Visa advice reqiured

[Rich426]

Hi,

I've recently been scammed by a visa agency. I didn't know at the time it was a common scam they do.

I arrived here back in April and married my girlfriend of 18month. I have had the type 'O' marriage visa then I wanted a 1 year visa but didn't have the required 400,000bht. I spoke to a visa company who said they could arrange the visa for me at a price of 28000bht. With me being a little nieave back then I decided to go for it. I have recently found out that my 1 year visa is "under consideration" and I have to report to immigration on the 29th September. I spoke to the visa company regarding this a couple of weeks ago who told me I don't have to do anything, they will collect my passport and sort this out for me.

I have spoken to said visa company again this morning to see when they want to collect my passport and do this for me. Now they are telling me that we have to show 400,000bht in my account again plus they now need another 25000bht from me as " the boss has moved".

Can anybody please give me some advice on what is the best way forward as I don't have that money in my account plus I certainly don't want to give them another 25k.

[Rich426]

Also am I best to cancel this visa and go to Laos or somewhere and get another type 'O' visa?

[oncearugge]

Your passport has not been retained by immigration.

Your "agent" has the passport.

Demand they return the passport. If you are met with refusal then make a complaint of theft to the police naming the "agent".

I presume you have some "documentation" from this "agent"?

If (a big if) your application for an extension of stay based on marriage was made and accepted it will be issued.

A multi-entry non O visa based on marriage can be obtained from Savannakhet without having to show any finances.

[Rich426]

I have my passport. They were going to collect if from me on the 29th sept and do the required run to immigration.

[oncearugge]

I have my passport. They were going to collect if from me on the 29th sept and do the required run to immigration.

Does the passport have an "under consideration" stamp and report back date?

If so the go to immigration yourself on the 29th and they will tell you if the application has succeeded or failed.

[Rich426]

I've been told since the erawan bombing they've tightened immigration and on the 29th I'll have to show proof again of the 400000tbh in my account again even though all documents have been submitted and I had a "pending consideration" stamp in my passport. Do you think this could be a scare tactic from said agency to gain more money from me?

[StefanBBK]

I have my passport. They were going to collect if from me on the 29th sept and do the required run to immigration.

Does the passport have an "under consideration" stamp and report back date?

If so the go to immigration yourself on the 29th and they will tell you if the application has succeeded or failed.

This is exactly what you should do. Go yourself to immigration if you have the stamp saying "under consideration", on the date it says.

[ubonjoe]

There is no requirement to show the 400k baht again unless they checked the account balance was below that amount or was gone during the approval process. You would of been contacted about that though during the approval period.

[Rich426]

Thanks Ubonjoe. I'll go there and see what the outcome is. Seems like it is a scare tactic then. If it's declined I suppose I can always go to Laos and get a multiple type O visa