Answered8 months ago
How much does it cost to use an agent for a 1-year extension on a Non-Immigrant O visa in Thailand?
In May I will be going to Thailand on a non immigrant O visa but I will be only stay for 7 weeks. During that time, I will open a bank account and several days later wire in the 800K baht to give it time to season. In December I will go to Thailand again on a new non immigrant O visa and plan to get it extended for a year. My question is: If I have the bank account already with the seasoned 800K baht, what will it cost me to have an agent get the 1 year extension?
Answer summary
The user plans to apply for a one-year extension of their Non-Immigrant O visa after depositing 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account. They ask about the potential costs of hiring an agent for the extension process. Responses suggest that while agents may cost between 7,500 to 45,000 baht, many recommend that the process can be easily handled personally for only 1,900 baht. Most commenters emphasize that if one has the required funds and documentation, doing it yourself saves significant money and time.
98 repliesnewest first
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Steve ********
Recommend you use Kasikorn as your Bank. Bangkok Bank has had "issues" and does not always play well with immigration.
Bent *************
DIY
Bart ********
We use a tax professional to do our tax returns, we use a legal professional to do our legal documents, why not a immigration professional to do immigration, I do why not get a professional to represent you, not only is it prompt , it breaks down any communication issues , and fees to complete these services are negligible in the scope of it all. I respect the DIY’ers good on them , for me and a lot of retirement visa recipients, an agent takes out any stresses encountered in our yearly process
Gilles *******
I can't give any advice as i will be doing the same in October,
I do know that the 800 000 baht needs to be in bank account 2 months before
I do know that the 800 000 baht needs to be in bank account 2 months before
Julie ********
Don't use an agent. You can do it yourself, although you need to plan it properly.
Haim *******
Why from immigration office? Download from the website. Form TM7, TM8, TM30. If you don’t have a printer, Go to a photo shop. Make 6 passport photos. Stick them to the forms. Come prepared to the immigration office. While other applicant are busy filling the forms, you glide directly to the appropriate post and save a lot of queue numbers.
Robin **********
That’s a hassle mate time consuming. I know lot people done it that way said they would sooner have paid 4000 🤷♂️
Guy *******
J'ai demande hier une prolongation de 30 jours pour un visa LTR (6 mois avec sortie tous les,60 jours)
J'ai demande a GROC quels documents apporter ,l'IA m'a donne la liste des documents ,ou les,decharger en PDF comment les remplir et ou les signer avec encre bleue ...
J'ai apporte tout ca a MATAPUT immigration ... l'officier m'a dit "si tout le monde faisait la meme chose mon travail serait facile"
Ca a pris 5 mn ( surtout pour les nombreux tampons)et je suis reparti avec mon autorisation.
J'ai demande a GROC quels documents apporter ,l'IA m'a donne la liste des documents ,ou les,decharger en PDF comment les remplir et ou les signer avec encre bleue ...
J'ai apporte tout ca a MATAPUT immigration ... l'officier m'a dit "si tout le monde faisait la meme chose mon travail serait facile"
Ca a pris 5 mn ( surtout pour les nombreux tampons)et je suis reparti avec mon autorisation.
Mark **********
I open n ed a kringsri bank account after asking yhdi friends and glad I did. So easy to deal with and only heard bad reports on Bangkok Bank
Ken *********
Do you still have to do a 90 days report period if you get the year extension
Barath *******
Ken Withers I was told that's mandatory 😊
Ken *********
Barath Faust kk
Irwin *********
Why wud you waste money on an agent. No need at all.
Wayne *******
Most if not all use an agent because they dont have the 800k. You do so you can do everything yourself
John ********
Use an Agent
Only a fool puts 800,000 bart on a thai bank, i have a couple thai bank acc , they dont pay interest , all they do is take fee,s off you every month ,
At least in ur country ur getting 5% interest on ur money and No risk
Only a fool puts 800,000 bart on a thai bank, i have a couple thai bank acc , they dont pay interest , all they do is take fee,s off you every month ,
At least in ur country ur getting 5% interest on ur money and No risk
Frank *******
John Yelash more like 1% in th US - if that
Daren ********
Frank Bowen You have your money in the wrong place.
