@James **************

, no, I have never used an agent, but I know ppl doing so - both kinds. I have no moral issues with any of this. I just want ppl to know what they are doing and the risks they are taking. Also, if someone asks for 25k THB just for preparing the documents for you then they are cheating you big time, especially on a retirement visa, which is kind of easy.

@Brian *******

, I agree fully with that part. But the kind of agents being discussed here including prices are not the kinds doing legal business. Such services will not cost you 25,000 THB.

@James **************

, you are easily stuck with an agent IF this agent has helped you bribe your way - as this is easy to identify looking in the archive.

@James **************

, pls. don't be naive and believe that something becomes legal by bribing the officers. It is not about using an agent as such; it is about getting a visa without complying with the rules.

@Todd ********

, I guess we all know by now that you are obviously not a fountain of knowledge. Thanks for putting this in neon.

@Todd ********

, Thai Visa Centre is not the govt. Interesting if they advice ppl to break the law of Thailand?

@Todd ********

, pls. post the link to an official page stating that using an agent is removing all other visa requirements. Or label yourself as a misinformer...

@Todd ********

, you have no clue about this topic. No, of course, the visa is NOT legal when you are getting it based on a bribe. I have no anger about anything here. Why are you keeping on with all that BS language? You are taking a risk when using an agent offering you to break the rules. I guess anyone will be able to understand this? The easy and legal way to get a long-term visa is to get an Elite Visa. The cheapest edition actually only cost you 50,000 THB per year. And then they will pick you up at the plane at the airport and drive you thru Immigration. But if you dont have the 1 M THB, then you must do it differently. If you are ready to play with your stay and you are not capable of doing the paper works yourself or dont have the required deposit, then you can try use an agent ready to bribe you thru.

@Todd ********

, the stamp as such is "legal" in the sense that you cannot see any difference from one obtained legally. If you dont know about documents in the archive then you have never tried any of this by yourself. Every year when applying for a new extension, the Immigration officer starts looking at the application incl. all documents from the year before. They even complain if my picture is the same as last year. My wife is not doing this for me. I have my own archive making it easy just to update the few documents needed. I am getting tired of all your BS here. I am talking nicely to you.

@Todd ********

, the problem is not the stamp but the filed documents qualifying the stamp. Those documents are kept in the archive and will prove that you didnt get your visa in line with the rules. Seems like you dont know much about this topic.