‘s a party hostel - not sure if that‘s your thing. Another good place (non-party) is Red Inn Heritage guest house but there are apparently 3 different ones. I mean the one that‘s closest to Chulia Lane and has dorms (think the others only have private rooms).
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Julia ***********
 that could be it. I looked up on Agoda. But still, I wouldn't mind staying somewhere nice for two nights. I get in late the first night, so might as well stay at a hostel. Do you know of any near there that are good? :)
7 years ago
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Julia ************
Check agoda! I‘m sure the maximum I ever paid was 68rm/night. Standard might be fully booked for your dates though. It‘s becoming really popular...
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Julia ***********
 cheapest I can find it is 4,000 baht for three nights. I might be a tightarse and do two here, first in a hostel. Thanks for the update!
7 years ago
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Julia ************
Last time they gave me an upgrade but the rooms are all the same, just smaller size for the cheapest type 🙂. Stayed there 3 times now and am always happy to return.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Awesome, thanks Julia! I'll look it up :)
7 years ago
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Julia ************
I think last time it was around 65rm.
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
Whats their room rate?
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
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Linden *******
All guesthouses in Georgetown do the visa thing very easy to do, if u want to save a little money u can do visa yourself,
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you so much! I'm going with Jim, as he's come highly recommended on here, and by friends in Samui :)
7 years ago
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Kate ********
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Linden *******
Its very easy, no u dont need a visa for penang, ive done it many times
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Actually, shit. Do I need a visa for Penang? The Google is giving me conflicting reports.
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
No worries 😉
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Valère ************************
 exactly. When I was searching, I was getting conflicting opinions, but this has sorted it all out in an hour. Thank you again for all of your help! x
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
Your flight KL to Penang is just a domestic flight.... you'll go through immigration in KL
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
As I said
@Fred ********
: Phu Quoc is a part of Vietnam, yet has different Visa requirements to the rest of Vietnam, so I'm just doing the correct thing and checking. Call me anally retentive because I'm an accountant. But I'm super glad you have my back! 😇 Anyways, enough responding to trolls... back to work!
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
No prob. I wish i had fb for info 25 years ago.... would have saved me a lot of money and lost time 😀 happy to share experience. We used to carry 5 kilo of books that outdated the moment they hit the shelves 😂😂😂😂
7 years ago
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Fred *********
Same country is it not - called Malaysia last time I checked.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Valère ************************
 I sound like such a bimbo. But I googled it, and it said that Penang had different requirements. I think I'm all good, lol. Just checking! (My geography isn't that bad; I found out the hard way when I went to Phu Quoc, which is Visa exempt for 30 days, which is different to the rest of Vietnam, that I needed a Vietnamese Visa to transit through Ho Chi Minh, so I didn't want to make the same mistake). Thank you for all of your help!
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
No. Penang is also Malaysia 😁
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Valère ************************
 Australian. I know I don't need one for KL, as I've been in and out multiple times, but not sure if Penang has different requirements.
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
What passport do you hold?
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
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Enri **********
A question to the OP, maybe a bit off topic. Did Firefly airline start again its direct flight Samui-Penang after it cancelled this route almost one year ago? Or is a new route operated by Bangkok Air? Sorry for the off topic question.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Enri *********
 no. Samui-Surat Thani-KL with AirAsia, then AirAsia from KL to Penang. The first trip is a bitch, with the only option being a 4 hour lay-over in KL, but the trip back isn't too bad.
7 years ago
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Enri **********
Ok, so Samui-KL with Bangkok Air and then KL-Penang with AirAsia. Correct?
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hey
@Enri *********
, as above, I'm doing long-haul AirAsia.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
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Julia ************
Are the direct flights from Samui back?
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
EXACTLY my thoughts. Plus, I can tether to my 4G and work on the ferry, airport etc in comfort, but not on a mini-bus.
7 years ago
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Julia ************
I see. I‘m doing the same thing since they discontinued the direct flights. Takes just as long as a mini bus but still more comfortable...
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Julia ***********
, nope, I'm doing the long-haul AirAsia: Samui to KL, then KL to Penang.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks everyone! I've been in contact with Jim (even though he was a little bit cryptic, lol). Does 7000 baht for one year non-imm B and his service sound legit? That would make his fee 2,000 baht?
7 years ago
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Amornrat **********
OP got the answer and topic going downhill. Comments off
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Valère ************************
 Genius! This chat has been more informative than I could ever have anticipated! ;)
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
@Kate *******
 My Pleasure. And BTW, did you know FB has an anti-douchebag button? This one >>>
7 years ago
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Narelle ************
@Kate *******
 good luck! I'm doing the same trip next month. I've used Jim before he's excellent.