John ********
Frank Bowen in Auz i get 4,5 %
Steve ***********
The above mean blue, green and yellow banks
Gram **********
I do it myself
No cost
An agent will charge you a lot of money
They will ask for excessive documentation and discard 50% of it
You have to provide all copies of all documents required
They will then shuffle the papers and documents backwards and forwards like a walnut shuffler
You then have to take all those documents to Thai Immigration who will chuck 50% of them back at you
You need to learn quickly
No cost
An agent will charge you a lot of money
They will ask for excessive documentation and discard 50% of it
You have to provide all copies of all documents required
They will then shuffle the papers and documents backwards and forwards like a walnut shuffler
You then have to take all those documents to Thai Immigration who will chuck 50% of them back at you
You need to learn quickly
Graham **********
Made my application earlier this week. Bank statements and letter cost 200 baht, photos 100 baht, visa 3800 baht. Done
Nongnuch ********
Graham Fletcher then you paid too much. The application to what you wrongly call a visa, is 1900 Baht fee. It is not a visa but a 1-year stay permit. 3800 THB would be the fee for the multi re-entry permit
Graham **********
Nongnuch Kamdee yes, I travel a lot.
Neil ******
I renew my visa every year at immigration no agent. I check the government website for what I need and get all the documentation ready first. Be prepared for a few hiccups that normally happens but can usually be sorted at the office. Listen to what the guys tell you and above all treat with the respect you would want for yourself and you should have no problems
Martin **********
people make it so hard - use an agent and forget the hassle of even openong a bank account without one
Ken ************
Get an agent you will have no issues and open Kasikorn Bank account dont touch Bangkok Bank
Graham ******
Transfer your 800k closer to your return, just open the account and leave a few thousand in it to cover any charges etc.
Raymond *********
An agent will cost anywhere between
*****
thb and *****
thb. If you do it yourself, 1900thb and it's really easy
Gordon **********
Why an agent? Some folk take their wives for 90 days.
If youre lazy get an agent
If youre lazy get an agent
Peter ******
@Lawyers **********************
ask for Mint, she’s fantastic
John *********
You won't need an agent.
One caution: Be careful where you open your bank account. If you open it but don't end up living in the same city you have to go back to the original branch if you ever have to make changes or fix a problem.
One last thing. As you're driving to the bank to open your account, if you see Bangkok Bank, smile and wave and keep driving.
One caution: Be careful where you open your bank account. If you open it but don't end up living in the same city you have to go back to the original branch if you ever have to make changes or fix a problem.
One last thing. As you're driving to the bank to open your account, if you see Bangkok Bank, smile and wave and keep driving.
Bob ******
John Nielson Maybe true for some, but not all. I opened my bank account in Bangkok. But live almost 4 hours away. I have no trouble at all making changes to my account. Just make sure to keep the same phone number in which you set your account up with.
Tomas *********
John Nielson that is not how it works for me. I have opened 3 account i Kasikorn bank in Buriram. If i have any problem here in Pattaya I just go to any branch and the help me.
Barath *******
Is it easier to open an account with Krungsri Bank compared to Bangkok Bank? Have yet to open one. Thank you!
John *********
Barath Faust I'd go with Krungsri.
Tony ********
Tomas Hansson Agree I’m with Krungsri Bank which was opened on Samui years ago . I now live in Prachaup Kiri Khan area and had no issue at Hua Hin immigration with bank details
Haim *******
You don’t need an agent just come with your bank passbook to immigration and TM7 form. Don’t forget to make a re entry permit TM8 to avoid visa expiration when you exit Thailand during the year.
Nongnuch ********
@Haim ******
the visa already expires when he enters Thailand. The re-entry permit just keeps the 1-year stay permit aliveHaim *******
Nongnuch Kamdee ? How come expires when entering Thailand?
