Pattaya visa scam leaves hundreds of tourists out of pocket and overstaying

[Classic Ray]

I think it’s likely the agent lost her contact at the IO, maybe over a payment dispute, and had not yet cultivated a new one.

 

of course there may be a perfectly innocent explanation, but we will never hear it.

[nobodysfriend]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

represented a group of more than 30 victims, including foreign nationals

 

That goes without saying , thais don't need a visa .

 

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Some tourists were detained for overstaying in the Kingdom for more than 90 days, leading to lawsuits and forced repatriation.

 

After being scammed by some dubious thai visa agent , government should show some empathy and grant them a small extension , just long enough to legalize their stay .

 

18 hours ago, webfact said:

learning that the agency planned to dump several passports, the victims negotiated to have them returned

 

They planned to throw peoples passport away ...?

Jail them .

[steve187]

5 minutes ago, Classic Ray said:

I think it’s likely the agent lost her contact at the IO, maybe over a payment dispute, and had not yet cultivated a new one.

 

of course there may be a perfectly innocent explanation, but we will never hear it.

dream on

[it is what it is]

 

oh, come on... it's not difficult to sort out your own visa.

[jacko45k]

13 minutes ago, it is what it is said:

 

oh, come on... it's not difficult to sort out your own visa.

This is an ED Extension and the help of some 'school' is required. I suspect the applicants are not yet 50. What type of Visa/Extension are you suggesting?

[dpeti73]

Lets ask the passport holders, wasn’t suspicious they don’t have to go to the language school? Or they are same guilty than a visa agent? Just pay for an ed visa but not visiting school 

[2baht]

53 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

ED Visas/Extensions to learn the language (and Muay Thai I suspect), have always been a dodgy item.... and no doubt money is received by officials. A nightmare for the victims, the loss of a lot of money, no extension, on overstay, and no passport!

If they were ligit and did it themselves......1900 baht! Fools and their money is soon parted!

[jippytum]

I never use an Agent. However some people with funds do use an agent to avoid the  chaos and unpleasant officers at most lmmigration offices. 

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, 2baht said:

If they were ligit and did it themselves......1900 baht! Fools and their money is soon parted!

But they would need a school of sorts to provide the paperwork for an ED Ext surely? A legit education vehicle would add to the 1900 baht, like enrolling in classes and proof of same.

[newbee2022]

I hope this will be only the beginning to stop all that "agent business" nationwide.

That's all only bribing and corruption.

Thank you RTP

[jacko45k]

5 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

I hope this will be only the beginning to stop all that "agent business" nationwide.

That's all only bribing and corruption.

Thank you RTP

Rather unlikely, too many people making too much money. Most efforts in that direction only seem to drive more into the agent's clutches!

[thaibeachlovers]

18 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

This is the second time I read something like this in Pattaya. The first time it was some Russians, sometime last year. Take heed as to why your own government tells you to never surrender your passport to anyone. Each time you do you are a hostage to that person. 

Not entirely true. Every foreigner working in Saudi has to surrender their passport to the employers, and that is with the full knowledge of the relevant governments. The only way I could have abandoned my job and left the country was by going on holiday, when we got our passports back.

[nickmondo]

19 hours ago, Celsius said:

Visa agents 

 

How can people just surrender their passport to these scumbags, lol

 

I hope the issuing countries keep a tab on every mug who willingly surrenders the passport to these so called "agents" never issue a replacement passport again.

 

 

i could not agree more.  idiots.

[brianthainess]

16 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

Thailand has a thriving "visa agent" business, because of the difficulties, with numerous cumbersome paper-work etc.  Just stop the BS and let the immigration staff deal with it based on your passport and bank book, period!

Sorry don't mean to highjack the OP but: And there is the problem, IMMIGRATION Rules vary soo much from office to office, some work with little paperwork others want a ridiculous amount, I belief TRAT IO has the most, applied for my married extension on the 19th, there is one form although sitting IN FRONT of them are 3 pages copied from my passport x 2, & house book then I had to fill 4 forms all the same, wanting my address, full name, DOB, PP number, and my age as it seems they can't work out my age from my DOB, ah but not once 3 times on the same form. Along with 6 glossy photos of house X 2, then the officer complains to ME that it is too much paperwork, I said well it's your rules why moan at me, and yet again tries to tell me why you not do retirement extension. Home visit was very quick they came yesterday 20th 5.15pm, and took the photos all over again! and more forms to sign. 2 hours of just filling forms and 1hr to process, and I have to take our witness along too.

   I have heard there is an invention, called a scanner that works on a computer but it seems immigration still haven't heard of it  and yet I have seen them scan all those docs after application, THAILAND 0.00004

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, Classic Ray said:

I think it’s likely the agent lost her contact at the IO, maybe over a payment dispute, and had not yet cultivated a new one.

