What Can Visa Agent do?

[kingstonkid]

18 hours ago, FatVern said:

I’ve done all the paperwork myself for 4-5 years now on extension based on retirement. I’ve got the funds. I don’t want to complain with all the little details about the 90 day system and staff training yada yada you know the details but the little stuff is just starting to get to me. I wouldn’t mind paying extra to avoid treking to CW so often. Maybe I just need to hire a driver with a nice car. I really had the feeling this year they were trying to tell me to use an agent. I am just curious if there is a service that can make it easier even if you are doing everything by the rules. 

 

Only been to CW once and can understand your desire not to stand in lines and such.  I also have the feeling that the trip there is not your exact Idea of a fun morning or afternoon.

 

CW seems to be the busiest center.  I am glad i live in PT do not have to deal with them.

 

The best thing for you will be once the new line to Rangsit gets started but still it will be a pain.

 

My suggestion is to find out the cost of an agent weighed against what it cost you in time and funds to get it done.  Do not forget you are going to have the time it takes to drop off your passport and pick it up.

 

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

Only been to CW once and can understand your desire not to stand in lines and such. 

The OP is doing extensions based on retirement at CW.

There is an appointment system available now. Works a treat. From your appointment time you will be out the door in under 40 mins.

The OP refers also to 90 day reports. These do not require trip to immigration. They can be done online or via mail.

 

[recom273]

I don’t need to use an agent for the funds, but I can see that it’s a ball ache if you need to summon up a couple of witnesses to attend when applying for a marriage extension - does anyone know if an agent can smooth this chore over?

 

Not having family, I don’t see any way around this apart from pay a couple of local Lao-khaow drinkers to sit in a taxi and then make a second trip to immigration to confirm a piece of paper that says I have been married to the missus for 15 years. Although I will love to witness the whole affair, it might be easier to just pay an agent to use their Jedi force when applying.

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, recom273 said:

Although I will love to witness the whole affair, it might be easier to just pay an agent to use their Jedi force when applying.

Think you would find that the agent would suggest extension based on retirement (provided you are 50+).

Those extensions are far easier than extension based on marriage.

[chilly07]

I have restricted mobility so visits lasting all morning to bank and all afternoon at immigration queuing under the tent and then inside with Wuflu superspreaders is at risk to my health! Having the paperwork preaudited and just visiting for 5 mins for a photo with my wife is well worth the fee as it could keep me alive!¹

[foreverlomsak]

16 hours ago, fishtank said:

Also if you cannot give up an hour once a year you have a problem.

If only you could guarantee an hour once a year.

Take a married man for example he has to attend twice for his extension (submission & then stamp in passport).

I've read in this forum of retirees being told to come back tomorrow for their stamps.

Last extension I spent a whole hour waiting to get proof that I had a TM30 submitted (done by school previously and they didn't give me a copy and last year it was not required).

A friend did his married extension a couple of weeks back, submitted same number of new photo's in similar locations to last year, not good enough, he had to go back home take 3 additional photo's (new boss in regional office), including 1 of him standing in the kitchen, go to a print shop, then get them copied onto A4 sheets.

Non of the above includes travel time which for some I know is 2 hours each way.

Nor does it allow for the on-line 90 day being troublesome, getting the copies of passport pages, TM6, previous 90 day report and TM30 and going to the post office or the IO all takes time out of the "one hour once a year" you mention.

[Olmate]

19 hours ago, Orinoco said:

Ok, please give us the complete story.

why you and your mate had to use an agent,  as it was the only way.

like i said very few people do, but some do for sure.

full story please, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. please.

 

Ps after 22 years here, i ave only met one person that had to use an agent.

and that was because he did something illegal.

You dont get out much do you! 

[MRToMRT]

Seeing how my local agent will have about 50 passports a time when I go there and they nearly all seem to be Japanese I don't think you can count the destitute and whiners (me included) of Thaivisa as a suitable source group.

