On 12/10/2024 at 1:59 PM, Pattaya57 said:

I just don't get it when people that have the 800k in the bank want to use an agent. You still have to go to the bank in person to get the bank letter and you still have to go to Jomtien immigration to get your Pic taken.

 

So basically you're paying 8000-12000 to make a few photocopies and wait in line for 30-40 minutes (that's how long my 12 month extension took in Jomtien)

 

 

I look positively at it this way, the guys using agents make it easier for those of us that do it ourselves by firstly reducing queuing time and secondly lining the pockets of the immigration staff. Perhaps that's one of the reasons I've experienced it getting easier and quicker year by year, Really they are doing us a favour, thanks guys.

3 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

A perfect example of pretentiousness combined with self-importance.

 

Thanks.

 

 

1 hour ago, kinyara said:

 

I look positively at it this way, the guys using agents make it easier for those of us that do it ourselves by firstly reducing queuing time and secondly lining the pockets of the immigration staff. Perhaps that's one of the reasons I've experienced it getting easier and quicker year by year, Really they are doing us a favour, thanks guys.

 

 

You are welcome.

 

Have the Russians left?

26 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

You are welcome.

 

Have the Russians left?

 

Arrive from November/December leave from March/April is the normal pattern I would say.

On 12/10/2024 at 5:23 AM, Guderian said:

I’m feeling lazy this year and thinking of sending an agent to get my annual retirement extension from Soi 5. Only that service, I have the money in the bank so there’s no need for the dodgy agent-loan facility they offer.

 

The last time I did this it cost 8,000 Baht, including the 1,900 Baht Immigration fee. So far, I’ve asked for a price from two agents (Karen and Always Pattaya) and the quotes have been for 12,000 Baht. I told them that it’s just the paperwork I want sorted, no loans or anything else, which I recall used to cost quite a bit extra, but they say that 12K Baht is the going rate now. Did the IO’s in Soi 5 increase their fees by 50%?

 

The agent I last used has disappeared so I don’t have that option anymore. Has anyone found an agent lately who’s still willing to do the annual retirement extension for 8,000 Baht or thereabouts, or are those days long gone now?

 

 

On 12/10/2024 at 3:43 PM, hotandsticky said:

 

 

That is because you don't have much money and 8-12k is probably important to you.

 

 

Do you deal with Jomtien immigration?

 

if you had money you wouldn't live in Pattaya 

For the last 3 extensions in Jomtien I booked an online appointment, Arrived 15 minutes ahead of the appointment time, passed the whole queue to go to the info desk at the front. Showed the printed email, and received a queue number.
Each time the whole process took about 30 minutes..

 

On 12/10/2024 at 2:32 PM, hotandsticky said:

Indeed. My time is worth a LOT more than that.

 

I thought someone on a retirement extension had a lot FREE time

8 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

if you had money you wouldn't live in Pattaya 

 

Said the troll who just started a thread that he's running out of money.

2 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

if you had money you wouldn't live in Pattaya 

 

I don't live in Pattaya.

2 hours ago, CallumWK said:

For the last 3 extensions in Jomtien I booked an online appointment, Arrived 15 minutes ahead of the appointment time, passed the whole queue to go to the info desk at the front. Showed the printed email, and received a queue number.
Each time the whole process took about 30 minutes..

 

 

I thought someone on a retirement extension had a lot FREE time

 

 

Time is anything but free.

 

Use it or lose it.......and use it wisely ie not wasting time with Thai immigration.

16 hours ago, jas007 said:

Some people can think of better ways to spend 30 or 40 minutes.

And it isn't standing in line in a crowd!

56 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

And it isn't standing in line in a crowd!

Exactly that's valuable productive  time that can be spent sitting at your computer reading and posting thousands of comments on this forum 

I haven´t gone to immigration for anything for 5 years.  My agent knows me by my first name.

Only way to do business here in my opinion.

18 minutes ago, kinyara said:

Exactly that's valuable productive  time that can be spent sitting at your computer reading and posting thousands of comments on this forum 

 

 

That may be your choice, but I can find a host of things to do instead of tw4tting about with Immigration.

31 minutes ago, kinyara said:

Exactly that's valuable productive  time that can be spent sitting at your computer reading and posting thousands of comments on this forum 

Yes, at my age, I sit better than I can stand!