Hari ****
For your Ban you will need a Certificate for Residency…
Hari ****
Where u stay ?
Hari ****
You can do all yourselves very easy
Pierre *********
Why agent?
David *******
If you've got an O visa then go to immigration and get your proof of residency letter and open a bank account, you'll also need a phone contract.
Open your account with just a small amount as your returning in Dec so transfer the 800K into your Thai account in Oct.
Therefore once you return in Dec you can apply for your 1 year extension.
Your 1 year extension will start after your 90 day visa expires.
So your O visa will actually be 15 months.
Open your account with just a small amount as your returning in Dec so transfer the 800K into your Thai account in Oct.
Therefore once you return in Dec you can apply for your 1 year extension.
Your 1 year extension will start after your 90 day visa expires.
So your O visa will actually be 15 months.
Jack *******
David Brown and if he wants a retirement visa he shouldn't deposit the money immediately? Lol
Nongnuch ********
David Brown there is nothing like a O visa of 15 months. When he enters on the 90-days Non-O Visa, he will receive a 90-days stay permit, and the visa becomes invalid. Before the 90-days stay permit expires, he needs to apply for the extension of the stay permit. He does NOT have a visa any more after he entered, he just is in Thailand on a valid stay permit.
Bryan ******
Providing you can read and write English then an agent is not necessary and in fact maybe a liability. Do it yourself, it's a little bureaucratic but a good exercise and will pay dividends future extensions. Choose your bank carefully, it should be in the town where you live and as close to immigration as possible so that you can easily get the necessary documents prepared for presentation.
Bryan ******
Nongnuch Kamdee the extension is based on one year from the date entered into the passport on the original entry. The original entry would be for 3 months the extension would be for a further 12 months.
David *******
Bryan Inns when you get your extension the extension starts the day the 90 day finishes.
So if you already have the money in a Thai bank you can apply straight away.
Hence you get 90 days plus 1 year extension = 15 months
So if you already have the money in a Thai bank you can apply straight away.
Hence you get 90 days plus 1 year extension = 15 months
Strength *********
The people who use the agents are the people that don't have the 800k. That is what the agents are for.
Marc ********
Strength AndWill or if you made the deposit in cash but the immigration insists on a transaction coming from abroad from another bank
Strength *********
Marc Widmer I don't think they care where the money is coming from, as long as it's been sitting in your account for more than a couple of months.
Jeen ************
Just be smart
Take a (3 month) 90 days non-o and then let it after 2.5 months set to a new year visa
You need 800 000 on Bangkok bank for a least 3 monts and from that bank a paper with everything from that 3 monts not less than ever 400.00 till you set to 800.000 on time for new visa
Take a (3 month) 90 days non-o and then let it after 2.5 months set to a new year visa
You need 800 000 on Bangkok bank for a least 3 monts and from that bank a paper with everything from that 3 monts not less than ever 400.00 till you set to 800.000 on time for new visa
Nongnuch ********
Jeen Ten Hoeve you are posting a lot of misinformation. You do not extend a visa. You only extend a stay permit. The 800K deposit needs to have seasoned for 2 months, not for 3 months. You need to keep the deposit over 800L for 3 months after you have been issued the 1-year extension of the stay permit. In the rest of the year it cannot go under 400,000 THB. And 2 months before the application to the next 1-year extension, the depposit must be back at minimum 800K
Stuart ***********
My question is why use an agent to do the simplest part of the whole process?
It's one a4 form with about 15 simple questions (name, address, date arrived Thailand etc), proof of where you live, information from bank, 2 passport pictures and a few photocopies. It takes me on average about 30 minutes in Hua Hin immigration each year and 1,900 baht. As someone else said it usually takes me a bit longer waiting in the bank.
It's one a4 form with about 15 simple questions (name, address, date arrived Thailand etc), proof of where you live, information from bank, 2 passport pictures and a few photocopies. It takes me on average about 30 minutes in Hua Hin immigration each year and 1,900 baht. As someone else said it usually takes me a bit longer waiting in the bank.
