What Can Visa Agent do?

[NoshowJones]

On 5/25/2021 at 4:37 PM, CANSIAM said:

The money you pay your agent basically clears the way to get what you need done. Your money is not only going to the agent ! Yes you need to be there for a big smile photo, get your 12 month extension and leave in 65 minutes......

The last time I did not have to go to the IO at all for my 12 month ext renewal, though I did the year before that, and that was with the same agent.

[NoshowJones]

On 5/25/2021 at 4:39 PM, Pilotman said:

It varies according to the agent. Contrary to some opinions on TVF, they are not all crooked and illegal, in fact, very few are.  I use an agent to do the paperwork and legwork for me, for extensions, Entry Permits and Certificates of Residence, if I need one.  I still meet the legal requirements for an extension, I just stay clear of the Immigration Office, the queuing and the almost inevitable hassle. Using an agent also ensures that you will not be faced with a last minute issue with the paperwork, with an IO who is just having  a bad day. In my view, its well worth the cost and removes from me any stress that  I may be feeling as the extension day approaches. 

On 5/25/2021 at 6:19 PM, DrJack54 said:

Like many posts in this thread, you have assumed that @FatVern looking for assistance for 12 month extension.

The fact that he stated....."TRIPS to immigration" would indicate thats not the case. 

He has contributed nothing since the OP.

What service he is after is a complete guess.

On 5/25/2021 at 4:37 PM, CANSIAM said:

The money you pay your agent basically clears the way to get what you need done. Your money is not only going to the agent ! Yes you need to be there for a big smile photo, get your 12 month extension and leave in 65 minutes......

The last time I did not have to go to the IO at all for my 12 month ext renewal, though I did the year before that, and that was with the same agent.

[NoshowJones]

On 5/25/2021 at 4:39 PM, Pilotman said:

It varies according to the agent. Contrary to some opinions on TVF, they are not all crooked and illegal, in fact, very few are.  I use an agent to do the paperwork and legwork for me, for extensions, Entry Permits and Certificates of Residence, if I need one.  I still meet the legal requirements for an extension, I just stay clear of the Immigration Office, the queuing and the almost inevitable hassle. Using an agent also ensures that you will not be faced with a last minute issue with the paperwork, with an IO who is just having  a bad day. In my view, its well worth the cost and removes from me any stress that  I may be feeling as the extension day approaches. 

Excellent post, but unless you are a member of the "scared of your own shadow" brigade you should not have to feel any stress. At an IO or anywhere else, I treat pleasantness with pleasantness, and hostility with hostility, and it has never done me any harm.

 

[NoshowJones]

On 5/25/2021 at 5:06 PM, nightfox said:

Majority of guys including myself use agents as money fixers if one cant meet the 400k or 800k requirement that's needed for an yearly extension of stay. All I can say that my stamp is real as I was right there in front of the IO when he stamped it .

 

The agent I use is a very organized and professional operation. Everyone including immigration gets a piece of the pie as they work with them. Yes I still had to be there with my wife in person with our house photos and all the paperwork but it was so smooth and easy when you have an agent involved, no line ups, not being interrogated by immigration, just sign here stamp for passport good for one year.

This is the first time I have ever heard of anyone with  marriage exts using an agent, through personal experience and years of reading here on Thaivisa, it seems that agents are not keen to do marriage exts, but always want you to do retirement exts instead.

Though it could be that agents will do all the work with marriage exts if you are under 50, so I assume that is the case with the OP.

[nightfox]

1 minute ago, possum1931 said:

This is the first time I have ever heard of anyone with  marriage exts using an agent, through personal experience and years of reading here on Thaivisa, it seems that agents are not keen to do marriage exts, but always want you to do retirement exts instead.

Though it could be that agents will do all the work with marriage exts if you are under 50, so I assume that is the case with the OP.

Actually visa agents have been doing marriage extensions for a very long time. My first time using an agent was 12 years ago. Its true its more easy and a lot less paperwork for the agent to do retirement extensions then marriage extension and the price is a big difference as well.

 

It all depends on the working relationship the agent has with immigration regarding marriage extensions . As I mentioned most guys that use agents us them as money fixers if they cant meet the financial requirements.