 

of course there may be a perfectly innocent explanation, but we will never hear it.

Immigration offices are very busy right now, dealing with all the tourist extensions for the holiday period, and yet those of us who live here full time, have to suffer long waits becoz of this. 

[brianthainess]

Why don't immigration just cut out the agents, and have a separate window 'PAY BRIBES HERE', no money in bank required, we can fake all that for you, any visa/extension dealt with, express service guaranteed. 

[Kerryd]

If you read the article (especially the Khaosod one) you will learn that that woman (Supawadee Thongnoi) was a former teacher at a language school. They do not say which one.

Most of the people apparently approached her about getting ED visas (or perhaps extensions of existing Visas). Some thought they'd actually paid for a language course but when they showed up at the school, the school had no record of them (which lead to the discovery that Supawadee was running a scam).

A lot of people use agents because a) they are just too lazy to spend one hour once a year to do it themselves (seriously), b) they simply can't be bothered to do the paperwork themselves even though all of it has English script and/or c) they need "help" because they wouldn't meet the requirements themselves (or don't want to risk being seen - you know what I mean).

As well, a lot of people with "ED" visas need a little extra "help" as they probably never attended a single class the entire time they've been in the country. (Remember a couple years ago, before "covid", when they did a big crackdown on a lot of Language schools as they found out most of their "students" had never gone to any classes.)

I used an agent when I got my first Non-O and my first Extension. I was working (overseas) and didn't know the paperwork and was basically just too busy having a good time (and money wasn't an issue) so using an agent was the easiest option.

But then I looked at the paperwork and saw how easy it was to do, so when I needed to apply for another Extension, I did it myself. A couple hiccups with not having photocopied all the things needed and not signing all the photocopies but still not a big problem.
Made a little list of everything, went home and got most of the paperwork and photocopies for the next year sorted out. Next time (and every time after that for the last what, 15 years now ?) was super easy.

I think it takes about 4-6 minutes with the IO clerk once your number is called. 1,900 baht for the application. I've often arrived at Jomtien, queued up, got my number, processed my application and been on the scooter heading home in an hour.
(I organize things so that when I go back the next day to get my passport I also do my 90 Day report and, if needed, a multi re-entry permit.)

So, about an hour and a half of my time over 2 days and 1900 baht (if I don't need the re-entry permit) in order to be able to stay here another year. Never had ANY problem with "nasty" or "irate" or "mean" IOs.
Then again, I shower and wear clean clothes before I go and address them politely when I'm there.

Unlike some people. Too many in fact. I seriously can't understand the difficulty of having a shower and wearing clean clothes before going to Immigration. I've encountered people there that absolutely reek ! Like they've spent the last week drinking, puking and sleeping in their clothes and then show up at Immigration and expect to be treated like some foreign Prince.

But as we know, there are a lot of people out there that have to use agents despite all their claims about how super rich they are, because the truth is, a lot of them are no where near as wealthy as they claim to be.
So they have to shell out for an agent so they can avoid scrutiny of their finances lest the truth be told.

[Hakuna Matata]

20 hours ago, Celsius said:

Visa agents 

 

How can people just surrender their passport to these scumbags, lol

 

I hope the issuing countries keep a tab on every mug who willingly surrenders the passport to these so called "agents" never issue a replacement passport again.

 

 

 

I am sick and tired of those "visa agents" in Pattaya and Phuket!

[couchpotato]

Just now, Hakuna Matata said:

 

I am sick and tired of those "visa agents" in Pattaya and Phuket!

If you don't use them, then why does it bother you?

[mikeymike100]

15 hours ago, smedly said:

most of them have no choice as they cannot meet the financial requirements for a 12 month extension or refuse to

The article clearly stated that"

"Chanidapha revealed that the affected tourists, who had paid approximately 32,000 baht (US$ 916) each, had approached her language school, but the school found no record of them in their system."

So this was nothing to do financials and 12 month extensions, but clearly about attempting to obtain ED visas?

[bbi1]

19 hours ago, jaywalker2 said:

So what agency was it? They leave out the most important information

Exactly. Would be handy for people to know the name of the agent/agency so others can avoid them.

[bbi1]

18 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Does anybody pay that kind of money for a legal visa extension? I don't think so.

So, immigration should give the guy a medal for helping them finding all the people who wanted to illegally continue to stay in Thailand.

What about all the old farts who use agents for retirement visas who don't have the 800k in the bank? Immigration should deport them too for doing dodgy things and not having money. There should be a serious crackdown on this, big time. Too many are doing the dodgy dodgy.

[Andre0720]

20 hours ago, Celsius said:

Visa agents 

 

How can people just surrender their passport to these scumbags, lol

 

I hope the issuing countries keep a tab on every mug who willingly surrenders the passport to these so called "agents" never issue a replacement passport again.

