I'm confused - Using a Visa Agent

[Ken Kenobi]

My expat retired friend who lives in Korat did not have enough money in his Thai bank account to for fill the requirements to extend his current Retirement visa - O , for another year or to change his current retirement visa to a marriage visa. So he used a visa agent based in Pattaya . My friend made the trip from Korat to Pattaya to meet the visa agent. The visa agent ( not sure exactly how ) opened a Bangkok Bank account in Pattaya in the name of my friend and placed 800,000.00 Baht in that new Bangkok Bank account. My friend then went with the visa agent to the Pattaya immigration office , where a 12 month extension to my friends current Retirement visa , was issued. 

 

My friend has told me that he personally does not have to do the 90 day reporting , as the visa agent will be sending my friend the 90 day printed report confirmation to him every month via the Thai post.

 

So now my friend has in his passport a new 12 month extension to his original retirement visa , but that new Immigration stamp shows that the 12 month extension was issued by the Pattaya immigration office , but in the past ( when he had enough money in is Thai bank account ) my friend did his visa extensions at the korat immigration office , as he lives in Korat .

 

 

 

The above details about what the visa agent did , may not be spot on , as my friend did not really want to talk about his experience using a visa agent , my friend did say that the visa agent did discreetly hand over money to several people. 

 

 

I'm a bit confused about the whole using a visa agent option . could using a visa agent some how lead to future issues when it comes to extending a visa / other visa requirements .

 

 

Thanks . 

[Jingthing]

Yes it could. 

Easiest path is to continue to use the same Agent.

[DrJack54]

54 minutes ago, Ken Kenobi said:

I'm a bit confused about the whole using a visa agent option .

What you described using an agent is accurate. 

The bank account is the simple part.

Approx 5k. Most of which is insurance policy cost to bank. 

Most likely BBL.

You friend already had a non O previously so agent provided service to cover the financial requirements to obtain 12 month extension.

 

If in future he wants to change back to DYI then he can seek advice from forum.

 

54 minutes ago, Ken Kenobi said:

My expat retired friend who lives in Korat did not have enough money in his Thai bank account to for fill the requirements to extend his current Retirement visa - O , for another year or to change his current retirement visa to a marriage visa

I notice that friend had option to change to based on retirement to based on marriage.

The financials are far easier for marriage and can be used after extension granted.

He could have brought time by obtaining 60 extension to visit wife, but that's all water under the bridge. 

[Dan O]

In the future if he wants to go away from using a visa agent he will need to start planning well in advance in order to produce valid banking documents to cover the whole 12 months for the renewal 

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, Dan O said:

In the future if he wants to go away from using a visa agent he will need to start planning well in advance in order to produce valid banking documents to cover the whole 12 months for the renewal 

That's one option however most likely best to exit Thailand (border bounce) enter visa exempt.

He can then obtain new Non O marriage or retirement along with subsequent extensions.

(start over) 

[proton]

1 hour ago, Ken Kenobi said:

My expat retired friend who lives in Korat did not have enough money in his Thai bank account to for fill the requirements to extend his current Retirement visa - O , for another year or to change his current retirement visa to a marriage visa. So he used a visa agent based in Pattaya . My friend made the trip from Korat to Pattaya to meet the visa agent. The visa agent ( not sure exactly how ) opened a Bangkok Bank account in Pattaya in the name of my friend and placed 800,000.00 Baht in that new Bangkok Bank account. My friend then went with the visa agent to the Pattaya immigration office , where a 12 month extension to my friends current Retirement visa , was issued. 

 

My friend has told me that he personally does not have to do the 90 day reporting , as the visa agent will be sending my friend the 90 day printed report confirmation to him every month via the Thai post.

 

So now my friend has in his passport a new 12 month extension to his original retirement visa , but that new Immigration stamp shows that the 12 month extension was issued by the Pattaya immigration office , but in the past ( when he had enough money in is Thai bank account ) my friend did his visa extensions at the korat immigration office , as he lives in Korat .

 

 

 

The above details about what the visa agent did , may not be spot on , as my friend did not really want to talk about his experience using a visa agent , my friend did say that the visa agent did discreetly hand over money to several people. 

 

 

I'm a bit confused about the whole using a visa agent option . could using a visa agent some how lead to future issues when it comes to extending a visa / other visa requirements .

 

 

Thanks . 

 

Lives in Korat, extension stamped in Pattaya! Maybe he could go into his real immigration office in Korat and ask them if this was legal? 

[Jingthing]

4 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Lives in Korat, extension stamped in Pattaya! Maybe he could go into his real immigration office in Korat and ask them if this was legal? 

Why ask for trouble?

[mokwit]

11 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Lives in Korat, extension stamped in Pattaya! Maybe he could go into his real immigration office in Korat and ask them if this was legal? 

It's not. Extension has to be in the province you were living in at the time of the application. It can be made "legal" by "moving" to Korat from Pattaya via a TM30 filed for the Korat address.

[DrJack54]

Further posts re legality of agents will be removed as off topic

[The Old Bull]

It all depends on who the agent gives the brown envelope too. If he is high in the chain then he will be OK.

[Liquorice]

20 hours ago, Ken Kenobi said:

So now my friend has in his passport a new 12 month extension to his original retirement visa , but that new Immigration stamp shows that the 12 month extension was issued by the Pattaya immigration office , but in the past ( when he had enough money in is Thai bank account ) my friend did his visa extensions at the korat immigration office , as he lives in Korat .

How much did your friend pay for this service, that usually costs 1,900 BHT?

 

Lives in Korat, extension from Pattaya.

What address in Pattaya was used that the agent confirms he's staying every 90 day?