Visa agent recommendation

[Orton Rd]

2 hours ago, BertM said:

Because I can afford to pay for the convenience of not having to wait in line and only having to walk inside IM to take a pic. It's well worth the extra money to me.

Fair enough if you want to pay 1310K just to avoid a short wait, if you take your photo before you don't have to do it there. Filling out a simple form seems too much for some people, I know one American who even paid somebody to fill out his 90 day report form, just his name and address and when he had arrived here.!

[BertM]

1 hour ago, Orton Rd said:

Fair enough if you want to pay 1310K just to avoid a short wait, if you take your photo before you don't have to do it there. Filling out a simple form seems too much for some people, I know one American who even paid somebody to fill out his 90 day report form, just his name and address and when he had arrived here.!

Not trying to extend this dialogue,  but last time I went to CW in Bangkok, there were several hundred people waiting in line after lunch to get in and one Brit I spoke to told me he had been there for 3 hours. Also, the agency (attorney) that I use is located in BK and he deals with CW every day and he told me I must appear in person to take the pic for my renewal. At least, they pick me up, drive me there and then bring me back home afterwards as part of their service. So, I'm sure if I didn't have to go in person he would definitely not require me to go.

I'm sure Ubonjoe would know if you didn't have to appear in person for your renewal. Seems like we would have read about that before on this forum. I assume anything can be done for the right money...

Edited April 11, 2019 by BertM

[sunnyboy2018]

22 hours ago, Chicksaw said:

Any names?

Check my thread on the same same subject or pick up any tourist magazine. Agents advertise publicly. 20k in pattaya with the 800k 25 without. Both include 3600 MER Visa

[JackThompson]

1 hour ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

Check my thread on the same same subject or pick up any tourist magazine. Agents advertise publicly. 20k in pattaya with the 800k 25 without. Both include 3600 MER Visa

In Pattaya, was 13K before the changes w/o the money - a report of 15K more recently.  Add 3800 for the multiple re-entry stamp.  Granted, those are not the ones taking out ads in magazines and on TV - just hang out their signs on Soi Bukow Rd. 

 

And if you have your own money, the agent-fee should be around 6K, plus the 1900 (extension) + 3800 (multiple re-entry).  In that case, you are just paying to have someone else fill in the form, collate the paperwork, skip the queue, and avoid any "extra" requirement runarounds.

Edited April 11, 2019 by JackThompson

[sunnyboy2018]

28 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

In Pattaya, was 13K before the changes w/o the money - a report of 15K more recently.  Add 3800 for the multiple re-entry stamp.  Granted, those are not the ones taking out ads in magazines and on TV - just hang out their signs on Soi Bukow Rd. 

 

And if you have your own money, the agent-fee should be around 6K, plus the 1900 (extension) + 3800 (multiple re-entry).  In that case, you are just paying to have someone else fill in the form, collate the paperwork, skip the queue, and avoid any "extra" requirement runarounds.

I also pay for laundry,  taxi, chefs,  waiters, bar staff and innumerable other services. I have money, free will and choice. I will always go the agency route. 25k until I cant afford to.....then will live elsewhere.  The agents provide a great service in a country where there is no tax funded support scheme for foreigners  as in the western world. They provide informal salaries to low paid civil servants.

[JackThompson]

10 minutes ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

I also pay for laundry,  taxi, chefs,  waiters, bar staff and innumerable other services. I have money, free will and choice. I will always go the agency route. 25k until I cant afford to.....then will live elsewhere.  The agents provide a great service in a country where there is no tax funded support scheme for foreigners  as in the western world. They provide informal salaries to low paid civil servants.

Up to you - just providing the prices I have heard, so no one pays more than needed. 

My only objection to the agent-system, is when it results in IOs making it difficult/impossible to do things the in-person/honest way, because they want to "encourage" agent-use.  If they just asked for 500 baht extra, it would be fine - would make an adequate bonus-package that isn't highway-robbery.

 

And "informal salaries" is a good one - I hope it's OK if I use that term in the future, to refer to the IOs cut of the loot. 

Edited April 11, 2019 by JackThompson

[SheungWan]

6 hours ago, BertM said:

Because I can afford to pay for the convenience of not having to wait in line and only having to walk inside IM to take a pic. It's well worth the extra money to me.

A friend of mine is in exactly the same position and pays an agent. He has  been using the agent service for two years running now and satisfied with the service.

[berybert]

Paying an agent to do your 90 day report is pretty amazing. It takes about 5 minutes to do it online. Be interesting to have a break down to how much they charge you just for that service. 

Edited April 11, 2019 by berybert

[madmen]

There is about 7 of them in the trendy building soi 13 ground and first floor

[Cat ji]

Can you recommend any of them? ????

[lamyai3]

My confusion with the agent system now is what exactly they are providing. In the case of someone already funded it's simple, they just streamline the paperwork, easy money for them and minimal hassles to the foreigner (though I would consider this a waste of money personally).

 

Where someone doesn't have the money, the agent is basically required to do two things. The first is easy - bypass the seasoning rules and return the passport with an extension for the forthcoming year, same business model as before. The second is far more dubious - to guarantee the following year's extension (since this would be denied if post seasoning and residual full-year balance rules aren't met). If part of the new process of being granted an extension includes the assurance of qualifying for the next year's extension as well, I'd be highly concerned about whether an agent is able to guarantee anything at all, given that this is completely uncharted territory. 

