Visa Agents In Thailand And Adjacent Countries

[david96]

Who are these operators and what do they do that you cannot do yourself? Would you entrust a passport which is the property of your Government to them?

In your own country one can send your passport by registered return mail to the Thai Embassy or Consulate. But you can not do that if you are only in an adjacent country for a day or two.

You are responsible for what is on the application form because you have signed it.

[lopburi3]

You can also give your passport to many travel agencies to obtain visas. As long as you are present in the area that is nothing wrong in that. And that is exactly what you are doing in Penang. It is an established and accepted method to reduce the influx of people waiting in lines at various Consulates. But this may be restricted to tourist visas only.

[david96]

You can also give your passport to many travel agencies to obtain visas. As long as you are present in the area that is nothing wrong in that. And that is exactly what you are doing in Penang. It is an established and accepted method to reduce the influx of people waiting in lines at various Consulates. But this may be restricted to tourist visas only.

Quite true and these travel agents are licenced, but all they do is forward your visa application to the Consulate/Embassy

using a courier service. They cannot apply for a visa for you, you must fill in all application forms yourself. These 200THB

" streetcorner agents "sound a bit suspect. But we all know they exist.

IMHO one should adopt the stance of "buyer beware" with your dealings with them.

Travellers have been detained in Thailand with false stamps in their passport, and Australian DFAT has issued warnings.

[Maestro]

...Travellers have been detained in Thailand with false stamps in their passport, and Australian DFAT has issued warnings.

Perhaps this is what has got you confused. The above refers to a so-called visa agent in Thailand who promises to get you a visa without your having to leave Thailand.

The so-called visa agent in Penang is an entirely different thing. As you say yourself, they render a courier service, ie carry your application, signed by you, to the consulate and later pick up your passport from the consulate. Whether you send it by mail or through a private courier, it amounts to the same, the basic difference being the speed of service.

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Maestro

[david96]

...Travellers have been detained in Thailand with false stamps in their passport, and Australian DFAT has issued warnings.

Perhaps this is what has got you confused. The above refers to a so-called visa agent in Thailand who promises to get you a visa without your having to leave Thailand.

The so-called visa agent in Penang is an entirely different thing. As you say yourself, they render a courier service, ie carry your application, signed by you, to the consulate and later pick up your passport from the consulate. Whether you send it by mail or through a private courier, it amounts to the same, the basic difference being the speed of service.

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Maestro

Correct. I was regarding a visa agent in the same light as a immigration agent as distinct from a travel agent which also may have a courier service to the Consulate/Embassy.