Question for those who use an agent for 12 month extension.

[giddyup]

Just did my 12 month extension at Jomtien office and for the first time got the letter that I have to show the 800K still in the bank after 3 months. This is despite my 800K being in a fixed deposit account for 9 years and has never moved. My question is, if you use an agent how do you show the 800K being there after 90 days unless the money is physically in your account?

[sfokevin]

The three month follow up  review of funds balance seems to be discretionary on the part of the IO... Nuff said... 

[giddyup]

3 minutes ago, sfokevin said:

The three month follow up  review of funds balance seems to be discretionary on the part of the IO... Nuff said... 

All he had to do was look at my bankbook and see 800K hasn't moved in 9 years, but apparently that's not good enough. I guess you are saying if you use an agent the 90 day report showing funds is waived.

[joealx]

"Just did my 12 month extension at Jomtien office and for the first time got the letter that I have to show the 800K still in the bank after 3 months. This is despite my 800K being in a fixed deposit account for 9 years and has never moved. My question is, if you use an agent how do you show the 800K being there after 90 days unless the money is physically in your account?"

 

You don't. If you can't do the 90 day online, the agent will process it.

 

[ThaiBunny]

3 minutes ago, giddyup said:

All he had to do was look at my bankbook and see 800K hasn't moved in 9 years

Of course it's not good enough - past performance is no guarantee of future behaviour

[petermik]

7 hours ago, giddyup said:

All he had to do was look at my bankbook and see 800K hasn't moved in 9 years, but apparently that's not good enough. I guess you are saying if you use an agent the 90 day report showing funds is waived.

correct....

and when you do return after 90 days they want photocopies of Bank book page showing name and account etc plus page showing updated amount....they then enter the details into a computer...

[giddyup]

1 minute ago, joealx said:

"Just did my 12 month extension at Jomtien office and for the first time got the letter that I have to show the 800K still in the bank after 3 months. This is despite my 800K being in a fixed deposit account for 9 years and has never moved. My question is, if you use an agent how do you show the 800K being there after 90 days unless the money is physically in your account?"

 

You don't. If you can't do the 90 day online, the agent will process it.

 

Not sure there is any online facility for showing the 800K in the bank after 90 days. I have to physically show the updated bank book.

[giddyup]

9 minutes ago, ThaiBunny said:

Of course it's not good enough - past performance is no guarantee of future behaviour

Doesn't answer my question as to how an agent overcomes the 90 day updated bank book, and of course the 800K is supposed to be in the bank 3 months prior to the extension, how do they show that?

[giddyup]

2 minutes ago, petermik said:

correct....

and when you do return after 90 days they want photocopies of Bank book page showing name and account etc plus page showing updated amount....they then enter the details into a computer...

Also more copies of your passport. Somewhere there is a warehouse with millions of tons of paper.

[joealx]

2 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Doesn't answer my question as to how an agent overcomes the 90 day updated bank book.

The agent will take care of the 800000 and the 90 day reporting.  You won't have to go to immigration to prove anything. You may have to go there for a photo, but that will be ordered by the agent.

[poohy]

26 minutes ago, giddyup said:

My question is, if you use an agent how do you show the 800K being there after 90 days unless the money is physically in your account?

Did mine last Thursday

Asked re 3 month thing

Her answer the money in bank is not applicable to agents customers you will not be asked however if you are ring her she will clear

 

[bkk6060]

I have several friends who use agents.

They never ask questions and think the less they know the better.

I agree.

But, that is what a person is paying for.

The service and no worries.

[giddyup]

There is no doubt the whole system is corrupt. The people who are honest and play by the rules are penalised.

[Lumbini]

Did mine last Thursday
Asked re 3 month thing
Her answer the money in bank is not applicable to agents customers you will not be asked however if you are ring her she will clear
 

This is interesting ( so basically every 90 days things could change if that agents situation changes correct ?

[xylophone]

32 minutes ago, poohy said:

Her answer the money in bank is not applicable to agents customers

I guess that answers the question and others re the 800k method and subsequent follow up of same, but it also means that once you opt to go down that route you are tied to that agent (or other agents) for good.......then they can start to ramp up the cost of doing this year after year.

 

The old saying. "they've got you by the short and curlies" springs to mind.

 

There is no doubt this method is illegal, so does one want to live with that hanging over one's head??

[from the home of CC]

19 minutes ago, giddyup said:

There is no doubt the whole system is corrupt. The people who are honest and play by the rules are penalised.

imo this will end in tears for many and will probably set a record for responses on tvf when the first one gets deported and posts...

[tingtongtourist]

4 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

imo this will end in tears for many and will probably set a record for responses on tvf when the first one gets deported and posts...

Why would they get deported?

 

Your not believeing in popular Thaivisa theory??...that all this been set up by immigration specially so it will actually push people into taking agents so the officers can collect the comissions in brown paper bags.

5555

where is that Jack Thomson poster anyway

[WorriedNoodle]

48 minutes ago, giddyup said:

There is no doubt the whole system is corrupt. The people who are honest and play by the rules are penalised.

Why not think on the bright side? At least you are only paying 2,000 THB for the yearly extension whereas the agent punters are losing at least 14,000 THB with no certainty how it ends?

[from the home of CC]

14 minutes ago, tingtongtourist said:

Why would they get deported?

 

Your not believeing in popular Thaivisa theory??...that all this been set up by immigration specially so it will actually push people into taking agents so the officers can collect the comissions in brown paper bags.

5555

where is that Jack Thomson poster anyway

no, I never bought into that line of thinking though I understand why that may have been comforting to some..

[poohy]

33 minutes ago, xylophone said:

I guess that answers the question and others re the 800k method and subsequent follow up of same, but it also means that once you opt to go down that route you are tied to that agent (or other agents) for good.......then they can start to ramp up the cost of doing this year after year.

