Legal or illegal to use visa services?

[Thailand]

3 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

this should be the automatic response to most posts on here ????

"This is thread number 267 relating to this exact subject"

 

Perhaps? ????

[ThailandRyan]

10 hours ago, The Hammer2021 said:

No. Not illegal- I'm so tired of this  question.

And is exactly why the over 2 million migrant foreign workers use an agent to do the paperwork needed for them as well, moneu making company but not illegal.

[KIngsofisaan]

47 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

The only regulation you need to be aware of is the one that gives absolute power, and discretion, to the Immigration Officer.

Huh?

[Henryford]

Bribing a Government official to break Thai law. You have to ask if it's illegal?

[ThailandRyan]

1 minute ago, Henryford said:

Bribing a Government official to break Thai law. You have to ask if it's illegal?

Who's bribing anyone? It's an agreed upon service....

[mikeymike100]

9 hours ago, Padthaigoong said:

And so it begins.

I'm sure I have seen this discussion before somewhere?

[Surasak]

I think the OP is aptly named, and looking for trouble where there is none and getting people stirred up. Sticking his nose into other peoples business is a dangerous game.

I personally use an agent for the hassle free service they provide, and it is worth ever last Baht I pay.

Whether I have the required money in the bank or not, is nobodies business but mine.

Butt out Mr, whoever you are and stop stirring muck.

[KIngsofisaan]

1 hour ago, Onerak said:

It's a secret regulation and if everybody knew about it the fortunates but desperate who have to flee their brith place to seek living and brides in a foreign land will be reluctant to share their fortunes with unfortunates who were born in Thailand and not able to earn dollars but have achieved significant position in their own society to demand such a share. 

OK, what ever you say. 

[FritsSikkink]

10 hours ago, proton said:

None, but there is a clause saying an IO can ignore the requirement at their discretion. 

Show that clause please

[Old Croc]

Of course the client, the agent and the officer involved are outside the strict parameters of the law and could be successfully prosecuted in most countries.

However, this is Thailand, that's how a lot business is conducted. Nobody will be prosecuted/punished unless there is a breakdown in the financial trail.

The dangers for the client, as I see it, is that they can be locked into the system for the duration and it is difficult to go back. It's also possible  that one day a crusading politician may change the system. 

[JBChiangRai]

It’s legal until an IO says it’s not.

 

I had a discussion with an IO about this when I notified them of a friend’s  death, he used just such a service, the most well known one, his visa was issued out of province.

 

She said they know which foreigners do it, and for now they let it slide, until either (a) you upset an IO or (b) a crackdown is ordered.

 

She expressed surprise they hadn’t had a crackdown yet. You can guarantee there will be one at some point.  Probably when a farang does something stupid and it hits the news that he didn’t have the necessary bank balance.

 

Then they will come for you… Good guys in, bad guys out (which do you think you are if you didn’t really meet the conditions to stay here?).

 

She also said she wouldn’t renew a visa to someone who had previously used an agent without them showing they historically had the required bank balance for the agent’s visa, so in some cases once you use an agent, you’ll always use an agent.

 

 

[JimmyJ]

Time to close this trolling thread?

 

 

Some posters enjoy stirring up the same discussiom over and over, sermingly because they enjoy the turmoil.

And/or they are upset that some are willing to spend money for an agent's services to make life easier and avoid hassles.

 

People who do use agents and appreciate their services need to realize that pointless threads like this could eventually harm the agents abilities to help customers.

 

Hopefully the OP has gotten his jollies off by now.

 

I suggest let's end this post - no need to respond further.

 

 

[worgeordie]

It's not illegal to use an agent to do the paperwork

for you , BUT it is certainly a grey area where they

use their money, saying it's yours, into a bank account,

if any money goes anywhere* ,and they are not bribing

bank officials too, it's very murky ,myself I would not

do it,    * except to agent ,IO , maybe someone in the bank.

regards Worgeordie

 

 

 

[Peterw42]

10 hours ago, KIngsofisaan said:

What regulation states you don't need any money in the bank?

There are statements in the immigration act and rulings etc, that say a high level (or authorized) Immigration Officer has discretionary powers to approve extensions that don't meet all the requirements. 

 

5. In the case where an alien applicant does not meet the full qualifications stipulated by the criteria herein or in other cases not specified in this Order but a competent officer equivalent to or higher than inspector is of the opinion that the alien has legitimate reason for staying in the Kingdom of Thailand, the application shall be forwarded to the Commander of the Royal Thai Police or an authorized competent officer for further consideration of the alien's application.

 

 

[ThailandRyan]

11 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

Time to close this trolling thread?

 

 

Some posters enjoy stirring up the same discussiom over and over, sermingly because they enjoy the turmoil.

And/or they are upset that some are willing to spend money for an agent's services to make life easier and avoid hassles.

 

People who do use agents and appreciate their services need to realize that pointless threads like this could eventually harm the agents abilities to help customers.

 

Hopefully the OP has gotten his jollies off by now.

 

I suggest let's end this post - no need to respond further.

 

 

Does the subject upset you....it is a politicaly sensitive topic.......

[Rimmer]

As the topic has been discussed many many times before and as it is discussing an illegal activity I will close the topic.

 

//CLOSED//