@Robert ********

Not to be devil advocate but most relationship like yours between Foreigner man and Thai girl end badly. Most will have other foreigners visiting them during the year, like Sugar Daddy. Its a sub-culture in Thailand that is used on dating website. I know a lot of men like you who ended with nothing. Not saying that your story will end badly but most does because of things u never knew or suspected about the long distance Thai girl from that dating app that you visit once a year.

Paul Weinhardt Many visas, volunteer visa, education visa, marriage visa, etc, you can also get medical visa, etc. Retiree can get it the proper way so they dont have to use an agent.

@Frank-Steven **********

You can stay in Thailand for 35-40k baht a year if you are not of retirement age. I speak from experience. And you don't have to go anywhere. You just need the right contact.

@Bobby *******

That's ridiculous. So because you don't have 400k baht in the bank you are cheap charlie? A lot of people still have debt in their own country and try to pay it out as soon as possible so they can have that 400k cushion to not have to use the 60 days Covid extension anymore.

@Robert ********

A lot of people like me have a Thai GF of many years and because they are still young (I'm 36), do not qualify for a retirement visa. So for most of us, we rely on various extensions and other methods to stay long-term in Thailand. As for the typical tourist, well, a lot of them want to extend their stay to 3-4, 6 months to a year, and even find a way to stay longer because they like it here more than their own country. I don't think they struggle to get back they just don't want to and I understand them.

@Kool ******

You are not required to go "in-person" to get a visa, even less an extension. It's been like this forever. Maybe one day it's gonna change, but it hasn't yet. What you are referring to is still agent-related but not exclusively what agents do. There is a distinction between legality and legitimacy that you do not understand. I will give you a simple example: the black market for lotto tickets is illegal in Thailand, yet nobody gives a damn and if you win, you are getting paid which makes it legitimate. It's the same for a reputable agent. I asked OP about his definition of a "well-known" agent because I know most "well-known" agent in Thailand and none of them would do something like this.

What are your criterias for "well-known" agent?

@Mark *******

Go read

@John ********

post below and do a little research about the confusion of the last 2 years. "Improvisation" doesn't equate to "succeed".

@Mark *******

Doesn't understand that and never will. He's been here since October and he is already an expert with knowledge behind belief and double down on his nonsense.

@Mark *******

It does. You are implying that Thailand did a good job in the reopening process, which they didn't. Only 60% of people are fully vaxxed and a lot of them didn't get Moderna or Pfizer, especially here in Isan. Right now there is an upside of cases that you won't hear in the media because freedom of the press is limited. Strictly speaking about what is and is not open (with no care for the locals), is also very nebulous. Bars are rebranding as "restaurants" to be able to go around the law and serve alcohol. You have no idea of what's going on behind the scenes, the loophole, the bribes, and what owners go through, especially in Phuket and Bangkok to remind open. The people who complain most likely are not first-time travelers here and have been following what's going on since more than just "October".