On 3/15/2026 at 10:43 AM, ozfarang said:

Why does it matter?

It is actually the thing that matters the most, getting a stamp from an office of a city you are not living in.

3 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Money can be transferred into a Thai bank using companies such as Wise in a matter of seconds.

What happens if you have a "Oops" in the seeding period and use money from your "Oops Fund?"

Yes but if you've got the money in the Market or even an ISA/Fixed Deposit account you might not be able to get access to it for a few days - Granted a good credit card can probably do the job for you.

If I were to dip into the 800K for an emergency then I'd need to make alternative arrangments for my next extension (Another reason why I would hate to see the "Agent Assisted Finance" route closed, any of us could need to use it one day).

4 hours ago, pub2022 said:

It is actually the thing that matters the most, getting a stamp from an office of a city you are not living in.

One time I was applying for my retirement extension the Immigration Officer noticed that an old stamp in my passport was from another Immigration Office. She asked; 'How much did you pay your agent?' She told me if ever I didn't have the funds 'we can do it for less'.

1 hour ago, The Fugitive said:

One time I was applying for my retirement extension the Immigration Officer noticed that an old stamp in my passport was from another Immigration Office

Folk change province. File a TM30

If someone wants to change from agent to DIY then bullet proof is to start over with new Non O

13 hours ago, thailand49 said:

Nice, but please note to me the bank and the time deposit your 800,000 is place in.

I will research it.

13 hours ago, thailand49 said:

Nice, but please note to me the bank and the time deposit your 800,000 is place in.

I will research it.

13 hours ago, thailand49 said:

Nice, but please note to me the bank and the time deposit your 800,000 is place in.

I will research it.

Cash ISA, was 3.85% but dropped to 3.6% with the last rate drop. Trading21.

800k x3. 6% = 28,800

16 hours ago, pub2022 said:

It is actually the thing that matters the most, getting a stamp from an office of a city you are not living in.

Actually it doesn't matter for me at all

8 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

Cash ISA, was 3.85% but dropped to 3.6% with the last rate drop. Trading21.

800k x3. 6% = 28,800

Macquarie Bank Australia 4.5%

฿800,000 x 4.5% = 36,000

I'm happy with that

8 minutes ago, ozfarang said:

Macquarie Bank Australia 4.5%

฿800,000 x 4.5% = 36,000

I'm happy with that

Subtract the Aussie taxes, not much left.

9 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

Cash ISA, was 3.85% but dropped to 3.6% with the last rate drop. Trading21.

800k x3. 6% = 28,800

Thanks for the information, nice going I see the difference compare to where I have my money. Personally as I noted to each his own but for me here I have enough to worry about rather that run around jump throughs their hoops I do that enough already. I want this money which is way over the 800,000 to be accessible to my wife as soon as my number is up.

Why, through the years I hear get a Will and Trust, but from two cases of expat I knew prior to their death had one yet with it seem useless still one has to go through probate and that takes time for my Thai wife that seems worrying to her. In one case, an expat Thai wife died, she had a Will and Trust, yet when he try to execute even after a court order everywhere he went to her hometown, the judge gave him a hard time, he had to hire another lawyer to process everything when he got the order came back to Pattaya went to land office, they couldn't care less what the order was these offices are in their own world.

With that said , I feel that is the same way with banks here, each branch has their own thing!

So I keep what is necessary in the account for Immigration when my number is up she walks in take what she needs or use the ATM card. The amount more than enough to tie her over until the rest comes from overseas. Sure the difference as you noted is great but I don't want or trust the banks or government here and have money back home in C.D.'s and Mutual Funds accounts that last 5 five years plus gotten returns in the 15% range to more than make up what I might get here.

Thanks for sharing but here it is a mine field of mistrust. For those who don't share my feeling your option is a good one!

18 hours ago, pub2022 said:

It is actually the thing that matters the most, getting a stamp from an office of a city you are not living in.

SO???
just file a new tm 30 for where you ARE living
no problem

5 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

just file a new tm 30 for where you ARE living
no problem

Not necessarily so simple.

By way of example... If your stamp (via agent) is issued up country then just doing a TM30 for change of address will/should be fine for eg 90 report, it may be an issue with something like transfer of stamps to new pp

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Subtract the Aussie taxes, not much left.

