Reader Submission: Bad experience with a visa agency
Below my experiences with a visa agency. It all started on September 5th with a visa application for a six-month stay in Thailand.
According to the visa office, I had to submit these documents:
- Valid passport.
- Two recent passport photos.
- Copy ticket.
- Copy of bank statement with a minimum income of 1.250,00 euros per month.
- Copy passport.
- A fully completed and signed visa application form and an order form.
I fulfilled all these assignments on September 5th. On September 10, an e-mail from the visa office: the Thai embassy needs additional information. This involved an original bank statement stating that there is sufficient income, a birth certificate, an extract from the Municipal Personal Records Database, a certificate of good conduct and a health certificate. These requirements also met and shipped on September 24.
Then I called the visa office twice because I started to worry about the passage of time. The answer twice: don't worry, we're on schedule. The departure was scheduled for Tuesday, October 15.
On Friday 11 October a phone call from the visa office that more information is needed. Namely a bank statement with a balance of 20.000 euros plus a monthly income of 2.000 euros. It was not possible for me to meet these requirements. According to the visa office, the application was not rejected but was "on hold" for the time being. In the meantime we had good contact with the travel agency about our airline tickets and these people wanted a statement in black and white that the visa was rejected. Then a REFUND was possible. But the visa office refused this because according to them the visa was not rejected but was “on hold”. The Thai embassy was closed on Monday, October 14, but if I could meet the last requirements, my visa would be ready on Friday, October 18, even though my departure was scheduled for October 15.
All in all a very lengthy procedure, of about five weeks with little knowledge of the visa office. So I had it checked.
It is not my intention to put this visa office in a bad light, but it is my intention to find out if this is all "normal business". The ticket and visa application have been paid, but I still want to recover the money for the tickets from the office.
Submitted by Ben
Perhaps this is the normal course of business at that visa office, but clearly not, as it should be.
I am of course wondering why you did not simply submit your application to the embassy yourself.
Just ask what information they want and send it.
In Thailand, a visa agency can be useful to bend and even break rules, but in the Netherlands a visa agency seems completely useless to me… unless the Thai embassy is corrupt, but I don't assume that.
And in that case, the application for the visa through that visa office would probably have gone smoothly.
Why not go straight to immigration in Thailand with all the above forms, instead use a visa agency! With a 30-day free tourist visa you can easily and simply apply for this 6-month visa, and therefore the misery, too save your lost ticket!
There is no such thing as a 30 day free tourist visa. However, a “Visa exemption” ie visa exemption of 30 days.
In Thailand you cannot apply for a 6 month visa. You cannot obtain an METV in Thailand, only in your home country.
You can convert a tourist to a Non-immigrant. But he will not get there with the above forms. The financial requirements are the same as for an annual extension, but I understand that he cannot immediately meet them.
Dear RonnieLatYa,
It strikes me how much accurate and relevant knowledge you have of visa applications with regard to Thailand. It is undeniably the best resource available to successfully complete visa applications. Tribute !!!
Best regards,
Max
I always wonder why some use a “visa agency”. Unnecessary costs and asking for trouble… Prepare yourself thoroughly and follow the official route. It's that simple !
So it concerns a visa office in the Netherlands and the Thai embassy in the Netherlands. There are good companies and bad companies, as there are all over the business world. Apparently this agency is one of the bad ones, you can expect that they know what is needed for a visa application. So can arrange visa office in advance. Incidentally, an advantage of a (GOOD!) visa agency is that you do not have to ask the Thai embassy every time how and what is meant by ….. That saves you a lot of worries. And, if you have to go to the embassy maybe twice and you live far away, such an intermediate station of a visa office can save you a lot of time. But, again said, a GOOD visa agency. I know a few.
Don't you have to go to Amsterdam (or The Hague?). Train costs and lost a day.
“It is not my intention to put this visa office in a bad light”…..
You are very lenient towards that visa office by not indicating which office it concerns.
Why, with such unprofessional treatment?
