They want you to use an agent, then the agent gives them a backhander. We call it corruption, but if you want to get any thing done it is the easiest way.

Having said that, I have a retirement visa,bank account, driving licence, ID card, house book etc. All obtained without using an agent.

Maybe, You forgot to put "tea money" in the aplication form.

You have the 0.

You have the visa.

I presume you have a bank account.

If you are married you need your wifes house book. If not proof of address is needed

1900 baht.

You probably will not need current photo of yourself (x2) but take them in case.

Far cheaper thah travelling to the border and maybe 1 or 2 nights hotel etc

Not only that, if you renew tour retirement visa, you will be fully legal. Rather than being caught out at the border, and refused entry.

Like most things in thailand, it is easier to go through an agent.

And pay them in cash. Then they give a little backhander to various people who get involved. Welcome to thailand, where there is no corruption honestly.

@Dave ******

the origional post was about thailand. Good luck getting through departures without a passport, it aint going to happen.

You won't even be allowed to board a plane without a passport.

Have you got a yellow book for the house, and a thai ID card.

As far as I am aware, If you have a yellow book, you should be entitled to live in the property for 30 years after her death.

As for the visa, get a retirement visa

Thailand has many laws. Many of them are broken regularly (particularly driving laws). However when it comes to foreigners and overstays, they are strict. It's a shame the UK can't take the same aproach and deport and ban all illegal immigrants.

If you open a wise account, you get a decent exchange rate.

You can also put any surplus pounds in the account into the jar. That money earns interest. Not a great rate, but better than a thai bank.