Visa Agency

[steveweaver99]

Which are the most popular Visa agencies that people are using these days, Pattaya or Bangkok?

Do they have a high strike rate for successful applications?

Looking for a UK Tourist Visa for Thai GF.

[bridge]

Which are the most popular Visa agencies that people are using these days, Pattaya or Bangkok?

Do they have a high strike rate for successful applications?

Looking for a UK Tourist Visa for Thai GF.

I can highly recommend Thai Visa Express who now have an office in Pattaya. I have referred a few people to them over the last 18 months, and they have only had positive things to say. As with any visa agency, I recommend that you only use the services of an agent who is not only suitably qualified, but registered and therefore accountable for their actions. Thai Visa Express are registered with the OISC.

Regards

bridge

[ThaiVisaExpress]

Feel free to contact myself should you require a quote for my services.

Regards Paul.

[theoldgit]

I personally wouldn't use an agent for a simple tourist visa, the process itself is a pretty simple process of completing and submitting a form then providing documentary evidence to support the application, remember its your girlfriends application not yours.

Certainly a qualified agent will be experienced in compiling and submitting forms and will point out any errors in the application but they have no sway in the decision making process, and details all the all the documents required are on the VFS website, and there is a lot of helpful advice on this forum, though you have to sort out the chaff from the wheat. Basically your girlfriend needs to convince the ECO that the trip is valid and affordable, if you are sponsoring her then you will need to provide details of your relationship and your ability to finance the trip. The most important thing for her to do is convince the ECO that she will return to Thailand at the end of the trip, she needs to prove strong ties in Thailand, be it evidence of property, a business, employment or continuing studies.

As I say I wouldn't personally use an agent, but that's only my opinion, some people do and are pleased with the results whilst others successfully do it themselves. I would agree with the previous posters that if you feel the services of an agent are needed then only use one that is registered with OISC in the UK, I think there is only one in Thailand, certainly not one of the vulchers circulating the visa application centre or the myriad of agents to be found around Bangkok.

[7by7]

There are many people in Thailand who call themselves visa agents or immigration lawyers but they are no more qualified than you or I. At best these people are mere form fillers who will charge you large amounts of money for doing something you could, with a little bit of research, easily do for yourself. Some of them are worse; they are out and out con artists who will lie to you and rip you off; unfortunately many of these are Brits!

If you do feel the need for an agent then make sure you choose a proper professional who is both qualified and regulated in the UK. This means someone who is on the OISC register.

[ALFREDO]

If you can fulfill the requirements for a Visa to the UK or Schengen than try it yourself.

Important is that you can proof that you have enough money in the Bank or/and a monthly income thats high enough,

what is high enough is a difficult to answer.

I could always show that I have a higher sum of money in the Bank from a business sale and inherited. Without a steady monthly income.

Until now I had now NO to a Visaapplication to Schengen-Europe and I went many times with different GF.

Important and helpful is also that you are with your GF at the Embassy-Consularsection, when she makes the Visaapplication and at the next visits, if such are necessary.

The ladys usualy do not know how to deal and speak with the authorities, mostly cannot speak enough English.

The first Visa for both of you is the difficult one, a follow up is than normaly easy.

[kerr17]

I know a person who's been doing this for the last 20 years.

She's a farang (can speak Thai as a Thai citizen) and reccomended by many Embassy itself.

Very quick and reliable, I would highly reccomended (I just got my UK visa thanks to her and used her many times in the past).

If you wants her contact please PM me.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

Nobody is recommended by the Embassy none of the agents are OISC registered in Thailand if you could actually see what goes on at UK/Vac daily with these so called professional companies harassing applicants you would change your mind.

I Must add not all the agents are bad however choose carefully.

Good luck

[theoldgit]

Absolutely right, no agents are recommended by the UK Embassy, which this thread is about, it is also correct that there are a lot of vulchers circling around the application centre. A friend of a friend who has done it loads of time before is a disaster waiting to happen.

If you feel you need an agent then it's imperative that you only use an one who is registered OISC, they not only have to register but pass an exam before they are legally able to offer advice in the UK - I really cannot stress this enough.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

We have had files stolen from an applicant in the past from an agent claiming to work for the Embassy etc. We have put things in place now to protect our clients from these people.

Good luck with your application.

[Electra]

The notion that because an agent in the UK is registered with the OISC one is somehow, perforce, guaranteed sound representation is misleading.

