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Samui Immigration - Using An Agent

AngThong
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AngThong Silver Member

AngThong

Posted
Posted

Can you have an agent do your 30 day extension (tourist visa) at Samui immigration or do you have to do it in person?

Lazy I know but it'd save me a trip to Samui :P

BigC Ruby Member

BigC

Posted
Posted

dont know about an agent but an accountant or a lawyer ight be able to but u have to trust these people and have worked with them along time or the word lazy could cost u time in jail. They are very serious with fake stamps and wrong passports and stuff

AngThong Silver Member

AngThong

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Sure. I'd have my landlady do it... She also organises visa runs etc. She's nice but more than that, she'd be pretty inane to get me into trouble - she'd lose a good tenant. She says she can do it (pretty cheap, too) but I thought I'd check with you guys before going ahead with it.

robsamui Platinum Member

robsamui

Posted
Posted

It all depends on your circumstances.

In law, you must do it personally. But that law is one of many that nobody seems to be enforcing at the moment.

If the *big* travel and tour agencies are doing all this stuff again right now then fair enough . . .

There are two aspects to all of this, anyway. One is that when it comes to stamps on passports, these can be faked. The other aspect is that they can be quite genuine, except that it is not you personally who has gone to get the stamp put there. If your passport needs to go across the Thai border then you run a much higher possibility of getting a fake stamp.

But I can't see anyone bothering to fake up a stamp, with the expense and risk involved to them, when all they need to do is spend a couple of hours going to Samui Immigration.

The chances are that you will get a genuine stamp - but it won't be you that went to the office to get it in person. And, in a month's time, who's going to know that?

Although it has to be said, this process is illegal.

And if you are only going to be here for a few weeks anyway, then it's not like you will have your passport scrutinised all the time as you go back and forth on border runs . . .

You need to decide for yourself!

R

longtom Silver Member

longtom

Posted
Posted

Loads of people doing that, many agents come to Samui immigration (often with bundles of passports) and they get preferential treatment. wink.png

Doesn't mean it's 100% legal but I haven't heard of fake stamps for quite some time now.

PoorSucker Star Member

PoorSucker

Posted
Posted

Loads of people doing that, many agents come to Samui immigration (often with bundles of passports) and they get preferential treatment. wink.png

Doesn't mean it's 100% legal but I haven't heard of fake stamps for quite some time now.

The bundles of passport are for 90 day reporting that you don't need to do in person.

samuijimmy Ruby Member

samuijimmy

Posted
Posted

Loads of people doing that, many agents come to Samui immigration (often with bundles of passports) and they get preferential treatment. wink.png

Doesn't mean it's 100% legal but I haven't heard of fake stamps for quite some time now.

The bundles of passport are for 90 day reporting that you don't need to do in person.

...... and usually for the Burmese workers.... from what I have seen....

AngThong Silver Member

AngThong

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Ok I'll go meself. I'm not here for a few weeks though, at least a few years I think... Though on tourist visas since I have no grounds on which I could apply for any other visa. There have been queues in the past but if I prepare all the paperwork in advance, I should be fine... Don't like waiting :P

samuijimmy Ruby Member

samuijimmy

Posted
Posted

Ok I'll go meself. I'm not here for a few weeks though, at least a few years I think... Though on tourist visas since I have no grounds on which I could apply for any other visa. There have been queues in the past but if I prepare all the paperwork in advance, I should be fine... Don't like waiting tongue.png

Best to avoid doing Mondays or Fridays.... others days usually less of a line up!

and Samui is not that bad ..... tongue.pngbiggrin.png

John 1 Gold Member

John 1

Posted
Posted

Loads of people doing that, many agents come to Samui immigration (often with bundles of passports) and they get preferential treatment. wink.png

Doesn't mean it's 100% legal but I haven't heard of fake stamps for quite some time now.

The bundles of passport are for 90 day reporting that you don't need to do in person.

Are you missing the sign in the office that says 90 day report to be done in person.

  • Like 1
Tropicalevo Star Member

Tropicalevo

Posted
Posted

Ok I'll go meself. I'm not here for a few weeks though, at least a few years I think... Though on tourist visas since I have no grounds on which I could apply for any other visa. There have been queues in the past but if I prepare all the paperwork in advance, I should be fine... Don't like waiting tongue.png

I do not know your country of origin, but if you ever go back there, I can recommend that you apply for an 'o' non immigrant one year visa. I did this a number of times from the Uk and I have also managed to do this for my wife and a friend or two. It was so easy. No need to lie, steal or scam. I then converted mine to a retirement visa - until I decided to go back to work again.

AngThong Silver Member

AngThong

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Ok I'll go meself. I'm not here for a few weeks though, at least a few years I think... Though on tourist visas since I have no grounds on which I could apply for any other visa. There have been queues in the past but if I prepare all the paperwork in advance, I should be fine... Don't like waiting tongue.png

I do not know your country of origin, but if you ever go back there, I can recommend that you apply for an 'o' non immigrant one year visa. I did this a number of times from the Uk and I have also managed to do this for my wife and a friend or two. It was so easy. No need to lie, steal or scam. I then converted mine to a retirement visa - until I decided to go back to work again.

