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 

 

 

[DrJack54]

@wozzlegummich I have personal experience in doing this many years ago. Without agent. It was not difficult 

However you have not been involved in your thread. 

Good luck. 

[DrJack54]

4 hours ago, steven100 said:

I pay someone else to do the crappy things in life,    while I sit back and enjoy a cold beer

Have you actually assisted a Thai national to obtain visa to Oz with or without agent.

If so please post experience. 

[NoshowJones]

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?

Maneraat at soi Post Office in Pattaya.

[hotandsticky]

10 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

Maneraat at soi Post Office in Pattaya.

 

 

+1 Very professional

[OneMoreFarang]

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.

Why?

Are there any reasons why you think your Thai partner will have difficulties to obtain a visa?

Or do you want an agent just for the convenience?

 

Those are different kind of agents. 

[The Fugitive]

19 hours ago, PeachCH said:

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 😁👍

My Pattaya Visa Agent told me the vast majority of her clients are British retirees. Most receive UK State Pension only and have no savings. Literacy is a problem too.

[hotandsticky]

10 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

 . Literacy is a problem too.

 

 

With the agent.........or their customers

[The Fugitive]

17 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

With the agent.........or their customers

Glad you asked. It reminded me! The lady told me a British client who runs a bar 'over the road' brought correspondence he'd received from HMRC into her office for her to read to him and explain what he had to do. She had to tell him she doesn't know the procedures of the UK Income Tax office and therefore isn't qualified to give him guidance.

[brewsterbudgen]

Interesting announcement on Facebook that TikTok Services (one of the better agencies) are suspending their Retirement visa/new bank account services until further notice.

 

"Due to regulatory changes, 

Tik Tok Services will be temporarily unable to assist in the opening of bank accounts and New retirement visas from Monday 17th February onwards we will keep you updated as and when things change.

However, We are still providing other services such as Driving License applications/30 day visa extension/ 90 day report/ renewals standard retirement visa applications/renewals as per normal....

Apologies for the inconvenience but this is our of our hands.

Thank you Tik"

[Celsius]

You can use a visa agent if you are illiterate or retarded as agents  literally have zero impact regarding the success of visa.

 

That being said I used an agent to obtain a Canadian PR for my wife. The reason for this is because I am illiterate and retarded and have a short attention span. Any form not filled out properly would cost us a major delay in processing the application. The agent made sure everything was filled out properly and in order. Well worth 3000 bucks we paid. PR visas are somewhat complicated.

 

 

That being said I would not trust any agent located in Thailand as most of them are illiterate and retarded.

[proton]

47 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Interesting announcement on Facebook that TikTok Services (one of the better agencies) are suspending their Retirement visa/new bank account services until further notice.

 

"Due to regulatory changes, 

Tik Tok Services will be temporarily unable to assist in the opening of bank accounts and New retirement visas from Monday 17th February onwards we will keep you updated as and when things change.

However, We are still providing other services such as Driving License applications/30 day visa extension/ 90 day report/ renewals standard retirement visa applications/renewals as per normal....

Apologies for the inconvenience but this is our of our hands.

Thank you Tik"

. What are these 'regulatory changes' that will only temporarily stop them getting round the law?

[HappyExpat57]

21 hours ago, PeachCH said:

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 😁👍

There's also a number of us who do have the money, well seaoned, but just don't want to bother with the hassle.

[hotandsticky]

49 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

There's also a number of us who do have the money, well seaoned, but just don't want to bother with the hassle.

 

 

+1

[brewsterbudgen]

1 hour ago, proton said:

. What are these 'regulatory changes' that will only temporarily stop them getting round the law?

Exactly.  Perhaps their contact is no longer available and 'regulatory changes' sounds better!

[scottiejohn]

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Interesting announcement on Facebook that TikTok Services (one of the better agencies) are suspending their Retirement visa/new bank account services until further notice.

Is that a "hand holding" agency or a "fix it" agency?