What questions should I expect at my interview for a Thai tourist visa at the consulate in Penang?

Jul 31, 2018
6 years ago
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi, I came to Penang for my new tourist visa and used the agents at the Banana Hotel for their visa service.

It hit a snag - an officer at the Thai consulate, because I’ve had so many visas already (including a 1 year ED Visa) and I don’t have a flight back home to the USA, wants to interview me in person before giving me the visa and my passport.

Anybody have any advice on what questions he’ll ask me and what I should say? I’m a little concerned here right now, I thought this would be a simple thing.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user recounts their experience trying to apply for a Thai tourist visa at the consulate in Penang, where an officer requested an in-person interview due to the user's history of multiple visas and lack of a return flight home. They seek advice on what questions to expect during the interview, concerns about showing proof of funds, and whether mentioning their online work with VIPKid could negatively impact their visa application. Various community members share insights and suggest being prepared with proof of onward travel and funds in cash.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ok I'm back. I'm in a stopover in Bangkok, went through immigration and got my 30 day without a hitch (even though I lost my departure card from when I left. I'm really batting 1.000, aren't I?).

Thanks for all the advice and conversation everyone, gonna sit down with a professional and determine the next move. See you soon, Chiang Mai'ers!
Robert *******
Lots of people have a job, some of them work for Immigration or Embassy or Consulate. Please respect them for just doing their job, even when it not suits your opinion of they have to give you a visa.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Mark Stanley well, I'm not pleased with them right now, but calling them bastards is a little strong for me. They're not terrible people, this is just the way bureaucrats are.

But I appreciate your support, my man.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Mark Stanley yeah they ignored me when I pleaded with them
Tod *********
Remember
@Tony **********
, you can extend that 30 day visa exempt entry you got by 30 more days too if you need to at the immigration office for 1900baht

Glad you made it back in without any issues

Congratulations :)
Tod *********
you didn't lose your departure card when you left, It's called a departure card because you turn it in when you depart thailand ;)

You get a new set of arrival/departure cards when you come BACK to the country (and you give the arrival card to the people at passport control, keeping the departure card in your passport until you depart the country again :P )
Tod *********
Tony De Jesus, post back and let us know you made it back into the country :)
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I think he meant me. I fly back tomorrow afternoon
Tod *********
@To**
sorry about that :/
Tony ****
Wrong Tony..i think..im on a retirement visa
Tod *********
I'd agree with
@Pa**
then, you're done tryin' to get a single entry tourist visa from there. Come back on a 30 day visa exempt entry. When you do come back make sure you meet ALL the criteria (proof of 20K baht or the equivalent in cash, proof of onward travel and proof of a hotel booking or confirmed lodging).

The last thing you need is to be denied entry to thailand because you were asked for some or all of those 3-proof-ofz and didn't have them.
Ivan ************
They probably won't ask you, it's just as well to have it in case they do.
Tod *********
@Tony **********
you can show it in ANY currency, it doesn't have to be thai baht.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
I wonder if I can get Thai baht here
Tod *********
@Tony **********
you only show the funds IF you are asked by passport control. BUT better to be prepared and not asked than asked and not prepared ;)
Tod *********
@Tony **********
, when you stamp into the country and are asked to show proof of funds you need to show 20K baht in cash or the equivalent in foreign currency. There are no ATM's on the arrival side of passport control at the airports and they won't let you use an ATM after passport control to get money out to meet the requirement.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
I’ve never gotten a 30 day exempt before. I have to show them cash on hand when I do? How much do I have to have? They do realize that there are ATMs in Thailand, right?
Tod *********
@Tony **********
yeah, but this denial wasn't anything, you weren't denied, they wouldn't even accept your application at ALL. There's nothing in your passport to show it, no tourist visa with a giant VOID stamp on it or anything.

I think you'll be okay, but remember when asked for proof of funds at the consulate for a visa you show banked money, when asked for proof of funds when stamping into the country you show cash
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jay *****
just to clarify, I’ve never had a 30 day exempt visa. I had a 6 month metv, a 1 year ed visa, a 60 + 30 day setv, and now this denial.
Jason ******
What are the chances being denied a 30 day visa exempt at immigration? If they see you have used many previous exempts in the database and asks for the "3 proofs" as long as you can show that, they let you in?
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yeah, I will. I had all of those now, but it didn’t help.
Tod *********
Were you even interviewed by the consulate?
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I was told I had an interview, but that consisted of a guy ignoring me through the glass partition
Paul *********
You probably don’t want to hear this but here goes.

You are working in Thailand regardless of where the kids are or your wages get paid.

