Are all Chiang Mai visa agents equal?

[Thailand]

Seems to be quite a few changes with visa agents recently, apparently there is now an appointment system for all of them,no longer having to queue up with the poor people?Does this apply to all agents?

 

I read on another thread that employing an agent now even bypasses having to appear at the ground floor offices to apply for an extension of stay? Does this also apply to all agents?

 

Does this system mean that there are additional immigration staff to service those agency clients via the appointment system at the top floor office or is there still only one officer tasked with this job ( extension of stay)?

 

Has the appointment system for the aged and infirm been put on the back burner or ditched altogether?

 

Personally not due for renewal for some months but would be useful for most people to get an updated status with what is happening at Prom at this moment in time.

 

[Trujillo]

Was there something for "aged"? That's sort of a relative term. I know some folks who are 60 and look to be 80 and some who are 70 and look 50. 

 

You might make a tighter list and then call around to the different agencies (how many are there?) and get quotes. 

[jonwilly]

I understand that at least one CM based lawyer can do the hiss for you with no visit to Prom.

I am still with Assist Thai Visa who have never let me down in 5-6 years, I do have to visit Prom though with them.

 

john

[Thailand]

13 minutes ago, Trujillo said:

Was there something for "aged"? That's sort of a relative term. I know some folks who are 60 and look to be 80 and some who are 70 and look 50. 

 

You might make a tighter list and then call around to the different agencies (how many are there?) and get quotes. 

Simpler to ask on here, plenty of people using the different agencies, price was not a consideration although I know they vary quite a lot. More interested to see if access to the new appointment system etc was the same for all.

 

And yes, there was/ is even a draft form for those over a certain age, may be seventy, and those who may be infirm to apply for an appointment. A friend of mine in late eighties and wheelchair bound was even the model for a photo shoot last September with a senior immigration official to show the new caring sharing side, still waiting for that one I believe.

[Sandy Freckle]

Hard to say..., go in and ask them who they know ?

[Trujillo]

I haven't heard of Sunbelt Asia in a long time. Are they still active? Weren't they a sponsor here at one time? 

[DavidOxon]

I went this morning.... 3.30am as I had a one day window and couldn't sleep anyway. I got there... only person there, pitch black without a torch. Found the marriage queue and took the first place. A few minutes later a sleepy eyed Thai woman climbed out of her tent and reclaimed her first spot. She tried to claim 2nd and 3rd chairs also but I stood my ground. There were a number of chairs in various rows with 'things' on them reserving them. Seat 2 & 3 turned up around 7am and I told them politely to naff off behind me as I'd been there3.5 hours and seen neither head nor hair of them. They were NOT pleased! most of the reserved seats were 'claimed' around 8am when long queues had formed behind these 'ghost' people. Seat 1 arrived about 8am and was seated by the agent that had sat there.  When they started giving out the numbers, he was turned away and sent to the Lampang office as from Lampang. I Bet he's not very impressed with his agent!... I don't really have a problem with people paying others to wait in the queue for them, but if you're paying someone 500baht to put something on a seat to reserve it and then leave again till 7am then I think you're being very short changed! It won't take long for that to get out of hand and there being No more places left for ordinary folk, forcing us into the hands of the agent!. I suggest that first person there eachmorning clear all the reserved seats.... if we do that for a few days then they'll get the message maybe.... or maybe it might just start a minor war  

[Thailand]

How many different queues there now?

30 minutes ago, DavidOxon said:

I went this morning.... 3.30am as I had a one day window and couldn't sleep anyway. I got there... only person there, pitch black without a torch. Found the marriage queue and took the first place. A few minutes later a sleepy eyed Thai woman climbed out of her tent and reclaimed her first spot. She tried to claim 2nd and 3rd chairs also but I stood my ground. There were a number of chairs in various rows with 'things' on them reserving them. Seat 2 & 3 turned up around 7am and I told them politely to naff off behind me as I'd been there3.5 hours and seen neither head nor hair of them. They were NOT pleased! most of the reserved seats were 'claimed' around 8am when long queues had formed behind these 'ghost' people. Seat 1 arrived about 8am and was seated by the agent that had sat there.  When they started giving out the numbers, he was turned away and sent to the Lampang office as from Lampang. I Bet he's not very impressed with his agent!... I don't really have a problem with people paying others to wait in the queue for them, but if you're paying someone 500baht to put something on a seat to reserve it and then leave again till 7am then I think you're being very short changed! It won't take long for that to get out of hand and there being No more places left for ordinary folk, forcing us into the hands of the agent!. I suggest that first person there eachmorning clear all the reserved seats.... if we do that for a few days then they'll get the message maybe.... or maybe it might just start a minor war  

How many different queues there now?

