Yet another example of high level corruption

[Dodger]

I visited two visa agencies and both were able to fix visas that I would not legally qualify for. Including a retirement visa, without the 800,000 baht in the bank. For me, that is a fact and is sufficient proof of corruption.

I don't use an agent myself but I rub elbows with many expats who do - and over half of them do exactly as you do...and have been doing so for many years.

If you ever tried to calculate just how much $$money$$ is flowing (and distributed) in this pipeline between Agents and Immigration you'd need more buttons on your calculator.

[Gaybutton]

For me, that is a fact and is sufficient proof of corruption.

If in fact it is corruption, then that is another example of corruption working for you.

However, I would never recommend getting the retirement visa that way unless there is no other choice. If something ever goes wrong and it is discovered that the 800,000 baht was not your own money, I don't know what the consequences might be, but whatever they are I wouldn't want to find out the hard way.

[Jun]

If in fact it is corruption, then that is another example of corruption working for you.

A double edged sword

Once they take tea money via agencies, there's an incentive to maximise agency trade.
This probably explains the deliberate inefficiency in the Jomtien office. Make the service as miserable as possible so more people use agencies.
They appear to be focusing on maximising tea money, rather than providing a good service.

Another example of immigration corruption can be found at the Aranya Prathet border. Thai immigration work abnormally slowly, so you either wait over 2 hours or pay 1000 baht to be processed downstairs.

[Gaybutton]

They appear to be focusing on maximising tea money, rather than providing a good service.

Maybe that is why more isn't offered online, as is the 90-day address reports.

[Jun]

Maybe that is why more isn't offered online, as is the 90-day address reports.

Exactly. It's difficult to collect bribes via a website and cover it up.
Although as Gerefan found, they managed it with the Thai pass system, during covid.

Singapore shows how wealthy a SE Asian country can become, when they drive out corruption and focus on good governance.
However, we can't hire reasonably priced boys in Singapore and having made our money elsewhere, we're not the ones held back by Thai corruption.
So, Thailand is just fine for cheap holidays or retirement. I just wouldn't want to have to try and earn a honest living there.

[Dodger]

.......However, I would never recommend getting the retirement visa that way unless there is no other choice.

I was surprised after retiring here just how many expats there are who can't meet the financial requirements and use an agent solely for that purpose.

I know several expats who have been retired here for years who are living on less than 40,000 THB/month. One Brit I know who used to drive a taxi in London only receives 32,000 THB/month and seems to be surviving pretty well down in Hua Hin, and I have a good friend from Germany with a similar income who retired 5 years ago in Kon Kean who seems to be keeping his head above water. I also know a handful of expats right here in Pattaya who don't receive the minimum of 65,000 THB/month either, nor do they have 800,000 THB in the bank. Obviously all of these guys use agents and apparently pay somewhere between 12,000 - 16,000 THB/year for the visa extension service.

Immigration laughs all the way to the $$bank$$...the agents are happy...the expats are happy...and the wheel, with all its corrupt cogs, keeps on turning.