Answered4 months ago
What recent changes impact DTV holders regarding TrueMoney accounts and how do expats view DIY visa processes in Thailand?
DTV holders can no longer open a full TrueMoney account, unless they have a Thai driving license or own a condo, existing full accounts are not affected
Answer summary
DTV visa holders can no longer fully open TrueMoney accounts without a Thai driving license or condo ownership, while existing accounts remain unaffected. The conversation reflects varying opinions among expats regarding visa extensions, with many expressing a preference for using agents versus managing the process themselves. Some argue that DIY extensions save money and time, while others emphasize the complexity and potential pitfalls of navigating immigration independently. The exchange highlights a broader debate on the benefits and drawbacks of utilizing professional services versus personal efforts in immigration-related issues in Thailand.
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Martin *******
Well said Martin.
Jennifer ********
Exactly. I totally agree.
Vincent ******
I don't understand why people are in such a rush so what if you have to spend a few hours at immigration if you are retired, what else are you doing nursing a beer on beach road bar?
Martin ********
Vincent Vega wrong on every count.
George *********
Are you an agent?
Martin ********
George Holland and deal with a load of whingeing old farangs? Not a chance!
Joe ******
I used a agent got retirement visa in 1 week brilliant
Peter *******
Too many idiots on here and other sites, either answer the question or scroll on.
Miyamoto *********
Oh please don't tell all these self appointed Thai immigration experts what they should do. It's their only way to feel important 😉
Alan ******
Good answer mate, don't you just hate it when you ask what a agent will charge to do this that or the other, and all these good doers say it's cheaper to do it yourself, 😂😂😂😂
Martin ********
Alan Alan but it’s cheaper to DIY. So is a happy ending but they’ll happily fork out for that!
Doug ********
Martin Drazen ..but happy ending is a one off ...lol...if you want, whereas a visa ,well extension, is needed yearly
Martin ********
Doug Powell and I’d rather pay for a (visa)extension than a happy ending 😂
Darren ******
I got my first 12 months extension last week through an agent.It was money well spent.There was a lot of paperwork involved which I am sure I would have failed with as im not good with all that type of stuff.Not to mention the time I saved.All done in just over 1 hour at immigration.
Donald **********
I don't know how you're locked in. I used an agent the first year and last 5 I did it myself.
Jordan *******
Give me a break. Trying to control people much?? Agents are for the lazy or money worriers and want to do things the wrong way…cuz once they put money in your account they control you. Get hip to it
Alan *****
The immigration office want you to use an agent They get something out of it
Pete ******
Thanks for your opinion...
Melissa *******
I highly doubt this will change anything. And not everyone does know it is easy and agent “can “ do things does mean they “should”. Ppl need to be warned. If they don’t like it scroll on.
The beauty of FB is 89% unsolicited advice and judgment.
Are you an agent? Is they costing you business?
Why do you care?
There are links that charge ppl to fill out a TDac via a google search it gets people daily. Because they don’t know.
A precautionary note that if your doing it legit, it can be cheap and easy or at least learn the process so you know if your cutting corners.
Look at all the businesses that are running illegally. They are cracking down.. shut them down. Charged. Deported. And on the front page of the news to show they mean business.
The Thai lawyers and real state agents that assisted are not in any trouble. Only the foreigners. If there is trouble we should know better as guests here and need to do due diligence. Had to do when you get conflicting information.
Sure and agent is easier. But they isn’t everyone’s goal.
The beauty of FB is 89% unsolicited advice and judgment.
Are you an agent? Is they costing you business?
Why do you care?
There are links that charge ppl to fill out a TDac via a google search it gets people daily. Because they don’t know.
A precautionary note that if your doing it legit, it can be cheap and easy or at least learn the process so you know if your cutting corners.
Look at all the businesses that are running illegally. They are cracking down.. shut them down. Charged. Deported. And on the front page of the news to show they mean business.
The Thai lawyers and real state agents that assisted are not in any trouble. Only the foreigners. If there is trouble we should know better as guests here and need to do due diligence. Had to do when you get conflicting information.
Sure and agent is easier. But they isn’t everyone’s goal.
Martin ********
Melissa Batch 🙄
Melissa *******
Martin Drazen I like to help ppl.
Not assume they know things and blindly give advice they maybe not be the best for them.
Sorry.