You should therefore open a company and pay the minimum amount of tax each month (approximately 4,000)

If you want to stay here long term hassle free it’s the best option.
Ivan ************
I am not sure it is that simple to just open a company to teach kids in China and pay 4,000 a month in tax. That sounds great if it were possible but I don't think it is that simple.
Paul *********
As far as getting a visa in Penang I’d say that ships sailed. Fly back get the 30 days exempted, extend that then go to Vientiane for a visa.
Paul *********
No but it would avoid any future problems.
Tod *********
which while anecdotally helpful, really doesn't address the problems the O/P faced applying for a visa at the thai consulate in Penang. :/
Robert *******
I would say get a new passport, at least that take care the amount of visa's in your passport at application in a Consulate or Embassy. It does not matter with Immigration when you enter Thailand, they will see your history in their database.
Robert *******
The Consulate/Embassy don't have the datebase, they just count the visa's in your passport. Immigration, which you face when you enter or leave Thailand, has a database.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
According to Tod, they don’t actually have a central database, they just go by the stamps in your passport.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ok all, I just got back from the Thai consulate here, and short version: I was denied.

The long version isn’t much longer. I got to the window and the agent shoved my papers and passport through the slot and said “I cannot give you a visa, you supposed to fly home after your non-immigrant visa.”

I started to ask questions, but he started to get irate, and then ignored me. I thought it best not to push it. The agent from banana hotel said I might be able to buy a ticket back to the states and they might issue one tomorrow, but he wasn’t sure.

Considering the cost of the ticket back home, the fact that my flight back to Thailand is tomorrow afternoon and I would ya vento change my flight and Airbnb reservation, and the fact that he wasn’t certain, I decided not to.

I’m returning to Thailand on the 30 day exempt visa. So my options right now seem to be:

A: make another run to Vientiane and try to get the tourist visa there with my current passport (I looked, they didn’t seem to stamp anything in my passport saying I was denied),

B: get a new passport from the American consulate and then make a visa run to Vientiane for the tourist visa,

C: those same two options, but with the ED Visa, which I was going to resume in three months anyway, just get it now instead. The question is whether to get a new passport first.

