Is this visa agency reputable. any experiences?

[anonymousz]

I am based in Lamphun, Northern Thailand and about to retire in 1.5 years. reaching the age of 50. Has anyone had good experiences with this visa agency based in BKK?

 

http://www.siamese-visa.com/

 

 

 

[Lite Beer]

You don't need any agency

It is cheap and easy to do yourself.

Ask on here for advise.

[Briggsy]

Is this like an advert framed as a question?

 

Either way, it is very straightforward to do this yourself.

 

"about to retire in 1.5 years"?? This is a very long time to start thinking about this. There is very little planning to do. Come back in 1.25 years.

[watcharacters]

7 minutes ago, Lite Beer said:

You don't need any agency

It is cheap and easy to do yourself.

Ask on here for advise.

I fully agree about the cheap part of your post but in all fairness I have to say the easy part is dependent on a number of variables.

[Lite Beer]

4 minutes ago, watcharacters said:

I fully agree about the cheap part of your post but in all fairness I have to say the easy part is dependent on a number of variables.

Retirement? Easy as anything. A doddle.

[watcharacters]

33 minutes ago, Lite Beer said:

Retirement? Easy as anything. A doddle.

 

 

Again it depends on variables.      I won't give details other than to say I was  first time very  well qualified other than a signed long term lease.  At the time I applied I was fully aware of the retirement requirements and a  long term lease was simply  not required.

 

The delightful IO lady said "yes,  I know but I prefer to see  a long term lease".

 

 Well, I "prefer" to win the national lottery each week.      Not in thailand mind you but the USA or Spain or UK.      So what?

 

Trust me it ain't always a cake walk.   All  thailand IO  matters are subject to variables.   Reference ubonjoe about his discussing different immigration offices  and their policies.   They are not all equal in  terms of treatment or decisions.

 

I'm not complaining,  if you've read this far.      I happen to use a fixer and am absolutely  more  than satisfied with the reasonable  fee charged for my not having to do anything.

 

 

To add:

 

For those in the Chom Buri area I'll be happy to give details on what's  been a  reputable 'fixer" for me for over a year.   PM for  info. IYW.

 

 

 

 

[lopburi3]

Having a long term lease has nothing to do with a retirement visa - that firm is charging $825 for a $200 visa if you read it.  This is not an extension of stay but a visa from a Consulate for entry from what I read.

[overherebc]

Chon buri is one of the easiest to deal with.

Since 90 something have used a fixer once to help with first drivers licence and many years ago for first B in Penang.

Since then done it all on my own.

[Lite Beer]

As I said before. Retirement is a doddle.

Looks like that company are charging a fortune to get you an actual Visa from the Embassy in your own country.

[worgeordie]

Some people need someone to hold their hand,and pay for 1000's THB

for the privilege ,when you can find all the details on here for free.

regards Worgeordie

[Crossy]

12 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Having a long term lease has nothing to do with a retirement visa - that firm is charging $825 for a $200 visa if you read it.  This is not an extension of stay but a visa from a Consulate for entry from what I read.

Indeed, at least they do put the DIY fees on the website.

[anonymousz]

Thank you for your answers. I have a reason for having to use an agency. Unfortunately I don't have the financials to provide the required 800.000 or 65.000 a month so I am interested in point 6 on this link. http://www.siamese-visa.com/retirement_in_thailand.html. If anyone has done something similar before with this agency and knows that this is genuine and trustworthy please comment below. Appreciate your answers in advance.

[sqwakvfr]

"Unfortunately I don't have the financials to provide the required 800.000 or 65.000 a month so I am interested in point 6 on this "

 

I would not say something like that on an open forum.  Option 6 is offered by other agencies as well.  How about just waiting until you can meet the financial qualifications for the Extension of Stay based upon Retirement?  

 

[overherebc]

36 minutes ago, anonymousz said:

Thank you for your answers. I have a reason for having to use an agency. Unfortunately I don't have the financials to provide the required 800.000 or 65.000 a month so I am interested in point 6 on this link. http://www.siamese-visa.com/retirement_in_thailand.html. If anyone has done something similar before with this agency and knows that this is genuine and trustworthy please comment below. Appreciate your answers in advance.

Yes it's obvious that quite a few people who don't have the 800,000 in the bank use 'agents' to get extensions.

I for one believe that sometime, soon, later, you pick the time this will be stopped or other conditions will be introduced.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

32 minutes ago, anonymousz said:

Thank you for your answers. I have a reason for having to use an agency. Unfortunately I don't have the financials to provide the required 800.000 or 65.000 a month so I am interested in point 6 on this link. http://www.siamese-visa.com/retirement_in_thailand.html. If anyone has done something similar before with this agency and knows that this is genuine and trustworthy please comment below. Appreciate your answers in advance.

 

I can't speak to, and am not familiar with, the particular visa agency you're asking about above.

 

But, I can say that there are various visa agencies here that, using various means, assist applicants who may have trouble meeting the financial requirements in the normal, stated ways. There can be various ways of doing that, some probably technically legal, and others perhaps not.

