@Ron *******

A quick precision on Ed Visa. When I say that it's not possible atm, I mean from agents that I know are legit. I obv don't know every single agent in Thailand, but the few that I trust do not offer the Ed Visa since late last year. I've heard people saying that some agents offered them Ed Visa recently, but I would not recommend this route atm as the chance of getting scammed is high. As for volunteer visas with agents, impossible, this doesn't change. There was a major crackdown late last year.

@Ron *******

To answer your question. Ed Visa with agent will most likely be possible again between May and July, it's not possible atm. On the other hand, volunteer visa with agent won't be possible anytime soon. The only 3 long-term options with agent atm are retirement visa (if you are 50 years old+), marriage visa (extension based on marriage, you need to be legally married which the full process is quick), or having a Thai child (spouse). If available, some self-defense ed visa done without an agent might be a good option. Things will shake up a lot agent related in the next few months.

@Tod ********

You should give him real advice instead of regurgitating your hate for agents. I get it, the group you were running got bought by an agent company, this goes against everything you stand for. But this group has a lot more freedom in that regard. Remember that this group was created by people who got banned from the bigger group you were running, so the level of freedom is much higher here. OP already mentioned wanting agent recommendations, so you know what he is looking for, no need to be sneaky.

@Terary *********

Same, it also helps to have a Thai wife. I'm far away from being 50 tho!

@Chulala *********

Covid extension is not available atm for people on non-o (and he is on 30 days overstay anyways).

@Terary *********

Excellent news. At

Suvarnabhumi Airport you would have been denied entry. FYI, the nightmare at

Suvarnabhumi Airport didn't start with Covid, it started in 2015. There was insane enforcement of no more than 6 months per year in Thailand that was getting more and more enforced, and then Covid hit. I avoided that airport for the last 5 years. Always entering via Chiang Mai or South Thailand, never had a problem. With Covid, most flights into Thailand were layover in Bangkok first, so people recently on Volunteer visas were fucked while trying to enter via BKK. But Phuket always does things first, Sandbox, etc, so there is direct flight to Phuket. Chiang Mai is lagging behind (every flight stops in Bangkok first).

@Terary *********

Went did you enter the last time? (month) Which airport? How was your volunteer visa acquired? (agent or no agent), etc. I said impossible given OP situation.

@Alastair *****

Exactly, but some farang have been there a lot longer than others, and have been in way more situations than others, and have way more connections than others, and understand the Thai system way more then others.

@Tai ******

You mean not in the same boat as

@Thelittle ***********

. Most agents will sadly not deliver, or deliver sometimes. I have not step foot inside an immigration office for nearly 6 years, so I can tell you that not everything is sad story. Are you on overstay? You need to physically go there and get your passport back today.

@Klaus ********

Maybe, but until borders and the country fully re-open, we won't know. Things could very easily go in both directions (less strict or more strict). Also, BKK airport has always been way more strict than any other Thai airport in such regard. When Chiang Mai has direct flight again we will have more answers.