7 years ago
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Narelle ************
@Fred ********
 shhhh precious. You'll be ok. I'm sure you can exercise your superiority elsewhere on Facebook. Off you go 😘😇
7 years ago
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Fred *********
@Narelle ***********
 Facing the mirror backwards again?
7 years ago
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Fred *********
Ahhhh... youth coming forth with her total knowledge of all... but she had to ask questions didn't she? 555+
7 years ago
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Narelle ************
@Fred ********
 nah I just like pointing out assholes
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks
@Narelle ***********
, but water off a duck's back :) everyone else has been extremely helpful, and one thing I've learned since moving to this country: some people are so goddamned bored they need to invent shit to bitch about, especially when they are on the older side of the spectrum. But all my questions have been answered, and now my Visa is sorted! Hopefully I will enjoy Penang :) Thanks to everyone, especially
@Valère ************************
,
@Julia ***********
, and
@Reiner ********
 ❤️
7 years ago
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Fred *********
@Narelle ***********
 A bit late for your unnecessary input - but you are there nevertheless. Do you always come in late to a conversation and dump on the participants/ Most of her question could have been easily answered by her using the search function for the group as well. Rest easily now and have a smilingly great day!
7 years ago
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Narelle ************
Man there are some emotional men on this thread! 😂😂😂
7 years ago
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Narelle ************
@Ron ******
 nothing wrong with asking if the price is reasonable though, right? I think she knows what her choices are 🙄
7 years ago
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Narelle ************
@Fred ********
 don't know where you got that from. She's just asking to compare prices. A little emotional aren't we? Oh and quite unhelpful.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yeah, the conversion of 820 ringgit is about 6,500 baht, which is totally fine, I just wanted to know what the going rate was. TBH, as long as I don't have to wait at immigration, and can actually get out and see Penang, I really don't care; it's defs money well spent :)
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
Kate Webber The conversion rate used to be 1 to 1 always but currently it's down to 1 to 0.89 so the Visa will cost you around 5.900THB instead of 7.500 these days.
***********************************************************************
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Amornrat *********
 thanks so much. I think it's just better if I pay in ringgit, which I will :) cheers for the help!
7 years ago
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Amornrat **********
I just looked at webside of Penang and they redone it. I can not find the cost. Other posters are correct Laos charged THB5,000.- for a multiple and Malaysia was always higher and in Ringgit.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ******
 OK, cheers. But the Visa guy I'm going with quoted me in baht, and the amount is 500 baht more than the ringgit conversion. So just checking. As a non-imm B visa in baht is 5,000, so if he's quoting 7,000, then that's 2,000 for services, which is totally fine :)
7 years ago
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Mark *******
Prices at the consulate in Penang is RINGGIT!! Not Baht. and ya, it's more than you pay in, for example, Laos, where you pay in Baht because of the conversion rate. Even if you went to the consulate and did it yourself, you'll have to pay more than you would at the embassy in Laos.
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
Yes... currently the value of the ringgit is down a lot.
7 years ago
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Fred *********
And you have rec'd lots of very good advice.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for the advice
@Valère ************************
. With conversion, that is about 6,500 baht, so I think I'm better paying Jim in ringgit. Thanks for the help! ☺️
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
@Kate *******
 never mind the nutters and the haters... just block those useless specimen.....
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I believe I'm on Thai Visa Advice, asking for advice 🤔
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
I've not seen the website but sometimes they're wrong ir outdated. The official cost charged by the consulate is 750 ringgit. Its printed in your passport and you get a receipt. Jim charges 70 ringgit for his services.
7 years ago
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Ron *******
Jim is an agent. His price is whatever he wants to charge you. There is 2 choices. Pay it do it yourself.
7 years ago
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Fred *********
@Kate *******
 You are the one looking for the ultimate "good" deal, not me.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Wow. That was snappy
@Fr**
, lol. I'm just asking if this is the regular price. Appears to me it's 500 more than others are paying. No need to be a dick.
7 years ago
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Fred *********
You are the accountant so get in there and count those beans! 555+
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
On the website, the Visa is 5,000 baht, so this means his services are 2,000 baht. So he's charging 500 baht more than you are saying.
7 years ago
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Fred *********
If you do not want to pay a legitimate fee to a visa service then go do the job yourself.
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
At least, that's what we've been paying the last 3 years now....
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
The visa cost is 750 malaysian Ringgit and Jim charges 70 Ringgit.... i dont understand your calculation.
7 years ago
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Valère *************************
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Jean **********************
Jim's place chulia street is the best !
7 years ago
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Reiner *********
Yes Jimmy is The best ...PM Sent
7 years ago
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Kate ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Legend, thank you
@Rei***
.
7 years ago
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Kate ********
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