Should I start working with a visa agent in October or wait until I relocate to Chiang Mai?

@Frank *********

yes I understand. 1🙏

@John *******

yes, its getting more difficult to open bank accounts. Thats why I.m thinking of getting an agent as well.Thx for the lead of BKK on Silom road. I actually have plans to being in Bkk not CM.

Maybe yr gf helped. Do you think I can open an account on a METV, or must it be a non O visa to open an account?

Id like to depoist money directly in an account to avoid an agent, but no luck. Ive been working in Cambodia several years and want to relocate to Bkk when I retire end of the year...so back to basic Q? Which visa did you have when you opened the account without an agent?

@John *******

of course if u dont use an agent u wil need money in thenbank> thats why most poeple use agents>

my price was thru the best/cheapest agent NOT in Pattaya

others cause they just cant deal with immigration for one reason or another>

FYI: ur not tied to one agent

FYI:

ur not tied to an agent

If you use an agent and than come into a windfall put ur 800,00 in the bank> as long as it s been there a FULL year when u do ur next renewal... ur good to go

OR

exit and start the process over

@Richard ********

😅🤣😅windfall is very unlikely to happen to you in Thailand

But one day it will all change and you will have to have the 0thb in the bank using a agent or not the tea money will stop and a lot of xpats will be going back home

@John *******

why? inheritance, Lottery 🙂

it wont ever stop, to much money goes into Agents/immigrations pockets!

@Richard ********

😅🤣😂 ok we will see 🤣

@Colin ********

it’s hardly a hijack. The poster indicates a need/desire for services of an agent. Fair enough. Give him a good agent. Instead you have complete arseholes perpetuating myths and lies in an odd attempt to dissuade the poster for using the obvious solution to his problem.

And there are clearly people here whom are well aware that much of what henrik is saying is blatantly exaggerated or false. But stay silent for political reasons or fear. To the detriment of the poster.

People use agents or not depending on their circumstances. When they are beneficial or needed, the poster deserves an honest answer

@Todd ********

the way I see it, without saying that either of you are wrong (because I don't know), is that it became a slanging match between the two of you and was benefiting nobody.

@Colin ********

what benefits nobody is misinformation.

@Todd ********

, pls. post the link to an official page stating that using an agent is removing all other visa requirements. Or label yourself as a misinformer...

@Henrik ***

give them a call.

@Thai *****************************

You are on their page after all. Improve your knowledge. Educate yourself.

@Todd ********

, Thai Visa Centre is not the govt. Interesting if they advice ppl to break the law of Thailand?

@Henrik ***

no shit Sherlock. TVC isn’t the govt? Who knew?!! . You are a fountain of knowledge 😂😂

Let us know what you learn 👍

@Todd ********

, I guess we all know by now that you are obviously not a fountain of knowledge. Thanks for putting this in neon.

@Todd ********

true, but neither do slanging matches

@John *******

- nonsense. I switched from agent to doing my own without any problem.

it's a simple fact. Have done so myself. And of course, you have nothing to substantiate your errant thoughts here. So yes indeed, that was very silly of you.

@Todd ********

you might be right that you are not stuck with THAT agent but with AN agent. Your visa history will become so "polluted" that it will need money to make it happen. If you just go by yourself next year, then your visa will most likely be denied and you risk a long ban from entering Thailand based on staying in Thailand in the past on no legal basis... You'll make your own destiny...

@Henrik ***

- wrong

@James **************

, pls. don't be naive and believe that something becomes legal by bribing the officers. It is not about using an agent as such; it is about getting a visa without complying with the rules.

@Henrik ***

- do not disagree with that logic but you are not stuck with using an agent from then on. Perhaps this is what agents tell you.

@James **************

, you are easily stuck with an agent IF this agent has helped you bribe your way - as this is easy to identify looking in the archive.

@Henrik ***

- are you speaking from personal experiece ?

@James **************

, no, I have never used an agent, but I know ppl doing so - both kinds. I have no moral issues with any of this. I just want ppl to know what they are doing and the risks they are taking. Also, if someone asks for 25k THB just for preparing the documents for you then they are cheating you big time, especially on a retirement visa, which is kind of easy.

@Henrik ***

ok - well i am speaking from personal experience not hearsay. Case closed.

@James **************

, sorry to say, but your story is not more valid than any other stories from real ppl.

@James **************

, didnt you just said that you didnt ask for any "special" services? Of course, you can use an agent to prepare your documents without being stuck with this agent. How much did you pay for such a service?

