Thinking about using an agent this year

[TeaMonkey]

I need to top up my bank account to 800k within the next week but the bad UK £ exchange rate is giving me second thoughts. If I add 400k at today’s rate of 38 (or even worse as it’s sinking like a brick today) it will cost £10,500. A few months ago at 41 it would of cost £9700. So say I use an agent for say 20k baht and hope the £ recovers a bit next year are there any consequences. Will I be able to do normal extensions again with my own money?

[poohy]

Yes of course  just put in the required time before

Agent in all probability will use a bank account opened   by her/him specifically for the visa so it wont effect your accounts

[DrJack54]

Good post. Thinking previously i would not use agent but now thinking it would be good option with this new 800k after and then 400k. I'm not so sure.

Personally I've done the money in bank method last 7 years. However I'm over this s"""t. Looking forward to members response. 

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, poohy said:

Yes of course  just put in the required time before

Agent in all probability will use a bank account opened   by her/him specifically for the visa so it wont effect your accounts

Not disputing your theory.

I think it works more on the loop hole that higher up personal can waiver that requirement. More experts can advise. 

[thaitero]

If you get yourself mixed with criminal activity or shady at least which is o.k today but is it o.k next year nobody knows that and how it may affect everyone who was involved..

Edited July 26, 2019 by thaitero

[Guest]

Even if you could get a decent agent for 20,000 THB ... (Think closer to 25,000) ... all that to "save" 6,768 THB?

 

Wait until next year when immigration asks you where you live, and why you used a service 800 KM from your home.

Enjoy that.

[poohy]

29 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Not disputing your theory.

I think it works more on the loop hole that higher up personal can waiver that requirement. More experts can advise. 

speaking from experience mines does as they work with bank to get paperwork 

Suppose bank gets a cut as well!

Anyway its your personal choice some people  agree its easier and better...... obviously as on here some dont

Edited July 26, 2019 by poohy

[TeaMonkey]

3 minutes ago, bangkokequity said:

Even if you could get a decent agent for 20,000 THB ... (Think closer to 25,000) ... all that to "save" 6,768 THB?

 

Wait until next year when immigration asks you where you live, and why you used a service 800 KM from your home.

Enjoy that.

 

I doubt it would be. Maybe in CW but not the regional offices. A couple of years ago due to a communication misunderstanding when I was asking about the requirements the IO thought I wanted to pay for the Visa and sent of copy of my passport in a line message to the head officer in preparation. 

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, poohy said:

speaking from experience mines does as they work with bank to get paperwork 

Suppose bank gets a cut as well!

Anyway its your personal choice some people  agree its easier and better...... obviously as on here some dont

The trend is to an ever tightening system that is targeting people without the proper bank reports, address reports, etc.  If people have the funds ... they should just do it the most legal way, and enjoy a worry free sleep.  Let me tell you, it is bone chilling experience to have an immigration officer ask you to explain the exact process and location you used to get your visa ... when it is all written in Thai.  Not looking to have a go ... just sharing some first hand advice.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, TeaMonkey said:

 

I doubt it would be. Maybe in CW but not the regional offices. A couple of years ago due to a communication misunderstanding when I was asking about the requirements the IO thought I wanted to pay for the Visa and sent of copy of my passport in a line message to the head officer in preparation. 

This was at CW ... not a great day ... for sure.

[bigginhill]

I think stepping off the use of the agent once you start is not so easy.

Leastways it will need a full year of preparation Effectively as soon as you have paid the agent you need to have the next years money in the bank, as the following year you will have to take in bank books showing you had the 800,000 ideally from a date before your last extension, (new bank book/accoubt maybe), so that you can show next year you kept the 800,000 for 3 months etc etc etc.

So realistically in my opinion if you decide to go via an agent for one year, you are committing yourself to minimum 2years. 

And so on till you have the money in the bank yet you still have to pay that years agents fees

Or, start the 65,000 payments

Edited July 26, 2019 by bigginhill

[Roy Baht]

Brilliant move discussing criminal activity on an open forum. You are not the victims of stricter immigration rules. You are the cause of them.