I can do without the dangerous  20+ km round trip to immigration too. 

11 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

if you had money you wouldn't live in Pattaya 

Nonsense comment... usually those running out of money leave Pattaya, to go sit in the dirt in her Nakhon Nowhere village. 

On 12/10/2024 at 9:03 PM, Moonlover said:

Agreed and using an agency perpetuates the corruption.

Yawn its Moonie! 

6 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Nonsense comment... usually those running out of money leave Pattaya, to go sit in the dirt in her Nakhon Nowhere village. 

I would need a load of kanga to go sit in the FNN! Most mates I know spend up big in there GF,s hometown.

38 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

I haven´t gone to immigration for anything for 5 years.  My agent knows me by my first name.

Only way to do business here in my opinion.

First name! One would hope so John! 

Grace at. Thaivisacentre.com

The last two times I went to my IO who is  50 Ks away they have been closed for two of their many holidays. Can someone confirm the IO's are open this Monday

16th dec. Thanks.

I have been doing it myself for years, not hard to gather the paperwork.  This year I went in ready with my stack of papers, and my retirement visa extension was denied because my bank balance dipped below 800K for a couple days and then it was back over 800K.

 

I was glad to use an agent at that point.

 

😎🙏

 

On 12/10/2024 at 1:59 PM, Pattaya57 said:

I just don't get it when people that have the 800k in the bank want to use an agent. You still have to go to the bank in person to get the bank letter and you still have to go to Jomtien immigration to get your Pic taken.

 

So basically you're paying 8000-12000 to make a few photocopies and wait in line for 30-40 minutes (that's how long my 12 month extension took in Jomtien)

 

duration of time spent at bank and immigration office was total about 10 mins for me this year, worth every penny paying an agent for me.

53 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

duration of time spent at bank and immigration office was total about 10 mins for me this year, worth every penny paying an agent for me.

I turned up at the agents with my passport, updated bankbook, a passport picture and the one bank letter. Paid the fee, was driven to immigration for a photo that took 1 minute and that was it. In the past I was at home copying for an hour or two based on a long list of requirements, and always feared being short of something, and having to make a 25km round trip home. 

16 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I turned up at the agents with my passport, updated bankbook, a passport picture and the one bank letter. Paid the fee, was driven to immigration for a photo that took 1 minute and that was it. In the past I was at home copying for an hour or two based on a long list of requirements, and always feared being short of something, and having to make a 25km round trip home. 

 

 

Plus the price of stress - and queing, there is always queing at Jomtien ...........however well we think that we know the requirements, the ability of immigration to throw in a curved ball at any point is well documented. That plus the feeling that immigration sometimes give you the impression that you are sh!t on their shoes  -  just not worth it.

On 12/10/2024 at 3:31 PM, G_Money said:

TikTok in Jomtien.

How much do they charge? 8000?

On 12/10/2024 at 3:25 PM, worgeordie said:

I can think of much better ways to spend 8-12K ,you still have to go to bank

to get statements and  immigration to get photo taken .

 

regards Worgeordie

 

Can anyone say Pin up a GoGo....

3 hours ago, thaibreaker said:

How much do they charge? 8000?

Yes.  Add on 4000 if you need insurance (OA).  
Unless you have insurance from a Thai company.

 

”O” not necessary to have insurance.

On 12/10/2024 at 1:59 PM, Pattaya57 said:

I just don't get it when people that have the 800k in the bank want to use an agent. You still have to go to the bank in person to get the bank letter and you still have to go to Jomtien immigration to get your Pic taken.

 

So basically you're paying 8000-12000 to make a few photocopies and wait in line for 30-40 minutes (that's how long my 12 month extension took in Jomtien)

 

A lot of us are not very fond of immigration at all, and to be able to save a day of our life not having to deal with those people is certainly worth a price, that price may be different to everyone but it does have some value. 

26 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

A lot of us are not very fond of immigration at all, and to be able to save a day of our life not having to deal with those people is certainly worth a price, that price may be different to everyone but it does have some value. 

I understand some people might have PTSD from the past. But for me it was a pleasant experience with a very friendly/helpful IO and the whole process took 40 minutes.

 

As I said before, the fact you still have to go to the bank for letter and Immigraton for picture means you are only saving 30-40 minutes of immigration time (or maybe not as you still have to wait for your stamped passport)