[DavidOxon]

8 ish

[Awk]

Went to see Assist Thai Visa at Chiang Mai land the other day.  Always done it myself before, but this year circumstances are quite different (asking for extension based on support of a Thai child who lives with soon to be ex-wife, not me.  If anyone has experience, please let me know).

 

I had no idea it was such a big operation.  I expected to see a farang and a couple of Thai staff, but it was a big office with plenty of staff.  Guess CM Immigration makes business good for these companies.  

 

I sat down on the sofa, where another farang was also sitting, and waited.  I expected somebody to come and ask me how they could help me, but nobody came.  A little later another farang couple came in and also sat down.

 

After waiting a little longer, some staff come over to us, looking not sure who to ask first, but asked the farang couple first if he could help them.  I waited a few more minutes to see if somebody would,  err, "assist" me, but nobody came and I left.

 

There's another visa company in Nimman I believe, but unless I remember wrong (can somebody confirm?) one of the guys there posted various personal data here on TV in response to a customer who seemed to have some genuine gripes with the service, so don't want to try them.

 

G4S is a bit out of the way for me and I would prefer to speak with somebody who speaks English well regarding this, but perhaps I'll try them next, unless somebody has some other recommendations?

Edited March 1, 2017 by Awk

[DavidOxon]

yes, that would have had me walking out too...

[Paul Catton]

5 hours ago, DavidOxon said:

I went this morning.... 3.30am as I had a one day window and couldn't sleep anyway. I got there... only person there, pitch black without a torch. Found the marriage queue and took the first place. A few minutes later a sleepy eyed Thai woman climbed out of her tent and reclaimed her first spot. She tried to claim 2nd and 3rd chairs also but I stood my ground. There were a number of chairs in various rows with 'things' on them reserving them. Seat 2 & 3 turned up around 7am and I told them politely to naff off behind me as I'd been there3.5 hours and seen neither head nor hair of them. They were NOT pleased! most of the reserved seats were 'claimed' around 8am when long queues had formed behind these 'ghost' people. Seat 1 arrived about 8am and was seated by the agent that had sat there.  When they started giving out the numbers, he was turned away and sent to the Lampang office as from Lampang. I Bet he's not very impressed with his agent!... I don't really have a problem with people paying others to wait in the queue for them, but if you're paying someone 500baht to put something on a seat to reserve it and then leave again till 7am then I think you're being very short changed! It won't take long for that to get out of hand and there being No more places left for ordinary folk, forcing us into the hands of the agent!. I suggest that first person there eachmorning clear all the reserved seats.... if we do that for a few days then they'll get the message maybe.... or maybe it might just start a minor war  

Surely a seat reserver needs their bottom affixed to the seat, placing an inanimate object just doesn't cut it.

Should I need to join this circus in the future I'd have no hesitation in removing all the crap from the seats and have Opal deposit it at nearest police station under lost and found.

Civically responsible comes to mind.

[worgeordie]

I think some agents are more equal than others.

and one definitely is.

regards worgeordie

[Bill97]

The title of this thread is absurd.

[Thailand]

4 hours ago, Bill97 said:

The title of this thread is absurd.

Why?

Don't you know any of the answers to the questions that are relevant to the title of the thread?

Edited March 2, 2017 by Thailand

[Thailand]

4 hours ago, worgeordie said:

I think some agents are more equal than others.

and one definitely is.

regards worgeordie

Spot on and even their spokesman agrees.

Edited March 2, 2017 by Thailand

[Mark123456]

22 hours ago, Thailand said:

Spot on and even their spokesman agrees.

If you already know the answer, why are you asking the question?

[scottiejohn]

On ‎01‎/‎03‎/‎2017 at 9:30 PM, Paul Catton said:

Surely a seat reserver needs their bottom affixed to the seat, placing an inanimate object just doesn't cut it.

Should I need to join this circus in the future I'd have no hesitation in removing all the crap from the seats and have Opal deposit it at nearest police station under lost and found.

Civically responsible comes to mind.

You could be accused of theft etc. if you do that!

That item may be there because the owner of the bottom has been there that long that they are away answering a 'call of nature'.

 

Why not shout 'unattended item - possible bomb'.  That should solve your TM30/visa extension problem for a few years.

 

 

[Paul Catton]

1 minute ago, scottiejohn said:

You could be accused of theft etc. if you do that!

That item may be there because the owner of the bottom has been there that long that they are away answering a 'call of nature'.

 

Why not shout 'unattended item - possible bomb'.  That should solve your TM30/visa extension problem for a few years.

 

 

Fail to see how Opal handing lost property to police station can be construed as theft even with the anomalies of Thai Penal Code.

Very much doubt repercussions would wend its way to her, rather the opposite.

Watching the bomb squad make an arrival though might prove entertaining.

[Thailand]

45 minutes ago, Mark123456 said:

If you already know the answer, why are you asking the question?

For those that don't perhaps, is that OK with you?

