Digital nomads heading to Thailand are being warned about alleged visa service scams that have cost travelers hundreds of dollars with nothing to show for it.
Two companies—Issa Compass and Thai Visa Centre—are facing accusations of charging up to $500 for Thailand's popular DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) application services, only to deliver failed applications and no refunds. Multiple travelers report being ghosted after payment, according to discussions in digital nomad communities.
"I've applied for a visa through ISSA Compass five times over the last eight months, and every single time they failed miserably," wrote one traveler in a detailed review posted to Google Maps. "After each rejection, they had the nerve to tell me to move to a different city or even another country just to try again. I spent months dragging myself around the world based on their useless 'advice,' and for what? Nothing."
The reviewer claimed to have lost nearly $1,000 with no refund, despite the company advertising a refund policy. After turning to a different agency, their visa was approved in just four days with entirely different documentation requirements.
What makes these operations particularly concerning is their aggressive marketing tactics. Travelers report seeing "massive amounts of spam" in Facebook digital nomad groups from Issa Compass over the past year, often using dozens of anonymous or fake Facebook accounts. These accounts pose as satisfied customers and promote the service as worth paying around $100 for "mental comfort" in preparing DTV applications—though actual costs reportedly climb closer to $500.
Neither company is registered in Thailand's official business database, meaning they're operating under fake corporate trade names. According to community investigations, Issa Compass was founded by a Singaporean former Foodpanda employee with no background in immigration matters. The Thai Visa Centre is allegedly connected to an individual who was previously arrested for visa forgery and narcotics trafficking in , though never imprisoned.