@Henrik ***

- what i paid is irrelevant - the 'fact' is that i used an agent one time and then did not use an agent the following year as i did it myself contrary to what some people are saying cannot be done.

@James **************

henrik is stuck in this utterly irrational belief. No matter how many people tell him 🤷‍♂️

@Todd ********

- thank you for this useful info. Will know next time 👍

@James **************

, you just want to fight about nothing. I think you are massively misunderstanding what ppl are saying here. Have a nice day.

@Brian *******

, I agree fully with that part. But the kind of agents being discussed here including prices are not the kinds doing legal business. Such services will not cost you 25,000 THB.

@Henrik ***

what inane thoughts. 1- why you anyone using an agent suddenly decide they like standing in line at immigration? Not happening.

2. ‘Polluted’?? What exactly does that mean? The practice is well known to immigration.

And as immigration themselves are the ones stamping your agent provided visa, they are well aware of the this very common, decades old practice.

3. Most likely be denied’?? Umm based on what exactly? There will be no denial whatsoever. You will carry on as normal. The only destiny you have made for yourself is that you will be wasting some of your time every year standing in line at your bank and immigration. The destiny of those using an agent will be more time to enjoy their retirement in Thailand.

@Todd ********

, you could ask yourself: - Why to pay 25k THB every year for something you easily can do yourself, especially after a few years of exercise... ? It is not exactly legal to bribe Immigration officers to issue a visa.

@Henrik ***

the cost last year was 15k. Not sure in 2023 what it costs but surely not 25k. And you get to keep your 800k at home making 5% which puts 40k baht equivalent in your pocket. Using an agent is a bit of a no brainer. Don’t let fear get the best of you

@Todd ********

, different agents different prices. You are taking a risk for no reason. Getting a retirement visa or visa extension is kind of easy. Every year they are tightening the rules and focusing on ppl. cheating. It is up to you if you want to pay money for no good reason year after year with the "benefit" of getting banned from entering Thailand for many years on top. Your choice.

@Henrik ***

there is no risk. And many great reasons to use an agent. I value my time. You don’t mind wasting it standing in line. And you hate your own money if you are holding 800k on deposit in Thailand. Using an agent isn’t ‘cheating’ in any way. It’s fully legit. If and when they stop issuing business licenses to them (not likely) people using them.

Do you have a single case of anyone using a legitimate agent being banned lol? No - you don’t. Dont hesitate to expand your knowledge base

@Todd ********

, breaking the law always introduces a risk. A few hours every year for your visa is manageable. Yes, it is cheating as it is bribing, which is not exactly legal. The only reason why nothing happens to them and you in the first place is because the Immigration officers are getting paid for breaking the rules. Yes, there are more and more examples of ppl. breaking the visa rules thru agents and getting banned from Thailand and more frequently being banned from getting long-term visas.

Henrik JN sigh. Some won’t ever learn. No need to lie to back up your narrow perspective on this. PS I switched from agent visa to LTR. No issues at all. Don’t let reality get in your way though.!Enjoy standing in line

@Todd ********

, you are the one here never learning. I have been living in Thailand for years. For the past few years, they have been focusing a lot on faked ED visas. Many ppl have run into serious problems. Voluntary visas were the focus a few years before. Sooner or later it comes to retirement visas. To be precise, it is fully legal to use an agent to help you prepare the documents, etc as long as you comply with all the requirements for getting the visa in question. The moment they help you to break the rules, it is of course not legal any longer.

Henrik JN that’s not your problem is it? That’s the agent problem to remain in compliance. I can definitely understand why you don’t return to your own backward country. And so far, fortunately Thailand plays by their own rules.

😂😂😂 yes I’m the one with one of the first LTR visa and I’m not learning lol. Try to catch up a bit 🙏

@Todd ********

, pls. understand that if you are getting a visa on fake terms then YOU are breaking the rules. What does my home country have to do with this? Think in regards to bribery Thailand is the backward country here. Are you just bribing your way with government offices in Canada?

@Henrik ***

please understand that is not the case at all. And you absolutely zero evidence to support this silly claim. Why? You repeat the same BS for no apparent reason. You have no basis whatsoever or supporting facts. None.

‘YOU’ aren’t paying a bribe to anyone. YOU are paying a visa agent for a service. Time for you to learn this.

What does your country have to do with it? If you hadn’t bought your strange, entitled western world perspectives with you to Thailand, this conversation would not be necessary at all.

Do we have bribery rampant in both our home countries? We prefer to call it taxation or wealth redistribution. Sounds more civilized. But it’s the same thing

@Todd ********

, if you truly believe that it is legal in Thailand to pay someone to help you break the rules, then pls. post an official link stating that all those visa rules do not apply if you pay an agent to file the documents for you.