[scottiejohn]

Is not the 'Thailand Elite Scheme' just a very expensive agent system.
And if you are so high and mighty to be such a member what are you doing at immigration?[emoji41]

Sent from my MotoG3 using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

[Thailand]

Just as a refresher, here are the original questions pertinent to the title of the thread:

 

"Seems to be quite a few changes with visa agents recently, apparently there is now an appointment system for all of them,no longer having to queue up with the poor people?Does this apply to all agents?

 

I read on another thread that employing an agent now even bypasses having to appear at the ground floor offices to apply for an extension of stay? Does this also apply to all agents?

 

Does this system mean that there are additional immigration staff to service those agency clients via the appointment system at the top floor office or is there still only one officer tasked with this job ( extension of stay)?

 

Has the appointment system for the aged and infirm been put on the back burner or ditched altogether?

 

Personally not due for renewal for some months but would be useful for most people to get an updated status with what is happening at Prom at this moment in time."

 

Asking a lot I know but any chance of staying on track?  

[metisdead]

Inflammatory troll posts and replies have been removed.  

 

 

[mamborobert]

Are they equal.....of course not

 

Are all lawyers, mechanics, surgeons, chefs equal? Regardless of equal skill level, relationship and interpersonal skills will always play a part. The old " it is not what you know but who you know", even in the west, even in government agencies.

 

A connected lawyer can get you more favourable court decisions or your land registered quicker. A connected mechanic can get you parts quicker, and original parts much quicker. A connected surgeon is going to get you admitted to a better government or private hospital and quicker....etc etc.  People are willing, and do, pay a premium for those connections.

 

That  covers the topic title. The body of the ops post would require asking Immigration (on any changed staffing levels), or a policy change on priority

For the elderly or infirm

 

Nancy was in a position to update via camping out there for long periods. Nancy, and presumably no one else, does or can do this anymore. So the main broad update source is gone.

 

someone may for example respond that the appointment system for old/ infirm served them well. Whereas Nancy may have observed a bigger picture of x number elderly waiting inordinate lengths of time. These people may not be TV posters or have English as first language so you are not getting the broad empirical picture that Nancy would/could provide.

 

i do not think you can get such a broad updated status as Op seeks. Everyone will have their own unique experience, which could change Day to day with client numbers, and probably change again by the time when the Op does his extension in some months time. We may even have the mythical 10 year visa :)

 

it it might be better if people posted a NEW or different experience resulting from some procedural or policy change rather than what is "usual".

Edited March 3, 2017 by mamborobert

[Thailand]

9 minutes ago, mamborobert said:

Are they equal.....of course not

 

Are all lawyers, mechanics, surgeons, chefs equal? Regardless of equal skill level, relationship and interpersonal skills will always play a part. The old " it is not what you know but who you know", even in the west, even in government agencies.

 

A connected lawyer can get you more favourable court decisions or your land registered quicker. A connected mechanic can get you parts quicker, and original parts much quicker. A connected surgeon is going to get you admitted to a better government or private hospital and quicker....etc etc.  People are willing, and do, pay a premium for those connections.

 

That  covers the topic title. The body of the ops post would require asking Immigration (on any changed staffing levels), or a policy change on priority

For the elderly or infirm

 

Nancy was in a position to update via camping out there for long periods. Nancy, and presumably no one else, does or can do this anymore. So the main broad update source is gone.

 

i do not think you can get such a broad updated status as Op seeks. Everyone will have their own unique experience, which could change Day to day with client numbers, and probably change again by the time when the Op does his extension in some months time. We may even have the mythical 10 year visa :)

 

it it might be better if people posted a NEW or different experience resulting from some procedural or policy change rather than what is "usual".

Finally a sensible and reasoned response although the questions were based on what is not "usual."

 

New- All agents were not getting appointments until a few weeks ago, I simply asked does " your" agent get appointments or do they still have to have queue sitters?

 

New- So far it has been confirmed that using one particular agent means that the client does not have to attend to immigration does that apply to " your" agent?

 

New- Are there additional officers going "extension of stay" or still just the one?

 

New- There is even a downloadable draft appointment form for the aged and infirm but appears to be no progress.

 

I am fully aware of what used to happen, simply trying to determine what actually happens now. Many on this local forum use agents, those would be the ones with most of the answers?

 

[NancyL]

28 minutes ago, mamborobert said:

Are they equal.....of course not

 

Are all lawyers, mechanics, surgeons, chefs equal? Regardless of equal skill level, relationship and interpersonal skills will always play a part. The old " it is not what you know but who you know", even in the west, even in government agencies.

 

A connected lawyer can get you more favourable court decisions or your land registered quicker. A connected mechanic can get you parts quicker, and original parts much quicker. A connected surgeon is going to get you admitted to a better government or private hospital and quicker....etc etc.  People are willing, and do, pay a premium for those connections.

