visa warning

I know there is lot of people who did or do as I did meaning used a small privat company to extend their visa because they did not take the time to travel to the border themselfes. Even though you find these comp. everywhere and even if you see them advertise openly it is still strictly unlegal. Nobody cares as long as your passport isnt stolen, lost or whatever. I used a comp. in Pai and they lost it (they said anyway). I went to Bangkok and got a new passport easy enough but the problem started when I went to the imigrationoffice to get the neccesary stamp in it. They could see on their comp that I had left the country (meaning my passport) so what did I do in their office in Bangkok they asked. They started to scream at me (even though I kept my cool) and finally trough me out of the office. My norwegian embassy told me that I was under policeinvestigation for beeing an unlegal immigrant. I got a date to show up at the office again and was told that I either would get jailed or a stamp. Got a stamp (think they just wanted to scare me, dont know) and could continue my travels. I am telling you this so that you might think it over. Take the trip instead is my advice.
Safe travels

It's very good advice and you can probably consider yourself very lucky.

Up untill a few years ago, Thailand had many agents who would take your passport and promise to run it thru the Border. What they usually did was to take it to a back room and affix a phony stamp.
Last year the Thai authorities got technology that enabled them to detect the false stamps and more than a few people had their passports confiscated, a real buearucratic nightmare for the victim.
Many people had to "loose" their passports and get new ones reissued because they had used one of those services and weren't sure about the stamps authenticity.

The phrase, "a fool and his money soon part" comes to mind.

Sorry, no sympathy from me, you are lucky you are not in the BKK Hilton right now sharing a 20' cell with 18 other idiots.

Consider yourself lucky since you knew it was illegal before you did it. Like Udon Thani you will get no sympathy from me when you travel here and get screwed after you willingly support corruption. If a foreigner was stupid enough to do this in your native country what do you think would have & should have happened to them?

Fortunatly most visitors are beginning to take care of visa requirements here in Thailand as responcibly as they would anywhere else and almost all of these illegal visa companies are out of bussiness now.

Yesterday I was up in Raynong / Burma for my 90 day work permit visa trip and clearly saw over 4 times more people in the immigration office then ever before. I interestingly noted that there were 2 groups from organised visa trips from Samui and a company with 2 van loads of travelers from Kho Tao. I guess this is because the crossings in the South are considered too scary for most but at least they are traveling do do things legaly now and not deliberatly breaking the law and supporting corruption.

Regards From Phuket

Richard & Megumi

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<hr>Yesterday I was up in Raynong / Burma for my 90 day work permit visa trip and clearly saw over 4 times more people in the immigration office then ever before. <hr></blockquote>
Sounds good, meaning nice waits for all the stamps etc. Am I glad I am on a 1 year-visa, so don't have to leave the country anymore.

It is your own fault for letting a company take your passport, you could have done this yourself quite cheaply, and in a day.
You did deserve to be shouted at, as this is was a stupid thing to let someone take your passport, you must haver known the risks ! unless you are really thick in the head.

Luk ling
1st stop IDC 2nd and last stop BKK Hilton.

Thanks for the correction, Smartarse.

Perhaps the Thai authorities need to tighten up on these so called companies that offer this kind of service, and this will result in the tourist going to the border to get visa themselves. It is about time that the Thai authorities started to clamp down on the agencies that offer this kind of illegal service. The tourist is often told that it is legal for the agencies to get visa's.
Maybe the threat of a jail sentance to the Thai agency owners might do the trick !

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<hr>Perhaps the Thai authorities need to tighten up on these so called companies that offer this kind of service<hr></blockquote>
They already did, during APEC 2003. Hundreds of foreigners were arrested. The Thai agents that were caught all got away with it though - no surprise there. Some companies still continue to operate. I know one that is as reputable as it can be given that it is an illegal business. Funnily enough most of the well publicised arrests made during and after APEC were people using Khao San Road and Pattaya travel agents for this service. As Davjer says, they were just taking the passports into a back room and stamping them themselves. Thay cannot get away with it now, as all entries and exits into the kingdom are recorded on computer. The 'reputable' company I mentioned before actually takes the passport out of the country and records you on the computer, maintaining the illusion that you left and came back legally.
In no way do I advise anyone to use these services.