That's really good advice, Paul. Thankyou.

Do you need B10-20k baht in cash 💸 when entering the country on a DTV? I remember you needed it on a Tourist Visa.

Most of that technical stuff is a little over my head so I have to rely on just judging someone's integrity and competence face-to-face, which is probably why I can be a bit skeptical, lol, and why I probably make a few mistakes.

Anyway, I think you and the guys at the gym (& most of the other gyms, too) probably have overlapping goals wrt preventing fraud and promoting integrity.

Something tells me you'd all get on really well. Good luck with your idea 💡 👍😊, Stephen.

@Stephen *******

Empowering legitimate services and filtering out fraud sounds like a commendable mission statement for a useful service 👍.

@Stephen *******

I'm more inclined towards your goal now that you've explained it a bit more, though I reserve the right to still be a bit skeptical.

Concerning the Muay Thai Gym in question, the people there have only shown me a super positive attitude. They've also got excellent trainers and very good equipment.

I've been to quite a few gyms in Chiangmai.

I'm really just as impartial an observer as you're likely to get in this matter and my initial thoughts were that your business model came across as a bit extortionate. Now that I know what you're trying to do I can appreciate your perspective a bit more.

I would imagine that the people in the gym were trying to guard potential customers against any fraud or agencies trying to charge extra. Afterall, there are visa agencies out there who, rather than just point potential customers to the gym in question, charge a hefty sum for minimal haphazardly done paperwork.

You also didn't introduce yourself to them before, for the reasons you've now outlined. You can see where and how misunderstandings can occur.

Anyway, I suggest that you pop over to the gym and just have a chat over a cuppa. Great guys and great atmosphere there and you'll have more in-person knowledge of the place. Good luck with your efforts, sincerely.

@Stephen *******

But you said that you charge the businesses to be listed there or for upsells/recommendations to potential customers. So, it's not based on how good the visa agency/muay thai gym is but on the commission they give you? Is that right? That's what it says in your first post here. That can't be right can it? Surely you would want to recommend the gym's based on their merit and not the commission they will give you. Seems kind of extortionate to me.

Feel free to correct me, if I'm wrong.

Non-O voluntary visa

@Jarek ***********

Hey! I don't work for peanuts. I work for pennies. 😢 😭

@Robert *************

That would be a profession that might give me permanent IBS from the associated anxiety. Hats 👒 🎩 off to you.