What are the pros and cons of using a visa agency versus going directly to the immigration office in Thailand?

@David ********

of course david, i full understand your point. 800.000 thb or 21. 000 usd is alot of money, and i am sure, your Bank gives you a ton of interest for the 5 months you need it. I just try to help with what i expirience and share what i find out.

@Rob *********

Ignore this prick. He works for

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

. He goes into meltdown when people won't agree with him, and starts abusing people. He thinks he knows it all and knows nothing.

@Steve *******

‘works for TVC’ 😂😂 good lord man. Shake your head.

dude calls me a prick, tells me to stfu after giving him a very sound financial reason and whines like a beeatch about ‘abusing’ people. I’m looking forward to senility. It seems fun for sure! You’re the bestest

@Steve *******

no worries Steve, thanks mate. Have seen his name around the place, yes exactly just another person who thinks he knows everything 👍 Thanks for your comment mate🙏

And big playa

@Rob *********

wants to showtime making 120k baht (almost as much as American SS at a whopping $3500 a month) and thinking he is a big wheel. Good lord lads. Sober up

@Rob *********

showing off lol? your budget is very small. But you seem immensely proud of it. 👏🏼 Relax big shooter. You now understand better why so many use agents. It even pays to do it. And you don’t have to do any of the legwork that you seem to enjoy. I prefer having fun to standing in immigration lines. Ur welcome for the education. Now scramble back under your rock and stfu

@Rob *********

happy to oblige your enthusiasm Rob. Start training, looks like you need it

@Todd ********

No training needed, a walk in the park.

@Rob *********

maybe we can go stand in line at immigration and you can teach me how to do it? Sounds like you guys have fun with that.

@Todd ********

no standing in line it’s an appointment system, and have never spent more than a hour maximum there, you just don’t have the brains to understand it , do you🤷‍♂️

@Rob *********

ahhh. Wisdom. Just organize the list of required paperwork, drive over to your bank to pick up the banks records, drive to immigration and get your stamp and all less than hour. Excellent. Have you considered how this world for people on say Koh Tao? Or Pai? Or people doing it for first time? Or Without immigration in their back yard? And the 1900 baht doesn’t cut too deep into the budget. Excellent

@Rob *********

Sydney university??!! 😂😂 they specialize in helping the financially illiterate find a way to make a living! A degree you say?! Wow. Only 38 years ago. And here you are. Big round of applause.

Anybody know why this

@Rob *********

dunce is raving on about 109 baht per day? Hard to say. The old 🐐 has issues

@Todd ********

no I do it all myself, we have been married for 35 years, so I am used to dealing with Thai officials.

@Todd ********

it is very easy, either you have the money to meet the requirements or you don’t it can’t be more black and white, if you can’t understand that you are obviously the one with no idea🤷‍♂️

@Rob *********

the money? It’s 800k lol. Not 8M. It’s beer money to the average retiree. Can you calculate what 5% returns on 800k is? It's very far from black and white. As nobody would bring the 800k to sit in an account in thailand (with the currency risk) doing nothing while it could be elsewhere making high interest. Not sure how this very simple fact eludes you? Or why you pretend it's not accurate.

@Rob *********

not all of us need to get a wife here to qualify. I’m not at all worried about the 1700 AUD. But you would be a bit of a fool to pass it up when it’s free money. You don’t like free money?

@Todd ********

as I said we have been married for 35 years, we met in Australia as my wife has been a dual citizen since she went to School in Sydney. I didn’t come here to get a wife, that is so narrow minded of you.

@John ******

never heard of them one I recomend for Vida help is tik.tok jontien

@John ******

I've seen lots of posts from people who have been visiting Thailand for many years before retiring there. I've only been once but have visited many areas so I had a good overview. I think making such an important life decision without visiting first is pretty unusual.

If your income stream can be diverted to FFT in bank , just keep it above 65k / month. No problem

@John ******

Some specialize, some do one or two things. For example some might help you with drivers license etc

@Noel ********

Well that could be true. All my accounts have been or are in Bangkok in farang-heavy areas, so it's been a breeze. I imagine it's the Isaan-devotees that have the issues.