I guess another option is to spend a few months out of the country somewhere local (Vietnam?) and then return. But I’m annoyed at this arrogant visa agent here who wouldn’t engage in a conversation - I wasn’t being rude or confrontational. What do you think the best option is?
Ivan ************
@To**
I think it should be yes. I'd get going on getting the school to process the Ed visa. Ask the school what they think regarding whether you need to get a new passport, they will likely know best. As far as I am aware, the relevant metric there will relate to how many previous Ed visas you have specifically and it is unlikely that any other history will impact on it.
Ivan ************
Robert he means it will take 4-6 weeks for the school to sort out the paperwork with the Ministry of Education. The school has to do that before you apply for the visa. Not the actual visa application which as you say is 1 day like any other.
Daniel ******
@Tony **********
Yeah that's how I did it
Jason ******
Check Penang off the list of consulates to go to for a Visa. They want proof of flight back to your home country. It's the only consulate in SE Asia that requests that, so any other consulate you would be better off.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Daniel *************
since I can renew my exempt visa for an additional 30 days, then that should be enough time, right?
Daniel ******
@Tony **********
I think mine came in 4 or 5 weeks, but they told me it could take 6, so yeah id do it right away
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Daniel *************
I was told 4 weeks, so I’d have to get started on that right away upon coming back there
Robert *******
@Daniel *************
Nope, same as most visa, apply at consulate/embassy in the morning, pick up the next working day afternoon.
Daniel ******
I think the ED visa is going to take at least 6 weeks to process
Robert *******
Thanks for this update.
Jason ******
So does this mean that Penang counts previous Tourist Visas you got in other countries too? It doesn't make sense that they would deny your tourist visa if you show bank account statement, flight out of Thailand and accommodation, because if you went to different embassy's that shows that you are actually traveling around SE Asia (i.e. being a tourist) and not just going back-to-back for the same visa in the same country. I have around 6 tourist visas in my passport from all different countries and I haven't been to Penang yet but maybe I will skip that place next if they are scrutinizing previous visas from other countries.
Ron *******
I'm guessing spending 10 weeks out of 12, inc the 2 weeks or so out of the country, (Which most rarely do) in Thailand time after time kind of gives it away 😊
Robert *******
@Ron ******
Is that because we hand over the passport with all the stamps to proof our spend time in what country?
Ron *******
@Jay *****
they are not stupid. They know exactly what your doing.
Jason ******
90 days in Thailand at a time and then about 1-2 weeks when traveling to other countries and getting a new tourist visa while there
Robert *******
Travelling true SE Asia, as in leaving Thailand for 2 days to get the visa, stay inside Thailand for 90 days, leave again 2 days for new visa etc. Sounds to me as a real SE Asia tourist.
Tod *********
A while back a warning went out that if you're using Penang and have multiple tourist visas from other consulates in your passport that Penang was asking for proof you were going BACK to the country your passport is from for proof of onward travel, NOT just proof you're leaving thailand in 60 days.
Tod *********
Which begs the question IF you met all the requirements (proof of 20K baht in a bank account, proof of a hotel booking, and proof of onward travel) WHY didn't you go and turn in your own paperwork at the thai consulate? :O
Mark ***********
you don't have to go to Penang.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes that's right
Andrew *******
But that's 180 RM total, right? For the visa fee (150 RM?) plus the agent's fee? I remember paying 190 RM total - that's what I mean. The consulate is hardly in a convenient part of town either, so I'm not sure why anyone would bother not using an agent in Penang.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andrew ******
180rm, fyi. Also, Tod’s statement assumes that I somehow have more expertise than the agent, or that my coming in person might raise less suspicion than going through the agent. I’m not sure that’s the case.
Andrew *******
@T**
, isn't it normal to use an agent in Penang? Unless the price increased a lot recently, why would anyone want to make two return trips to the consulate (4x 8-9 RM in a Grab?) and waste several hours there rather than just spend the 40 RM or whatever and let someone else deal with it? Paperwork or not, it seems a no-brainer.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
I figured that the professionalagwnts would actually grease the wheels a bit
Tod *********
@To**
I didn't think there was an ulterior motive, I just wondered with something as important as you being able to come back to thailand why you wouldn't push your own paper at the consulate was all.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I decided to pay someone else to do it just to avoid the headache and enjoy my time in Penang, no ulterior motive other than that.
Bob **********
Your probably going to show income, a flight out and maybe prove your address in Thailand and why didn’t you do this yourself??they kept your passport??? And yes I would get a new one
Ron *******
Just reading on another forum. Somebody red stamped in Penang just been been denied in Vietiane this morning.
Ron *******
If these Embassys and consulates are not linked yet, and i wouldnt be so certain they aren't, it's not far away. They already said they wanted it in place by June 2018.
Ivan ************
They'll link them and will be able to see the history but he's unlikely to be denied entry if he has a visa. I know it has happened but it's very very unlikely. Much more likely to question people on multiple visa exempt entries.
Ron *******
Ivan McAvinchey yes i know. That's why i said, Immigration will highly likely look at your history, particularly with a clean passport.
Ivan ************
Ron immigration do link it and can see all your previous entries. But the consulates don't have access to the immigration database and only have what is in front of them in the passport. So it doesn't change anything with regard to immigration when you present yourself at the border but it can help you get a visa.
Ron *******
I sometimes wonder though if a new passport makes immigration look at what you've been doing the first time you enter with it and it's linked to your previous one? I don't really know, just a thought?
Tod *********
@Tony **********
At this time, getting a new passport does indeed "wipe the slate clean" as far as the consulates and getting visas from them. None of them (again at this time) use a data base or communicate with other consulates, all they do is look thru your passport and count visas.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Would getting a new passport help?
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
that’ll be trouble if that happens to me - I just signed a lease
Tod *********
I saw that, three visas in Penang, the last one warning stamped and they were outright denied a visa in Vientiane :O
Tod *********
report back after the interview and let us know how it goes.
Sergey *********
That's strange. In 2015 Banana agency wanted only money to "fix a problem" =)
Sergey *********
@Tod ********
well, maybe that's good...
Tod *********
This isn't 2015, and it got a LOT harder to fudge visa applications down in Penang like the 'agents' used to for people.
Robert *******
You were in Thailand using the Tourist Visa. Before you say something please take a look at this Visa. There is with a big stamp this text on it: Employment Prohibited. I would strongly advice not to answer that you work for VIPkid or any other online organisation to provide funds to live in Thailand.
Jennifer ****
I was in the same position. I had to buy a flight back to home country.

If you can prove you have a lot of money and a flight home then they will grant you a visa. But you must buy a flight home for the end of the visa they will give you. And really need to show funds that are coming from outside of Thailand.
Jennifer ****
@Robert ******
yeh I just don’t know anything about VIPkid. So was just saying 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️, if it’s allowed.
Robert *******
There is no grey area. It is simply not allowed to work inside Thailand on a Tourist or Ed Visa to support yourself to live inside Thailand. Just because there is low enforcement does not make it a grey area, same as using motorbike helmets.
Jennifer ****
@Tony **********
🤷‍♀️ I don’t know. Because there is a real grey area about digital nomads. I wouldn’t say that you do this.