Edited April 12, 2019 by lamyai3

[notamember]

On 4/11/2019 at 1:20 AM, Cat ji said:

"No funds required"...yes, I'm skeptical about those. Sounds shady.  What we want is just to avoid obstacles - bad luck, "bad day at the office" or something.

because he has the funds to support your application your funds are not required, nothing dodgy about that, him having 800,000 is there?

[notamember]

On 4/11/2019 at 6:47 AM, mokwit said:

I have often wondered if the type of companies that advertise feed into a "master" agent that does the business, rather than handle everything themselves.

the master agent is immigration

[notamember]

16 hours ago, steven100 said:

Just contact Siam legal .... they will assist you and get it done right  !!

they recently quoted 75,000 for fist time using their money!

 

[notamember]

7 hours ago, berybert said:

Paying an agent to do your 90 day report is pretty amazing. It takes about 5 minutes to do it online. Be interesting to have a break down to how much they charge you just for that service. 

if you ilve in chiang mai and your extension is lodged in pattaya it makes sense to pay 500 bht to post it to the agent and have him do it. Its not illegal for anyone to do the 90 days. If you live close to immigration unless you have something to hide, i agree with poster above , do it yourself

[Orton Rd]

56 minutes ago, notamember said:

they recently quoted 75,000 for fist time using their money!

 

Outrageous, but then so is 15k for filling in a form and getting a wait ticket.

[SheungWan]

9 hours ago, Cat ji said:

Can you recommend any of them? ????

My friends who use an agent service do.

[SheungWan]

17 hours ago, BertM said:

Because I can afford to pay for the convenience of not having to wait in line and only having to walk inside IM to take a pic. It's well worth the extra money to me.

Some of the guys whingeing against agents will be from the same set who will also tell you that it is a waste of money flying business class.

[ThaiBunny]

1 minute ago, SheungWan said:

Some of the guys whingeing against agents will be from the same set who will also tell you that it is a waste of money flying business class.

Not to mention hiring a maid

[BertM]

2 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

Outrageous, but then so is 15k for filling in a form and getting a wait ticket.

For 15k, I get picked up, chauffeured to IM at CW in Bangkok, escorted inside (no ticket, no waiting in line) to take pic with IM officer, then chauffeured back home with my new yearly extension in hand. Don't know what you're talking about filling in form and getting a wait ticket. I really enjoy the VIP treatment and it's one of the many perks I enjoy and treat myself to in retirement. It's very nice for me not having to worry about anything and since I have the money to spend, I enjoy spending it.

Edited April 12, 2019 by BertM

[berybert]

3 hours ago, notamember said:

if you ilve in chiang mai and your extension is lodged in pattaya it makes sense to pay 500 bht to post it to the agent and have him do it. Its not illegal for anyone to do the 90 days. If you live close to immigration unless you have something to hide, i agree with poster above , do it yourself

I'm guessing if you first came to Thailand and lived in Pattaya then moved to Chiang Mai you would have had to notify a change of address. If that hasn't been done and you get found out, you could be looking at a rather large fine. 

[ubonjoe]

A post containing a personal attack comment has been removed. A repeat of it will result in a formal warning.

[jkthai]

Bert M , could you please pm who you use , thanks

[Orton Rd]

2 hours ago, BertM said:

For 15k, I get picked up, chauffeured to IM at CW in Bangkok, escorted inside (no ticket, no waiting in line) to take pic with IM officer, then chauffeured back home with my new yearly extension in hand. Don't know what you're talking about filling in form and getting a wait ticket. I really enjoy the VIP treatment and it's one of the many perks I enjoy and treat myself to in retirement. It's very nice for me not having to worry about anything and since I have the money to spend, I enjoy spending it.

I understand the normal fee is more like 6k, up to you if you want to pay so much. No wonder some Thais think we are all made of money

[bkk6060]

On 4/10/2019 at 10:16 PM, elliss said:

 Agents were charging 17K ,   however when  BJ.  enhanced the thai economy ,   hiked  to 20K .

However that said , you do not have the black mail burden of 800k .

   Agents , are  more cost effective,  Good luck .

 

 

 

 

Well, that would be a bargain.

I know people that have used agents for years and 35 k++ is mostly being quoted.

Edited April 12, 2019 by bkk6060

[balo]

44 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

know people that have used agents for years and 35 k++ is mostly being quoted

Then they are all being scammed in the Land of Scams. 

[Kadilo]

35 minutes ago, balo said:

Then they are all being scammed in the Land of Scams. 

They are being scammed if they don’t want to pay it. The ones I know are happy with the price and the service. Their money, their choice. 

[notamember]

5 hours ago, berybert said:

I'm guessing if you first came to Thailand and lived in Pattaya then moved to Chiang Mai you would have had to notify a change of address. If that hasn't been done and you get found out, you could be looking at a rather large fine. 

yes 800 baht

[geoffbezoz]

If you have all the paperwork why would you need a VISA agent ?

[notamember]

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

Well, that would be a bargain.

I know people that have used agents for years and 35 k++ is mostly being quoted.

 On 4/10/2019 at 10:16 PM, elliss said:

 Agents were charging 17K ,   however when  BJ.  enhanced the thai economy ,   hiked  to 20K .

However that said , you do not have the black mail burden of 800k .

   Agents , are  more cost effective,  Good luck .

 

any agents that hiked the price due to BJ are the worst scammers, nothing has changed with agents and no price increase have been made by immigration to agents so any agent who says the price has gone up due to BJ and new rules is an opportunist bottom feeder and a damned liar who scams the most gullible readers of ThaiVisa