Visa Services Limited Now?

[Caldera]

45 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

I personally contacted my agent today all is good no changes.

 

Was that a Pattaya agent or an agent elsewhere? So far, we've only had reports of "trouble in Pattaya". I haven't seen any similar announcements from popular agents in Bangkok or anywhere else in Thailand. 

[sandyf]

21 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Sorry @sandyf, which Immigration office is that?

Sri Ratcha

[sandyf]

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Asked her what? 

Your previous post stated ...."Available provided you have the800k". 

Folk using an agent don't have the 800k 

 

You shouldn't be making false statements.

[SiSePuede419]

UPDATE: My visa agent (my wife) tried to file my 2024 taxes online.  The webpage was broke and didn't work.

So she went to the local Thai Revenue Office and filed in person.

$0.00B tax due.

Got the receipt now, has my name & tax id TIN, too.

If and when Immigration starts asking for a receipt in the future, I'm covered.

 

I can sleep easy at night, not looking over my shoulder. 😇

 

My wife said people over 65 get a 190,000B deduction.

 

Now, I just realized that my "income" is only money I sent to my bank account, not the money sent to my wife's account.

 

Hmm...

 

I wonder if she needs to file too?

 

UPDATED: Nope!

 

In Thailand, whether payments to a housewife's bank account are considered income depends on the source and nature of the funds:

Gifts from Family or Spouse – If the payments come from a spouse or family member as personal support, they are generally not considered taxable income.

[sandyf]

3 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

Don't be pompous.

 

The thread is actually about Visa services being reduced.

 

Obtaining an extension early is a 'Visa Service'

Not unusual for the detail in a post to be overshadowed by presumption.

I have known many over the years that can well afford to dispense with the hassle of immigration.

Not so easy for state pensioners.

[zzzzz]

1 hour ago, Caldera said:

 

Was that a Pattaya agent or an agent elsewhere? So far, we've only had reports of "trouble in Pattaya". I haven't seen any similar announcements from popular agents in Bangkok or anywhere else in Thailand. 

my agent i use in Phuket ( extension NOT issued in Phuket) business as usual, checked this morning

[Carlos874]

On 2/15/2025 at 6:42 AM, DrJack54 said:

Yes it's specific to opening bank account. 

Just for general information: there is basically nothing in it for agent.

The charge ~ 4k depending on age of client, goes on "accident insurance", ATM card and minimum deposit into the account (say 500baht) 

Newbie question: why based on age of client? Thank you!

 

[The Fugitive]

2 minutes ago, Carlos874 said:

Newbie question: why based on age of client? Thank you!

My Non-O Retirement Visa, extension and opening of a bank account was conditional upon buying Bangkok Bank Personal Accident Insurance. A selling point was that it's well worth buying in any case because it provides accident cover if you 'come off' your moto. However, that doesn't apply if aged 65 or older.

[DrJack54]

28 minutes ago, Carlos874 said:

Newbie question: why based on age of client? Thank you!

 

In the main the cost of opening Bank Account is for purchase of "insurance" from the bank.

The age criteria is 64.

So it varies from 4700b (over 64)  to 3700b (under 64) 

[scubascuba3]

47 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

My Non-O Retirement Visa, extension and opening of a bank account was conditional upon buying Bangkok Bank Personal Accident Insurance. A selling point was that it's well worth buying in any case because it provides accident cover if you 'come off' your moto. However, that doesn't apply if aged 65 or older.

FYI the Bangkok Bank PA medical cover will be very low, something like 40k baht most likely

[BrandonJT]

This is definitely limited to Pattaya, and possibly even more limited to the "high volume" agents that were opening dozens/hundreds of bank accounts per week.  Outside of Pattaya it's still business as usual, and likely there are still some low volume agents in Pattaya who were using bank branches who haven't gotten flagged for opening so many new accounts.

[thaibreaker]

6 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

This is definitely limited to Pattaya, and possibly even more limited to the "high volume" agents that were opening dozens/hundreds of bank accounts per week.  Outside of Pattaya it's still business as usual, and likely there are still some low volume agents in Pattaya who were using bank branches who haven't gotten flagged for opening so many new accounts.

Blame all the youtubers recommending people to retire in Pattaya/Jomtien, explaining how easy it is to get a retirement visa using agents. I think you are right about the overflow of new bank accounts (especially BBL) opened every week, for this purpose. One youtube channel in particular claims to have recommended and led hundreds of Americans to retire in Jomtien this last year, recommending one specific agent.

