Answered9 years ago
What is the best visa service in Penang for a Non-Imm B work visa?
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!
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.
84 repliesnewest first
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Davide ***********
Firefly? now they restore flight Samui - Penang?
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
Davide ***********
I was sure before had Suratthani - Penang, maybe they suspended same Samui - Penang
Valère *************************
Most people from Koh Samui I meet in Penang going by minivan,... Horror!!! 😱😱😱
Kate ********
OPAirAsia doesn't do Surat to penang. Not sure if anyone else does?
Valère *************************
@Davide **********
Ohh did not know about that one :-)Davide ***********
why not Suratthani - Penang ?
Kate ********
OPYep, with BKK Air first leg.
Valère *************************
You can go Samui to KL and then Penang I believe.
Kate ********
OPNo, sorry
@Dav***
. I'm doing long haul SAM-URT-KL, then KL-PEN, all with AirAsia.
Linden *******
Silly money flights from samui to, dont know why anyone pays it and so close to mainland to
Kate ********
OPBKK 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.
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
Kate ********
OPI 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.
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.
Kate ********
OP@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. xJulia ************
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).
Kate ********
OP@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? :)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...
Kate ********
OP@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!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.
Kate ********
OPAwesome, thanks Julia! I'll look it up :)
Julia ************
I think last time it was around 65rm.
Valère *************************
Whats their room rate?
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,
Kate ********
OPThank you so much! I'm going with Jim, as he's come highly recommended on here, and by friends in Samui :)
Linden *******
Its very easy, no u dont need a visa for penang, ive done it many times
Kate ********
OPActually, shit. Do I need a visa for Penang? The Google is giving me conflicting reports.
Valère *************************
No worries 😉
Kate ********
OP@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! xValère *************************
Your flight KL to Penang is just a domestic flight.... you'll go through immigration in KL
Kate ********
OPAs 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!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 😂😂😂😂
Fred *********
Same country is it not - called Malaysia last time I checked.
Kate ********
OP@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!Valère *************************
No. Penang is also Malaysia 😁
Kate ********
OP@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.Valère *************************
What passport do you hold?
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.
Kate ********
OP@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.Enri **********
Ok, so Samui-KL with Bangkok Air and then KL-Penang with AirAsia. Correct?
Kate ********
OPHey
@Enri *********
, as above, I'm doing long-haul AirAsia.Julia ************
Are the direct flights from Samui back?
Kate ********
OPEXACTLY my thoughts. Plus, I can tether to my 4G and work on the ferry, airport etc in comfort, but not on a mini-bus.
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...
Kate ********
OP@Julia ***********
, nope, I'm doing the long-haul AirAsia: Samui to KL, then KL to Penang.Kate ********
OPThanks 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?
Amornrat **********
OP got the answer and topic going downhill. Comments off
Kate ********
OP@Valère ************************
Genius! This chat has been more informative than I could ever have anticipated! ;)Valère *************************
@Kate *******
My Pleasure. And BTW, did you know FB has an anti-douchebag button? This one >>>Narelle ************
@Kate *******
good luck! I'm doing the same trip next month. I've used Jim before he's excellent.Narelle ************
@Fred ********
shhhh precious. You'll be ok. I'm sure you can exercise your superiority elsewhere on Facebook. Off you go 😘😇Fred *********
@Narelle ***********
Facing the mirror backwards again?Fred *********
Ahhhh... youth coming forth with her total knowledge of all... but she had to ask questions didn't she? 555+
Narelle ************
@Fred ********
nah I just like pointing out assholesKate ********
OPThanks
@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 ********
❤️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!Narelle ************
Man there are some emotional men on this thread! 😂😂😂
Narelle ************
@Ron ******
nothing wrong with asking if the price is reasonable though, right? I think she knows what her choices are 🙄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.Kate ********
OPYeah, 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 :)
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.
***********************************************************************
Kate ********
OP@Amornrat *********
thanks so much. I think it's just better if I pay in ringgit, which I will :) cheers for the help!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.
Kate ********
OP@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 :)
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.
Valère *************************
Yes... currently the value of the ringgit is down a lot.
Fred *********
And you have rec'd lots of very good advice.
Kate ********
OPThanks 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! ☺️Valère *************************
@Kate *******
never mind the nutters and the haters... just block those useless specimen.....Kate ********
OPI believe I'm on Thai Visa Advice, asking for advice 🤔
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.
Ron *******
Jim is an agent. His price is whatever he wants to charge you. There is 2 choices. Pay it do it yourself.
Fred *********
@Kate *******
You are the one looking for the ultimate "good" deal, not me.Kate ********
OPWow. 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.Fred *********
You are the accountant so get in there and count those beans! 555+
Kate ********
OPOn 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.
Fred *********
If you do not want to pay a legitimate fee to a visa service then go do the job yourself.
Valère *************************
At least, that's what we've been paying the last 3 years now....
Valère *************************
The visa cost is 750 malaysian Ringgit and Jim charges 70 Ringgit.... i dont understand your calculation.
Jean **********************
Jim's place chulia street is the best !
Reiner *********
Yes Jimmy is The best ...PM Sent
Kate ********
OPLegend, thank you
@Rei***
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