@Steve *******

issaan no problem

3 accounts

Also 1 for friend

& helped girlfriend from Laos open one too

What I’ve seen in post are Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket

@Steve *******

I walked around for 3 days before I was able to open a bank account in BKK. And that was almost 5 years ago. Things got only more difficult.

@Dimitri *******

Yeah I know people have had problems and I just shake my head in amazement. I always found it so easy. I guess having the retirement visa is the clincher

Steve Smythe your experiences of Thai Immigration and opening bank accounts are very similar to mine.

Best advice I got was be polite, smile and dress respectfuly to fit the environment you are in. I have accounts with 4 different Thai banks and have always received great customer service at immigration.

Maybe there was something in that advice I received?

@Steve *******

that was 20 years ago mate. 90% have issues with bank accounts prior to visa issuance. Hence.. agents

@Todd ********

I've opened two accounts in the last 2-3 years. Feel sorry for the 90% but that's life I guess. They're obviously doing something wrong.

@Steve *******

some are easy. I was rejected twice for no apparent reason and the third said no problem 🤷‍♂️. And the banks are making life more difficult. In todays world of mandatory KYC for all banks, and crackdowns on money laundering, it seems to have become more difficult to open accounts

@Todd ********

I wouldn't know. They seem to trust me

@Steve *******

C’mon man. U are not honestly thinking that hundreds or even thousands of people are having issues, and this is because the banks don’t trust them? And trusts you?

@Todd ********

I've no idea. They're probably trying to open with a tourist visa or without a lease. With no substantive address or reason to have a bank account I wouldn't be trusting them either. You'll have to ask those who were denied. A neighbour of mine from the US just opened an account two weeks ago. Retirement visa and 12-month lease, he got accepted. I'm not an expert, but you seem to be, so you should know all the answers

@Steve *******

they are trying to open with a tourist visa as they can’t yet get a retirement visa without one…. u hadn’t thought of that?

@Todd ********

If people are silly enough to come here as a tourist and try to open an account, it's their problem surely. You can get a retirement visa in your home country before you get here....you hadn't thought of that?

@Steve *******

🔔 🔚

@Steve *******

it used to be easier to open an account on a tourist visa or visa exempt. That is the issue. It is getting harder now to go that route. And each branch has their own rules. Now you almost have to either do it before arrival, or use an agent.

@Mitchell ******

not when Steve did it in the 90’s!!

@Mitchell ******

Why does a tourist require a bank account? That's got me intrigued. But now I'm beginning to understand why people have so much trouble. I don't know which country you're from, but I do know a tourist can't open a bank account in the UK, Germany or Australia. You must show proof of residence and proof of address. Why would Thailand be any different?

@Steve *******

there are plenty of people who do just that, in order to start the visa process while they are here for 3 months etc. (Hell, I have been in SE Asia for a year. I couldn't do it from home if I was doing it). The first step is to have $$$ in an account. So you need an account.

This is why people do agents. It is getting harder to open that account on your own.

@Mitchell ******

some of the ol fellas got here in the nineties and haven’t realized the reality of the situation today for many newcomers. But they sure are keen on telling everyone how it’s gonna be

@Mitchell ******

I guess if you want to do the shortcuts you have to pay the price. It's very difficult for a tourist in ANY country to open a bank account, because the regulatory authorities have to ask the question "why does a tourist on a short term visa need a bank account?". I've never had a problem because I've always been in Thailand on long-term visas.

@Steve *******

I clearly have. But as you and I are both well aware, there is an insurance requirement. You had forgotten? C’mon man. Senility?

And the vast majority arrive here as tourists to test drive retirement on a tourist visa. They don’t commit in their home nation as there is no need to. You said you have been here twenty years. The game has changed dramatically. Gotta keep up

@Todd ********

Well you wouldn't want insurance would you? Why would you when there's GoFundMe to fall back on. "Test drive" retirement? Wow! That's a good one. The retirement visa from your home country is 90 days. Isn't that a long enough "test drive"? Can't believe the crap you're spouting

@Steve *******

for many - especially over 70, it’s better to self insure. I’m happy to let the readers decide. I would take the 24k for doing nothing and go have fun on visa day. It’s easy, time saving and a money maker.