Not assume they know things and blindly give advice they maybe not be the best for them.
Sorry.
Martin ********
Melissa Batch and yet there you are assuming that I know nothing.
Elías ********
If they ask, we can answer whatever we want 🤦🏻
If they don't want diverse answers don't ask then 😂
If they don't want diverse answers don't ask then 😂
J *************************
I still recommend that you do it yourself, it's such a simple process. No stress, it takes just a couple of hours, time we all have as retirees.
Todd *********
J C Coetzee Engelbrecht why would anyone waste their hard earned retirement freedom standing in line in govt offices lol. The common sense has been fully removed
J *************************
Todd McGowan hahaha, hard earned freedom!? That's a good one. Less time to start drinking beer at 10.00 in the morning!? You have the audacity to talk about common sense? Spending thousands, because you are too stupid and/or lazy to do your own visa? You are so funny.
Martin ********
J C Coetzee Engelbrecht if you go to CW you have to be there before 8am and if all goes well and they don’t find something new you’ve never been asked for previously, then, if you’re lucky you might get out by 4pm…unless of course you need another hour or 2 for a re entry permit
Alexander *******
Martin Drazen if you don t want to spend the whole day there arrive before 3pm to be safe. No point leaving it to the last minute. Once you ve got your queue number they have to process it. You might be there till about 6pm.
Martin ********
Alexander Paton thanks but no thanks.
J *************************
Martin Drazen not at the Jomtien emigration office. I normally go in the afternoon, drop the documents and leave within an hour or two. Collect my passport the next day and within another hour if two I have the re-entry permit.
Krazye******
What is better for a delivery service? I want a sandwich from subway.
Lineman or Grab?
Do it yourself... you can pick up your sandwich yourself😅
Really? Omg I didn't know. I will drive to subway then🙄
Lineman or Grab?
Do it yourself... you can pick up your sandwich yourself😅
Really? Omg I didn't know. I will drive to subway then🙄
Paul **********
Yeah, people saying 'do it yourself, it's only 1900b' don't give the full facts and might be multiple year into the visa system. I used to do my nonb's in Penang. I could have done it myself, but it was more convenient to pay the extra to have everything done for me, taxis, boats, hotels. I gave my passport in the beginning of the trip, and got it back at the border to stamp out. Worth every penny
Mick **********
And here's Martin telling people what not to do.
Martin ********
Mick Schumann yep…. Here’s Martin suggesting you answer their question
Mick **********
Martin Drazen err no Martin you are telling people. Not suggesting. Fact
Allan *******
Go talk to immigration 1 or 2 weeks before you need it and ask what they require. If you bank with bangkok bank it will take a week fir a statement cos they get from bkk. Yellow bank krungsri gives me mine in around 10 minutes. And you can and are allowed to do the day before your visa day. Hope this helps.
Martin ********
Allan Rawai ah right, spend a day at CW, get all the info, then spend another day only to be told you need x, y and z that you weren’t told on the first day you spent there.
Allan *******
Martin Drazen CW ? Your bitter and twisted. My thai wife of 20 years phones immigration up and asks if things has changed many times no it hasn't. Then i get all. Some immigration recognize me so they just wave me over cos they know 99% of the time i get through ok.
Up to you. I never touch my 800,000 baht but i use it to get something but as your bitter i won't say.
Up to you. I never touch my 800,000 baht but i use it to get something but as your bitter i won't say.
Martin ********
Allan Rawai for someone who apparently knows it all you call me bitter and twisted because I mentioned CW? Take your meds old boy.
Kevin *******
Allan Rawai I've told my wife can't touch this money at all its yours only when I die ! She's OK with that ! keeps asking when? though ! Lol
Patricia **************
Martin Drazen "Go talk to immigration 1 or 2 weeks before you need it and ask what they require."
Kool *******
Martin Drazen lololol. You have no clue, and don't pay attention, just by your response...lolol.
Martin ********
Kool Breez lololololol you’ve almost caught up with me, but I’m perfectly fine with you thinking you know better despite my longer time living here and my number of categories used. Enjoy your deluded state it’s serving you well. lololololololol🙄
Kool *******
Martin Drazen lolol. You are hilarious. If you've been getting "visas" for over 20 years, then you should have it figured out by now, but you don't seem to...lololol. I've only been doing it, in three different long term extension categories, for 15 years living here, not on short term 60, or 90, day visas. I only did that for the 8 years I vacationed here before I moved here, at which point I got real one year long term extensions, long past the visa stage, which you say you've been doing for the last 20 years...lolol. You are hilarious.
