Answered6 years ago
Are visa agencies in Bangkok reliable for extending medical, volunteer, or student visas?
Anyone used those visa agencies in Bangkok before? They claim they can extend visa after September 26 in legal ways, mainly three categories: medical visa, volunteer visa, and student visa. They asked for 18K baht for a 90-day medical visa. Are those agencies reliable? Are those visa extensions truly legal?
Answer summary
The post inquires about the reliability of visa agencies in Bangkok that claim to extend visas after September 26, particularly for medical, volunteer, and student purposes, and discusses the legitimacy of these visas. Comments share mixed opinions, suggesting that while some agencies provide legitimate services, others may exploit loopholes, and caution is advised. Direct consultation with Thai Immigration is recommended to ensure legal compliance, as extension through an agency may carry risks of deportation or bans if visa conditions are not genuinely met.
56 repliesnewest first
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NiTa *****
You must tell directions that there is still an outbreak of COVID 19.
Roy *******
OPThanks Rachel! 18K baht for an education visa sounds great. Any recommendation on which agency does that? I asked an agent and got a quote of 53K baht for 15-month student visa!
Shea *******
@Roy ******
can you still do that? It seems that prices jumped after the 1st and I think they might just keep getting higherRoy *******
OP@Shea ******
Yes, seems like they can do it in 3 weeks but the price is ridiculously high, to the extend people might simply accept the 20K baht max penalty from the Immigration for overstaying.Rachel *******
Sign up for an education visa with a legit language or martial arts school. And they are charging
*****
baht immigration fee but at least they are legit. Your window to do it is closing tho!! 
Brendan *****
Why do you say window closing? Would this effect extending for extra years?
Rachel *******
@Brendan ****
back then they posted something about having documents in to the school for processing by a certain date. This was months ago. They probably are still able to do it if you connect with them. The education visa is able to be renewed for up to 4 years ( I am not sure how it works tho, if you have to leave country to renew when year is up or if we can just stay? Rules are likely different now.) 
Jonathan ****
@Rachel ******
please advise which agencyRachel *******
@Jonathan ***
hand 2 hand combat chiang Mai 
Joe ***********
The very recently announced 30 Day Extensions with an Embassy Letter could push the problem out to several months. Why? Because the announcement says that a person can apply for several Extension - one after another
Thomas ********************
Hadn't seen that detail. That would make some measure of good sense.
Ian *********
@Chanyanuch **************
Check her out for help with visas VERY GENUINE Roy *******
OPThanks, Ian!
Ian *********
Let's me know if you want her details
Ian *********
I've used one several times she very good and GENUINE
Kuan ******
Yes they are legit and legal. They can do wonders. They will bring you through the system
Oliver ********
you don't need to pay an agency for a medical extension unless you are so ill you can't go to immigration and don't have any friends/family willing to go on your behalf
Steven ****************
Normally the hospitals have people to do it if the patient is in the hospital. My work colleague father had to have an emergency op in Sukhumvit hospital and after his 15 days visa was done the hospital went along to immigration and sorted the extension.
Ken ***********
@Oliver *******
I think the hospital or doctor would assist alsoOliver ********
@Ken ******
they need to provide a letter. i don't think they would do anything beyond that officially but he could probably convince one of the nurses or admin staff to visit immigration for him on their day off for much less than the agency quoted him.
Erik *******
Just do yourself a huge favor : stop listening to what these “agents” say (of course it’s all legit) and go ask yourself/seek advice to Royal Thai Immigration... They will give you all the details ... About being deported and entry banned ...
Steve *******
If you're not sick, not volunteering or not studying then they aint 'legal'.
Gary **********
I've never used one. But I have friends that have it does cost more. But all legal ...
Scott *********
Pay the money and extend your stay ... job done
Erik *******
@Scott ********
And be prepared to be deported sooner or later ... And get an entry ban for years into Thailand. Scott *********
@Erik ******
abit dramstic - you have alot to learn 
Todd *********
@Er**
Lol. U must be new to global immigration situations Brendan *****
@Erik ******
I am happy to volunteer I have would enjoy this. Do you have any information you can send in messenger?Erik *******
@Todd ********
Global immigration: you’re right. Thai immigration, different story: dealing with it for the last 15 years. Directly , at the source, and not through an agent. I just give you one example : for volunteer visa, Thai immigration proceeds inspections on site where you are supposed to do volunteer work. And read” this : (posted here some days ago)“Yep I'm here on a legitimate (as in I actually volunteer with them 5 days a week) volunteer visa with a local charity. Work through an agent to help with all the paperwork, it's a pretty long process and you've got to renew in 90 day increments until the 3rd renewal when you can get a year and got to apply separately for multiple entry each time. They also go to your place of volunteering during the consideration phase to check that you actually go there when you say you do.”
When in doubt, do yourself a favor and go to the source: ask Thai Immigration. They will happily give you all the details about risks of being deported and entry banned.