[grego49]

1 hour ago, bangkokequity said:

Even if you could get a decent agent for 20,000 THB ... (Think closer to 25,000) ... all that to "save" 6,768 THB?

 

Wait until next year when immigration asks you where you live, and why you used a service 800 KM from your home.

Enjoy that.

Its a lot less than 20,000 baht and you people that sit he and judge others should get a life,its not a problem but you key board warriors really need to get over it.

 

[aqua4]

52 minutes ago, Roy Baht said:

Brilliant move discussing criminal activity on an open forum. You are not the victims of stricter immigration rules. You are the cause of them.

The rules are not stickter but becoming very convoluted for some. If everything was implemented the same everywhere then it would not be an issue. What happens to you does not happen to me and visa versa. Before the military took over the rules had been the same for everyone and nobody had an issue. Since then the law changes from office to office and even from one person to the next in the same office. 

[balo]

People have been using agents for years , if they stop offering their service in the future I can't see you will get in trouble. After all it's a genuine stamp in the passport, and the money in the bank is real. Even if its only for a short time. 

Just make sure to use a reputable agent, if you live in Pattaya there's plenty around. 

[onera1961]

3 hours ago, grego49 said:

Its a lot less than 20,000 baht and you people that sit he and judge others should get a life,its not a problem but you key board warriors really need to get over it.

Self-appointed judge and jury.  I have seen lots of self-appointed US constitution experts who won't get a para-legal job with their opinions. 

[sunnyboy2018]

I have always used an agent. They work with the IO so you know underpaid IO staff are getting a better salary because of you.  My income far exceeds the monthly 65 k requirement but does not come in the prescribed way. i could raise 800k but dont want to sell my UK properties.  Play the game and use an agent. Its the Thai way!

[sunnyboy2018]

6 hours ago, poohy said:

Yes of course  just put in the required time before

Agent in all probability will use a bank account opened   by her/him specifically for the visa so it wont effect your accounts

Mine was opened by IO

[sunnyboy2018]

6 hours ago, bangkokequity said:

The trend is to an ever tightening system that is targeting people without the proper bank reports, address reports, etc.  If people have the funds ... they should just do it the most legal way, and enjoy a worry free sleep.  Let me tell you, it is bone chilling experience to have an immigration officer ask you to explain the exact process and location you used to get your visa ... when it is all written in Thai.  Not looking to have a go ... just sharing some first hand advice.

Nah. It will never happen. The Agent system involves the signatues of IO officers at various levels some high enough to waive normal procedures.  The Agents are just a front for the IO.A buffer. But since BJ left its all more chill and blatant. Paying 25k proves your wealth combined with a permanent address.

[simon43]

5 hours ago, Roy Baht said:

Brilliant move discussing criminal activity on an open forum. You are not the victims of stricter immigration rules. You are the cause of them.

I agree.  Using an agent if you don't have the funds is akin to sending your passport out of the country for a visa stamp while you remain in Thailand - remember that scandal a few years ago?

 

Yes the visa stamp itself is real, just as with those stamped in the travelling passports.  But it was obtained under false pretences - no more no less.  Criminal fraud, and perhaps remember what happened to those who took part in the travelling passport scam.

 

Forum rules forbid me from saying what I really think about these discussions - total hypocrisy.

 

[lamyai3]

6 hours ago, TeaMonkey said:

So say I use an agent for say 20k baht and hope the £ recovers a bit next year are there any consequences. Will I be able to do normal extensions again with my own money?

The pound seems to be on a one way trajectory right now - in a few months time those 38+ rates might look high.