[Peterw42]

10 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

This is the first time I have ever heard of anyone with  marriage exts using an agent, through personal experience and years of reading here on Thaivisa, it seems that agents are not keen to do marriage exts, but always want you to do retirement exts instead.

Though it could be that agents will do all the work with marriage exts if you are under 50, so I assume that is the case with the OP.

I agree, I have never found an agent that does marriage extensions. There are just too many aspects that cant be circumvented or done by proxy, Kor ror 2, photos, head office approval, home visits etc. If you have all that in order, you would just be paying an agent for someone to talk to at the immigration office.

[nightfox]

3 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

I agree, I have never found an agent that does marriage extensions. There are just too many aspects that cant be circumvented or done by proxy, Kor ror 2, photos, head office approval, home visits etc. If you have all that in order, you would just be paying an agent for someone to talk to at the immigration office.

You pay the agent to deposit the 400k in your bank account and take it out straight out which will fast tracks the whole 2 month money in your bank requirement. That's the whole purpose of using an agent on marriage extension.

[jimn]

12 hours ago, fishtank said:

Which makes it illegal! 

Thats funny of course it doesnt. Each office have their own requirements. Its not needed at many offices. The immigration head has the authority to override any requirements around the length if time 800k has to be in a bank. Thats why he signs off on agent applications for a small processing fee. You need to get your head around this. It may be unfair, immoral or what ever you want to call it, but its not illegal.

[NoshowJones]

On 5/25/2021 at 7:03 PM, sanuk711 said:

Is it just the 90 days that you need ??...many agents do that--and most agents included it in the price if you want the full Visa..... in Issan the agent just takes 200 baht for the 90 day, but nothing if your doing the full visa....

An agent in Isaan?? I'm sure I have seen people asking about an agent in Isaan or upcountry (Not Chaing Mai) here on Thaivisa, and there has never been an answer that I can remember.

[Peterw42]

21 minutes ago, nightfox said:

You pay the agent to deposit the 400k in your bank account and take it out straight out which will fast tracks the whole 2 month money in your bank requirement. That's the whole purpose of using an agent on marriage extension.

As I said above, nowadays you wont find an agent that does marriage extensions, as head/regional office will be also checking the financials etc. They may be able to get around the financials locally but they cant get around the financials at the head office level. I enquired with 10 visa agents in pattaya last year, and they all said no, not for a MV

If you have an agent that can do the financials for a MV, I would love to have their contact details

Edited May 27, 2021 by Peterw42

[sanuk711]

10 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

An agent in Isaan??

There are many agents in Issan, 3 or 4 just in Udon-- Farangs tend to think they are the only ones needing Visa's, they forget about the large workforce (pre covid) that are here working the factories etc, anywhere near the border towns there are agents.

[Andy from Kent]

On 5/25/2021 at 4:38 PM, AJR3RD said:

Send me a PM

 

Why do you need a PM from the OP to reply to his post?

 

Isn't this an open forum?

 

[sanuk711]

Sometimes TV doesn't like links to different places......

 

Peter42 have PM you--visa marriage child support....etc etc

[NoshowJones]

2 minutes ago, Andy from Kent said:

 

Why do you need a PM from the OP to reply to his post?

 

Isn't this an open forum?

 

Defamation laws?

[nightfox]

19 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

As I said above, nowadays you wont find an agent that does marriage extensions, as head/regional office will be also checking the financials etc. They may be able to get around the financials locally but they cant get around the financials at the head office level. I enquired with 10 visa agents in pattaya last year, and they all said no, not for a MV

If you have an agent that can do the financials for a MV, I would love to have their contact details

I live in Issan, not Pattaya as there are lots of agents here that have work with immigration on marriage visas and all cross Issan and north Thailand. Maybe the agents in Pattaya have burnt their bridges to speak with immigration there.

[nightfox]

39 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

An agent in Isaan?? I'm sure I have seen people asking about an agent in Isaan or upcountry (Not Chaing Mai) here on Thaivisa, and there has never been an answer that I can remember.

