Penang consulate limits visa applications to 100 per day

[webfact]

Penang consulate limits visa applications to 100 per day

The Phuket News

 

The notice was posted earlier today (May 8). Image: Royal Thai Consulate-General, Penang

 

PHUKET: The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Penang has announced that it will limit the number of visas issued to just 100 per day, starting from Monday (May 14).

 

Persons with incomplete documents will not be permitted to enter the building and those found to have had their visa application rejected must not apply until next day, the consulate said in a notice issued earlier today (May 8) marked “ANNOUNCEMENT (visa matters esp. tourists) starting from Monday, 14 May”

 

Overstays incur a high risk of visa refusal and submission of fake documents will automatically incur a one-year ban on applying for a visa to enter the country, the notice warned.

 

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/penang-consulate-limits-visa-applications-to-100-per-day-67043.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2018-05-08

[ubonjoe]

Copy of the entire announcement.

 

 

[ubonjoe]

A off topic post and a reply to it have been removed.

[darrendsd]

No bank statements in UK Pounds accepted which seems strange

 

I would suggest the fake documents refers to Airline tickets using a service where a ticket can be "rented" not really surprising they are checking these considering the total idiots that discuss how to do this on a open forum

[ubonjoe]

26 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

No bank statements in UK Pounds accepted which seems strange

 

I would suggest the fake documents refers to Airline tickets using a service where a ticket can be "rented" not really surprising they are checking these considering the total idiots that discuss how to do this on a open forum

It does seem odd that if in pounds you have to do the conversion for them and state the rate used.

I suspect fake documents are ones that have been created to meet other requirements as well. Accommodations come to mind as a possibility.

[chrisinth]

Doesn't look like Penang is a fun place anymore for visas. Authority seems to be stamped down.

 

That said, they are probably being realistic with the 100 applications a day, I wonder how many they have been receiving? A little bit of extra planning might be required for applicants from now on, a couple of days planned stay extra instead of just an overnight stop.

 

Good luck to one and all.

[sanemax]

29 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

No bank statements in UK Pounds accepted which seems strange

 

I would suggest the fake documents refers to Airline tickets using a service where a ticket can be "rented" not really surprising they are checking these considering the total idiots that discuss how to do this on a open forum

And the 1 year ban is rather harsh

Is that unprecedented ?

Getting blacklisted without overstaying (and maybe without even entering Thailand at all )

[darrendsd]

6 minutes ago, sanemax said:

And the 1 year ban is rather harsh

Is that unprecedented ?

Getting blacklisted without overstaying (and maybe without even entering Thailand at all )

I would suggest that that means applying for a visa for 1 year from Penang not being banned from entering the country for 1 year

 

Whether that means from all Embassies is unclear, they would only be able to do this if they put something in your PP

[ubonjoe]

19 minutes ago, sanemax said:

And the 1 year ban is rather harsh

Is that unprecedented ?

Getting blacklisted without overstaying (and maybe without even entering Thailand at all )

If you read the article you will see this.

Quote

submission of fake documents will automatically incur a one-year ban on applying for a visa to enter the country, the notice warned.

That would be only be for Penang of course.

[Stocky]

Is this applicable to ALL types of visa application or just tourist visa applications? 

 

Non-O visa applications have never required details of accommodation or onward travel, and overseas non-Baht bank statements have been accepted. The advice seems only applicable to tourist visa applications.

[griedarw]

I was there today, very straightforward procedure. By opening time (9am) there was only maybe 10-12 people including the usual "teacher" crowd. 100 a day seems reasonable enough.

[BuckBee]

^ Go after 14th and see if same straightforward procedure .

I expect some of this is likely roll on to other local consulates in time .

[darrendsd]

5 minutes ago, BuckBee said:

^ Go after 14th and see if same straightforward procedure .

I expect some of this is likely roll on to other local consulates in time .

The procedure is exactly the same as it was, Penang have had these requirements for a while now

 

All they are doing is ensuring that no time is wasted by people who don't know how to fill forms in, I can't imagine how frustrating that must be for the staff

 

All that has really changed is that they may or may not actually start checking flight tickets, hotel reservations to see if they are real, genuine applicants will have no problems with this

 

[Richard Pumpaloaf]

I wonder how this is going to affect the visa run services out of Phuket

[BritTim]

5 hours ago, Richard Pumpaloaf said:

I wonder how this is going to affect the visa run services out of Phuket

It is possible that agents will be exempt from these limits. I could imagine the whole objective being to make it difficult for individual applicants, pushing people towards using agents who pay a small commission on each application.

[webfact]

Changes to visa applications at the Thai Consulate-General in Penang

"...if they're found to submit any fake documents they will be blacklisted for a year."

By The Thaiger

 

 

The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Penang has announced changes to its acceptance and delivery of visas.

 

Penang, Malaysia, has been a popular destination for expats and tourists to head to, particularly from Phuket. There is an entire visa-run industry heading out of the island each day heading for Penang with hotels, restaurants and taxis all ready for the daily hordes seeking visas to extend their stay or convert to Non Immigrant visas for a longer stay in the Kingdom. The van trip can take around 10 hours.