 

The risk with an agent in the current climate is that it's no longer just about seasoning money before getting the extension. An agent facilitated extension used to be a one-stop deal, but the new rules now involve post-extension seasoning as well (3 months at 800k, and a residual 400k). With these much more specific new requirements, it's anyone's guess what immigration will want to see (and agents will want to charge) for a subsequent extension in 2020 where those post-seasoning requirements haven't been met. There have been reports recently about agents losing their connections and having to process things through offices in different provinces, and when you're considering 90 day reports and TM30s on top of this as well, there's lots of potential for things to go wrong.

 

With regard to reverting back to your own extensions in future, this should be possible if you import the money prior to the extension next year. You'd likely be tied in to doing the 2020 extension with an agent, but would then meet the requirements to do your own extension in 2021. The same would be true of bringing in the minimum 12 months income if switching to that method. 

[scubascuba3]

I need to top up my bank account to 800k within the next week but the bad UK £ exchange rate is giving me second thoughts. If I add 400k at today’s rate of 38 (or even worse as it’s sinking like a brick today) it will cost £10,500. A few months ago at 41 it would of cost £9700. So say I use an agent for say 20k baht and hope the £ recovers a bit next year are there any consequences. Will I be able to do normal extensions again with my own money?

i agree, with the poor exchange rate which may take years to reverse, buying 400k or 800k means you are locking in a bad exchange rate. Better to just use an agent. 12,500 baht if you have an extension already, 21,000 if not. To switch back to legit method using 800k would probably need you to start the process again i.e non imm o then retirement extension or 800k for a full year before extension.

 

 

A friend used an agent for one year because he cocked up his extension paperwork, he switched back to legit method the following year easy enough. New rules around the 800k now though

 

 

 

 

 

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

An agent facilitated extension used to be a one-stop deal, but the new rules now involve post-extension seasoning as well

The old rules required 3 months pre-seasoning which was completely bypassed. I do not see why post -extension seasoning should not be similarly treated. 

An issue could be that when you apply for a new extension, your previous years compliance may be reviewed or verified. If you had bypassed it using an agent, you are going to have to do it again! (As you highlighted previously) 

The only way out of this enforced illegality would be to start again (maybe) with a new Non-Imm-O. 

Edited July 27, 2019 by jacko45k

[edwinchester]

8 hours ago, Roy Baht said:

Brilliant move discussing criminal activity on an open forum. You are not the victims of stricter immigration rules. You are the cause of them.

As is Thaivisa it would seem as they display ads for retirement visas no funds required.

[scubascuba3]

The only way out of this enforced illegality would be to start again (maybe) with a new Non-Imm-O. 

Or 800k in a bank for a year.

You could ask yourself, won't immigration notice the following year, yes they probably will but they are all in on it anyway so no big deal

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, scubascuba3 said:

 

 

Or 800k in a bank for a year.

You could ask yourself, won't immigration notice the following year, yes they probably will but they are all in on it anyway so no big deal

 

Yes, you are correct, although 14 months would have been better still! (It could be 400k for 7 of them maybe). 

[phuketrichard]

once you start with an agent ,you will always need use one as the agent wont leave 800,000 in your bank after you get your extension.

nor leave 400,000 in for the remainder of the year

so your at their mercy if they wish to charge you next year 25,000...30,000...40,000

 

[Pilotman]

If you are worried about the exchange rate then you are living in the wrong place.  It is what it is and the rate of exchange is out of your hands and is not something that you can manipulate, bank on or forecast.  Yes its irritating, but as anyone knows who has lived any time away from their home country, (and major source of income)  worrying about it just destroys the life you are trying to lead.  So if you are worrying and making plans to illegally obtain a extension of stay using an agent to provide the funds, then you definitely need to consider if Thailand is the place for you. 

[scubascuba3]

once you start with an agent ,you will always need use one as the agent wont leave 800,000 in your bank after you get your extension.
nor leave 400,000 in for the remainder of the year
so your at their mercy if they wish to charge you next year 25,000...30,000...40,000
 

Not true based on earlier posts

[dcnx]

If you don’t want hassle or risk of getting denied, or just don’t want to wait in line, an agent is the way to go.

 

It’s a small price to pay for convenience and peace of mind.