I have been using this company for years for marriage visa extensions. Its one of the best out there .... They are located in Khoen Khoen and have have agents in different city's all across Thailand, Chaing Mai as well.

 

https://mythaivisa.com/

[clivebaxter]

8 hours ago, fakser said:

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

14k was a quote I had this year, too fraught with possible problems, like agents getting arrested after doing a runner, as in Pattaya this week

[NoshowJones]

19 hours ago, Olmate said:

Most bargirls are helpful too as long as your polite! 

"Immigration Officers are not monsters". most of them aren't, but a few of them can be depending on their mood.

[jaideedave]

On 5/25/2021 at 6:47 PM, 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. 

It's a well known secret where I live that the local IO prefers you to use an agent. It makes their job easier. A lot of foreigners make errors/omissions etc that have to be addressed hence the agent.

I used to do the retirement extention myself for years but after I encountered a very nasty IO one year I said never again..Hastle free now using an agent. I consider the fee the cost of living in LOS. No muss no fuss.BTW..after closely checking the stamps/signatures it's obviously the same person signing my extension every year including pre agent days...

[lazygourmet]

1 hour ago, Peterw42 said:

I agree, I have never found an agent that does marriage extensions. There are just too many aspects that cant be circumvented or done by proxy, Kor ror 2, photos, head office approval, home visits etc. If you have all that in order, you would just be paying an agent for someone to talk to at the immigration office.

This was quite common until last coup. On bus trips to Cambodian border, most of visarun compagnies were promoting this service. JackGolf, which has disappeared since, being the specialist. Junta didn't change any rule but just applied strict old immigration law. Until seven years ago, marriage extension was the most easy one to obtain if you were under 50... and married, of course!

 

[clivebaxter]

4 minutes ago, jaideedave said:

It's a well known secret where I live that the local IO prefers you to use an agent. It makes their job easier. A lot of foreigners make errors/omissions etc that have to be addressed hence the agent.

I used to do the retirement extention myself for years but after I encountered a very nasty IO one year I said never again..Hastle free now using an agent. I consider the fee the cost of living in LOS. No muss no fuss.BTW..after closely checking the stamps/signatures it's obviously the same person signing my extension every year including pre agent days...

 

How does it make their job easier? oh of course they don't have to glance at bank photocopies and letter. The errors are sifted out before you see an IO, no ticket unless all is in order. It's a well known secret that some IO prefer an agent as they get a large bribe for ignoring the financial requirements.

[jimn]

5 hours ago, jaideedave said:

It's a well known secret where I live that the local IO prefers you to use an agent. It makes their job easier. A lot of foreigners make errors/omissions etc that have to be addressed hence the agent.

I used to do the retirement extention myself for years but after I encountered a very nasty IO one year I said never again..Hastle free now using an agent. I consider the fee the cost of living in LOS. No muss no fuss.BTW..after closely checking the stamps/signatures it's obviously the same person signing my extension every year including pre agent days...

I use an agent and all I need is a photo, my bank book and passport. The bank  book for the 20 minute visit to the bank for the 800k to be put in and taken out. Come out the bank with photocopy of transaction and the agent takes from me and I give her 13k. Passport back next day with extension signed by the immigration head. Easy.

[Tuvoc]

I'd like to use an agent going forward as my wife is totally hopeless with any sort of bureaucracy and paperwork, and I struck a really obstinate and difficult IO in the Mae Sai office just recently. But I am not aware of any in Chiang Rai province and I won't use one in a different province. I meet all the requirements, that is not the issue. I'll keep an eye out before Jan/Feb next year and maybe an agent will pop up in this region.

[JimGant]

On 5/26/2021 at 7:15 PM, 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?

I can a see a big problem, since most Imms now require a 12-month bank letter showing your activity since your last renewal. Without an agent to lie about your not keeping 800k in the bank for three months after renewal -- plus never going below 400k in the year prior to your latest renewal -- your only hope is having a fistful of baht plus somehow dealing directly with a crooked Imm officer. How, without an agent, you could do that is interesting to ponder. No, believe you're stuck with an agent for ever and ever -- which isn't probably a big deal for those going this route -- at least until the next shoe drops.