[hotandsticky]

7 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

This is definitely limited to Pattaya, and possibly even more limited to the "high volume" agents that were opening dozens/hundreds of bank accounts per week.  Outside of Pattaya it's still business as usual, and likely there are still some low volume agents in Pattaya who were using bank branches who haven't gotten flagged for opening so many new accounts.

 

 

It will get sorted out once the high ups in Immigration realise how much their income has dropped.

[chang50]

Just rang Maneerat and they are saying they can still do visa extensions just something has changed with the bank no more details than that.

[hotandsticky]

2 minutes ago, chang50 said:

Just rang Maneerat and they are saying they can still do visa extensions just something has changed with the bank no more details than that.

 

 

I guess that half an answer is the Thai way.

 

Not criticising but the specifics are what matters. In my case I used them last year with my 800k in the bank; this year I don't want to transfer money over. Can they still do my 'renewal' on that basis?

 

I will ask that direct question nearer the time if this hasn't gone away by then.

[Dr. Zorg]

I've been doing non O visas, Marriage and retirement, on my own since 2008.

It isn't difficult. Be patient and have all the necessary paperwork sorted.

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, Dr. Zorg said:

. Be patient and have all the necessary paperwork sorted.

The thread in the main is concerning folk using agent..

In most cases to not requiring financials. 

Being patient doesn't help them.

[The Fugitive]

15 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

FYI the Bangkok Bank PA medical cover will be very low, something like 40k baht most likely

Certainly is. Sheryl has pointed this out many times. It's mainly of use to those who can't get/afford healthcare insurance i.e. 'better than nothing'. When I had to buy mine the premium was only 3,000 baht per annum.

[CallumWK]

2 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

It will get sorted out once the high ups in Immigration realise how much their income has dropped.

 

You think those high ups have any control over bank of Thailand or Bangkiok bank?

[Briggsy]

17 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

You think those high ups have any control over bank of Thailand or Bangkiok bank?

My thoughts exactly.

 

So what (Chonburi) Immigration will do, if it affects their income stream, will be to somehow skirt around the 800K requirement. I believe they did this several years ago. I am not sure if it is possible now for them to sign off extensions without financials.

 

This way if Bangkok Bank are being scrutinised by the Bank of Thailand, they can change their behaviour. And if the Bank of Thailand are concerned that Thailand may be labelled as a "high-risk third country for AML purposes", you can be sure they will act in a strong regulatory manner. Immigration will just move out of the way.

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, Dr. Zorg said:

I've been doing non O visas, Marriage and retirement, on my own since 2008.

It isn't difficult. Be patient and have all the necessary paperwork sorted.

"Be patient and have all the necessary paperwork sorted". Besides, all the different IO's and IO staff make up their own rules where "necessary paperwork" is concerned.
  I would love to go on to the marriage extensions but would not take all the crap from the IO's, besides I have been advised by people in the know that I would have problems if I went to my local IO as I had been doing business with agents.

[NoshowJones]

23 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I did.......and I am not alone.

 

 

In my case I needed to renew 3 months early

"I did.......and I am not alone."  I have but I am not taking money from my UK bank to have over 800,000 Bt in my Thai bank.

[norsurin]

First they will tax the foreigners..now they start another thing..whats next?

Maybe they going after people who's been using agents for the 800K proof?

If so many can have a big problem in the future.

Im happy i dont live in Thailand anymore..just as a tourist with no properties is so relaxing.

Renting, and the day i leave just give the key and say see u next time

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, CallumWK said:

 

You think those high ups have any control over bank of Thailand or Bangkiok bank?

Yes!

[Caldera]

2 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

You think those high ups have any control over bank of Thailand or Bangkiok bank?

 

Of course not, but they can become even more creative about what kind of financial documentation they will be willing to accept. If an agent would outright fake the bank letter etc., the IO in question could or couldn't spot that they are fake, and that's something that could be managed. 

[jaideedave]

21 hours ago, JontS said:

Which popular agent are you using?

Mentioned here many times > Maneerat Soi Post Office

[hotandsticky]

1 hour ago, NoshowJones said:

"I did.......and I am not alone."  I have but I am not taking money from my UK bank to have over 800,000 Bt in my Thai bank.

 

 

Was that you......or me?

[NoshowJones]

2 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Was that you......or me?

Me.

[hotandsticky]

Just now, NoshowJones said:

Me.

 

 

Thanks.

 

It was me as well so I thought I should clarify. It will cost me 4,000 Baht more to use the agent's funds (if I can) - I would have lost 30k Baht at least if I had moved money from the UK.

[Almudena]