Changing from agent to doing annual extensions myself?!

[Fiskebolle]

Hi Folks,

 

 

Been reading various info/mixed feedback on Aseannow regarding the possibility of getting the annual extensions done yourself, AFTER making use of an agent for the intial/First  Non-O+Annual extensions?

 

I guess some people may have used agent for opening account/fixing initial visa without meeting financial requirements themselves. But for those that have build up enough financials over the coming year would be able to do the annual extension by themselves, right? Or is this wrong?

 

Some people say they made use of the agent the first 2 extensions and were able to do some from the 3th subsequent annual extension themselves...

 

Cheerios,

 

FB

 

 

[DrJack54]

3 hours ago, Fiskebolle said:

Some people say they made use of the agent the first 2 extensions and were able to do some from the 3th subsequent annual extension themselves...

In your example ..... Agent for non O follow by couple of extensions using agent....

Then for third extension the immigration officer will look at bank record retrospectively back 12 months.

I recall one time where the io was even looking at the two months prior to my last extension.

You would need to provide the financial requirements in the third year.

Few would bother with that and choose to border bounce kill off ongoing extensions and start over doing the process without agent. 

[eddyod]

I used an agent in Pattaya for the 1st time. For the 1st extension I wanted to ditch the agent and do it myself. I had the necessary funds for a year but the immigration officer in Samut Prakan said no way. She said I had to go to another country and start again.

[bigt3116]

5 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

I recall one time where the io was even looking at the two months prior to my last extension.

 

How?

 

Everyone only takes the last 12 months of statements?

 

(this was obviously post 2019 when the rules changed?)

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, bigt3116 said:

How?

 

Everyone only takes the last 12 months of statements?

Not everyone uses/needs 12 month bank statements.

 

Previously at CW using money in bank method and I used my bank book and photocopies of pages.

The io was looking at the 2 months prior to previous extension.

She wasn't happy I had zero transactions in those two months. This was 2023

In the end had to resolve it with head io desk boss officer L32.

 

For my most recent extension (Nov 5 ) I provided 12 month bank statement and also bank books. 

The io wanted both. 

[ardsong]

never have use an agent not for the 1st extension after entry on visa and not for further 14 extensions. it is not difficult at all, and never spend more than 1 hr - 1hr and half to complete the whole extension process.

[renaissanc]

I've lived in Thailand for 40 years and I've never used an Agent either to obtain or extend a visa. They are completely unnecessary. You can do everything yourself.

[Ben Zioner]

On 12/13/2024 at 1:29 PM, eddyod said:

I used an agent in Pattaya for the 1st time. For the 1st extension I wanted to ditch the agent and do it myself. I had the necessary funds for a year but the immigration officer in Samut Prakan said no way. She said I had to go to another country and start again.

While I believe you, this reveals that the Agent/IO mafia have created a fully autonomous underground immigration system. 

 

Only in Thailand...

[Robin]

What is difficult?  

If you qualify, you will get an extension.  I have been her on a retirement visa since an I/O first pointed me towards one.  Never even thought of using an agent.

Did this again last week at Phayao.  I took the precaution of going first to immigration and asking them to list the documents I needed from my bank, then took this to bank an got the docs.  Charged 300Baht for the work.

All I did at immigration was fill in the form and sign the bank docs.  

Seemed quicker and easier than using an agent and nothing to pay except the visa fees

[DrJack54]

The thread is about how to move from agent to doing extensions yourself.

Not a debate about agents. 

[rwill]

As Dr said you just need to make sure you meet the financial requirements for the full previous year to change from agent to doing it yourself.

[Scouse123]

20 hours ago, renaissanc said:

I've lived in Thailand for 40 years and I've never used an Agent either to obtain or extend a visa. They are completely unnecessary. You can do everything yourself.

 

That is true unless you don't have the necessary funds, either in the bank or through the monthly method, to apply yourself.

[CallumWK]

20 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

While I believe you, this reveals that the Agent/IO mafia have created a fully autonomous underground immigration system. 

 

Only in Thailand...

 

Agents are owned by IO's

[Rob Browder]

On 12/13/2024 at 12:54 PM, Fiskebolle said:

I guess some people may have used agent for opening account/fixing initial visa without meeting financial requirements themselves. But for those that have build up enough financials over the coming year would be able to do the annual extension by themselves, right? Or is this wrong?

 

Some people say they made use of the agent the first 2 extensions and were able to do some from the 3th subsequent annual extension themselves...

Yes, you can - by providing proof you met the requirements for your current extension, upon application for the next one.  I would include not only the prior 12 months bank-statement, but also including the 2 months before application for the last one, just to be sure.

...

On 12/13/2024 at 1:29 PM, eddyod said:

I used an agent in Pattaya for the 1st time. For the 1st extension I wanted to ditch the agent and do it myself. I had the necessary funds for a year but the immigration officer in Samut Prakan said no way. She said I had to go to another country and start again.

