Is it risky to use an agent for my non-O retirement visa extension in Thailand?

@Jingles *********

no its fine use a reputable one. ฿65k can't be u sed for the 2nd year

If you can afford abide by the rules 100%… would be my motto.

DON'T USE AN AGENT

For the record, requirements for retirement visa are 800k in the bank, or 65k in monthly income, which can only be done in the second year on. Using an agent is something that people have been doing here long before most of us have lived here. But, it is not a legal visa. If you choose to use an agent, chances are nothing will ever happen, but ask yourself, is it worth the risk, especially if you have the funds to deposit. Good luck.

First thing first, using an agent isn’t strictly playing by immigration rules but it’s tolerated (for now) by the highest officials, so no problem for those that go down this route.

Until…. As in your case, you want to move from using an agent to doing it yourself and move to using the 65k p/m option. Your renewal ‘could’ be hampered because when you go to renew your visa, immigration will see that you didn’t have the 800k in your Thai bank account as required to fulfil the terms to acquire that visa. I would argue in the current climate, it’s unlikely but ‘possible’ you ‘could’ be deemed as having overstayed with an invalid visa.

you can do the application to the 1-year extension fully legal if you put your own funds into your bank account and use the agent to help you with the rest of the application process. Agents offer their service for both options: using your own funds, or fronting the funds for you. For the "legal" service they usually charge 10-12,000 THB , and for the tea-money route they charge around 32,000 THB

What would and agent usually charge if you already had your 3 month non o and had get 800k to deposit (or already deposited)?

Unless you put that 800k in yout bank for 1 year you will be forever trapped using an agent.

Remember to do the opposite of what your western brain thinks, that then will work

Ask your agent which bank they currently recommend

If using your own money and an agent as a convenience that's fine.

BUT at this time it is much easier to use your money.

If trying to cheat the process, you are setting yourself for failure.

Obey and comply…

Agents are not working with Kasikorn Bank. One of them told me 'that bank is doing everything according to book'. The other two well-known banks they are working with are also acting very strictly recently. So you do not have a choice other than transferring the required amount.

Remember the THB65,000 had to go into your bank every month on time for 12 months before you can apply.

Do it yourself. It’s not complicated and according to others once you have used an agent it is difficult to get rid of them

Something to bear in mind. If you use an agent to supply the 800k baht for your extension you will have to use them again next year. Why? Because you won't have met the terms of your extension. You won't be able to get an extension by yourself next year either with 800k baht or by using the 65k monthly income method

If you use an agent to bypass the 800k requirement then you will not be able to switch to monthly deposit method. When you go to apply for the 2nd extension using the banked money method you will first need to prove you met the requirements of the previous extension. Which is the 800k must remain in your account for 3 months after, and not go below 400k the rest of the year. Since you used an agent that used a fake account or brown envelope to bypass the initial seasoned 800k you will not have the proper account and proof to show you met that obligation.

Once you use an agent to bypass the financial requirement you will be stuck using an agent for every subsequent extension. The only way to break free from that will be to leave the country and start all over again.

So do you not have the 800,000 to put in the bank, or are you just not wanting to?

You will receive answers ranging from "illegal - you should be deported yesterday" to "no problem."

Many things are in flux right now. Best to visit and talk with a reputable agent and get first hand information.

Ask yourself, is it legal?

Are the banks cracking down?

Could I be deported and banned?

If I do, will I be locked into using an agent forever?

What is the cost of a guilty conscience and constant paranoia?