@Will *****

I am not doubting what happened to you, but its important to remain objective while giving advice. Because newb will then spread non-sense while answering other people (like Brian below, and his idiotic google copy/paste). A lot of people read such thread and will then give advice to other based on what they read from you or others. Bad info can pass around all the time.

@Will *****

You said: "and it also affects you for future visa applications in other countries.", which imply potential rejection (if not, what is the wording "affects" for?). All of that is false. The only moment where it "could" affect you is upon entering Thailand, which there is no report of such issue. If one person had a power-trip in Australia doesn't mean that he was in the right or that you could have been rejected. It's simply one person that doesn't know how to do his job. It's a rare anecdotal evidence. Just like you can get into a plane crash, but it's also very rare. Rare occurrence should not be treated as "potential affects", because its very unlikely. Just like its very unlikely that ull get a police visit after overstaying for a few days. It "can" happen, but the likelihood is on the same level as dying from taking the plane.

@Brian *******

No, the police wont arrest you for overstaying for a few days. You said it sometimes happens, which is factually incorrect. It very rarely happen, and when it does its someone doing more illegal stuff on the side who get ratted out by someone else.

@Will *****

This is factually incorrect. You dont get denied a visa because you overstayed for a few days. Stop making shit up to scare newcomers.

@Tom ******

ZzZzZ.... Boooooring! Nobody care about your fragile ego, carry on. "Not in our lifetime" is right. Ive paid with Bitcoin at restaurant before, does this mean that fiat is disappearing? No, not anytime soon. You can love crypto as I do and still have some common sense left. World changes to that extend take a very long time to occur and its baby step after baby step. "1-2 years", braaaaaah! LOL!

You are confusing me with someone else. I've always been pro agent, lol! Also, this group has always allowed discussion about alternative solutions (agents, etc), so there is no hypocrisy in Garrett's decision.

It depend on the agent, but prices have been going up since Covid.

You can get marriage extension (for 1 year) without the 400k with the help of an agent. It cost 35-40k baht.

@MarGuyvin **

Nong Khai is only open with a Laos guide. I dont know anyone who entered this border.

@Tod ********

I do not disagree with you. Ive seen people been asked more money then they should at immigration because they had previous history with agent. So the officer expected to be own a bribe because he had access to your history. I just havent heard enough stories that turned badly in such regard to be that worry. I am under 50 so im not familiar with retirement visa process but I trust you on that. But for example, If I get a marriage extension with agent, and next year I decide to do Ed Visa on my own, I dont think my previous marriage extension with agent will be a big deal. I could be wrong, but its a different process. I dont find 30-40k baht a year a hard price to pay to have peace of mind. Its less then $100 usd a month. This is obv temporary solution until they comes up with any kind of visa which will be open to the "digital nomads". I know that you hate agents, but the system suck for people around my age (36 years old), not rich, but make enough from his laptop (100k baht a month on average), to never be a liability while contributing to the economy. Im getting married next week so things should get easier moving forward but it suck that in neighbor countries like Cambodia its so easy to get work visa, or long term visa in Vietnam.