 

Just recently Air Asia announced daily flights to the island of Penang out of Phuket to compete with Firefly airline which was the only direct flights from Phuket to Penang. The flight takes around an hour.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/lifestyle/changes-to-visa-applications-at-the-thai-consulate-general-in-penang

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2018-05-09

[my friend I]

2 hours ago, BritTim said:

It is possible that agents will be exempt from these limits. I could imagine the whole objective being to make it difficult for individual applicants, pushing people towards using agents who pay a small commission on each application.

I know an agent who goes in the afternoon despite the rules saying forms to be done in the morning.

 Just heard from a friend who went there. At Malaysian border post he was told he cannot enter Malaysia again this calendar year. He's been going to Malaysia often for 20 years sometimes staying for the full 3 months.

[YetAnother]

45 minutes ago, webfact said:

has announced changes to its acceptance and delivery of visas.

and those do not appear to be positive changes, as bad as we , expats, think immigration here is, it Can get worse

[Deli]

11 hours ago, Richard Pumpaloaf said:

I wonder how this is going to affect the visa run services out of Phuket

They will drive even faster, to be among the 1st 100 of the day...

[Easy Come Easy Go]

16 hours ago, chrisinth said:

Doesn't look like Penang is a fun place anymore for visas. Authority seems to be stamped down.

 

That said, they are probably being realistic with the 100 applications a day, I wonder how many they have been receiving? A little bit of extra planning might be required for applicants from now on, a couple of days planned stay extra instead of just an overnight stop.

 

Good luck to one and all.

I've been there twice in the past, quite some time ago actually. And I was surprised at how the place is basically in a suburban residential area, and almost appears to be a house! It's tiny   

[bkkcanuck8]

16 hours ago, chrisinth said:

Doesn't look like Penang is a fun place anymore for visas. Authority seems to be stamped down.

 

That said, they are probably being realistic with the 100 applications a day, I wonder how many they have been receiving? A little bit of extra planning might be required for applicants from now on, a couple of days planned stay extra instead of just an overnight stop.

 

Good luck to one and all.

And what happens on the days when you have 2 or 3 tour buses stopping to get visa applications - that in itself is more than 100.  Do they cut off one bus at the half the bus, take no individual applications for a few days?  Artificial limits are stupid, if they want to cut down the work - then just be more strict.  

[bkkcanuck8]

16 hours ago, sanemax said:

And the 1 year ban is rather harsh

Is that unprecedented ?

Getting blacklisted without overstaying (and maybe without even entering Thailand at all )

Actually, a one year ban is still lenient.  Fake documents = fraud = criminal... which if pursued would get you banned for life.

[darrendsd]

7 minutes ago, bkkcanuck8 said:

And what happens on the days when you have 2 or 3 tour buses stopping to get visa applications - that in itself is more than 100.  Do they cut off one bus at the half the bus, take no individual applications for a few days?  Artificial limits are stupid, if they want to cut down the work - then just be more strict.  

They are being more strict and cutting down the work, that's what this change is about, did you  actually read the article?

[sanemax]

3 hours ago, my friend I said:

Just heard from a friend who went there. At Malaysian border post he was told he cannot enter Malaysia again this calendar year. He's been going to Malaysia often for 20 years sometimes staying for the full 3 months.

Huge news

[bkkcanuck8]

3 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

They are being more strict and cutting down the work, that's what this change is about, did you  actually read the article?

Strict != artificial limit.  Yes, they are somewhat more strict, but they could change it to limit it to no more than 2 visas per year (from any embassy) -- the 3rd will be rejected.   If they are going to limit it they should give preference to Malaysians.

Edited May 9, 2018 by bkkcanuck8

[Ulic]

Just wondering how many applications a day are processed prior to this new quota limit. 

[Foxy52]

Looks like they're trying to exclude to riff-raff and not before time

[NorthernRyland]

4 hours ago, my friend I said:

 Just heard from a friend who went there. At Malaysian border post he was told he cannot enter Malaysia again this calendar year. He's been going to Malaysia often for 20 years sometimes staying for the full 3 months.

damn what did they do to piss them off? Fake documents or something?

[PerkinsCuthbert]

12 minutes ago, Foxy52 said:

Looks like they're trying to exclude to riff-raff and not before time

It would be interesting to read your definition of "riff-raff", please elaborate. One is not at all sure one doesn't fit the profile which, if so, would be gratifying, since you clearly consider yourself to be somewhat superior to the common detritus, and one wouldn't wish to be tarred with the same brush as you. 

Edited May 9, 2018 by PerkinsCuthbert

[Bangkok Barry]

18 hours ago, chrisinth said:

Doesn't look like Penang is a fun place anymore for visas. Authority seems to be stamped down.

 

That said, they are probably being realistic with the 100 applications a day, I wonder how many they have been receiving? A little bit of extra planning might be required for applicants from now on, a couple of days planned stay extra instead of just an overnight stop.

 

Good luck to one and all.

 

Or get up early to get in line. My wife needed a German visa from London and we had to get there at 6am to be sure of getting in to make the application. I believe they had a 100 limit too.