I'm confused - Using a Visa Agent

[proton]

  On 12/28/2024 at 5:25 AM, PJ71 said:

hahahahaha.

 

If you're concerned about corruption you're in the wrong place.

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Participation is voluntary

[freedomnow]

  On 12/28/2024 at 12:10 AM, Briggsy said:

I assume you are asking if you can use a Pattaya agent whilst living in Chiang Mai.

 

The Pattaya agents will work with you wherever you live in Thailand. So, yes. However be aware that your extension will be processed at Chonburi Immigration and you may have difficulty accessing some Immigration services like 'certificates of residence' if you go down that route.

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I meant can you get this service locally in Chiang Mai and registered there.

Thanks.

[PJ71]

  On 12/28/2024 at 8:27 AM, proton said:

 

Participation is voluntary

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Until it's not....

[Briggsy]

  On 12/28/2024 at 9:47 AM, freedomnow said:

I meant can you get this service locally in Chiang Mai and registered there.

Thanks.

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I am sorry I do not know about agents working with Chiang Mai immigration. However, I am sure that if you start a thread specifying that particular topic, you will receive a lot of pertinent information as many on here will know the answer.

[DrJack54]

  On 12/28/2024 at 9:47 AM, freedomnow said:

I meant can you get this service locally in Chiang Mai and registered there.

Thanks.

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What service are you looking for.

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1298468-good-visa-agency-in-chiang-mai/

 

[DrJack54]

Long statement regarding legality of agents removed.

I posted this early on...

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

[liddelljohn]

problem is  doing a Visa based on Marrige is much more bureaucratic than doing retirement   ,,   The Immigration  staff hate doing marriage based visa    and make it a big run around with visits to house  etc etc 

[DrJack54]

  On 12/28/2024 at 12:07 PM, liddelljohn said:

problem is  doing a Visa based on Marrige is much more bureaucratic than doing retirement

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That is very true.

Some put it down to possible "fake marriages of convenience" 

Guys (some) married to Thai national for many years would beg to differ.

Rightfully so. imo

[liddelljohn]

  On 12/28/2024 at 2:17 PM, DrJack54 said:

That is very true.

Some put it down to possible "fake marriages of convenience" 

Guys (some) married to Thai national for many years would beg to differ.

Rightfully so. imo

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I have been married to a Thai for 27 years   and I wont do another marriage visa due to the sheer  hassle  and bull<deleted>

[Liquorice]

  On 12/27/2024 at 8:30 AM, Ken Kenobi said:

 

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

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If he disappears, then you have a major problem.

Happened to a friend of mine in Hua Hin.

Supposed to be getting married and applying for an extension (funds in the bank).
After paying an agent 35K he vanished. Filed a Police report, two weeks overstay.

Police tracked the 'agent' down, who denied he'd received any funds and demanded another 3K to hand over his Passport and documents. Police stated it was one word against another.

 

So pissed off, he returned to the UK and came back 6 months later.

[PJ71]

  On 12/28/2024 at 4:09 PM, liddelljohn said:

I have been married to a Thai for 27 years   and I wont do another marriage visa due to the sheer  hassle  and bull<deleted>

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Yeah, i switched from that to retirement, so easy.

[zzzzz]

  On 12/27/2024 at 8:30 AM, Ken Kenobi said:

 

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

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after using agent A for 1 year, you can than use agent B, ( cheaper, closer) than the next year agent C
ur not limited to using the same agent forever

[LatPhrao]

Staggered reading this detailed thread on a subject that in the very recent past was absolutely verboten.  Bravo!!  Thai Visa agents and their customers living in the clear, clean light of day.  In my humble opinion the visa agents provide a terrific, much needed service at, all things considering alternatives, comes at a reasonable cost.   To say nothing of the end of and frustrations, time wasting dealing with Immigration.

[GaiwanAddict]

I just wanted to give a little feedback on TVC's prices. They are now charging a total of 80k baht for the marriage visa. Quite expensive… Fortunately, I have enough money in my Thai bank account to go the "normal" way. I would have liked to save myself the extra work, but I'm not willing to pay that price out of sheer convenience. 

[spidermike007]

These days almost every immigration agent in Thailand is bent, so you can accomplish the exact same thing through nearly any immigration office, however my experience is that they charge more for their services then most visa agents. 

[balo]

It used to be 20k in Pattaya some years ago, probably more expensive today. 
 