Registered companies may operate on one of 3 levels with Level 1 being the entry point at which the practitioner is limited to giving advice upon straightforward applications within the immigration rules. There are a plethora of companies at this level whose registration was determined by a relatively simple entrance examination some consider to be no more than a comprehension test. They are mentored and audited but the OISC have been criticised in the recent past for permitting registration as a revenue earner, each registration at Level 1 is subject to an annual fee of £550, and not pursuing complaints as vigorously as they should.

Level 2 & 3 practitioners, as implied, are permitted to practise more complex work and in specialised fields. Generally, they have an expertise on par with qualified solicitors and in some cases may exceed that standard.

Deciding to act without representation may be a sound decision in simple applications and where there are no complicating factors present but folk should not blind themselves to the reality that immigration law is as potentially fraught as any other area and ultimately only professional help will meet the challenges.

A guide to which agent is better than another in Thailand is largely dependent upon personal recommendation and finding the right one can be just plain luck. A useful indicator will be cost and I would suggest that any outfit charging outside the range of between £250 - £600 for visit/fiancee/settlement applications should be avoided.

As ever, you pays your money you takes your chances.......(sic)

Edited June 19, 2009 by Electra

[7by7]

I know a person who's been doing this for the last 20 years.

She's a farang (can speak Thai as a Thai citizen) and reccomended by many Embassy itself.

The British embassy do not recommend agents, ever! If an individual member of the embassy staff is recommending an agent then they are doing so without the authority or even knowledge of the embassy or the UKBA! One has therefore to wonder at the motives of such a person and the value of their recommendation!

In most applications even the con artists can sometimes get it right, so although a personal recommendation from a satisfied client can be helpful, it is not to be relied upon.

Despite Electra's warning, OISC registered advisers are professionally qualified and their activities are regulated and monitored by the government. No agent can guarantee a visa, but an OISC registered professional will be honest about your chances and will not take your money and submit an application when s/he knows that you simply do not qualify for the visa in question.

Unlike some British self styled agents in Thailand.

If an agent promises 'no visa, no fee' then avoid them; they are lying. Try telling them that you will pay their fee once you have the visa and see what happens!

If an agent claims to have influence in the embassy then avoid them, they are lying.

If an agent claims to be recommended by an embassy then avoid them, they are lying.

From the Guidance - General information (INF 1)

Should I ask an agent or an immigration adviser to help me apply for my visa?

You should be careful about using an agent or an immigration adviser as they cannot issue visas, or influence the outcome of your application. There have been cases where agents and immigration advisers have given people poor advice and overcharged them.

Edited June 19, 2009 by 7by7

[Electra]

Interpret as you think fit but you seem to have to have missed the point about the cloak of respectability seemingly afforded by OISC registration. Level 1 companies are not professionally qualified, nor are they always moderated to the extent that you naively believe.

Caveat emptor and please, please do not sacrifice common sense by succumbing to the illusory panacea of any body spawned by NuLabour. Most things they created simply do not work in the manner intended.

Edited June 19, 2009 by Electra

[steveweaver99]

Thanks guys for the input all so helpful and full of information.

I may try and tackle this myself as Im not sure why the agencies charge so much money??

I have just a few questions:

- Her passport has her married name (now divorced), will this require changing for the purposes of the Visa

application? She has an official Divorce document.

- Reason to return will be a letter from her employer. What should this state, there are no pay slips as such. Also she

rents accommodation but there is no tenancy agreement.

- Do all documents submitted need to be original, if not which ones can be copied??

- Is it a good idea to schedule an appointment with the Visa application centre in Bangkok, what advantages does this

have?

Thanks

[ThaiVisaExpress]

Add as much evidence as you can with the application etc. And when you talk about fee for a consultant its not just the application they are preparing what are their service levels etc. Does the fee include translations taking her for biometrics sorting the draught out etc basically taking care of her and ensuring the application goes smoothly at the other end.

[theoldgit]

Add as much evidence as you can with the application etc. And when you talk about fee for a consultant its not just the application they are preparing what are their service levels etc. Does the fee include translations taking her for biometrics sorting the draught out etc basically taking care of her and ensuring the application goes smoothly at the other end.

It is absolutely correct that you provide as much evidence as possible to support an application, all the documents required are on the VFS website, basically evidence that the trip is affordable, be it evidence from the applicant or any sponsor, and that will be bank details.