Marginal tax rate for me is 16%

Quite a bit left

I would like to know what the average cost for an agent in Pattaya to do the retirement visa stamp:

I have over the 800K in bank

I own a Condo already

I am on Visa Exempt for 2 months

One Farang ran company quoted me 29K extra for drivers license

One Thai company quoted me 28K for one week processing and return, 25K regular, about month & a half (He said I should do it myself, but have read where IO JomTien likes agents to do it because they make money) 5K for drivers license

Thanks in advance

4 minutes ago, Explorator en Action said:

I would like to know what the average cost for an agent in Pattaya to do the retirement visa stamp:

I have over the 800K in bank

You are wanting the agent to obtain a Non O based on retirement.

You have your own 800k in a Thai bank account in your name only.

Do you also want agent to obtain the 12 month extension.

For those of us who have so far not used an agent for retirement renewal would someone kindly explain:

i) as many here seem to use an agent to get their renewal etc., what is the legitimacy, if any, of such a renewal under the rules even though no attendence at immigration is necessary and the applicant can live anywhere in thailand even though the office granting the renewal is in a different district?

ii) So the agent can arrange a bank book showing the 800k deposit right?

iii) what consequences could arise in future if any, such as travel abroad or future renewals etc?

4 minutes ago, Happy happy said:

For those of us who have so far not used an agent for retirement renewal would someone

1. No problem.

2. Agent uses your bank account in your name and temporarily deposits 800k

3. No problem you would need to continue using agent or start over DIY

17 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

Cash ISA, was 3.85% but dropped to 3.6% with the last rate drop. Trading21.

800k x3. 6% = 28,800

The thing is how long will this 800k agent financials be around, Bangkok Bank got closed down, Krungsri and the others next, but when is the question, and they will increase the 800k at some point and probably grandfather those currently with 800k balances

34 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You are wanting the agent to obtain a Non O based on retirement.

You have your own 800k in a Thai bank account in your name only.

Do you also want agent to obtain the 12 month extension.

Yes the bank account is in my name only and has had well over 800K in it for years now

Yes, I want the one 12 month extension, also want a drivers license, but they seem to want more money for that, 5K Baht

Thanx for the reply

10 minutes ago, Explorator en Action said:

Yes the bank account is in my name only and has had well over 800K in it for years now

Yes, I want the one 12 month extension, also want a drivers license, but they seem to want more money for that, 5K Baht

Thanx for the reply

Personally I would keep it TDL) as two separate things even if you use same agent.

They don't discount as much as some would imagine for you providing own financials.

Best to contact agent.

Maneerat is one option.

Most agents use line or WhatsApp etc.

Still better drop in to an office

7 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Not necessarily so simple.

By way of example... If your stamp (via agent) is issued up country then just doing a TM30 for change of address will/should be fine for eg 90 report, it may be an issue with something like transfer of stamps to new pp

HUH?
I had my new passport issued in Thailand, sent it to my agent to have the new extension done at the same time as moving stuff ( like previous Passport #, extension and where/when my 1st entry was) to new passport.
Once it was done, filed a new tm 30 for here in phuket,
That was in 2023, only thing i had to do was my 1st 90 day report done at the drive thru in Phuket before i could go back to filing online
i've been using agents for years and have not had any problems

legitimacy?
ALL visas/extensions are issued at the discretion of the IO
Travel abroad/ new extensions?? NO problems
all IO's know when someone has used an agent.

_______
Dr Jack:
"Agent uses your bank account in your name and temporarily deposits 800k"
NOT necessarily true :-)
______

Its not like before, where agents were sending passports to the border for stamps

11 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

I had my new passport issued, sent to my agent to have the new extension done at the same time as moving stuff to new passport.
Once it was done, filed a new tm 30 for here in phuket,

Yes. You used agent to transfer stamps.

I gave the example of CW. They have introduced requirement to provide bank book + update to check financial compliance.

More offices may do that in future.

Your agent would have done transfer where stamps were issued.

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes. You used agent to transfer stamps.

I gave the example of CW. They have introduced requirement to provide bank book + update to check financial compliance.

More offices may do that in future.

Your agent would have done transfer where stamos were issued.

