Hi, I’m in desperate need for info regarding visa run to Kuala Lumpur OR Singapore.
I’m looking for the name, address & telelephone number of either visa handling offices as well as any information on cheap hotels, hostels etc nearby the offices would be very welcome. Any other info regarding the application procedure, necessary documents, tips & the likes would also be greatly apreciated.
Many thanks.
I think this post should be in the Visas/ARC forum, but anyway
here is the address of the office for KL.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office
9-01 Level 9 Amoda Building
22 Jalan Imbi
Kuala Lumpur 55100
Telephone: (60-3) 242 5549/241 0015
Facsimile: (60-3) 242 3906
I know you can get off the monorail at Imbi Station. The monorail goes over the roads and is not an underground one. In Kuala Lumpur, they have three kinds of MRT-like systems which are all, in a very awkward and inconvenient fashion, interconnected. Some are underground while some are overground. Depending on where you stay, you will have to change to different lines and different systems in order to get to your destination. A pain in the arse for the novice.
My advice to you, though, is to get a taxi. The drivers speak English, if somewhat broken. Just write down the above address and hand it to the driver - he will know where to go.
When you get to the building, you will see a China Airlines travel office on the ground floor. Just near there, there is a security guard. Ask him to point you in the right direction.
The visa office handles the usual visa stuff, just like in Hong Kong. Get there early, though. In Hong Kong, you have until 3pm to apply for collections the next day, in KL, you have until 12pm. I suggest you get there before 9. they are closed on Saturdays. Collections may not be the next day; most are the day after next, so be prepared to spend a few days there.
Stuff in KL is quite chep and food is plentiful but usually spicy. The Chinese are rude and unfriendly but the Malay are very nice and helpful.
Hope this helps,
Have a nice trip!
Kuala Lumpur Hostels www.hostelkualalumpur.com
Last year in Singapore I stayed at the Chill’Inn. It is cheap and very basic. It wouldn’t meet IYHF standards, but I liked it. When I was there, it was full of Brits. I also stayed two nights a posh hotels - the Stamford, because I was interpreting for a Taiwanese delegation visiting the Esplanade (the world-famous giant durians) and they paid for it 
Quite unnecessary for a Taiwanese delegation to take an interpreter to Singapore, but that’s their problem.
On a previous visit, my girlfriend and I went on a package tour and had an enjoyable stay at the Oxford Hotel in Queen Street.
(Edit 17 July 2004) Just received notice of a new hostel in Singapore - Bugis Backpackers
Whats the adress of the visa office in Singapore.
Rassie wrote
God Rassie, please tell me that you’re here in Taiwan to study Chinese and not to teach English!
TAIPEI REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE
IN SINGAPORE
460 Alexandra Road #24-05A
PSA Building
Singapore 119963
Tel: (65) 278 6511 ext. 130/136
Fax: (65) 276 4155
E-mail: giosin@singnet.com.sg
How cheap is cheap? You can get some reasonable packages from e.g. Eva airline including flight, hotel and transfers to KL.
I recommend the Forum Fairlane hotel which is a nice 4 star hotel centrally located in the Bukit Bintang shopping district and just a stone throw away from the TECO.
Package to Singapore is cheaper than an equivalent one to KL ;also, the locals speak English so getting around is a lot easier.
There’s no hotel near the visa place which is located in the PSL (forgot what it stands for) building near a harbour. Your best bet would be to stay near town and take a cab there .Don’t worry, cab fare is quite cheap in Singapore.
There is a YMCA near town or you can stay anywhere near Orchard rd if you love shopping.For cheap and Really good local food , you can go to The Old Market or Newton hawker centre. There is also a Thai restaurant in Apollo hotel worth mentioning but it is a bit more costly.
One thing about the visa office is that the staffs can be quite curt and unhelpful.As most of them are from Taiwan,I think speaking to them in Mandarin might help smooth things a little .Visa is collectible the next day at an extra fee. Remember to bring two passport size photos to be submitted with the application.
Bon Voyage.[/b]
I’ve always stayed at one of the Hotel 81s (located mostly in the Geylang area). They are cheap and clean. Also, you can pop across to Batam, Indonesia by ferry in only 45 minutes. It’s even cheaper there. Just take a ferry from the WTC (World Trade Center) to Batam Center. R/T ticket is only about $30 Sing.
[quote=“blueface666”]I’ve always stayed at one of the Hotel 81s (located mostly in the Geylang area). They are cheap and clean. Also, you can pop across to Batam, Indonesia by ferry in only 45 minutes. It’s even cheaper there. Just take a ferry from the WTC (World Trade Center) to Batam Center. R/T ticket is only about $30 Sing.
hotel81.com.sg/
nedbatam.com[/quote]
Batam? heheheheheheeheh, a much more lively place than its neighbour — Bintan. 