@Todd ********

, are you offering this kind of service? Is that the reason why you try to promote something that any child will know is breaking the rules and not legal. If you are getting your visa (or anything else) against the rules, then YOU are breaking the rules and might be held accountable for it. It doesnt help you that you paid someone to do the dirty work for you. I dont care what ppl do as long as they are doing it with open eyes and are not being fooled into it like you are trying to here. If you cant stand the time then dont do the crime.

You appear to be quite new. Happy to inform you this practice has gone on for decades. Have your raised your objections to the Royal Thai Police. They takes crime seriously. So either you have done this and they laughed at you. Or you really don't understand. If you have been in thailand for years, i would expect you would have learned a few things. It's mysterious to you that i 'promote' working smarter, not harder?? Allow yourself some room for critical thinking. Please tell me you don't tell me you have 800k sitting in a bank in thailand. Please. That would just mean you know nothing about basic finance either. If you need to save your pennies by standing in line, that's up to you. But one thing will emerge clearly, there are always people who get in ahead of you. Be that person next time. Adapt. And show you are capable of learning

@Todd ********

, I am married Thai and have been staying Thailand for more than 15 years. I know the game. There are a lot of situations where you can pay your way with minimal risk. But in the case of a visa you are jeopardizing with your future in Thailand and your record will show all the proof.

@Henrik ***

ahhh, riding the wife's coattails to qualify for visa and offering up advice here. My goodness. Get a divorce and get the boot. Makes for a compliant husband. I can be very clear here, the visa stamp you receive in your passport when using an agent is 100% legal and valid. Do you understand this?

@Todd ********

, the problem is not the stamp but the filed documents qualifying the stamp. Those documents are kept in the archive and will prove that you didnt get your visa in line with the rules. Seems like you dont know much about this topic.

@Henrik ***

actually you are wrong once again. Yes - the stamp is perfectly legal. Thx for acknowledging. Documents in archive lol? Did you get that from your wife? In line with which rules Henrik?? Why must you blantantly lie? Just silly.

In truth your wife handles this for you. Because you don’t know your head from your hind end

@Todd ********

, the stamp as such is "legal" in the sense that you cannot see any difference from one obtained legally. If you dont know about documents in the archive then you have never tried any of this by yourself. Every year when applying for a new extension, the Immigration officer starts looking at the application incl. all documents from the year before. They even complain if my picture is the same as last year. My wife is not doing this for me. I have my own archive making it easy just to update the few documents needed. I am getting tired of all your BS here. I am talking nicely to you.

@Henrik ***

and you persist in making things up here. For no apparent reason. We both can now finally agree the visa is perfectly legitimate. And an immigration visit to my house on Samui, the immigration officer could clearly see my Khon Kaen stamp. He knows for a fact that i have not been to Khon Kaen. But my passport has been. I'm not guessing about how immigration handles this. You have a misplaced sense of anger that somehow people using agents are doing so illegally. This is patently false. Which you know also. I can fully appreciate you don't like it as people using the visa service don't need to jump thru any of the hoops you must comply with being married to a thai citizen. I can understand your angst. But it IS the very system that is available to all of us that they are using. It's not for everybody for sure. But if you have the dollars, it's a great way to go.

@Todd ********

, you have no clue about this topic. No, of course, the visa is NOT legal when you are getting it based on a bribe. I have no anger about anything here. Why are you keeping on with all that BS language? You are taking a risk when using an agent offering you to break the rules. I guess anyone will be able to understand this? The easy and legal way to get a long-term visa is to get an Elite Visa. The cheapest edition actually only cost you 50,000 THB per year. And then they will pick you up at the plane at the airport and drive you thru Immigration. But if you dont have the 1 M THB, then you must do it differently. If you are ready to play with your stay and you are not capable of doing the paper works yourself or dont have the required deposit, then you can try use an agent ready to bribe you thru.

@Henrik ***

get your wife to sort you out. As you have no comprehension of this situation. I'm just gonna enjoy my next decade here without reporting. Elite is the poor man's LTR. If you don't have the means for LTR, it's an easy backup plan.

@Henrik ***

the usual silly dance of absurdity. Cmon.

@Todd ********

, yes, you must be a newbie to Thailand. The only mystery is why you are promoting this?

@John *******

that of course is incorrect. You are in no way, shape or form, 'stuck' with that agent. You can proceed with renewals as you wish

@Todd ********

anything that you have to say is right of course how silly of me 🤣