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Are agents outside the Thai embassy in Penang trustworthy for obtaining a visa?
Visa Application ProcessThai EmbassyPenangNon-O VisaNon-OA VisaRetirement VisaVisa ExtensionExpat Experience
Jun 29, 2023
3 years ago
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHey, next week I’m headed to Penang for my OA. My first time in Penang. I understand that it can be quite a wait out in the hot sun.
So are the agents outside the embassy trustworthy ? If they get it in and I can just go back to my room, that would be awesome.
Any good or bad experiences out there ?
So are the agents outside the embassy trustworthy ? If they get it in and I can just go back to my room, that would be awesome.
Any good or bad experiences out there ?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses a user's upcoming trip to Penang for an O-A visa application and concerns about the trustworthiness of agents outside the embassy. Community responses clarify that O-A visas can only be obtained in the applicant's home country or country of legal residency, and agents cannot enter the embassy to assist. It is suggested that the user might need to apply for a tourist visa first, then convert it to a Non-O visa upon return to Thailand. Overall, trust in agents is cautioned against, with experiences shared about self-applying and managing visa processes independently.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Retirement Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Darren *******
Non Immigrant O (Retirement) Visa can be obtained both at the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate prior to traveling to Thailand or at the Thai Immigration department even if you have entered Thailand on a Tourist visa or Exempt Visa stamp.
Julane *******
I did it on my own. Arrived at 8:45am. Filled in the paperwork given at the window. Waited 15 mins on the sidewalk until 9am and then we all went in to claim seats inside. We were under 25 people (April 2023)
Bring all the needed printouts required on their website. It's easy. If you're too hot, bring an umbrella. There's even a street seller with cold drinks if you need one.
Why would you trust a tout/agent to do something so important? I wouldn't trust those chaps hanging around outside...but they do try to sell you a pen or such.
Bring all the needed printouts required on their website. It's easy. If you're too hot, bring an umbrella. There's even a street seller with cold drinks if you need one.
Why would you trust a tout/agent to do something so important? I wouldn't trust those chaps hanging around outside...but they do try to sell you a pen or such.
Mark *************************
I dont think you can walk in either. 🤷♂️
Brett **********
The question is, do you have
*****
0 baht to put into an account? If you were in an OA then you were able to show evidence of equivalent in your home country. If you transfer to an O you'll have to season *****
0 in a Thai bank until the extension is granted and not let it drop below *****
0 at all and make sure it's back to *****
0 a few months before the next extension. Your issue is having used an agent. You are stuck in that loop of renewal with them after using them. Going alone, or moving province (as you have) basically means starting from scratch. The plus side is, now you are doing this all yourself through the official channels you shouldn't have this issue again, as long as you keep to the rules of money in your account. You may wish to do some research on the difference between the O and O-A visas and the different requirements though.Mark ******
It seems that what CW has advised you to do is go to Penang, get a tourist visa (as you don't have residency in Malaysia, they cannot issue you with an O-A visa), then, on your return to Thailand apply for an O visa. This would seem to me to be the simplest solution to your problem.
Brook ********
You get the “visa” you deserve.
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTERJudas Priest ! Getting a common sense answer from this group can be good or a complete pain in the ass ! To many pricks in here.
Best info I got was that there is a casino there
Best info I got was that there is a casino there
John **********
@Terry *******
if you provide the right information you get a good answer. If you provide a story... Garbage in garbage outMichael ********
@John *********
totally correctReply to
Michael ********
Reply
Ron *******
So as you are not disappointed, Penang don't issue Non O visas for retirement
***************************************************************************
*****
0-visa-requirements-iiTerry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ron ******
as immigration said, I’ll just get a tourist visa and change it when I get back here. I know, sounds SUPER difficultReply to
Garrett ***********
Reply
Ron *******
You absolutely don't have residency in Thailand. If you did, you wouldn't require any visa.
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI currently have a non OA here in Thailand. But immigration told me of a mistake and they can’t renew it here. Chaeng Wattana says I need to leave the country, apply for the tourist visa or Non O visa, and then I can change it back to the non O retirement when I get back. Sorry if all the minutiae of my terminology is incorrect
Marty *********
Terry Morgan You don’t renew visas at Immigration inside Thailand. You extend your OA or O one year at a time. The one year extension for OA and O is exactly the same except for the insurance requirement for the OA. What is the mistake with your OA?
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Marty ********
I just got back from China, I was in a hurry to get my retirement extension so I used a law office in Hua Hin. They got it, I did all my 90 day reports, then moved and bought a house in Bangkok, went to CW for my new 90 day and file my new TM30. No problems. I went two weeks early for my extension and was told by CW that I’m not in the system , to leave Thailand, get a new NON-O or tourist visa and then they will change it to the 1 year non O retirement extension
John **********
@Terry *******
sounds like you were scammed by the people in hua hin. You're lucky immigration were understandingTerry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
yes, the law office is working a scam and the local immigration office is taking their cut.Eric *********
Terry Morgan are you retarded?
Ross ********
@Terry *******
play monkey games...win monkey prizesMarty *********
Terry Morgan OK. You never had an OA or the law office scammed you. You should do as Immigration advises.
Reply to
Marty *********
Reply
Garrett ***********
Non-OA's can only be obtain in your home country or country of legal residency.
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Garrett **********
that’s pretty amazing, I am from the US and haven’t been back there in over 20 years never renewed any visa or extension at allEric *********
Terry Morgan you will have to now as I've reported you. Ya nonce bastard
Reply to
Eric *********
Reply
Bob **********
@Garrett **********
you cannot get an OA in Thailand and it needs to be a legal residency not just because you are here on a visa your confused non-o and extend is what your looking forTerry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Garrett **********
my country of legal residency is ThailandKool *******
@Terry *******
if you were a resident of Thailand you would not need a visa extension at all. You are getting a right to stay in the country with your visa because you are not an official resident, even though for tax purposes it might be. Basically Thailand considers your legal residency the country your passport is from, as you have not applied for, or received permanent residency. It is that simple.Reply to
Kool *******
Reply
Ron *******
Unless you have Malaysian residency, you cannot apply there for an O-A visa.
Wherever you apply for it, you need residency.
And no, agents cannot enter there either.
On the plus side,Penang Turf club is the best casino in Penang
Wherever you apply for it, you need residency.
And no, agents cannot enter there either.
On the plus side,Penang Turf club is the best casino in Penang
John **********
You appear to be from the US so you're not going to get an Non-OA visa anywhere but there. Do you mean Non-O? Are you aware you can get a Non-O visa inside Thailand?
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
not according to chaeng wattana. I need to leave the country then change it when I get backJohn **********
@Terry *******
what are you currently on? And what are you trying to get? If you're currently on a Non-OA and trying to change to a Non-O they are correct. A clearer explanation might helpReply to
John **********
Reply
Roberto *********
OA?
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTEROh. And does anyone know if there are casinos there ?
Reply to
Terry ********
Reply
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