 

 

Re-posting this one here... Seems like you might need this knowledge as well.....

 

"Well yes, in this land, situations are mostly related to money and territory.

 

I am located in Phuket, and there are many Agents who offer a service of dealing with an IO on a customer behalf, for a fee. And this fee is shared between the Agent, and at a very high level at the IO, then further shared...

And strangely, some of the Agents are able to conduct their business directly with the local IO, while others go through a remote IO, such as Nakhon Sawan. Now why is that, I have no idea. Appears like Agents must be 'accredited' for the use of such a service at a given IO.

And those Agents who appear to not be able to be accredited locally here, are always able to find a remote IO that is willing to offer such a service to Agents.

But the consequence of getting a 'retirement extension' from a remote location, would mean that the IO doing a 90 day for example, would be required to do that 'free' work, while knowing very well that a non-local IO got a share of the money for the initial 'extension' work. Not happy with that.

So some Agents who deal with a non-local IO, for whatever reason, will offer a free service of obtaining all 90 day reports from the IO that was used to obtain the 'retirement visa'. This of course would entail having to send the passport again and again through mail to obtain the 90 day stamps.

Something that of course anyone would like to avoid. An IO can tell what process was originally used to obtain a service, through a quick glance at the passport. That is what they do for a living. A few seconds will do it...

 

And to add to the complexity of this situation, once a foreigner has used an Agent, the IO will try as they can to keep this individual to keep on putting money in the system. Lots of money in there. Trying to do further 'retirement extensions' on your own, at the lower fee of course, will get you to be faced with all sorts of problems, being raised by the IO, to make the process as long and difficult as possible. With the aim of breaking you down and getting you back at an Agent's office, and paying the bigger fee. If one is intent on not paying for an Agent, make sure that your income taxes are in order in your country, make sure that your embassy will offer a service of confirming your income, and accept to be patient time and time again when you are told that "Oh, the for that you used is an out-dated one. Use this one, and come back some other day.....

 

I was initially forced to go see an Agent, after the onset of the Covid era, with airport closed here, borders of neighboring countries closed, so not being able to leave the country to extend my OA visa, and not being able to stay in the country, as my visa would soon expire. 2019, 2020.

When I explained that at the IO, I was told that there was nothing that they could do. The law was written this way.

Then I was told in a whisper, go see an Agent, they will fix it up for you.

And Agent, Oh yes."

[khunpeer]

20 hours ago, stoner said:

 

 

ok 

 

1 - what is a tourist doing approaching a language school for a long term visa ? 

 

2 - no thailand you impact your own image. was it the tourists who set up this scam or locals ? 

you ever heard of "education-visa"? that involves a school as well

mind you, it's better to fix yr visa by yrself, not to difficult and pay only 1900 instead of 32000 !!!

[mikebell]

5 hours ago, balo said:

Plenty of good hard working visa agents in Pattaya.  Clearly they did not do a good enough research.

Key Visa is highly recommended.     (RIP  Darren   ) 

 

Echo sentiments about Darren; a lovely man.  He was a fellow Utd supporter and thus been spared the angst lying heavy on our shoulders ATM.

[Lopburikid]

20 hours ago, stoner said:

 

 

ok 

 

1 - what is a tourist doing approaching a language school for a long term visa ? 

 

2 - no thailand you impact your own image. was it the tourists who set up this scam or locals ? 

Education Visas. and maybe retirement visas Local citizens passing off as employees of the school and visa agents. There are hundreds of these agencies in Pattaya.

[stoner]

9 minutes ago, Lopburikid said:

Education Visas. and maybe retirement visas Local citizens passing off as employees of the school and visa agents. There are hundreds of these agencies in Pattaya.

 

something something something....born every minute.

 

a fool and his money are bla bla bla. 

[Jackbenimble]

21 hours ago, Celsius said:

Visa agents 

 

How can people just surrender their passport to these scumbags, lol

 

I hope the issuing countries keep a tab on every mug who willingly surrenders the passport to these so called "agents" never issue a replacement passport again.

 

 

1 visa agent...........calm down you silly person. The visa agents provide a good service overall. 

[Jackbenimble]

54 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

What about all the old farts who use agents for retirement visas who don't have the 800k in the bank? Immigration should deport them too for doing dodgy things and not having money. There should be a serious crackdown on this, big time. Too many are doing the dodgy dodgy.

go back to sleep and don't forget to take your meds

[Lopburikid]

8 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

something something something....born every minute.

 

a fool and his money are bla bla bla. 

If they are paying that amount, then that is for the school to provide paperwork and a fake attendance sheet, and/or to place B800,000 in their bank account and a little hand out to immigration.