 

One way these agencies probably can deal with this issue is by exploiting the fact that Immigration regulations only require the Thai bank deposits for retirement extensions to be on deposit either two months (for the first time) or three months (for subsequent applications) prior to your applying -- as opposed to year-round.

 

[Lite Beer]

3 hours ago, anonymousz said:

Thank you for your answers. I have a reason for having to use an agency. Unfortunately I don't have the financials to provide the required 800.000 or 65.000 a month so I am interested in point 6 on this link. http://www.siamese-visa.com/retirement_in_thailand.html. If anyone has done something similar before with this agency and knows that this is genuine and trustworthy please comment below. Appreciate your answers in advance.

If you have to go the illegal route you should really not be thinking of staying in Thailand.

It will come back to bite you in the end.

 

They are even calling it a Visa which it is not.

Would you trust them ?

[NanLaew]

Based on the premise that each and every immigration related application or informational request form has the clear statement, that "applicant must file it in person", the whole concept of using an agent, regardless of how widespread and accepted it appears to be, is legally challenged. Within the last couple of years, the gradual, growing enforcement of the laws has seen the demise of more than a few who were flying 'below the radar'. It's never stated if the miscreant was using an agent or using the much easier DIY approach when they got busted. AFAIK, applicants extending a renewal nowadays, have to attend at least once as they request a picture be taken of each applicant.

 

I have used an agent once, several years ago, when I had a clash of dates and had to delegate the extension filing to an agent in Jomtien while I carried out same-day, non-related consular business in Bangkok. This was before the picture-taking mandate was enforced. But I did pass the financial requirements for the extension.

 

I think I am correct in stating that quite a large proportion of immigration business at Chiang Mai is done through an agent just to circumvent their local, arcane, long queue inducing, 'take a number' way of processing applicants at that immigration office. I am not sure if it is possible to avoid the picture taking at any immigration office these days; maybe it simply commands a higher premium?

 

However, the OP has advised that in 18 months time, he will not qualify financially for a long-stay visa. If he is planning using the agency to commit a fraud by either acquiring the long-stay enabling visa in his home country first or committing a fraud by acquiring a long-stay extension once in Thailand, if he doesn't have the money, it is still a fraud.

 

However, I just looked out the window and yes, this is still Thailand.

[Orton Rd]

I know a bloke who used to pay an agent to fill in his 90 day report form, a Viet vet as well!

[Tanoshi]

15 hours ago, watcharacters said:

Again it depends on variables.      I won't give details other than to say I was  first time very  well qualified other than a signed long term lease.  At the time I applied I was fully aware of the retirement requirements and a  long term lease was simply  not required.

How were you very well qualified.

 

48 now, one of the requirements is to be 50 or over.

[partington]

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

Based on the premise that each and every immigration related application or informational request form has the clear statement, that "applicant must file it in person", the whole concept of using an agent, regardless of how widespread and accepted it appears to be, is legally challenged.

You misunderstand. "In person" means not by post, it does not mean the person who files the application has to be the same person the application is for. 

[Tanoshi]

4 minutes ago, partington said:

You misunderstand. "In person" means not by post, it does not mean the person who files the application has to be the same person the application is for. 

In the case of submitting a TM7 for an extension, the applicant would be the person applying for the extension.

TM7 clearly states.

APPLICANT MUST SUBMIT THE APPLICATION IN PERSON
WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF HANDICAPPED PATIENTS OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

 

At my IO, an updated annual photo taken by their camera connected to the PC is required.

An agent can act on your behalf, but the applicant would still have to attend in person.

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, partington said:

You misunderstand. "In person" means not by post, it does not mean the person who files the application has to be the same person the application is for. 

It says this on the current TM7 form "APPLICANT MUST SUBMIT THE APPLICATION IN PERSON". Not sure how that could be interpreted to mean not by post. It seems clear to me that somebody else cannot do it for you unless you qualify under the 2nd line "WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF HANDICAPPED PATIENTS OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES".

 

[partington]

1 minute ago, Tanoshi said:

In the case of submitting a TM7 for an extension, the applicant would be the person applying for the extension.

TM7 clearly states.

APPLICANT MUST SUBMIT THE APPLICATION IN PERSON
WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF HANDICAPPED PATIENTS OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

 

At my IO, an updated annual photo taken by their camera connected to the PC is required.

An agent can act on your behalf, but the applicant would still have to attend in person.

Ah Ok, that wording DOES suggest you are right, and I am wrong .

 

I do see a lot of agents applying with apparently multiple passports at Chaengwattana, but maybe they are doing something else (or are stretching the law).

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, partington said:

I do see a lot of agents applying with apparently multiple passports at Chaengwattana, but maybe they are doing something else (or are stretching the law).

 

Being that this is Thailand, there's the LAW on one side of the street, and then there's what various officials/agencies actually do/require on the other side of the street. And usually, money and the right connections appears to be the crosswalk between the two.

[meinphuket]

On January 22, 2561 BE at 4:10 PM, Briggsy said:

Is this like an advert framed as a question?

 

Either way, it is very straightforward to do this yourself.

 

"about to retire in 1.5 years"?? This is a very long time to start thinking about this. There is very little planning to do. Come back in 1.25 years.

The company mentioned may already have packed up and left....