What documents do I need to extend my OA visa in Thailand if I receive a pension but have no bank balance?

@Detlef **********

I can only talk about my office but I had to use an agent during covid when I did not have access to funds as I did not expect to get stuck on Thailand. I had problems getting COR got hassle when doing 90 day report and generally given the run about over many issues I faced. They did not like me having a stamp from outside the province. They flatly refused to transfer my stamp into my new pass port so I had to fly to Bangkok. Agents have their place and some provide a very good service but you are on safer ground if you do it yourself and you can spend the fee on something more pleasant.

Go to your bank and tell them you are doing your second 1yr extension. They will provide you last 12 months of statements for small fee. Go to bank the same day you go to immigration and make a small deposit or withdrawal so you panic is updated with current balance.

If you didn't make 12 deposits of ฿65k or more in every calendar month you will need a new affidavit from your embassy about your income.

@Frank *********

and legal

Sure, if you enjoy going to Chang Wattana two, three times and spending all day there, then go for it. Have fun.

If you want to go once and spend a half-hour in the car until they call you to get your picture taken, turn around and get home before lunch, go with real professionals.

Moreover, nobody knows what's in someone else's pocket. I've learned that practicing tax law here for 22 years. He might qualify for an LTR visa.

Sharing your financial position with anyone in Thailand, unless you're broke, is dangerous. If you want to know what's really available to you, exactly, you need to share that information and it should be with lawyers and accountants who have to follow attorney-client confidentiality rules of both Thailand and their home country.

Getting visa, personal or business tax, and especially accounting advice via the bamboo telegraph has led to more disasters than almost any other single source in my 22 years of practice here. It's probably second to guys listening to their wives with a high school diploma (if they're lucky) that they met on a Soi, and following their advice.

Having real attorneys handle your visa, especially now when it's continually in flux, is smart and worth the money. (A) It's not that expensive and it's important. If you screw it up or a sleazy firm screws it up for you, it can lead to getting banned from the Kingdom for a while. (B) Having real attorneys handle your visa also provides you with a continuous source of perfect information. (C) To qualify for some of the visas with more benefits, you need to be here under the same visa for usually 3 years.

It's not like the old days when you could pay to have your passport taken to Malaysia for another 90 days for 2,500 baht,