But don't you need some kind of grounds for applying for 'o'... Like Thai wife, kids, friends, job, something? I have absolutely nothing of the kind, I am a tourist - just a very long-term one. I've heard you can get an 'o' from Hull by just saying you'll be visiting "friends" (which would be a lie), that would feel much more of a cheat than several tourist visas in a row. After all, there are no official rules saying you can't be a tourist "forever"... They just prefer you not to have lots of back-to-back tourist visas.

If I end up staying several years, I may consider something of the kind... Maybe investing in some kind of business, I don't know. I'm not a business man (nor want to be!). Retirement is a looong way off etc...

notmyself Platinum Member

notmyself

Posted
Posted

Ok I'll go meself. I'm not here for a few weeks though, at least a few years I think... Though on tourist visas since I have no grounds on which I could apply for any other visa. There have been queues in the past but if I prepare all the paperwork in advance, I should be fine... Don't like waiting tongue.png

I do not know your country of origin, but if you ever go back there, I can recommend that you apply for an 'o' non immigrant one year visa. I did this a number of times from the Uk and I have also managed to do this for my wife and a friend or two. It was so easy. No need to lie, steal or scam. I then converted mine to a retirement visa - until I decided to go back to work again.

But don't you need some kind of grounds for applying for 'o'... Like Thai wife, kids, friends, job, something? I have absolutely nothing of the kind, I am a tourist - just a very long-term one. I've heard you can get an 'o' from Hull by just saying you'll be visiting "friends" (which would be a lie), that would feel much more of a cheat than several tourist visas in a row. After all, there are no official rules saying you can't be a tourist "forever"... They just prefer you not to have lots of back-to-back tourist visas.

If I end up staying several years, I may consider something of the kind... Maybe investing in some kind of business, I don't know. I'm not a business man (nor want to be!). Retirement is a looong way off etc...

Hull stopped issuing friend etc. 'o' visas perhaps 3 years ago. If you are not married, don't have a child in school, not in education, nor working or have a business and not 50 year old then I don't think there is any way of spending a long time in LoS except via tourist visas. Back to backs only seem to be an issue within the region though I doubt this is in anyway a rule of some kind. I prefer to go to the UK for a triple entry valid for 6 months than potentially use up my ability to get one in the region because one day I may have to actually HAVE to get one in the region.

That's what I do and it works for me... Perhaps I have been lucky?

robsamui Platinum Member

robsamui

Posted
Posted

When I came here in 1998 there was no problem at all getting (from Penang or an agent) one back to back tourist visa after another.

I went for 5 and a half years like this, end to end. But not today.

As far as all the neighbouring countries go, the consulates won't allow this. I don't know any more what the current a) law is and cool.png how it's being enforced,

but a year or two back you could only stay on a tourist visa for 6 months in every year. You'll need to check on what it is today.

As nothimself said, you'll need to shop around, but it can be done. HK seems easy going. And the UK consulates in London and Hull too.

I've heard that Perth couldn't care less. But you won't get it in Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam or Laos, or so I'm told.

Overall, if you've got the dosh and plan to stay here, it's cheaper to form a small company and get the WP that goes with it than to keep going abroad and notching up more tourist visas. (Although that will then give you a couple thou extra monthly costs in accountant fees.)

R

notmyself Platinum Member

notmyself

Posted
Posted

a year or two back you could only stay on a tourist visa for 6 months in every year. You'll need to check on what it is today.

I believe that changed at the same time as the land entry went down to 15 days from 30.

As nothimself said, you'll need to shop around, but it can be done. HK seems easy going. And the UK consulates in London and Hull too.

I've heard that Perth couldn't care less. But you won't get it in Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam or Laos, or so I'm told.

May depend on PP? Not sure about HK but I can get a triple 6 month validity in Aus and NZ no problem... but I have a British PP. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/189375-latest-reports-of-getting-a-visa-in-the-region/

Over

all, if you've got the dosh and plan to stay here, it's cheaper to form a small company and get the WP that goes with it than to keep going abroad and notching up more tourist visas. (Although that will then give you a couple thou extra monthly costs in accountant fees.)

I've been looking into this and for me it's better to stay on tourist visas. For others (depending on age) it would be a better option.
lopburi3 Legendary Member

lopburi3

Posted
Posted

a year or two back you could only stay on a tourist visa for 6 months in every year. You'll need to check on what it is today.

There was never any such limitation of six month stays on a visa per year. The old restriction was only for visa exempt entry of not more than 90 days in a six month period and that was rescinded when they changed land visa exempt entry to 15 days.

  • Like 1
PoorSucker Star Member

PoorSucker

Posted
Posted

Loads of people doing that, many agents come to Samui immigration (often with bundles of passports) and they get preferential treatment. wink.png

Doesn't mean it's 100% legal but I haven't heard of fake stamps for quite some time now.

The bundles of passport are for 90 day reporting that you don't need to do in person.

Are you missing the sign in the office that says 90 day report to be done in person.

Notification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days

  1. The foreigner makes the notification in person, or
  2. The foreigner authorises another person to make the notification, or
  3. The foreigner makes the notification by registered mail.
  4. The notification must be made within 15 days before or after 7 days the period

    of 90 days expires.

  5. The first application for extension of stay by the foreigner is equivalent

    to the notification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days.

Source: http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php?page=90days

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