Evidence of reason to return, you have mentioned a letter from an employer, it needs to be genuine and it might be checked for authenticity, lack of payslips whilst not uncommon probably doesn't help.

Papers, for a tourist visa, don't need to be translated, the VFS check list makes that very clear, though in practice it might save a couple of days.

Taking an applicant to the VFS office for biometrics is a red herring, all an agent can do is fill out a pretty simple form and take the applicant to Regent House, the biometric procedure is carried out by VFS staff with the agent not even being allowed in.

I have said many times that the procedure is very easy, but if you really feel that the applicant needs to be spoon fed then use an OISC registered agent.

[7by7]

Level 1 companies are not professionally qualified, nor are they always moderated to the extent that you naively believe.

From How do I become an Immigration Adviser?

3. Take the code and rules test. You need to get 100% on this test to pass and proceed with your application.

8. You will be required to take the level one assessment test within 14 days of your application being accepted by us.

I am sure that any level 1 adviser will readily admit that they are not as qualified as, for example, a solicitor specialising in immigration law, but they do have to show that they have some competence!

The OISC do remove people from the register if it is shown that they are not competent or following the The Code of Standards. This may or may not be following a complaint from a person dissatisfied with the adviser's services. See List of Prohibited Immigration Advisers.

Caveat emptor

Indeed. But surely even you will accept that an OISC registered adviser is likely to be more professional and more competent than, for example, a certain agency in Pattaya whose British owner claims registration with the 'Embassies Governing Council'; an organisation that does not exist?

[7by7]

Steve,

For how to apply, fees, supporting documents etc. see How Do I Apply?

Applicants must attend the UKVAC in person to hand in their supporting documents and for biometric enrolment. You can either make an appointment for this or simply turn up and join the queue. Your choice.

[ubonjoe]

- Her passport has her married name (now divorced), will this require changing for the purposes of the Visa

application? She has an official Divorce document.

If she has changed her ID card to her maiden name she should get a new passport.

It only takes a couple of days and costs 1000 baht for a new passport.

Changing it might save some headaches along the way.

[cuddleypete]

i would not use Visa agencies (and did not) as you can do it yourself with help off this forum like i did myself why pay when you can save money and at the end you will feel so much better that you did it yourself.

pete

[steveweaver99]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is taking her for biometrics? Wasnt aware of this.

[/b]

Evidence of reason to return, you have mentioned a letter from an employer, it needs to be genuine and it might be checked for authenticity, lack of payslips whilst not uncommon probably doesn't help.

The letter will be genune its just that her employer will not be adept at writing letters for such reasons and I just wanted to direct her on what she should write, what sort of information should the letter state?

Taking an applicant to the VFS office for biometrics is a red herring, all an agent can do is fill out a pretty simple form and take the applicant to Regent House, the biometric procedure is carried out by VFS staff with the agent not even being allowed in.

Dont know anything about this procedure.

[steveweaver99]

Steve,

For how to apply, fees, supporting documents etc. see How Do I Apply?

Applicants must attend the UKVAC in person to hand in their supporting documents and for biometric enrolment. You can either make an appointment for this or simply turn up and join the queue. Your choice.

So its not just a case of just mailing the application and the supporting paperwork?

[7by7]

No.

Have you looked at the links provided? All the actual procedure is explained there.

[7by7]

From the Guidance - General information (INF 1)

Should I ask an agent or an immigration adviser to help me apply for my visa?

You should be careful about using an agent or an immigration adviser as they cannot issue visas, or influence the outcome of your application. There have been cases where agents and immigration advisers have given people poor advice and overcharged them.

The advice on both the UKVAC website and the embassy website has been updated to say that if one wants to use an adviser one should use an OISC registered adviser or a member of a recognised UK legal body. (Thanks to TVE for bringing this to my attention.)

Hopefully this will help stop people falling victim to the sharks.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

If you use an agent choose carefully or do the application yourself.

Example :

A client visited me and had married a girl age 20 however under the rules she must be 21 to enter the UK as his wife,. We simply got him a family visit to bridge the gap between her reaching 21. As reason to return was not an issue as she would be returning to apply for settlement 2 months before her 21st birthday .

Edited June 22, 2009 by ThaiVisaExpress

[apeks1971]

Which are the most popular Visa agencies that people are using these days, Pattaya or Bangkok?

Do they have a high strike rate for successful applications?

Looking for a UK Tourist Visa for Thai GF.

dont bother with any agencies they are a rip off,full of shit all of them,do it yourself mate