I will always choose chaotic freedom of speech group over censorship one. I was one of the first to join this group (after getting banned from the bigger one). It was surely more pleasant went the group was much smaller, but it's still manageable. My main issue is not the rude comments, but the misinformation and lack of flexibility of some. Not every question has an obvious answer. If someone wants to use an agent, it's his/her decision, I will give an answer to the best of my knowledge. I always try to answer with the most value-ish answer, the practical one, rather than the morally superior one. Some get mad but to me, practicality is more important than moral standard when it comes to living in Thailand.

A volunteer visa is 35k baht, but you need a Non-O first in order to get the volunteer visa, so if you don't have it it's another 25k baht to switch to it first, 3 + 12 = 15 months for 60k baht. You can sometimes apply for both the Non-O and volunteer at the same time (depend on the agent). As for extension, you don't need to do it yourself (I suggest you don't to avoid any potential drama). You can ask the agent to do it every 3 months for a small fee (around 500 baht). You don't need to send them your passport or anything, they can do it without. I'm pretty sure that it's extendable for another 12 months after that, if needed. At worse if you just need few months you can then get 3 months medical extension.

Bottom line is if you are broke there is no hope staying long term in Thailand. The world as not yet reopen, and probably won't before 2022 (METV in 2022 probably, etc). With money, anything can be sorted out, money rules the world.

Volunteer visa required to be on Non-O first, so that agent was probably trying to scam you. The price of 30-35k baht seem adequate tho, it's what most people pay with an agent and it's legit, the stamp is legit, etc. Ed Visa is a bit lower price but not too far off. You can get a medical visa for around 15-18k baht but it's only 3 months.

@Frédéric ****************

Yes and No, this is not harming anyone. With that logic underground casino all over BKK, black market lotto tickets, border markets, etc, all of this should stop today. Some laws are outdated but remain for tea money purposes. It's like now the special visa is about to run out so the agent will get flooded by demand. It's all calculated and benefit both side.

I always suggest when you are looking for answer to listen to people that: A) Have been here for more then a few years; B) That have use all different options on the table, including agent.

You can't listen to the fear mongering people who are on retirement visa last 20 years with no understanding of the current situation and how relations are forged between agent-IO-clients.

People confuse legality and legitimacy all the time. For example, you can buy lotto ticket at the black market, its not legal but you get paid fully when you win (legit). Even cops are often seen at these market buying tickets. The same goes for agent, not technically legal, but tolerable, and you get exactly what you pay for. That important distinction is ignored by people who sole purpose is to make you feel bad for trying to stay longer the alternative way.

How told you that non sense? Stop listening to fear mongering by grumpy old fart who like to patronize everyone. If you use a reputable agent you will stay no problem, many have done it.

I have never ever been asked for a return ticket by the airline nor immigration while entering Thailand since first entering in 2010. I must be very lucky according to some.

@Steve ********

I have never been asked and ive enter Thailand a lot since 2010.

@Surf *****

The maximum fees for overstay is 40 days (20k baht).