Martin ********
Kool Breez yeah you’re right because I haven’t been getting visas for over 20 years so how would I know anything…you complete plonker.
GreenPo********
Totally correct
Frank **********
Mind your business.😂😂😂😂
Martin ********
@Frank *********
exactly!
Summer ******
Martin Drazen I think he means YOU should mind your business 😂
Graham ******
Likewise then if someone asks how to get X visa "Get an agent" is an acceptable answer because that is not the only way, in fact it is not the usual way despite some idiot recently saying that 95% use agents.
Don *******
Graham Seal Amongst the retirees I know here, very few do the extension themselves. Maybe 10 or 20%. All the rest use agents for different reasons. Personally I think they are lazy and/or stupid and are asking for trouble (which they will surely get, sooner or later) but that's just my opinion. I certainly sleep very well at night knowing that my extension is 100% legitimate and fully documented.
Freddie **********
Beware of agents!
MagicalR********
If someone tells you you're an idiot, it's a waste of time because you already know
J *************************
MagicalRhino1955 hahaha, unfortunately most of the time they don't want to know it!
Martin ********
MagicalRhino1955 my point is proven 🙏
Rick *********
Martin Drazen how about you don’t tell people what to do and go enjoy your pride month 🤡
Rick *********
Martin Drazen I honestly don’t care that you prefer cock but I’m totally against pride month when brave soldiers who fought for our country get 1 day and you expect a month because you take it up the arse 🤔😂
Martin ********
Rick Blowers I’ve yet to meet a homophobe who admits to what they are so I wouldn’t expect any more from you.
Rick *********
Martin Drazen my profile is locked from strangers because I like my privacy and there’s nothing homophobic about my comment 🤡
Martin ********
Rick Blowers here we are with the locked profile warriors with their favourite childish emojis thinking their homophobic comment is gonna ruin my day. Grow the f up imbecile.
Jorge ****
You are 110% correct, but someone wrote, "I give the opinion I want"... can't win.
Stephen **********
I'd like to offer a different perspective. They might be asking because they are unsure of the process and might be nervous trying to go through it on their own.
In that case, some constructive encouragement might be all that is needed to build their confidence and also save them some money. It also might keep them from inadvertently breaking rules they were not aware of at the time.
I agree with you that they should know the rules and the process before asking for an agent but I don't think that is always the case.
I also agree that many of the comments aren't constructive in their reply but unfortunately that is what Facebook has morphed into - a bunch of cranky armchair warriors.
In that case, some constructive encouragement might be all that is needed to build their confidence and also save them some money. It also might keep them from inadvertently breaking rules they were not aware of at the time.
I agree with you that they should know the rules and the process before asking for an agent but I don't think that is always the case.
I also agree that many of the comments aren't constructive in their reply but unfortunately that is what Facebook has morphed into - a bunch of cranky armchair warriors.
Roger *********
Stephen Lodewick They are more likely asking because they have limited funds and need an Agent to bankroll them the cash to deposit in their newly opened Thai bank account for 2 months, a manageable alternative if you ain't rich !
Todd *********
Roger Scarlet if you can’t afford $400 for an agent to handle it for you, you are likely doing lots of penny pinching… limited funds indeed
Martin ********
Stephen Lodewick in theory it’s easy because the rules are (in theory) clear. However those of us who’ve been here long enough have experienced being given information or requests from IOs who interpret the rules based on their current mood which they have the right to do. When Immi was based in Suan Phlu I knew most of them and it was far easier. The move to CW was disastrous.
Gregory ********
Stephen Lodewick often you can get information online and it’s not current or someone has a better perspective or shortcut. Thanks for your input.
Todd *********
Stephen Lodewick doing it yourself loses you money. You can easily make 8% on your 800k anywhere, for 64k annually. A renewal cost 16k.
Only the financially illiterate are standing in line at immigration
Only the financially illiterate are standing in line at immigration
Chris ******
Todd McGowan fact
Stephen **********
Todd McGowan Yes, but that doesn't directly related to the gist of the original post. Both the OP's post and my comment were generalized about advice, not specific visas.