[recom273]

59 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Think you would find that the agent would suggest extension based on retirement (provided you are 50+).

Those extensions are far easier than extension based on marriage.

At the same time offering his financial services - no thanks. 
 

I would rather keep the extension I'm legally entitled to. Sometimes paying an agent or solicitor in some cases (not immigration) works out beneficial, if you take into account travel, expenses and whatever, just wondering if they offered a sensible solution. I think the back door route is rather expensive, and I doubt the agent takes the prime slice.

[Olmate]

3 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Fair enough. If that means you don't have to keep 800k in the bank for a year. I can get 80k baht interest on that. I wonder how much goes to the agent and how much to the bent policeman?

Why do you wonder? 

[Olmate]

16 hours ago, fishtank said:

If you qualify. You qualify . 

If you don't. You don't

Simple as that.

Immigration Officers are not monsters and try to be helpful as long as you are polite and go by the rules.

I will leave it there.

Most bargirls are helpful too as long as your polite! 

[joloit]

17 hours ago, Pilotman said:

an hour?  Often much more than one hour. 

.... here in Phuket it's actually 2 days you have to visit the "competent officials" to get an extension.

[Lacessit]

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I saw the stack of papers. It looked like at least 3cm thick, I would guess at least 100 pages. That is for a B visa with lots of company documents.

Fair enough, from memory I have to submit about 6 pages - the extension application, bank letter and statement, plus the condo lease, bank book updated that day, and passport of course. Last two times, at least one document was waved away as unnecessary.

[skatewash]

1 hour ago, joloit said:

.... here in Phuket it's actually 2 days you have to visit the "competent officials" to get an extension.

True.  This year it took me half an hour to apply for my retirement extension and 10 minutes to pickup my passport the next day with the new extension in it.  Also, they did my 90-Day report for me as they usually do when I get my extension.  I would much rather never visit the immigration office but I can live with 40 minutes a year.

I'm sure they are not doing the 2-day thing for the customer's convenience.  Much more likely it is for the convenience of whichever officer has to sign off on the extension approval.  But practically, it means that my wait at immigration is really pretty short.

[Crazy Noobie]

Everyone has an opinion of using an agent. Some are positive and some are negative. As for myself, I use one, because I am lazy. I use them to handle my Retirement Extension. All I do is go to my agent, give him my passport and Bankbook and then leave.  My agent goes to the bank and gathers all of the paperwork needed for my 65,000 per month method. Once the agent has everything done, he takes me to immigration in the late afternoon for a picture only and 3 minutes later I have my passport with everything done. Now I am good for another year. I pay the agent $5500 baht for the service. So the total amount of time spent at immigration is around 10 to 15 minutes and I never have to talk to anyone. So that is why I use an agent because it make my life simple and I am lazy. Plus I don't feel paying 5500 baht is that much for all that is done.

[Thingamabob]

Never used an agent in 40 years because I never needed one. If that changes as a result of old age, I may do so.

[jimn]

I choose not to leave 800k in my Thai bank or to transfer 65k per month into my Thai bank account. Before I used the embassy letter and did it myself, not now.

I own my own property outright in the UK and via my wife in Thailand. For me its a choice to use an agent for my retirement extension. Its my choice to go with the agent whilst the 800k appears and then disappears from my account. I simply give my passport to the agent and she deals with it. I get taken in the back way and get my photo taken. The stamp and signature is totally as legal as someone who has done it themselves. 100's of people do it like this. Its only 13k.

Edited May 26, 2021 by jimn

[skatewash]

9 minutes ago, jimn said:

I choose not to leave 800k in my Thai bank or to transfer 65k per month into my Thai bank account. Before I used the embassy letter and did it myself, not now.