You prefer standing in lines for the right to break open the piggy bank every year and dish out 1900 baht. That’s fair. I can understand either route. As they say in Thailand ‘up to you’

@Todd ********

It's 90 days insurance. It covers the validity of the visa. You obviously need to keep up with what's going on. You don't need insurance for the in-country extension. What's the line that you stand in? You've lost me there. You seem to be rambling a bit. Come back tomorrow when you're sober.

@Steve *******

what lines lol? I’m not standing in any lines at all. I value my time.

But maybe they send out the bank staff and the immigration officers to greet you when you arrive so you don’t need to line up? Do you just send them a message on Line?

@Todd ********

Me too. The only line I ever stood in was the one at the airport immigration, until I worked out I could use the seniors line. Now it's easy! But nope, no other lines to stand in, so again you're rambling. Go have another joint and STFU.

I’ll come along with beer and watch you stand in line

@Todd ********

I told you I don't anymore. I slip into the senior citizens queue. It's good. It worked the last three times I came through Suvarnabhumi.

@Steve *******

that’s a good play. I’m a few years away though…

@Todd ********

Never mind. I guess you must stand in line then? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@Steve *******

I don’t need to. As I clearly stated for you many times, I value my time. I don’t stand in line

@Todd ********

So do I, which is why I join the express seniors lane at Suvarnabhumi. You just told me you don't, but now you're saying otherwise. Good for you. Keep on puffing man

@Steve *******

,

@Rob *********

isn’t it amazing how

@Todd ********

runs his life so efficiently he doesn’t queue at airports, banks or immigration offices?

That efficiency allows his to spend hours every day promoting visa agents on Facebook.

Maybe if he got out of his mummy’s basement and interacted with real people he would learn the social skills required to be able to open a bank account or maintain a long term visa on his own.

@Andy *******

isn’t it remarkable that simians like yourself are unable to procure an actual long term visa. Given your advanced ages, and all the wooden nickels you poor lads have saved by dressing nicely and standing in line at various Thai banks and immigration offices, over many years to suckle the generous teat of govt services… it’s amazing that you couldn’t cobble together the funds to get your own ACTUAL long term visa in the form of LTR. And avoid all of the silliness. If you 3 have a cocktail party 🎉 the collective IQ in the room might run into double digits. Cheers lads. Don’t forget your 90 day check in. Have the little lady mark it in the calendar for you.

PS- love the little love triangle with da boyz you inspired here Andy. So cute!!

@Andy *******

I don’t think he would be clever enough to find his way to the door to get out, maybe his agent could help him with that.

@Andy *******

You get today's GOLD award! 👍. I've wondered if he needs an agent to operate his bum gun for him to save him any unnecessary effort!

@Steve *******

Yes I think he would need his agent to help, he wouldn’t be able to do it himself, that’s for sure.

@Steve *******

now im saying otherwise? 😂 is English your first language?

@Steve *******

lol. What does that have to do with anything? Yes - I’m some years away from the senior citizen line. But FastTrack is great. I said I value my time. So I don’t stand in line. Mind you, I don’t have my bank manager come outside to greet me with my immigration required paperwork like you do. They must really trust you 😂. And if I ever needed to go to immigration, I’m sure they would not let me skip the line as you can.

@Steve *******

I was turned down at 3 in undon and well that was enough for me.....

@Noel ********

Yeah that's what I thought. Isaan is not the friendliest place if you're a farang.

@R**

That's all it takes. Just be organised. Put the paperwork in order, present it to the immigration officer, and you're done. I think they like those that are well organised. I shake my head when I read that some people pay tens of thousands of baht for an hour's work!

@Steve *******

correct mate, been doing it for years myself as well, and I’m on a Non O based on Marriage, which you knows entails more paperwork, it’s very easy if you are prepared and have all your ducks in a row. I can’t understand why people who meet the requirements would use an agent, makes no sense to me at all.

@Mark *******

I've no idea how people turn the process into a big drama. Many are frightened shitless of immigration offices, but I'm not one of them. Each office has a list of requirements. You present the list with the requirements ticked off. So simple.