How would she know you used an agent?  Just because it was stamped from Jomtien?

[eddyod]

16 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

Yes, you can - by providing proof you met the requirements for your current extension, upon application for the next one.  I would include not only the prior 12 months bank-statement, but also including the 2 months before application for the last one, just to be sure.

...

How would she know you used an agent?  Just because it was stamped from Jomtien?

She looked at my bank book and saw the very dodgy 800K going in and out on the same day. And that was even with my having well over 800K in the bank for a year.

[eddyod]

On 12/15/2024 at 6:19 AM, rwill said:

As Dr said you just need to make sure you meet the financial requirements for the full previous year to change from agent to doing it yourself.

That was not the case for me in Samut Prakan immigration. The officer insisted I redo the whole visa and said the one I obtained via the Pattaya agent was no good. I was told I had to leave the country and redo it. I went to Cambodia and I did as she said. And I did have over 800K in the bank for a year.

[Andre0720]

Highly depends on which Immigration office you are dealing with.

Some will do their best to keep you using an Agent, to keep their money flow going.

[Andre0720]

23 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

Agents are owned by IO's

They are not owned by IO's, they co-operate, under rules that differ (simplified and reduced) from a do-it-yourself approach.

[Lacessit]

As long as the financials are in order, doing the extension yourself is reasonably easy. Remember to check at the Immigration office for the days they process extensions.

 

This is my yearly checklist of documents, for a retirement extension:

 

TM7 + 1 Passport photo. Obtain form from Immigration, blue biro.

 

Bank Letter.

 

Bank statement, 12 months duration.

 

Bank Book updated same day. Photocopy update as well.

 

Copies of all pages of bank book.

 

Copies of last extension + front page of passport, plus all stamped pages. Ensure hidden stamps are copied, and copy foldovers.

 

Reason for Extension: Retirement, Thai family.

 

1900 baht

 

Keep 1900 baht receipt, needed when collecting passport if left there.

( Blue colour )

 

Sign every page.

 

Apply two weeks before due date, to address any glitches an IO finds.

[Andre0720]

On 12/14/2024 at 2:02 PM, renaissanc said:

I've lived in Thailand for 40 years and I've never used an Agent either to obtain or extend a visa. They are completely unnecessary. You can do everything yourself.

You should reword your post, to read: "Agents were completely unnecessary FOR ME.

But sometimes, they are a sine qua non.

Now that would make it correct....

[CallumWK]

3 minutes ago, Andre0720 said:

They are not owned by IO's, they co-operate, under rules that differ (simplified and reduced) from a do-it-yourself approach.

 

6 minutes ago, Andre0720 said:

Some will do their best to keep you using an Agent, to keep their money flow going.

 

Wow, you must be the master of contradicting yourself.

[Andre0720]

4 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

 

Wow, you must be the master of contradicting yourself.

Can you show the contradiction, I would appreciate.

I am saying that they do work together, in co-operation, AND I add that some IO's will have some different rules.

[CallumWK]

7 minutes ago, Andre0720 said:

Can you show the contradiction, I would appreciate.

I am saying that they do work together, in co-operation, AND I add that some IO's will have some different rules.

 

Look here

 

21 minutes ago, Andre0720 said:

to keep their money flow going.

 

When someone receives a payment to look the other way, they don't cooperate, but they run the show

[Dmitry2222]

4 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Bank statement, 12 months duration.

How do you provide 12 month statement if just obtained non-o visa and have only 90 days after entering?

[DrJack54]

26 minutes ago, Dmitry2222 said:

How do you provide 12 month statement if just obtained non-o visa and have only 90 days after entering?

If you had just obtained a non O that would give you 90 day stamp.

For the FIRST 12 month extension the the funds need to be seasoned for 2 months. 

Just bank book and photocopies would be sufficient.

For the next extension you would provide 12 month bank statement.

Note: some offices will accept bank book showing balances for one year. 

[Rob Browder]

On 12/16/2024 at 9:49 AM, eddyod said:

She looked at my bank book and saw the very dodgy 800K going in and out on the same day. And that was even with my having well over 800K in the bank for a year.

Why was 800K put in, if you already had that much in the account?   The agent screwed up, if they did that. 

 

One just needs one extension via agent, but with their own money in-place / complying with the financials, and are good to go with the next extension themselves.

 

Glad you were able to solve it, in any case.  Hopefully the trip/visa/etc were less than another year's agent fee.

[OJAS]

On 12/15/2024 at 5:20 PM, Rob Browder said:

but also including the 2 months before application for the last one, just to be sure

 

Might be worth his while adding a further month retrospectively, on the off-chance that he encounters a rogue officer who is labouring under the misapprehension that 800k seasoning still starts 3 months before application date.