I own my own property outright in the UK and via my wife in Thailand. For me its a choice to use an agent for my retirement extension. Its my choice to go with the agent whilst the 800k appears and then disappears from my account. I simply give my passport to the agent and she deals with it. I get taken in the back way and get my photo taken. The stamp and signature is totally as legal as someone who has done it themselves. 100's of people do it like this. Its only 13k.

I wonder what would happen if you stopped using an agent and decided to do it yourself?  Any problems doing that after having used an agent?

[jimn]

2 minutes ago, skatewash said:

I wonder what would happen if you stopped using an agent and decided to do it yourself?  Any problems doing that after having used an agent?

Non at all as long as you then meet the financial requirements to do it yourself. Its all a nonsense really. The week previous to using the agent just as a test I went in armed with all the financial proof that I meet the requirements only that my money is in the UK. As expected I got refused. Used the agent 1 week later who deals with the same people and lo and behold I have my extension signed off by the big boss. Its the way it works over here, its no big deal to them or anyone in authority. They simply accept it as part of life over here.

[skatewash]

2 minutes ago, jimn said:

Non at all as long as you then meet the financial requirements to do it yourself. Its all a nonsense really. The week previous to using the agent just as a test I went in armed with all the financial proof that I meet the requirements only that my money is in the UK. As expected I got refused. Used the agent 1 week later who deals with the same people and lo and behold I have my extension signed off by the big boss. Its the way it works over here, its no big deal to them or anyone in authority. They simply accept it as part of life over here.

Interesting.  I had been given to understand that some agent-assisted extensions where obtained in a province other than where the applicant lives.  And if they tried to do it themselves at their immigration office there was an issue because their previous extension was done elsewhere.  For example, I'm thinking of the case where someone needs a Certificate of Residence, say for a driver's license, which they would need to get  from the immigration office where they live.  I understand some immigration offices will not issue a Certificate of Residence for applicants unless they have previously submitted a TM-30 at that office. 

So where do you do your 90-Day Reports?  The province where you live or somewhere else?  What would you do if you needed to get a Certificate of Residence?

[LarryLEB]

I've done all my annual retirement extensions myself:  Jomtien Office, last 10 years.

 

My annual extension does not require one or two trips to Immigration; it requires THREE:

• TRIP ONE:  Get queue number; give documents and passport; collect numbered chit for passport pickup next day (I always do trip one at around 3:00 p.m.)
• TRIP TWO:  Swap numbered chit for passport.  Check passport for correct date of next visa extension.  Given a date-stamped document telling me to appear again in 3 months with proof that I still have at least 800,000 Baht in my account.
• TRIP THREE:  Bring the date-stamped document and the required documents proving I still have 800,000+ in my account.

Adding to the above the four 90-day reports, I make 7 trips to the Office each year.  (Yes, I could use the online reporting for those four, but I live only a 15-minute walk from the Office.)

 

[skatewash]

3 minutes ago, LarryLEB said:

I've done all my annual retirement extensions myself:  Jomtien Office, last 10 years.

 

My annual extension does not require one or two trips to Immigration; it requires THREE:

• TRIP ONE:  Get queue number; give documents and passport; collect numbered chit for passport pickup next day (I always do trip one at around 3:00 p.m.)
• TRIP TWO:  Swap numbered chit for passport.  Check passport for correct date of next visa extension.  Given a date-stamped document telling me to appear again in 3 months with proof that I still have at least 800,000 Baht in my account.
• TRIP THREE:  Bring the date-stamped document and the required documents proving I still have 800,000+ in my account.

Adding to the above the four 90-day reports, I make 7 trips to the Office each year.  (Yes, I could use the online reporting for those four, but I live only a 15-minute walk from the Office.)

 

Yikes, I'm glad my immigration office doesn't require trip three.  Good thing you're close to your office.

So someone doing their own extension in Jomtien and following all the rules has to come back in three months with new documentation that they still have the the 800,000+ in their bank account.  Meanwhile, someone who doesn't have 800,000+ in their account, disregarded the rules but used an agent to get their extension, I'm guessing doesn't have to come back in three months and show anything.  Interesting.