[madone]

  On 12/27/2024 at 4:43 AM, Peterphuket said:

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)

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You are getting done. As others have pointed out, I pay 14k and I don't need to supply the 800k.

First time was for 15 months so it cost 20k

[Peterphuket]

  On 4/21/2025 at 7:37 PM, madone said:

You are getting done. As others have pointed out, I pay 14k and I don't need to supply the 800k.

First time was for 15 months so it cost 20k

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That's a late response but it just so happens that I found an agent in BKK who does everything for 19,000, and don't have to show up at the immigration office myself.
Still I have my doubts, get a new passport next month and have to send it with the old passport, bankbook, photos to the agent there, it seems a bit risky to me, suppose the envelope gets lost....

[quake]

  On 4/21/2025 at 5:24 PM, GaiwanAddict said:

I just wanted to give a little feedback on TVC's prices. They are now charging a total of 80k baht for the marriage visa. Quite expensive… Fortunately, I have enough money in my Thai bank account to go the "normal" way. I would have liked to save myself the extra work, but I'm not willing to pay that price out of sheer convenience. 

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80K where was that or who was that ? 

[TheAppletons]

  On 4/22/2025 at 1:17 AM, quake said:

 

80K where was that ? 

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  TVC is probably Thai Visa Centre so Bangkok metro area.

[quake]

  On 4/22/2025 at 1:21 AM, TheAppletons said:

 

  TVC is probably Thai Visa Centre so Bangkok metro area.

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Ok.

80k is a massive amount of cash / bribe.

[DrJack54]

  On 4/21/2025 at 5:24 PM, GaiwanAddict said:

I just wanted to give a little feedback on TVC's prices. They are now charging a total of 80k baht for the marriage visa.

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I'm only posting because do not find your post credible. 

You name an agent and throw out a tag of 80k.

Agents assist (hand holding only) with extensions based on marriage. 

Agents main  business is extensions based on retirement. 

That would range from 13k in Pattaya to ~ 17k+ in Bangkok. 

  On 4/21/2025 at 5:24 PM, GaiwanAddict said:

I have enough money in my Thai bank account to go the "normal" way

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Extensions based on marriage only require 400k in bank for 2 months prior to extension + under consideration period. 

Hardly a tall ask. 

[GaiwanAddict]

  On 4/22/2025 at 1:50 AM, DrJack54 said:

I'm only posting because do not find your post credible. 

You name an agent and throw out a tag of 80k.

Agents assist (hand holding only) with extensions based on marriage. 

Agents main  business is extensions based on retirement. 

That would range from 13k in Pattaya to ~ 17k+ in Bangkok. 

Extensions based on marriage only require 400k in bank for 2 months prior to extension + under consideration period. 

Hardly a tall ask. 

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You are welcome to write to TVC yourself and ask what their services cost. Concerning effort, on the normal way you have to bring 2 witnesses to the immigration etc. You don't have to do that with TVC. You send all your documents and photos and later you get your passport back with a stamp. It couldn't be easier, but the costs are too high this year. 

[GaiwanAddict]

  On 4/22/2025 at 1:21 AM, TheAppletons said:

 

  TVC is probably Thai Visa Centre so Bangkok metro area.

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That’s correct

[DrJack54]

  On 4/22/2025 at 5:16 AM, GaiwanAddict said:

You are welcome to write to TVC yourself and ask what their services cost.

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Don't need to as I'm aware of costs.

The norm is to use agent to obtain an extension based on retirement.

Price in Bangkok approx 17-20k

Pattaya 13-17k.

 

Assuming you are over 50 why would extension based on marriage be even considered if using an agent.

Hand holding yes. 

As stated I doubt your account. 

 

[Liquorice]

  On 4/22/2025 at 6:05 AM, DrJack54 said:

Assuming you are over 50 why would extension based on marriage be even considered if using an agent.

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The necessity for a work permit.

[GaiwanAddict]

  On 4/22/2025 at 6:05 AM, DrJack54 said:

Don't need to as I'm aware of costs.

The norm is to use agent to obtain an extension based on retirement.

Price in Bangkok approx 17-20k

Pattaya 13-17k.

 

Assuming you are over 50 why would extension based on marriage be even considered if using an agent.

Hand holding yes. 

As stated I doubt your account. 

 

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I'm in my mid-30s, so this is the only option for me.