it's a cruel game they play when opening bank. One will tell you that you need a visa first but to get a visa you need to get a bank account and phone acct. In all these years Thailand knows this stupid game they play. It's to force you to use an agency. Just pay for agency and smile at them and just know it's chicken fee to you. So many people get this harassment from banks. I have seen people post they try over 10 banks to find one after they make them purchase basically junk fee. Sad thing in America they let any illegal set up bank accounts. See them all day long at Walmart using the the banks inside.
I read recently of you apply for the elite visa l, the government has a list of approve agent's. So agency are never going away. I did mine recently with agent and at the immigration desk that was for agency only. There was a stack of applicant so thick with each one with a lot of money paper clipped to each application. Immigration realize they make a shit load more than the stand 1900 baht fee.
I got a 15 months non o with retirement all in the same day. Of coarse I paid agency for it. But worth the headaches and hassel. Money is king, don't ever forget that in Thailand
you mean a national standard with a real guidelines. Than they wouldn't be able to operate in the grey area which seems to be their favorite. Take the absolute power away from making up the rules as they go. None of them want that. Bottom line it's pay to play scheme. This is the only advantage phillipines has over Thailand. There they just don't how many times you pay to extend. It's money being brought in
Technically your correct on the procedure but Thailand doesn't really have a national standard per day. They make up the rules as their mood is for the day. Some will change the 60 days to 90 days and will make you jump through a ring of fire. Some get lucky and others have to play their games of power trip. They will discourage you purposely to use an agency because they make a lot more money. I used an agency recently because my visa expired while on emergency trip back to the US. Everything was done in 4 hours. It's worth the no Hassel. But it is not cheap but money wasn't an issue for me. Wish you best luck because it is base on luck and nots what on paper for requirement