[jimn]

14 minutes ago, skatewash said:

Interesting.  I had been given to understand that some agent-assisted extensions where obtained in a province other than where the applicant lives.  And if they tried to do it themselves at their immigration office there was an issue because their previous extension was done elsewhere.  For example, I'm thinking of the case where someone needs a Certificate of Residence, say for a driver's license, which they would need to get  from the immigration office where they live.  I understand some immigration offices will not issue a Certificate of Residence for applicants unless they have previously submitted a TM-30 at that office. 

So where do you do your 90-Day Reports?  The province where you live or somewhere else?  What would you do if you needed to get a Certificate of Residence?

All done in the same office. Until last year I did it myself, now agent from the same office. 90 day reports, residents permit re entry permit all done by myself in same office Jomtien in the last 12 months.

[jimn]

12 minutes ago, LarryLEB said:

I've done all my annual retirement extensions myself:  Jomtien Office, last 10 years.

 

My annual extension does not require one or two trips to Immigration; it requires THREE:

• TRIP ONE:  Get queue number; give documents and passport; collect numbered chit for passport pickup next day (I always do trip one at around 3:00 p.m.)
• TRIP TWO:  Swap numbered chit for passport.  Check passport for correct date of next visa extension.  Given a date-stamped document telling me to appear again in 3 months with proof that I still have at least 800,000 Baht in my account.
• TRIP THREE:  Bring the date-stamped document and the required documents proving I still have 800,000+ in my account.

Adding to the above the four 90-day reports, I make 7 trips to the Office each year.  (Yes, I could use the online reporting for those four, but I live only a 15-minute walk from the Office.)

 

Using an agent does away with step 3 as the money is no longer there.

[fishtank]

37 minutes ago, jimn said:

Using an agent does away with step 3 as the money is no longer there.

Which makes it illegal! 

[mikebike]

7 hours ago, Pilotman said:

No, you don't have 365 days.  The bank statement and book update have to be done on the day, or not less than one day before. That's one more visit I can do without making myself 

Thats what i said... 5% on the day.

[ericthai]

On 5/25/2021 at 9:35 AM, Why Me said:

Nah, it's actually harder to make fake visa stamps and risk the shirt hitting the fan and going to prison than to slip a few k to an IO and do it right. And you're always welcome to tag along with the agent. I did and watched the IO go stampy stampy on my PP.

 

Of course, if you're a deportee who's snuck back or have a noisy rap sheet then you need a hard man. In which case shame on you.

I’ve seen several times over the decades where visa agents had fake stamps.   Was much more common back 90s early 2000’s  when things weren't computerized , but still happens. I believe about year ago was the last time.

[ericthai]

On 5/25/2021 at 10:53 AM, fishtank said:

One hour a year.

Not difficult is it?

I have been using different Immigration Offices for over 18 years and have never come across the conditions you mentioned above.

Sure, what you experience in Thailand is exactly the same what everyone else experiences...... come get real anyone living in Thailand long term knows nothing is the same!  

[fakser]

Can any one give us a hint about the cost of agent?

[Why Me]

1 hour ago, fakser said:

Can any one give us a hint about the cost of agent?

10k-30k for an extension. The high end is top class legal businesses with fancy downtown offices who do this as yet another service for wealthy farang clients. Obviously not their main offering but you're in safe hands with these folk. Low end is a hole in the wall operation started because Cousin Somchai cooks in a CW basement noodle place. And tons in between.

 

Here are some in Bkk no particular order. Names that I collected when I was looking in 2019. Call  yourself for current prices:

Thai Visa Center (our forum favorite, they advertise heavily here)

TSL Associates

Bangkok Buddy

Siam Attorney

Thailand Long Stay

Asia Visa Tour

Mythaivisa

Edited May 26, 2021 by Why Me