Answered4 years ago
What are the experiences and recommendations for obtaining a retirement visa in Thailand without an attorney?
does anyone have or know a good visa attorney?
I am planning to arrive with a tourist visa (90day visa) and then get a retirement visa. I know there are many agents that will help but I am leery of them, with all the bad stories about corrupt agents.
I would like to know if anyone has any good recommendations in the Hua Hin area or I can travel to Bangkok or Ratchaburi.
I am planning to arrive with a tourist visa (90day visa) and then get a retirement visa. I know there are many agents that will help but I am leery of them, with all the bad stories about corrupt agents.
I would like to know if anyone has any good recommendations in the Hua Hin area or I can travel to Bangkok or Ratchaburi.
Answer summary
The discussion revolves around obtaining a retirement visa in Thailand, specifically after entering on a tourist visa. Many commenters suggest that converting to a retirement visa is straightforward and can be done without the aid of an attorney or agent, highlighting the ease of the process and associated costs. Users express skepticism about the necessity of hiring agents, sharing their own positive experiences in managing their visa applications independently. Several recommendations for local services and contacts, mostly in Hua Hin and Pattaya, are provided amidst cautionary notes about potential fraud with agents.
46 repliesnewest first
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Bob **********
Your visa is for 60 days not 90
Gregory *******
Try the Thai Vida Centre. They have helped me. Great service!!!
Drew *******
I arrived on a 30 day visa of entry from UK. Transferred funds in to Thai bank. Was granted a 30 day extension, followed by a 90 day extension. Followed by a years Retirement 'O' visa extension. From start to finish I paid 1900, 2000, 1900 Baht. It was straight forward if you have all the necessary forms and proof they require.
To be honest I am having more hassle getting my yellow house book and Thai ID. Now entered week 13 and no further forward.
Good Luck
To be honest I am having more hassle getting my yellow house book and Thai ID. Now entered week 13 and no further forward.
Good Luck
Andrew ********
If you follow the rules and requirements a retirement visa is very easy and cheap to get all done in a few hours.
Stephen *******
@Andrew *******
And Hua Hin is probably the best place in Thailand to do it. 1900 baht
David ***********
Use this man, in Pattaya
Rob **********
Do it yourself very easy to do if you satisfy all the requirements.
Nick ************
Sent you a PM.
Оливер *********
Tourist visas run for 60 days only with a validation of 90 days!
Gordon *******
Agents in Pattaya charge 4000b to open bank account.
2nd time about
*****
b for retirement visa, multi entry for 1st time 2nd time about
*****
b
Mike ************
Karens Services Jomtien have used her many times never a single issue with anything and she handles all of it
Ümit ********
if you can put 800k in your account in Thailand then why do you need go to agent and pay extra
John-Paul ******
@Ümit *******
maybe they are going the 65k route. That can be complicating between bank vs immigration's discretion. Agents can help smooth things along.
Bonnie *******
Be very worried about giving your passport to an agent. It's better to do it yourself
Mark ******
I sent a video to your inbox....it may be helpful or not!
Jim *****************
You can do it on your own quite easily, no need for assistance. Here are the requirements.
John-Paul ******
@Jim ****************
that is IF the official doesn't have their own rules. They have full discretion.
Patrick ********
Attorneys, agents are the same you are foreigner, you have money
Paulus *********
Either spend upto 60,000 baht on an agent or do it yourself for 1900 baht ( which is easy)
John-Paul ******
@Paulus ********
try 30k.Paulus *********
@John-Paul *****
funny that when I’ve seen someone recently on YouTube who paid 60k
Hans ******
Went for my self and for/with friends to immigration Nongkhai and Bueng Kan No attorney or agent needed. Cost between half and one hour. You can find the needed papers on the internet as well as the money requierment. It's so easy and they help excellent. No need to spent money for nothing. The easiest thing to do.
Phillip ********
@Hans *****
hi hans where abouts in bueng kan r u ?
Claire *********
Claire *********
@O**
is very experienced with this. You can reach out to her via messenger
Miguel *************
A tourist visa is 60 days.
Luis ***********
OP@Miguel ************
thank you for the correction but any idea on the question?Miguel *************
@Luis **********
I’m afraid not, I just got to Thailand SBS nowhere near there.
Kevin ********
Trust nobody Thai. Thank me whenever
Jade ********
@Kevin *******
Right
Pascal *****
better to arrive with a visa O 3 months
Steve ********
You seriously want to pay big money just to get a retirement visa?
Mark ******
@Steve *******
Shrug! For someone who may not have been to Thailand and this is all new and quite confusing for them (recommendations are very confusing out there)....or who does not like the stress (or cannot tolerate the stress) surrounding the unknown (some people do have health problems that can escalate with stress....and I do not mean mental ones....but real medical ones) then a lawyer may be a good option for them. You have to realize that up to 60,000 bhats is nothing for a lot of people to spend to get everything done for them including a 15 months total visa and a bank account! And get all of that done in less than one week after arriving in Thailand!
Neil ********
@Mark *****
after using a visa agent to help with the paperwork I could probably have done to migrate to Australia from England I would do the same when I'm at the same stage as the post writer. It is just reassuring to have someone walk you through it IMHOSteve ********
@Mark *****
Every foreigner at one stage hasn't been to Thailand. I guess I'm just amazed that people are prepared to throw large sums of money at someone who's simply going to fill in a few forms abd throw a bribe at an immigration officer, for something which can so easily be done by themselves. The same people within twelve months will be whining about dual pricing in Thailand! Yes 60,000 baht is nothing for most people, but is that a reason to flush it down the toilet?Mark ******
@Steve *******
Shrug! I have said as much as I had wanted to! I have nothing more to say. You can have the last word! Some people always want to do so...never grew up I guess!Steve ********
@Mark *****
Ok! Lawyers don't pay bribes? Ok! Got it now! You're new to Thailand aren't you? 🤣Mark ******
@Steve *******
No bribing involved if you use a lawyer. He was asking for a lawyer.....not an agent! He can do it next year by himself!
Peter *******
@Mark *****
.....spot on! If you have the money why not? It amazes me the number of people who miser out on paying for anything or services, but happily piss their money away drinking themselves to death regularly.Luis ***********
OP@Steve *******
this is why I am asking for what you think. I know there are options and I just wanted to hear from people on what they think. To answer your question, No but I just don't want to get taken or scammed.Hans ******
@Luis **********
in 20 years never saw somebody get scammed at immigration office. Only good experiences.
Darren *******
@Luis **********
do it yourself, it's easy. Unless of course you don't meet the requirements...Darren *******
@Luis **********
just go to the immigration office closest to where you're living and ask them for a list of requirementsLuis ***********
OP@Darren ******
thanks, I meet all the requirements. I just think that it maybe easier the first time to get some help. If you think that doing it yourself is easy that I can try.
Bobby ********
Why would you need a visa attorney? Converting to a retirement visa is one of the easiest things to do in Thailand.
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