 

That  covers the topic title. The body of the ops post would require asking Immigration (on any changed staffing levels), or a policy change on priority

For the elderly or infirm

 

Nancy was in a position to update via camping out there for long periods. Nancy, and presumably no one else, does or can do this anymore. So the main broad update source is gone.

 

someone may for example respond that the appointment system for old/ infirm served them well. Whereas Nancy may have observed a bigger picture of x number elderly waiting inordinate lengths of time. These people may not be TV posters or have English as first language so you are not getting the broad empirical picture that Nancy would/could provide.

 

i do not think you can get such a broad updated status as Op seeks. Everyone will have their own unique experience, which could change Day to day with client numbers, and probably change again by the time when the Op does his extension in some months time. We may even have the mythical 10 year visa :)

 

it it might be better if people posted a NEW or different experience resulting from some procedural or policy change rather than what is "usual".

 

5 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Finally a sensible and reasoned response although the questions were based on what is not "usual."

 

New- All agents were not getting appointments until a few weeks ago, I simply asked does " your" agent get appointments or do they still have to have queue sitters?

 

New- So far it has been confirmed that using one particular agent means that the client does not have to attend to immigration does that apply to " your" agent?

 

New- Are there additional officers going "extension of stay" or still just the one?

 

New- There is even a downloadable draft appointment form for the aged and infirm but appears to be no progress.

 

I am fully aware of what used to happen, simply trying to determine what actually happens now. Many on this local forum use agents, those would be the ones with most of the answers?

 

Thank you, Mamborobert for recognizing what I was doing that was of value to the expat community -- just sitting there, in a public space, observing and reporting.  And sometimes asking questions of people I already knew.  Not accosting strangers, but just being there, where many people knew me already from CEC and sometimes chose to talk with me, watching to see how many retirees were being turned away each day and when they arrived, what time people arrived to get in the queue, what time lights came on and the toilets were unlocked, etc.  Incidentally, I don't have a vehicle, so I was paying for transportation and I have a heart condition where I shouldn't skimp on sleep.  I didn't set out to find what I discovered, but it just became too difficult to ignore. 

 

[scottiejohn]

10 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Finally a sensible and reasoned response although the questions were based on what is not "usual."

 

New- All agents were not getting appointments until a few weeks ago, I simply asked does " your" agent get appointments or do they still have to have queue sitters?

 

New- So far it has been confirmed that using one particular agent means that the client does not have to attend to immigration does that apply to " your" agent?

 

New- Are there additional officers going "extension of stay" or still just the one?

 

New- There is even a downloadable draft appointment form for the aged and infirm but appears to be no progress.

 

I am fully aware of what used to happen, simply trying to determine what actually happens now. Many on this local forum use agents, those would be the ones with most of the answers?

 

Nowhere in 'your' original post on this thread do you use the word 'your'.  What is 'new' about your 'new' lines. Please re read 'your' own post!

Where does it say anything anywher that "it has been confirmed that using one particular agent means that the client does not have to attend immigration".

Why would having agents or any other person or object sitting on a chair require more immigration officers/desks.  It is still the same number of applicants in CM/country.  It is just how they are handled. 

This has been done to death so far and like everything to do with Immigration changes day by day.

 

[Paul Catton]

2 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

Is not the 'Thailand Elite Scheme' just a very expensive agent system.
And if you are so high and mighty to be such a member what are you doing at immigration?

Sent from my MotoG3 using Thaivisa Connect mobile app
 

Have never needed to be a part of this circus they call Immigration with dubious and inconsistent practices.

I gave an account of what action I would feel appropriate to take if, and the if gets more hesitant, I found myself having to undergo this process.

I believe most reasonable persons would agree, an inanimate object left on a chair for a hugely significant period of time in no way sanctions legitimate reservation.

 

[NancyL]

5 minutes ago, Paul Catton said:

Have never needed to be a part of this circus they call Immigration with dubious and inconsistent practices.

I gave an account of what action I would feel appropriate to take if, and the if gets more hesitant, I found myself having to undergo this process.

I believe most reasonable persons would agree, an inanimate object left on a chair for a hugely significant period of time in no way sanctions legitimate reservation.

 

Agreed.  I'd give the inanimate object the benefit of the doubt for, say, a 20 minute toilet break, but after that I'd move it to the rear of the queue.  If questioned, I'd say I had a discussion with the object and it gave up its place to me.  It was a very sweet and kind object.

[scottiejohn]

3 minutes ago, NancyL said:

Agreed.  I'd give the inanimate object the benefit of the doubt for, say, a 20 minute toilet break, but after that I'd move it to the rear of the queue.  If questioned, I'd say I had a discussion with the object and it gave up its place to me.  It was a very sweet and kind object.

Just like you!