Todd ********
I use an agent because life is smoother that way. I ignore all that say why use. Pay the 1900b. Im in Thailand to be in a stressfree environment….my choice.
Herwig **************
Todd Capron than ask your agent
Colin *********
Todd Capron I respect your choice, but doesn't the Agent require you to gather all the documentation yourself, then they just lodge the application on your behalf and charge you maybe 10k Baht or more above what it would cost if you did it yourself? Where's the stress? Do the Immigration Officers make it hard for you if you do it yourself? Is it a long waiting time at the Immigration Office? Just curious, because I haven't through it yet.
Deborah *******
Colin Boyland Since you can do a lot online, the queue at Immigration is not bad. I was in and out in less than 2 hours
Deborah *******
Barath Faust no you have to be out of the country. I would get your approval before you come. Otherwise you'll be on a tourist visa and still have to leave the country.The rules changed and Non O have to be processed (started) outside of Thailand initially.
Barath *******
@Deborah ******
, we are still in Canada, coming soon. When I went online, there's a pop-up that says I can only use online service if I'm overseas. Can you start the application online while you're in Thailand? Thank you!
Todd ********
Colin Boyland my agent has all my information already. I go my bank get the letter for money is there not BB show up at immigration for a quick digital photo. Relax at home and wait for passport. Win win. Im sure immigration likes agents as well. They know the process.
Tom ********
Why spend 20K + on an agent when you will have all the requirements, do it yourself, it's fairly easy if you take your time and provide what they ask for.
Nongnuch ********
Tom Jarvis there is no need to spend 20K on an agent. The one I know in Pattaya charges 7500 THB for the 1-Year extension of stay out of an already existing Non-O visa and using own funds already seasoned.
Tom ********
Nongnuch Kamdee I know that and you know that but the OP doesn't and you know full well an agent will charge whatever they can get away with charging.
Nongnuch ********
Tom Jarvis the agent I know has a fully transparent list of fees posted in his office and on his website
Garry **********
Sylvia Corley can you give me your agents contact details please ?
Sylvia ********
Tom Jarvis my agent gives a full list of tge various options and fee, so no they dont all overcharge
Nongnuch ********
you could however also arrive on a new 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa obtained in your home country, then use an agent to help your with the application to the 1-year extension of the stay permit based on retirement, on Immigration. The agent I know in Pattaya would charge 7500 THB for such a service (no re-entry permit included, yet) as you already have the correct visa and already have the bank account with the required funds sitting in it
Tom *******
I recently got my non O extension and it was easy
Just get the forms in advance from immigration office and complete before going back to immigration
Go to bank and get statements to verify transfer is genuine and update passbook then go to immigration with proof of residence and 2 pics
I was longer in the bank than in immigration
1900 for application and 3800 for multiple entry
Just get the forms in advance from immigration office and complete before going back to immigration
Go to bank and get statements to verify transfer is genuine and update passbook then go to immigration with proof of residence and 2 pics
I was longer in the bank than in immigration
1900 for application and 3800 for multiple entry
Mike *************
Tom Whyte With Non-O, it's been stated - no need to prove it was a foreign transfer, only need proof (letter from bank, updated passbook, statement proving 60 days) that it has been on deposit for at least 60 days.
Tom *******
Mike Deslauriers depends on each IO and officer
Alan *****************
Tom Whyte
Grant *********
U forgot to say u need a tm30 to get cert of residency at immigration. Very important
Tom *******
Grant Johnson yes
Tom *******
Grant Johnson yes that was part of my application too
Barath *******
Tom Whyte proof of residency is the tenancy agreement?
Stuart *********
You’re planning all the steps right but why use an agent? DIY for 1,900 baht.
Wolfgang ***********
@Stuart ********
exactly. 1900 thb and 1 hr time
Mark *******
@Stuart ********
exactly, I got quoted 45,000 baht from an "agent"( conman), did it myself for less than 2,000 baht. Just be polite and ask for all the paperwork and fill it in, simple.Activity
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