 

The old saying. "they've got you by the short and curlies" springs to mind.

 

There is no doubt this method is illegal, so does one want to live with that hanging over one's head??

• In my case the agents fees dropped in last year repeat customer
• nothing to stop you using real method 800 should you wish just put in it a bank account for however long required prior to renewal
• in last 7 years have hopped on and off visa/agent bandwagon depending if i was flush with cash as self employed  never a problem 

I have a separate bank book for agent visa

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, giddyup said:

if you use an agent how do you show the 800K being there after 90 days unless the money is physically in your account?

Immigration agree with the agent to waive any financial checks on you for that year.

Head of Immigration at each branch has the right to waive any/all extension conditions.

 

It's perfectly legal.

[giddyup]

45 minutes ago, poohy said:

•  

I have a separate bank book for agent visa

Does the agent actually deposit 800K into that bank book? Find that hard to believe.

[giddyup]

46 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Immigration agree with the agent to waive any financial checks on you for that year.

Head of Immigration at each branch has the right to waive any/all extension conditions.

 

It's perfectly legal.

How can it be legal? The agents are circumventing the rules aided and abetted by corrupt immigration officers. The requirement for those who obtain their extensions legally is to have 800K in your bank book for 90 days prior, and now 90 days after.

[The Cobra]

Just now, giddyup said:

How can it be legal? The agents are circumventing the rules aided and abetted by corrupt immigration officers. The requirement for those who obtain their extensions legally is to have 800K in your bank book for 90 days prior, and now 90 days after.

Its perfectly legal as the signing Immigration officer has the ability to issue a visa at his discretion. There is no illegality about it. The only questionable issue is the Immigration officers decision, the agent is not at fault nor liable and neither is the recipient as it was processed and issued by the legal authority. You may not like it but it isnt illegal at all. Questionable possibly, but that is entirely a matter of internal immigration procedures.

[poohy]

8 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Does the agent actually deposit 800K into that bank book? Find that hard to believe.

It shows she has in the book 

i sign a withdrawal slip so she must do

 

 

[giddyup]

6 minutes ago, The Cobra said:

Its perfectly legal as the signing Immigration officer has the ability to issue a visa at his discretion. There is no illegality about it. The only questionable issue is the Immigration officers decision, the agent is not at fault nor liable and neither is the recipient as it was processed and issued by the legal authority. You may not like it but it isnt illegal at all. Questionable possibly, but that is entirely a matter of internal immigration procedures.

The only reason the immigration officer waives the 800K requirement is to put money in his pocket, whereas those who choose the right way now have to jump through hoops to verify the money 90 days before and after. It makes the whole procedure for getting an extension a total sham. Surprised you don't see that. How do you get your extension BTW?

[The Cobra]

39 minutes ago, giddyup said:

The only reason the immigration officer waives the 800K requirement is to put money in his pocket, whereas those who choose the right way now have to jump through hoops to verify the money 90 days before and after. It makes the whole procedure for getting an extension a total sham. Surprised you don't see that. How do you get your extension BTW?

No one is saying it isnt a sham etc, or unfair on those that do struggle to comply etc, but that doesnt make it illegal does it. The only issue is an internal immigration procedural issue no one else's.

 

[giddyup]

Just now, The Cobra said:

No one is saying it isnt a sham etc, or unfair on those that do struggle to comply etc, but that doesnt make it illegal does it. The only issue is an internal immigration procedural issue no one else's.

 

I imagine the whole point of ensuring that the 800K is in the bank 3 months prior and now 3 months after was to prevent people just transferring money a couple of days before and then either repaying the money to a friend or transferring the money back to their home country. So by overlooking those that use agents makes the whole thing a sick joke. I would think the discretionary powers that an official may have are to be used in exceptional circumstances, not as a means of feathering their nest. I understand for those that either choose not to, or who are unable to have the 800K in a bank, the agent method is a blessing, but to my mind it reeks of corruption, and just because an immigration official is being paid off, doesn't make it legal. Does the immigration official issue a receipt? I doubt it.                     

[The Cobra]

5 minutes ago, giddyup said:

I imagine the whole point of ensuring that the 800K is in the bank 3 months prior and now 3 months after was to prevent people just transferring money a couple of days before and then either repaying the money to a friend or transferring the money back to their home country. So by overlooking those that use agents makes the whole thing a sick joke. I would think the discretionary powers that an official may have are to be used in exceptional circumstances, not as a means of feathering their nest. I understand for those that either choose not to, or who are unable to have the 800K in a bank, the agent method is a blessing, but to my mind it reeks of corruption, and just because an immigration official is being paid off, doesn't make it legal. Does the immigration official issue a receipt? I doubt it.                     

You may well be right, it stops short term loans or a group passing the same 800k around between them etc, BUT it then funnels more down the agent route and increases the envelope flow. Again, no it isnt right, but its issued by an officer with the authority to do so. Therefore NOT illegal.

Should he be doing it ? is he being paid ? (speculation) who knows, that's an internal immigration matter and as long as things are shared around, Its clear it wont be stopped anytime soon.

[twocatsmac]

1 minute ago, The Cobra said:

You may well be right, it stops short term loans or a group passing the same 800k around between them etc, BUT it then funnels more down the agent route and increases the envelope flow. Again, no it isnt right, but its issued by an officer with the authority to do so. Therefore NOT illegal.

Should he be doing it ? is he being paid ? (speculation) who knows, that's an internal immigration matter and as long as things are shared around, Its clear it wont be stopped anytime soon.

Many expats/long term “tourists” don’t want to deposit or haven’t got a spare 800,000 baht or so. 

This way everyone’s happy, apart from you it seems, this is how it’s always been and will be. 

Live with it.