Jun wrote: ↑Sat Dec 30, 2023 4:04 pm
So your low risk solution of doing the visa extensions properly makes sense.
In my opinion, anyone who qualifies for the retirement visa or any other long-term visa, should do it properly despite the inconvenience and hassle of personally going to immigration to do it. I think it is a mistake to even try to find a way around it. Not a good idea to play games with immigration.
For me, a couple hours once a year of enduring a trip to immigration and possibly having to wait in long lines is worth doing. If you take care of it the proper way, now you have nothing to worry about if something ever goes wrong using an agent. When it comes to extending the visa, I'm not going to take any chances.
I agree that there really is no reason why they can't come up with a method of doing it online. Maybe some day they will, but until that day comes, for me it's off to immigration. And it is always a great feeling when you return to immigration the next day to pick up your passport and there is the new extension stamped in and you're good for another year.
If they do that, then the only reason to physically go to immigration would be if for some reason your application was not approved.