I’ve done the visa run to Singapore twice before. Make sure you have all your documentation together. The TECO office interviewed me and didn’t want to give me a visitor visa … simply because they were suspicious. I was given one begrudgingly the first time.
Also, I’ve stayed in a cheap joint in Singapore about a dozen times. You should be able to get a rate at about SDG 80.00 (~NT$1500) per night if you reserve. It is a mini-room that is acceptable, but spartan. Perfect for a visa run. SDG 80.00 is almost unheard of in Singapore. The hotel is also centrally located:
Robertson Quay Hotel (pronounced “Robertson Key”)
robertsonquayhotel.com.sg/
For around SGD80.00 or a tad more you get a proper hotel in the center of KL, see my earlier post, and the visa office there seems to be easy to deal with (been there twice and didn’t have any hassle).
PS: The Forum Fairlane might not be a 4-Star hotel (anymore?) but it’s nice.
PPS: Other nice and reasonable hotels:
New World Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel (fairly new hotel)
Dorsett Regency Hotel Kuala Lumpur (service sucks)
Crown Princess Hotel (some (most?) rooms renovated)
Hi!
Because I have to go for visa tun too. I choose Singapour. Do you know maybe if foreigners need visa for singapour, and if I need onward ticket from Taiwan to another country? Do customes check if you have ticket like this? I worry because I have now one entry visitor visa to Taiwan, and in Singapour I want apply for a new visa.
It depends on what country you are from. Ameicans and many Western European nations can get a landing visa. Other Asia nations may be able to get the same, for example, my wife entered Singapore on her Thai passport with a landing visa.
If you are applying for a visitor visa, you will need an onward ticket from Taiwan to get on the plane (most airlines will insist). There is a thread in this forum on this subject specifically. If your visitor visa is extenable, you might be able to get the Singapore TECO office to either write or stamp on your visa that you don’t need an onward ticket.
I used to work in Batam and went to Singapore every weekend. I was there only about 2 months ago. Hotel 81 room rates average $45 Sing.
The cost of living is indeed higher in Sing compared to KL, probably due to the stronger Sing doller, hence hotels are generally more expensive. However, airfare to Sing is a lot cheaper when U go with a tour. Of course, U don’t neccesarily have to go sightseeing with the group, I never did. That’s why it has always worked out cheaper for me with a package in the past.
Another reason I chose Sing every time is because of the convenience. The transportation there is amazingly efficient and U could go almost everywhere with only a map and English.
Khan, make sure U check out the Singapore Airlines’ website for their $1 Hotel promos for onward travellers. Also, look up their Immigration office’s website (SIR or something ) for visa regulations for foreigners from various countries.
Yes, the chap in charge at the TECO can be quite suspicious. I was interviewed once when I forgot to bring my re-entry permit (that was many years ago when they issued the permit in the form of a card instead of stamping it is your passport.)Then there was another time when I lost my return ticket and my husband’s household registration card.Lo, U should have a look at the guy’s face. Anyhow, he did grant me a multiple entry visitor visa good for ONE year each time (I usually get only a 6 months visa from KL or HK), but very grudgingly of course. Also, U could get the visa done in one day if U provide proof of impeding flight.
Check out the local bookstores and supermarket if U have time.Got a lot staffs from back home that is not available in Taiwan.
I come from Poland so propobly I hope I don’t need visa to Singapore. But I have question do customs check my onward ticket when I fly from Taiwan to Singapore, or from Singapore to Taiwan. Because if from Singapore to Taiwan it’s ok because I will get extendable visa, but if from Taiwan to Singapore (or on border in Singapore) I will have to buy onward ticket.
Thanks hans
@khan, I believe an onward ticket for going to Taiwan is only required when you apply for a non-extendable landing visa. The outbound flight must then be dated before (or on the date) the visa expires.
Not sure about Singapore, but you could always tell them you leave via car/bus to Malaysia …
Hello!
Maybe I wasn’t clear I asked if I need onward ticket from Taiwan to another country (Poland). Because of course I will buy return ticket from Singapore to Taiwan. But I wonder if they check on border in Singapore that I don’t have visa to Taiwan. Because I 'm going to apply for new visitor visa ( my present visa is visitor and single entry).
Hans
I don’t know if they’ll check u for that but for the past decade that I’ve been in Taiwan, I must have flown to Sing for not less than 15 times. The custom usually just look at the front page of my passport and check their computers to verify if I have any criminal records. No tickets or visa required. Best to call their SIR office for U never know.
When you enter Singapore they don’t care, all that matters is that you have or are entitled for a visa to Singapore.
But the airline staff will most likely check that you have a valid visa when departing Singapore for Taiwan.