Here's one of many related articles of historical value.

http://www.buriramtimes.com/confirmed-foreigners-now-need-to-keep-800k-in-thai-bank-for-three-months-after-retirement-extension-is-granted/

If you don't believe this requirement is legal, then obviously you can't read Police Order 35/2561, available in precise English, and which came about specifically to thwart illegal agents from getting around the money in the bank requirement. Now, this order was the brainchild of police honcho "Big Joke," who subsequently became "Big Disappearing Act," probably at the behest of the agent mafia. But, he's now back in good graces, just as the requirement for 12 month bank letters is getting stronger enforcement.

 

[Olmate]

39 minutes ago, JimGant said:

I can a see a big problem, since most Imms now require a 12-month bank letter showing your activity since your last renewal. Without an agent to lie about your not keeping 800k in the bank for three months after renewal -- plus never going below 400k in the year prior to your latest renewal -- your only hope is having a fistful of baht plus somehow dealing directly with a crooked Imm officer. How, without an agent, you could do that is interesting to ponder. No, believe you're stuck with an agent for ever and ever -- which isn't probably a big deal for those going this route -- at least until the next shoe drops.

Here's one of many related articles of historical value.

http://www.buriramtimes.com/confirmed-foreigners-now-need-to-keep-800k-in-thai-bank-for-three-months-after-retirement-extension-is-granted/

If you don't believe this requirement is legal, then obviously you can't read Police Order 35/2561, available in precise English, and which came about specifically to thwart illegal agents from getting around the money in the bank requirement. Now, this order was the brainchild of police honcho "Big Joke," who subsequently became "Big Disappearing Act," probably at the behest of the agent mafia. But, he's now back in good graces, just as the requirement for 12 month bank letters is getting stronger enforcement.

 

“Thwart illegal agents” ?     What do you mean?    Agents used by expats are not illegal. Can u cite a case of problems renewing ? The show balance after 3 months provision is waved along with the seasoning requirement at the renewal time so why would there be an issue doing the following extension solo?

[ubonjoe]

13 minutes ago, Olmate said:

Agents used by expats are not illegal. Can u cite a case of problems renewing ? The show balance after 3 months provision is waved along with the seasoning requirement at the renewal time so why would there be an issue doing the following extension solo?

Nothing would be waived if a person tried to do a extension without the help of an agent unless the money was really kept in the bank. Immigration has been asking for proof that the 800k baht was in the bank 3 months after the application and then 400k baht for the rest of the year.

People have been denied extensions due to not maintaining the correct balance the previous year.

[EVENKEEL]

13 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Nothing would be waived if a person tried to do a extension without the help of an agent unless the money was really kept in the bank. Immigration has been asking for proof that the 800k baht was in the bank 3 months after the application and then 400k baht for the rest of the year.

People have been denied extensions due to not maintaining the correct balance the previous year.

What about the income - monthly method? Say if I used an agent the last time using the agent's deposit method and now I do my self using monthly deposit method.

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, EVENKEEL said:

What about the income - monthly method? Say if I used an agent the last time using the agent's deposit method and now I do my self using monthly deposit method.

You will have to show 12 months of deposits.

[JimGant]

32 minutes ago, Olmate said:

The show balance after 3 months provision is waved along with the seasoning requirement

Yeah, it's waived if the illegal agent and the crooked IO can agree on a price.

 

Quote

The new requirements [Police Order 35/2561] are likely the result of immigration officials trying to put an end to the practice of visa agents falsifying bank statements for foreigners who do not have enough money to meet the financial requirements needed for a retirement extension.

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thai-immigration-clamps-down-on-requirements-for-retirement-visas

 

[Olmate]

28 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Nothing would be waived if a person tried to do a extension without the help of an agent unless the money was really kept in the bank. Immigration has been asking for proof that the 800k baht was in the bank 3 months after the application and then 400k baht for the rest of the year.

People have been denied extensions due to not maintaining the correct balance the previous year.

I wasn,t suggesting you did not have  to meet the next years requirement ,op was suggesting, I felt, applicant would be penalised for using agent and not showing balance after 3 months.