Might be better to say what I thought VIPkid was! and say you are a trust fund baby 😅 but would still need to show income from a trust 🤷‍♀️
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jennifer ***
it’s a Chinese company that hires Americans to teach Chinese kids online. Thailand isn’t in the loop at all, I teach Chinese students English online and they deposit my check into my american bank account.
Jennifer ****
@Tony **********
what is a VIPkid thing?
Jennifer ****
Tony De Jesus also. Any fake ticket. They will blacklist you for a year. It has to be real and paid fully. They will check.

He will not accept your “word”.

Flight out. And home country if they demand it. And lots of funds in bank if you have been in Thailand a long time back to back
Jennifer ****
@Tony **********
you should buy the flight home now for say 60? Or 90 days after this visa will be issued. Which will show them that in 60 days time (or after one more extension) you will indeed go home. I was at Penang embassy in late June. Bought my flight home for mid August
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Well, that might’ve been the thing to do earlier, but now that my previous visa is expired and my back’s up against it, do you think he’ll accept my word that I’ll buy a ticket home when it’s time?

Also, I’m doing the VIPKid thing - would that be something that would be good to say or bad?
Duncan *******
Question 1: are you working and/or living in Thailand.
Danny *********
@Sarah ***************
Fine and deportation? How can he be deported, he is not in Thailand...
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Mark Stanley I did have a flight out, but to Laos. The agent at banana hotel said they wanted to see a flight out to the usa
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Well, that's simple - I can show them my declining savings account over the course of the year I've been here
Barry ***********
The Thai consulate wants to know how you support yourself
Squid ****
USA law states that any air ticket is fully refundable within 24 hours. Buy ticket from USA airline if you go that route. Working online is a grey area, but I wouldn't mention it.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Shit, that’ll be expensive
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ok, the big question now is whether I mention the VIPKid thing or not, and should I just buy a ticket to america
Sarah ****************
They could still say it's working without a permit
Sarah ****************
@Tony **********
then what you're doing is legal I think.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sarah ***************
I actually took classes, it wasn’t fake. I’m paid overseas - directly into an american bank account
Sarah ****************
Are you paid in Thailand or oversees? Also on your ED visa did you go to classes or just have the visa?
Sarah ****************
Its classed as working which you need a permit for.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sarah ***************
well, I do have some savings - they have my bank statement. I’ve been living off of those my time in Thailand.

As far as working, I do online work, both for my old company and VIPKID. Do you think I should say that, or would that be bad?
Sarah ****************
If you're working and have no permit you're going to find there is no way out of the trouble. It's a fine and deportation.
Duncan *******
@Tony **********
are you, though? you say you've got a pile of back-to-back visas, first thing you'd need to prove is that you've got income coming in from overseas, that would at least address the working question.

If they ask you about living and you've got back-to-back entries not sure and the whole being with your girlfriend thing won't work either as you're applying for a tourist visa. I guess you could claim you're touring or something :)
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
How do I convince the agent I'm not?
Sarah ****************
Probably want to know why you are in Thailand and how you are supporting yourself
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Also, I was planning on getting another ED Visa in three months, should I get a new passport before I do that? That’s what they say at Banana Hotel.
Ron *******
Just a heads up. Penang want a 'Paid for ticket and receipt' I'm sure somebody posted the requirement in here last week.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael **********
they don’t fly to America, apparently.
Michael ***********
If the problem is the flight ticket, you could try to book a Thai airways ticket and cancel it after you have the visa. This will cost you two thousands baht to cancel it if I remember correctly.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Martin Sea Shepherd I had a whole spiel planned, how 6 months his place is cheaper than renting a hotel room for two months (which is true, I got a great deal) and how I was gonna sublet it when I left.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Martin Sea Shepherd bank statments, flight onward (to Cambodia, not home - that seems to be the sticking point), my rental lease, which is until December, which could be another flag for them.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Martin Sea Shepherd well, Penang has been much more difficult from Vientiane. The posts in the group confirm this. If I had known how difficult, I would’ve gone back to Vientiane.
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Martin Sea No exempt entries yet, this will be my first if I get denied tomorrow
Tony ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Martin Sea Shepherd this would be my second 60 day tourist visa. Last year I got a six month METV back in the states, then a 1 year ED Visa in Kuala Lumpur, then a 60 day tourist visa in Vientiane, and now this.
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