Cameron ********
Maybe if you fall over and hurt yourself you will qualify for the medical visa. Have you considered this?
Don ******
@Cameron *******
if so, you may want to only jump from the second floor. Any higher and you could die! 🤪
Ryan *************
@Cameron *******
wait I've just had a mental breakdown, I'm also suffering from chronic insomnia, wierd all started about 28th of September lolKen ***********
Due diligence is required because some agencies have been raided by police for using fake visas.
Maxim ***********
Yes, you are fear-mongering. Your friend didn't have a valid visa. Nobody is saying that ALL agency will give you a real visa, but the one you linked above (American and Thai Wife arrested, etc), is total BS. They are still operating and delivering thousands of visas every month (for 10+ years). Everyone knows about them, they are in Bangkok and their office is well known. Is it legal? No! Legit? Yes! Everyone is getting their cut. Please remember that this is Thailand, legality and legitimicy is different.
Gordon *******
@Ken ******
Scaremongering is what bored people do!Ken ***********
@Gordy ******
i have a friend who was deported for a fake stamp...not scare mongering Ivan ************
I don't know either. But that's just the way it seems, the way they want copies of things they should have already, the way that missing 90 day reports is usually not picked up at extensions and never flagged at the borders, but is only looked at during a subsequent 90 day report. The whole thing just seems very disconnected, that by default they look at all these things in isolation on their own basis, and they seem to run pretty independently. I'm pretty sure usually TM30s just go into a black hole, unless they are specifically interested in you and are looking them up on you.
For sure though if you are leaving the country, or looking for an extension, they look at your current permission in the computer then, and they know. That's when I suspect it would be flagged.
For sure though if you are leaving the country, or looking for an extension, they look at your current permission in the computer then, and they know. That's when I suspect it would be flagged.
Ivan ************
Milos I know it submits to immigration. But I don't think all these systems are tied together into some centralised database that they cross-reference "is this TM30 on a currently valid extension?"
I think the TM30 just goes into the TM30 database, and that's that.
For sure they can look this stuff up for individual people. But I don't think they have this orange spinning light that goes off if a person with an expired stamp files a TM30. I think they have to be of a mind where they are actively looking at it.
I think the TM30 just goes into the TM30 database, and that's that.
For sure they can look this stuff up for individual people. But I don't think they have this orange spinning light that goes off if a person with an expired stamp files a TM30. I think they have to be of a mind where they are actively looking at it.
Ivan ************
Milos I'm not sure they cross-reference that stuff with hotels/TM30, that seems somewhat disconnected. But you would have to deal with immigration eventually, either for another extension or leaving, and for sure it would come up then.
Ivan ************
I don't believe that happens on any significant level any more. Not with agencies dealing with farang anyway. There are certainly levels of dodginess in how they go about getting them, but the visas/extensions acquired are not "fake", they are from immigration and in the system. It couldn't possibly work otherwise, the immigration system is computerised and your extension has to be in that or you'll be flagged on exit.
Ken ***********
@Ivan ***********
*********************************************************************************************************************************************************
*******
/05/american-thai-wife-arrested-operating-an-illegal-visa-business-in-bangkok-using-fake-stamps/Ivan ************
@K**
right, and that all went away very quickly, the agency continued operation throughout, and is still operating today. I have not heard of anyone who got a visa/extension from them, even after this report, actually having a problem with it.There was also no allegation at any point in that that the actual visas/extensions were fake. With any agent that is procuring visas in a dodgy manner, they may be doing this with questionable supporting documentation, but the visas themselves are coming from immigration.
Ron *******
Ask yourself. Is a medical visa valid if there is fuck all wrong with you?
Frank **********
I suffer from extreme anxiety at the idea of going back to the states. Can I have a 90 day medical visa, please?
Ryan *************
@Ron ******
in a normal world no, Thailand yeah lol Ron *******
@Ryan ************
you best hope your not called in for a second opinion.That will be interesting as to who signed the medical certificate
Ron *******
@Ryan ************
the majority of decent agents won't even get involved with these half witted Volunteer visas due to what's involved. Only the desperate would involve themselves with a medical visaRyan *************
@Ron ******
yeah I agree but you know what the docs are like here, prescribe you anything if you say the right thing, but I hear what your saying, I'm just extending my none o then back to the UK until things get back to normal, feeling lucky I've been here really, I feel if I went this long without seeing my boy I'd be loosing the plot now
Baz **********
They are only doing what can be done legally by yourself and making money in the process. Handy to use if you just cant be bothered doing it yourself. I would say you are not paying them to give you the option. You will have the option anyway, they are just making your life easier. I guess.
Roy *******
OPGottchya
John *********
Brown envelopes .
Baz **********
Ah ok. Gotchya.
Jimmy ******
You can’t do it yourself if you are on amnesty as you have no valid visa to switch from - hence the hefty price
Roy *******
OP@Jimmy *****
I guess those agents have special connection/authorization to do it legally if I can't? Activity
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