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?

[suzannegoh]

21 hours 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 . 

That system of getting annual extensions of stay appears to be very common in Pattaya.

[Marcous]

He will most likely have problems obtaining a certificate of residence at his local office. Of course, he can pay the agent for that, too.

[FritsSikkink]

22 hours ago, Ken Kenobi said:

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

In his case it is bribing immigration to get a visa because he can't comply with the rules.

90 day reports won't be send every month, there is a clue in the 90 day part. 

[zzzzz]

21 hours 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 

or just leave, let current extension expire ( dont buy a re entry permit) 
come back and start over
Visa agents are here to stay, its as HUGE golden goose for the Officers 

suggest he file a new tm 30 for the area he lives so can do is own 90 day an also no problem if he needs a cor

 

[norfolkandchance]

Could have done it in Korat. Easy.

[Peterphuket]

3 hours ago, Liquorice said:

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?

I myself have also been using an agent for 3 years now because I don't want to have 800k in my bank account.
1 week before I visit the agent, I deposit 800k in my. bank account.
The total amount I spend annually for this is 25,000 thb including the commission to the agent. (5000 thb)

[zzzzz]

2 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

I myself have also been using an agent for 3 years now because I don't want to have 800k in my bank account.
1 week before I visit the agent, I deposit 800k in my. bank account.
The total amount I spend annually for this is 25,000 thb including the commission to the agent. (5000 thb)

u spend 25,000 and u put 800,000 of ur money in the bank?
LIke i said its a golden egg
25,000
5,000 for agent

1,900 for visa

Immigration profit  19,800 baht!!!!

WOW
thai visa centre is 18,000 all in, no money in Bank

IF ur single ,no living family, ur crazy to put 800,000 in the bank
when u die,  the bank gets to keep it and even if u want leave it to someone, its a pain for them to get it 

[Peterphuket]

21 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

u spend 25,000 and u put 800,000 of ur money in the bank?
LIke i said its a golden egg
25,000
5,000 for agent

1,900 for visa

Immigration profit  19,800 baht!!!!

WOW
thai visa centre is 18,000 all in, no money in Bank

IF ur single ,no living family, ur crazy to put 800,000 in the bank
when u die,  the bank gets to keep it and even if u want leave it to someone, its a pain for them to get it 

Your observation is correct and I myself feel that it is indeed too much.
But it is the I.O. in HH what is pocketing that money. As already mentioned, I don't want to have 800k in my account due to various reasons.
But you talk about ‘Thai Visa Centre’, does it do the transactions throughout the country, or only in BKK.

[bkk6060]

It is not just Pattaya other places have agents who will do the same. I never see it going away way too much money. 

[Plan B]

Some years back a Phuket based passport holder using a BKK agent got a 12 month extension from the immigration of Ayutthaya. 
All three 90 day reports were done in person at Phuket immigration and went on without a hitch. 
When the time came to extend to 12 more months, this time completely legit, Phuket immigration informed them that they couldn't accept the application as they'd been issued a warning from headquarters to not continue any extension that was previously issued by the immigrations of Pattaya and Ayutthaya. And that they had to leave the country and start the process all over again. Which was what finally happened. 
End of story. 

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, Plan B said:

And that they had to leave the country and start the process all over again. Which was what finally happened.

Nothing of any note in your post.

When you state .,....

"When the time came to extend to 12 more months, this time completely legit,..." 

I don't follow. Applications are checked retrospectively. 

Changing from agent assisted extension (cover financials) back to DIY then exit Thailand "start over" standard MO..

[Ken Kenobi]

On 12/26/2024 at 12:27 PM, Jingthing said:

Yes it could. 

Easiest path is to continue to use the same Agent.

 

I was wondering about that option , but what happens if the visa agent disappears or becomes just too expensive .

[Ken Kenobi]

On 12/26/2024 at 1:04 PM, DrJack54 said:

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.

 

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. 

The problem was that my friend used the majority of his bank savings to pay for medical treatment , and that apparently left his bank account with around ( I think )  200,000.00 Baht. 

[Ken Kenobi]

On 12/26/2024 at 1:15 PM, 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? 

 

I think him going to the Korat immigration office , was not on the cards 

[Ken Kenobi]

7 hours ago, The Old Bull said:

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

From what my friend commented about his visit to the Pattaya visa agent, the visa agent seemed to be very friendly with the staff at the Pattaya Immigration office, and several '' brown envelopes '' were handed over.

[Ken Kenobi]

7 hours ago, Liquorice said:

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?

 

As for how much my friend paid the Pattaya visa agent , I believe it was around 17,000.00 Baht , not sure about the address thing. 

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, Ken Kenobi said:

The problem was that my friend used the majority of his bank savings to pay for medical treatment , and that apparently left his bank account with around ( I think )  200,000.00 Baht. 

Happens. Not going to read back the thread. Think he already went to Pattaya...

In any event he can use agent for next extension.

If wants to do extensions in future without agent that's possible.

 

Near end of that extension he can exit Thailand without reentry permit and reenter visa exempt (border bounce).

We refer to this as start over.

From visa exempt he can obtain a non O retirement and subsequent extensions.

He would need to attend immigration with agent. 

[Ken Kenobi]

6 hours ago, suzannegoh said:

That system of getting annual extensions of stay appears to be very common in Pattaya.

 

From what I understand , my friend was given the phone number for the Pattaya visa agent, by another expat , who lives in Korat city . From what i understand , using a visa agent is quite common among the expats of Korat. 

[Ken Kenobi]

6 hours ago, Marcous said:

He will most likely have problems obtaining a certificate of residence at his local office. Of course, he can pay the agent for that, too.

 I just had a feeling that after my friend obtained the 12 month visa extension from Pattaya, there may be some sort of future problems '' visa '' wise in the future.