I play the age card. If you say 'Guerre Lau' (rhymes with 'Hair Now') to any assistant, they will take you to an empty Thai gate.

I am talking more as an ex-pat where despite having every detail on the Central Data system, I am required to provide the same data three times a year much of which has not varied in TWO DECADES! Different offices in different cities will ask for different data and/or permit different things.

Thai Immigration offices in different cities don't even share the same systems.

@Harry *******

I've been here 20+ years. Bangkok Bank.

I've had 800K in BKK bank for SIX years in a 'high' interest account. It's now worth 820K!

TDAC is just another waste of time and resources. It is not needed ANYWHERE.

In this day and age, you'd think everything would be on a National system; one assumes TDAC is?

What is not expensive to you is very expensive to an 83 year old pensioner on a frozen State pension worth 50% of its present rate.

There are agents because Thai Immigration makes all things over-complicated - they get a kick-back if an agent irons out the wrinkles.

@Bill ********

See answer above. I've stayed 20+ years in Thailand; it has cost me 50% of my State Pension. I've earned the right to complain after spending millions of baht here. I've never used an agent, you're obviously uncaring about finances. I've got Visas for friends/wives/girlfriends/ for UK; USA; EU so I can find my way through Thailand's deliberately over-complicated procedures.