I would use the principle of "naming and shaming". Not only to gain some weight, but also to warn others about this agency.
Thailandblog will not mention names of companies. We are not a pillory and in addition there are always two sides to a story.
I have been traveling to Thailand for 4 years now and always need a visa.
Every year a visa office takes care of my visa.
Costs 25 euros.
I always call them first and explain my situation regarding income, savings, etc. Then they tell me what to send
I will then send the requested forms and my passport.
Sometimes they need some additions, but usually it's good and I have my visa in about 5 days.
An ideal solution for me because if I have to drive up and down 2 times, I lose a lot more money and effort.
Never had any problems.
A friend of mine also does it that way, even though he lives in The Hague.
So maybe the wrong desk???
Totally agree with Ruud and Aduard.
Incidentally, the VIP scheme of Thailand also seems useful to me
You mean the Elite visa, which costs 500.000 baht?
Yes, that is a lot – about 20.000 euros I think, but doesn't that give you complete freedom?
Around 15.000 euros – still 3000 per year. Whether it's worth it will depend on your personal situation.
What is the advantage or added value of using a visa office? Go to The Hague yourself. Have a nice day. Visit the city itself and take the tram/bus to Scheveningen. If you come from Groningen or Maastricht, take a hotel.
I had the same experience in 2018. Had to send extra data to the visa office up to 3 times.
I would get a visa for 90 days, but the Thai embassy wanted additional information, especially of a financial nature.
A very friendly lady from the visa office regularly informed me about the progress by telephone and e-mail. Finally, after 4 weeks, a courier brought my passport with visa home. That was on time, but the costs amounted to 400 euros. I thought that was very much.
So this year to the Thai embassy in The Hague. brought all the necessary documents that the site prescribed. Squeaked in a curse and a sigh. costs 60 euros.
Visa agencies exist to make money. Just go to the official consulate.
i don't understand the above
I bring my necessary papers to a visa office in The Hague or Rijswijk.
nothing, no hassle with all the above forms and everything is ready in about 1 week.
1 completed Visa application
2 months bank statements
2 passport photos
and of course pay ready!!!!
regards Anton
If you do travel to The Hague, you might as well hand in your papers at the Embassy, right?
A visa office can help some – less mobile people for example – Getting a visa yourself is and remains the best, safest and only legal course of action.
Your “international passport” – like any other proof of identity and on second thought also a bank card – is a strictly personal document that can only be handled/used by its holder.
Handing over that document can lead to abuse and is punishable by law.
Moreover, the use of such services through such an office costs a lot of money and is, in the end, totally illegal.
Why they need the additional documentary mentioned in your letter, I cannot guess - one option is that they cannot complete the visa application - another is that they have not started it yet and are trying to buy time.
Might as well look into that.
By now you are of course walking around without your passport Without a visa you can fly with a passport - without a passport you can ……………….(fill in)………….
Dear Guy,
'This can not be!' Ridiculous! You do not send your passport.
I understand that older people 'can't' be that mobile but you can call the
Thai embassy that explains everything well.
What a terrible, terrible 'visa bureau', to be clear!
Good to present this to bloggers / readers and good responders with knowledge of business.
Yours faithfully,
Erwin
Hallo,
I have been using a visa agency for years, which uses shipping by ANWB.
Submit the necessary documents and the next day I will receive a receipt and, if necessary, a request for more information. I can forward this via a link on the website.
Only once has the embassy asked for more information. With 1 working days I can collect the visa at the ANWB office. Costs: approximately € 8 for treatment and € 55,00 for ANWB.
Saves me 2 trips to The Hague and the risk that I will be sent back and have to make another trip.
Groet
Henk (use name Henlin because there are more commenters named Henk)
I always have my visa applied for by VisaPlus, and that has worked fine for years.
You send the whole trade, and they take care of everything.
Costs 35 euros, so if you live in Limburg that's a pittance.
It saves you a day's travel, at least if all the papers are correct, otherwise you can go back again.
It is highly recommended.