@Steve *******

all you guys have years of experience. This guy is brand new. $800 USD for someone to hold your hands thru immigration, getting a bank acccount, and health insurance is well worth it.

@Us ****

So you say but I can't see it. Maybe I just come from a generation which was not so entitled and where we were taught to do things yourself and not rely on others. You make it sound like major surgery. It's a visit to a government agency, filling in a form and presenting a few documents. But hey! It's all good. If there are helpless feeble people around who need a carer it's their choice!

@Steve *******

again Steve, you are a pro. This guy is new and it is overwhelming. He does not have the luxury of trial and error. I come from a generation of specialization. I am great at making money as a financial analyst. I need to concentrate on my job since the slightest error or a lack of concentration could be a million baht mistake in an hour. I would gladly pay someone to do the work for me so I can concentrate on my job. That is why we have specialization.

@Us ****

I see where you're coming from. I'm retired so an hour or so each year is no big deal for me.

@Brandon ***********

Buddy I just don't get it. I really don't. I've been here over twenty years, and I've had beers with guys who complain bitterly about paying 300 baht to get into a national park, and whine about a cab driver who tried to "fleece" them for 50 baht more than the fare should, but don't bat an eyelid dropping + baht to a visa agent. Am I missing something?

@Steve *******

you are preferring it as a way saving money right? It’s 1900 baht at immigration and not 16k baht for agent. Seems pretty reasonable so far! And if using the 65k monthly method… fantastic!

Except…. With The 800k method - it needs to be in your bank and most you will get in Thailand is 0.25%. If you leave the 800k at home making 5% (easy) your 800k makes 40k annual interest. With no currency risk. Which easily pays your 16k agent bill and leaves you with 24k to pay your bar tab. Or go have a few nice dinners. Would you rather pay 1900 baht and waste a day… or have 24k depositted in your account and waste no day? That… is what you are missing.

And let’s face it, you are being a bit disingenuous about the 1 hour spent. At very least you need to go to your bank, get your records for the 800k and then go to immigration. If you live in an empty village, an hour maybe no problem. If you live in a desirable tourist city or island, ur likely standing in line for awhile and for first timers especially, they are all but guaranteed to encounter some frustrations. And waste a day or two chasing around to satisfy immigration.

There are obvious reasons for using an agent… or not. Depends very much on each circumstance.

@Todd ********

krungsri bank mee Tae Dai account pays 0.90%, better than the 0.25 you use.

@George ************

I definitely don’t use 0.25 or 0.9 for anything lol. That would be ridiculous. Inflation is 6% +. Only a fool would invest at 0.9%.

Is that account deemed eligible to hold the 800k for immigration purposes?

Seems a bit silly to make less than 8k in Thailand when you can easily make 40k or better in many nations.

As a frame of reference I keep mine tied up at 7.6% in Mexico.

@Todd ********

just correcting your statement that one can't earn more than 0.25% in a simple Thai savings account acceptable to immigration.

@George ************

is yours acceptable to immigration though? Have you had it verified? Because it seems that any account that is ‘locked in’ in any way can be denied. I have never tried it.

But whether is .25 or .95 is marginally useful at best. It does put an extra 5600 baht in your packet though.

Which brings up a good point. And with interest rates exceeding 5% now in many, many nations, would you rather earn 40k baht equivalent or more on your investment there or bring the money here (added currency risk) and make 7600 baht?

@Todd ********

the immigration requirement is that the principal must not be subject to market risk and that it can be withdrawn at any time with the only penalty being loss of interest. I have used the account mentioned above for 7 years in Phuket.

@George ************

good info! Thx 🙏

@Steve *******

guess it's just perception. I'll go to a "western" bar with friends and drop 300 baht on a drink no problem but I'll be damned if I'm paying 300 baht for a shirt that I'll use a lot longer than that drink will last 😅😅

@Brandon ***********

well for the last 15yrs that i have used them it's been hassle free for me. No sudden rule changes.

@Brandon ***********

- thank you for the clarification on the office much appreciated 👍🏼🙏🏼