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What resources are best for gaining knowledge about Thailand's visa system?

Thailand visa visa advice immigration EXPERTS expats in Thailand living in Thailand Thai visa groups numerous immigration offices

Feb 3, 2024

a year ago

Eamonn *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello. No questions this time, but gratitude and appreciation. However, I’m curious as to how some of you are so well versed in all things visa related. I’d like to broaden my very limited knowledge of these things as I’m tired of feeling confused and overly dependent on others. So, what resources do you turn to, regularly look at or study to be do well informed? I want to take back a little more control of my experience here. All advice will once again be greatly appreciated.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The community member expresses gratitude and a desire to better understand Thailand's visa system to reduce reliance on others. Respondents suggest a variety of resources for information, including following the "Thai Visa Advice" Facebook group, learning from personal experiences, and listening to recognized experts like Tod Daniels. Many emphasize the importance of understanding the differing requirements and practices at various immigration offices throughout Thailand. Overall, engaging with visa groups, reading extensively, and staying updated on visa regulations are recommended to gain independence in handling visa matters.

John *********

My wife is a USA and Thailand visa expert. If you actually need help you can contact us on messenger. She is a Thai national, she did all the work on the marriage visa (no visa company, no lawyer and no help from me). She has dual citizenship and more intelligent than most people. I also read posts here and research on YouTube and sometimes phone the embassy or personally visit the embassy. My most recent visit to the US embassy, the person who made the document did it wrong and I spotted it at the counter. That ruffled the staff person’s feathers and after a huff and a puff, it was redone correctly. My own embassy.

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Des *********

Mainly from people in bars in Pattaya and Bangkok half full of squirt.

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Otis ******

For me when in country my guv agent was most helpful… in end it will depend upon how your visa office impliments the rules… a little kindness goes a long way easy peasy Your local visa office is your best friend in this matter be patient.. my 1st go cost me 30kTB to use agent bc all say cannot change from tourist to resident.. in end my very kind officer come up and say, next time come see me first… i never forgot their kindness

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Eamonn *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

thanks Otis.

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John *******

Just take mental notes on all aspect regarding visa that you read from variuos groups like here there's some very knowledgeable members out there and its usually those whom have lived there previously or are have lived there for many years over time you work out those who know and have the right answers and those who think they know and I have found over a number of year that what is a requirement by one immigration office is not necessarily the same at another Chokh di

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Mitchell *******

Other than actually doing it over and over... Research stuff, join groups like this, read the posts and comments, and re-research every 6 months or so, as things can change.

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Gordon *********

Sit quietly and let them talk shite

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Gordon *********

Been here 18 years and people 1 year still trying to Tell me what to do good luck

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Nigel **************

@Gordon ********

yeah way too much wrong advice from the recently arrived. But not on the Thai Visa Advice page on FB.

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Nigel **************

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James *******

I'm just extremely intelligent.

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Nigel **************

Join the Thai Visa Advice group on FB. The moderators there really know their stuff and take no crap or false information on the page. Follow Tod Daniels, Robert Lagas, James Miller, Ellie Takei and the others there. I learnt everything from them.

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Nigel *********

I think it helps if you're a bit of a nerd 😉

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Brown ********

The guys in here know their visa and immigration stuff pretty good. You won't get false information from the main guys.

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Eamonn *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

🙏🏼

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Mark *********

I think the thing to really understand - which foreigners seem not to "get" - is that every Immigration Office is different in its approach and requirements. Unfortunately writers add to the confusion in making answers seem universalistic within Thailand - and they might even believe that to be true. It's no wonder applicants feel confused and alienated from the system. It's because there's no system.

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Eamonn *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

that echoes my experience for sure. It’s a lesson in, “going with the flow” I think. But I’d still like to do things myself and be independent of an agency. Maybe my imagination but I hear lots of people favouring other SE Asian countries as retirement options? I can understand this too.

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Mark *********

@Eamonn ********

Me too on attempted independence. But things seem to actually push in the opposite direction in that however much you develop knowledge of the system it gets tinkered with in the name of improvement, but actually making it worse. Trying to get TM30 and TM47 to align these days!!!!! Something as simple as that if computer systems and their developers were up to snuff.

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Mark *********

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Brandon ************

Just join a few visa groups and read everything, every day. That's how I learned.

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Ulrik *********

I did 7 years of short term visa options (and EDs) before getting a proper long term visa. That thought me a lot.

Otherwise i follow this group and thai visa advice for more knowledge

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Robert ***********

Some of them work as volunteers at Immigration.

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Eamonn *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Robert **********

really? I spoke with a couple of volunteers at imm the other day and they were very helpful. Maybe I can volunteer and get trained too?

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David ********

Listen to a guy called Tod Daniels 🙏🏻 visa guru

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Eamonn *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I’ll look him up. Cheers 🙏🏼

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Ulrik *********

@Eamonn ********

you'll find him in the before mentioned group "thai visa advice"

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Eamonn *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ulrik ********

yeah….YT offered nothing. I’ll look for him there. Thanks Ulrik.

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Marty *********

First I followed questions and answers on the “Thai visa advice” Facebook group. Second, just personal experience over 7 years. YouTube videos are often wrong or incomplete. The ASEAN now web chat site allows too many conflicting opinions and is confusing. You also have to be careful about visa questions that don’t give enough detail to generate accurate answers.

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Eamonn *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Marty ********

thanks Marty.

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