VISA AGENTS - is it a dodgy industry?

[wozzlegummich]

I'm chasing a decent Visa agent to assist my Thai partner in obtaining a tourist visa to Australia.

But everywhere I go I seem to get red flags about the validity of these companies. None seem to be above board. 

Are there any honest ones and if so can someone recommend one?

[cjinchiangrai]

Any time your success is based on under the table payments to government officials, it is dodgy. No idea how it works in Oz but in LOS it is an often overlooked occurrence.

 

You should not need an agent to get an Aussie visa but who knows. I don't even try in the US.

[Hummin]

8 minutes ago, wozzlegummich said:

I'm chasing a decent Visa agent to assist my Thai partner in obtaining a tourist visa to Australia.

But everywhere I go I seem to get red flags about the validity of these companies. None seem to be above board. 

Are there any honest ones and if so can someone recommend one?

Can't you do it online, and she, print, sign and delivers the documents needed and passport at the visa center/Embassy? 

 

That's what I have done for my wife. Tourist visa is easy if you have history, copies of your passport showing you have been in Thailand. 

[Nemises]

Nothing “dodgy” about the Visa agent I used to get a tourist visa to Aus for my TGF. 
 

In fact I used them again to get her 2nd visa …and will continue to use them in the future. 
 

The agent did everything. Couldn’t be happier. 

[hotandsticky]

7 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Any time your success is based on under the table payments to government officials, it is dodgy. No idea how it works in Oz but in LOS it is an often overlooked occurrence.

 

You should not need an agent to get an Aussie visa but who knows. I don't even try in the US.

 

 

Australian visas are not as easy as they should be for Thais. There is a real fear of the risk of flight with Thai women  -  I guess there must be a history of that.

 

I helped an Aussie friend to get a visa for his GF. We were successful but not until we excessively padded out the second application, after an initial rejection.

[cheerz]

Visa agents make visa issues easier than you or I. There are dodgy agents everywhere not only in Thailand.Been using same visa agent 3 years no issues.

[Randy99]

On 2/11/2025 at 11:20 AM, wozzlegummich said:

I'm chasing a decent Visa agent to assist my Thai partner in obtaining a tourist visa to Australia.

But everywhere I go I seem to get red flags about the validity of these companies. None seem to be above board. 

Are there any honest ones and if so can someone recommend one?

Only used an agent once.  Went there based on a recommendation from a reply on this forum.  Got ripped off for 7,000 Baht.  Didn't see it coming before I was preyed upon as the scheme was elaborate.  Live and learn.

[gargamon]

26 minutes ago, Randy99 said:

Only used an agent once.  Went there based on a recommendation from a reply on this forum.  Got ripped off for 7,000 Baht.  Didn't see it coming before I was preyed upon as the scheme was elaborate.  Live and learn.

Details please. Others can learn from your experiences.

[PeachCH]

In Pattaya, not dozens, but hundreds of retired Falangs are using agents for their retirement visa/extensions.

Either they don't have the needed cash or don't want block their money.

Is this new? Not at all. Already since many, many years 😁👍

[proton]

Dodgy, what else would you call an unregulated, no qualifications needed, no accountability, and an often corrupt service? IMO they are parasites.

[hotandsticky]

Just now, proton said:

Dodgy, what else would you call an unregulated, no qualifications needed, no accountability, and an often corrupt service?  

 

If this is a quiz I am going for:-

 

Government?

[proton]

On 2/11/2025 at 11:33 AM, Nemises said:

Nothing “dodgy” about the Visa agent I used to get a tourist visa to Aus for my TGF. 
 

In fact I used them again to get her 2nd visa …and will continue to use them in the future. 
 

The agent did everything. Couldn’t be happier. 

 

Why not do it yourself, it's not hard and a lot cheaper, all they do  is what VFS does, checking your documents, but you pay through the nose with an agent.

[hotandsticky]

21 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Why not do it yourself, it's not hard and a lot cheaper, all they do  is what VFS does, checking your documents, but you pay through the nose with an agent.

 

 

The number of rejections suggest otherwise.

 

 

It is not hard if you understand the criteria and how to present the necessary information (and more) in the right way.

 

 

It is a fact that there is a much higher level of scrutiny (and rejection) with Thai females compared to other nationalities.

[Nemises]

45 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Why not do it yourself, it's not hard and a lot cheaper, all they do  is what VFS does, checking your documents, but you pay through the nose with an agent.

Minuscule agent fees.
Never said it was hard.
Better things to do with my time. 
 

[steven100]

1 hour ago, proton said:

 

Why not do it yourself, it's not hard and a lot cheaper, all they do  is what VFS does, checking your documents, but you pay through the nose with an agent.

I Disagree .....   some people have more important things to do with their time rather than stand in a line,  get questioned like your a criminal,  having to face numpty idiots,  doing stupid 90 day reports,   there's just a few reasons why I pay someone else to do the crappy things in life,    while I sit back and enjoy a cold beer