Is it safe to use a visa agent for obtaining a Non-O retirement visa in Thailand?

Some agents help you 'get around' the financial requirements.

Some agents simply help you fill in the paperwork and hold your hand at immigration.

The first group is where you could get bitten.

Goverment are Looking into the way visas are obtained through agents !

No problems at all with them helping you, you will have to be there at immigration when it is issued, totally legit

I had all the documents & fund required but I used agent just so I don’t have to deal with Thai government or waiting for hours at the immigration office and I wouldn’t do it any other way. There wasn’t any issue with my visa.

I've used Assist Thai Visa in the past. No problem and no hassle.

If you submit the application and something is out of order, follow the IO request for additional docs or whatever, then resubmit again. Kind of "test until you pass". They won't hold it against you. No lost love. After that, you may even be able to help others. The application docs and procedure are routine and well documented at the IO.

hi can i get the agent contact? or website?

If your agent does everything legally properly you will not have a proplem.

But fact is also that you don't need an agent to obtain your visa. You can do everything what is needed by yourself and it's quite easy to do so.

Just read the website of the Thai Embassy you are belonging to!

If you use a visa agent you will have to use them in future years..not just a one off

Not sure if this helps, but I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, however at 67 years I went it alone with the help of the advisers on the Thai Visa app, namely Tod Daniels, hell it was a piece of cake, you get a TM30 from your accommodation, take it to immigration with 2x passport photos and a photocopy of your passport and apply for a certificate of residence, takes about 20 minutes waiting time , 300 Baht and you can now go to a bank and open an account, while you are at immigration ask for the requirements for the non o immigrant retirement Visa, I filled out all the relevant documents in about 20 minutes, got the manager at my condo to check them, ✔️, took photos of my hotel, lease agreement and the relevant copies of my bank book, passport etc , you have to do the bank book copies on the morning that you apply, went to immigration and applied, paid 2000baht, and it was all done in about 40 minutes, I had a 90 day non o retirement Visa, 60 days later I filled in 2 more documents, copied my bank statement, drew a hand drawn map of where I lived, 2 copies of each plus my passport and went to immigration and applied for a 12 month extension, paid 1900baht and it was all done. Now I just repeat the 12 month extension process every year and I can stay forever, its not as hard as some people make out, also gives you something to do for half a day once a year.😊

It’s easy to do yourself if you paying (backhand money )which is what your doing when paying an agent I guess anything can happen

If you have plans to obtain a driving licence, put a vehicle in your name, or open a bank account. Then you will need a residence certificate from immigration. Hence things are much easier if the stamp in your passport is from that immigration office and your 90-day reports are up to date

People that use an Agent to skirt the 800k financial requirements puts you at risk. As the requirement is 800k in your bank account that has to be in there for 2 months prior to the one year extension, cannot fall below 400k during the year and must be back up to 800k before your next yearly extension as per immigration law. Using an agent to put that money in an account is fraud. Plain and simple. People do it anyway and I don't blame them but just be aware of it.

Yeahhhhh,....nah

I am an American in Thailand for my third year on a retirement visa.

I have met Nico at Assist Thai Visa and I have no doubt he and his company are legitimate and reputable.

When I first arrived, I was able to open a bank account and get a Thai drivers license myself… It was a great Thailand learning experience. One I would not want to repeat. Registering a used vehicle was too difficult and required assistance.

With regard to my Non O retirement visa and subsequent annual extension based on retirement, I used a different agent, which was recommended by a friend. The agent was amazing.

I asked her lots of questions, took notes and made photocopies of everything with the intention of renewing it myself next time.

However, the agent did such a good and efficient job that I will probably just ask her to handle the renewal.

There comes a time in some people’s life when they have better things to do than wait in line all morning.

For me, the agents fees in exchange for spending 5 minutes in the immigration office having my photo taken and passport stamped are well worth the small cost.

It’s simple! What are your concerns? The 2 provinces that I’ve applied were very helpful

You'll probably never know if it's legit or not unless you go to Immigration with them.

Assist Thai Visa is legitimate. There are many legitimate agents. I used and continue to use Assist Thai Visa. I have other things I like to do more than dance to bureaucratic rules. The agent reminds me of when 90 days is due, when I have to do the extension and make sure the right amount of money is in the account etc. I use them for everything that I find tedious and boring. Granted, other people people prefer to save the money and do it themselves. To each their own.

Brian. If you can follow a simple recipe, use a photo copier and are allowed to use a stapler unsupervised then have a bit of fun and do it yourself.

Michael Dawson posted a link to a very sad story above where a guy was thoroughly rinsed by an Agent last year and ended up on a year ( nearly) overstay. Lucky for him the IO in CW could see it for what it is but you could easily end up being blacklisted.

Agents are in no way regulated in Thailand.

Me and my cat Tommy could do a better job.

You can get some pretty good advice in this group and one or two other FB groups

Good luck. Keep us posted (almost nobody reports back. Take take take)

If you've got the money in the bank and the required seasoning of that money then do it yourself bud. It's not a hassle and will save you the cost of an agent.

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They are wrong. I have the 800k, I’m 100% legal I just hate going to immigration. So I pay an agent to do my extension. I have been in and out of the country with my re-entry stamps obtained at the same time as my extension and have had zero issues.

If they are a true, legitimate agency you will be fine.

Depends on if you're going to immigration and applying for the visa with their assistance in gathering documents and filling out documents and they explain and translate for you. Then you know everything is legit.

If they take everything and get a visa without you present, there's no way for you to confirm how legit everything is. And if they get a stamp from outside the province you're living in, then you'll know for sure you'll never be able to get your own extension again without an agent until you reset your status.