The post was directing people to keep their comments solely directed towards referring agents if asked. I offered a potential reason why somebody may stray from that narrow focus while still having good, not sarcastic, intentions.
You are addressing a separate issue, why not following the rules may be advantageous.
Furthermore, while the 8% calculation is correct (maybe even slightly more depending on the compounding structure) it completely ignores the cost of the agent. I don't believe they have started doing it for free so the fee will result in a significant reduction to the savings amount you calculated. At that point the person would need to decide for themselves if the final savings was worth it to them.
Of course if immigration really wanted to crackdown they should start verifying funds for the non-o and DTV at random 90 day reporting periods. That would probably change the calculations considerably.
The post was directing people to keep their comments solely directed towards referring agents if asked. I offered a potential reason why somebody may stray from that narrow focus while still having good, not sarcastic, intentions.
You are addressing a separate issue, why not following the rules may be advantageous.
Furthermore, while the 8% calculation is correct (maybe even slightly more depending on the compounding structure) it completely ignores the cost of the agent. I don't believe they have started doing it for free so the fee will result in a significant reduction to the savings amount you calculated. At that point the person would need to decide for themselves if the final savings was worth it to them.
Of course if immigration really wanted to crackdown they should start verifying funds for the non-o and DTV at random 90 day reporting periods. That would probably change the calculations considerably.
Todd *********
Stephen Lodewick fair enough. And immigration has no interest in ‘cracking down’ on retirement visas or DTV. It’s not the problem for them.
And obviously I didn’t ignore the cost of the agent. Renewals cost 16k. While 8% on 800k is 64k in your pocket. (Less tax ?!?) which leave a 46k annual surplus which can either be allowed to continue compounding or spent on your bar bill.
And obviously I didn’t ignore the cost of the agent. Renewals cost 16k. While 8% on 800k is 64k in your pocket. (Less tax ?!?) which leave a 46k annual surplus which can either be allowed to continue compounding or spent on your bar bill.
Jita****
Todd McGowan but you can achieve the same financial gains by using the 65k monthly deposit method and still be legal and above board with immigration
Martin ********
Jitae929 I'll raise you 2 points. How about those who just don’t want the hassle, and that Immi don’t want to lose their extra revenue?
Mma *******
Stephen Lodewick Exactly there is many reasons the service is offered.
Phil *******
How do you know what they already know and don't know?
They may have only read a few posts that incorrectly state 'you need an agent'.
They may have only read a few posts that incorrectly state 'you need an agent'.
Martin ********
Phil Clark oh whatever, I really don’t care that you can’t prove the point you’re desperate to make without making it personal. Move on.
Phil *******
Martin Drazen proven already.
Krazye******
Phil Clark everybody knows you can do it yourself🤦♀️ no need to always write the same stupid advise when someone is asking for an agent
Todd *********
Krazyeyez666 some 💩 birds just can’t help themselves. These guys spent their lives doing as they were told. If immigration required they shovel sick buffalo poop for a week to qualify, they would be out buying shovels, no questions asked.
Phil *******
Krazyeyez666 so you are the font of all knowledge, you know exactly what posters already know?
Krazye******
Phil Clark yes poster will know he could do it for himself. It's not even logical if you could get your extention or visa only through agency🤡🤦♀️
Martin ********
Phil Clark show me those posts
John **********
@Martin *******
there are huge amounts of responses to posts asking what's required for this visa or that visa that simply state "get an agent" or similar. Swings and roundabouts. It's a public forum, people are entitled to comment as they wish (within the bounds of acceptable parameters of course)Martin ********
@John *********
I don’t disagree, but to simply tell someone it’s illegal or do it yourself etc isn’t helpful in any way. Why not “choose an agent carefully, someone like xxxx, but it’s not difficult to do it yourself “Phil *******
Martin Drazen
2 right there on the very first thread i looked at.
********************************************
2 right there on the very first thread i looked at.
Phil *******
Martin Drazen look for yourself, they're on every thread where the OP is asking how to get visa.
Phil *******
Martin Drazen it used to be said that ignorance was caused by lack of information, the internet was supposed to solve that, I guess in your case it hasn't worked.
Martin ********
Phil Clark things that don’t exist are generally hard to find.
Frank *********
💯
Richard *******
That’s your opinion 😂
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