Do it by mail. I've done it that way for years

@Dominic *****

Everyone else should also abide by the law. But how many expats pay agents every year, who then pay br*bes to immigration officers to obtain visa extensions? Br*bing government officials is like a cancer in our society - where does it end? And yet for some reason, so many (as you say) think it's ok! 25,000 baht for a 1,900 baht extension. Many expats are happy to pay the 500 baht "fine" for not having a motorcycle licence, or not wearing a helmet when riding, and expats just laugh and say it's "tea money" and that makes everything ok. People are happy to pay 5,000 baht for a f*ke Rolex Watch, and that's all ok. Yes it's a strange place Thailand, but it is what it is. And it's all good. I visit about a dozen national parks every year, so I pay my tax dues in the admission price like all foreigners! 😆

@Graham *****

Yes every immigration office has their own rules and nuances. Some seem to go out of their way to make life difficult, which is why the DTV is proving so popular, as for many it can avoid the need to ever visit an immigration office. I can speak only of Chaengwatthana, and I followed the instructions given by another member of this group a while back in how to achieve a non-O without the need for lump sum and without the need to pay an agent. It worked for me

Same in Bangkok, but cheaper price at 1900 baht

Anyone can legally move to Thailand, marriage is not one of the requirements. Plenty of single guys legally move here because they enjoy the company of many women, not just one 😆

@Dominic *****

It's what's known as the "cash economy", it goes on around the world, people avoiding tax (especially small businesses) by doing work for cheaper prices by accepting cash payments. I'm surprised you didn't know about that? Lots of things in life are "technical", there's always workarounds. No big deal. If anyone is happy enough to WANT to pay tax on money they bring into Thailand, they're free to do that. It's called "freedom of choice". I'll leave that comment here for others. By the way, it's 180 days, not 183

@Ken **********

Not a refund, that's a cashback, just a gimmick so they can advertise lower prices.

@Graham *****

There is a workaround. Start with OA, commence the 65k transfers as soon as you get here, get the free second year, and towards the end, do a border bounce, come back in on exempt, and apply for non-O at immigration office using (by now) almost two years of 65k transfers. Means buying health insurance, but avoids the 800k lump sum

@Ken **********

Don't know what you mean. Why would you get a refund?

@Jimmy *****

Sometimes higher. It pays to do several checks when looking for good prices. In Thailand I find somewhere suitable, note the price, then my lady phones them for the "Thai price". Doesn't always work, sometimes they quite higher than Agoda, but more often than not it's lower