No he didn't, done in a dif province

Go figure

Are any extensions via agents issued in CM?
I kinda doubt it

whatever they come up with , agents will have a work around
got to keep the baht flowing

On 3/16/2026 at 2:46 PM, thailand49 said:

Their bank of choice prior to May last year was BB, today I believe the bank being used easily is Krungthai, I've not heard M being able to use other bank like Kungsri.

My cousin has an account there it is a real rip off, as for fees, they charge you to withdraw your own money at their ATM, 20 baht each time then 2 months ago they charge him 1550 baht a year for the mobile application on his phone

Yes, but you can have multiple bank accounts.

If they charge ATM fees, use another account for daily use.

Just keep the minimum amount in the Kungsri account to keep it active. I guess you also need to use the ATM ocasionally to keep the account active. I would find out what that is and then use another account (ie Bangkok Bank) for daily ATM withdrawals.

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

The thing is how long will this 800k agent financials be around, Bangkok Bank got closed down, Krungsri and the others next, but when is the question, and they will increase the 800k at some point and probably grandfather those currently with 800k balances

You seem to be a bit naive. Bangkok Bank is sure putting on a good show for the government since they got their hand slapped, but it's business as usual anywhere except Pattaya. Agents are still using Bangkok Bank elsewhere, no problem at all. The only people being inconvenienced by their new policy are people legitimately trying to get an extension on their own. No problem at all with agents getting a bank letter with a 10 minute deposit and a backhander in other cities/provinces.

All the more reason to get away from Bangkok Bank as soon as possible.

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

The thing is how long will this 800k agent financials be around

You're underestimating the power of tea money.

3 hours ago, Happy happy said:

For those of us who have so far not used an agent for retirement renewal would someone kindly explain:

i) as many here seem to use an agent to get their renewal etc., what is the legitimacy, if any, of such a renewal under the rules even though no attendence at immigration is necessary and the applicant can live anywhere in thailand even though the office granting the renewal is in a different district?

ii) So the agent can arrange a bank book showing the 800k deposit right?

iii) what consequences could arise in future if any, such as travel abroad or future renewals etc?

I use an agent to do my extension & I'm 100% sure mine is as legit as yours is, I keep the 800K in my account & I do attend Immigration to do my extension.

BTW you cannot "Renew" a visa, you extend them (or more accurately extend your permission to stay), when you don't understand what you're talking about, maybe best not to talk.

6 minutes ago, SamSpade said:

I use an agent to do my extension & I'm 100% sure mine is as legit as yours is, I keep the 800K in my account & I do attend Immigration to do my extension.

BTW you cannot "Renew" a visa, you extend them (or more accurately extend your permission to stay), when you don't understand what you're talking about, maybe best not to talk.

In CM a legit handholding extension with my agent is just under 8,000Bht.

What is it for you?

Just now, scottiejohn said:

In CM a legit handholding extension with my agent is just under 8,000Bht.

What is it for you?

I wouldn't know Scottie, I paid 7,900 at Bangkok (CW) with Asia Visa for 3 years and now pay 8,000 with Maneerat here in Pattaya...

I have heard you can get somebody at CM immigration who can do your paperwork for you for less than that, but I've never tried.

Everything is above board (I have the money in the bank) my only mission since I retired is making my life as easy as possible, this is one of the ways I do that :)

24 minutes ago, SamSpade said:

I wouldn't know Scottie, I paid 7,900 at Bangkok (CW) with Asia Visa for 3 years and now pay 8,000 with Maneerat here in Pattaya...

I have heard you can get somebody at CM immigration who can do your paperwork for you for less than that, but I've never tried.

Everything is above board (I have the money in the bank) my only mission since I retired is making my life as easy as possible, this is one of the ways I do that :)

We both seem to be doing the same legit thing at the same price.

I reckon that only spending 10 minutes at the hell hole of an Immigration office once per year and ten minutes at the agent's office is well worth the money!

The idea of spending hours to wait before you get to talk to an IO and then get rejected for a minor technicality and wasting more time and money on the subsequent visits is well worth the money and the time I can better spend at the bar!!

9 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

The idea of spending hours to wait before you get to talk to an IO and then get rejected for a minor technicality and wasting more time and money on the subsequent visits is well worth the money and the time I can better spend at the bar!!

Somewhat melodramatic.

Extension based on retirement is a very simple process.

Technicality should not be an issue and often taken care of quickly.

Mobility issues I get that.

Once a year inconvenience No.

By all means avail to VIP service for those that want that.