bangkockney

Are they fresh water fish?

My Japanese Red Cap Goldfish keep dying, so maybe it's time for a change!

The IP address should only change when the router is disconnected for a period of time and the current IP is released. Your IP should not be released whilst you are still connected, so don't think the problem being booted from game servers is a change in IP.

I've never come across a situation where you need a static IP to play online games.

Why does he have to go through a proxy server in his building? Why have they set it up like that, as opposed to a switch and router?

Since you say you're going to be running an iPhone, I'd go with True as they have good wireless coverage across Bangkok.

True have 100% free data plans and I can get a wireless connection pretty much everywhere, making 3G irrelevant.

Hello Folks

Just a couple of questions , how long is the tourist visa for 3 or 6 months ? Do you think this is the best visa for us to apply for ? And when we apply can my partner just go to the emabssy office with the papers and submit them along with her biometric data, or will she need to make an appointment ?

Cheers

Have a nice day

Best to fill our your application on-line and schedule an appointment. Saves time spent waiting as a walk-in. See http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/applyonline/

Tourist visas are issued in most cases for 6 months.

Sorry to hear more drama in the nightmare you face. However, there will be a record of who has dealt with your application and who has/has not carried out their duties correctly.

Once you have your case settled I would strongly suggest raising this as a formal complaint. You can complain to the Embassy and the UKBA directly. They are required to process any complaint within strict time frames and hopefully provide you with an adequate reply.

Something to consider for the future.

Does "I love you long time" count as a command of the English language.

Guess the English government want citizens who can say more than "short time sucky sucky". Makes sense, helps speed up time at the welfare counter.

Thai Citizens are not entitled to UK welfare,

Thats why their Visas clearly state "No Redress to Public Funds"

Another SUN/Daily Mail fallacy?

Once you have Indefinite Leave to Remain you are entitled to public funds. You would still have Thai nationality/citizenship.

And the phrase is "No Recourse to Public Funds".

To anyone that actually wants to download a Youtube clip (or most streaming media anywhere online), I highly recommend Download Helper, a great extension for firefox.

A free VPN service to Europe? I'd like to hear about that. (I will only use it for strictly legal purposes, i.e. connecting to my business network in Europe in a secure way).

Given your VPN is for commercial use, then you likely have to pay for it.

That is unless you have no moral issues with using a free service for commercial activity.

If it's your own business network you are connecting to and therefore I assume you have access to the servers, why not set up a VPN server yourself?

Your normal card limit will apply.

So in the UK, the majority of personal Debit Cards are £500 daily limit. Business cards tend to be £750 daily limit. Credit cards vary, and some accounts may not allow cash withdrawal at all.

However, each ATM transaction is limited to 20,000 Baht. So would have to make many withdrawals to reach a large limit.

If possible, go for a TT rather than cash withdrawal. It's so much cheaper.

By the admission of the British press http://www.dailymail...nts-system.html the state of the UK visa process is in a "Shambolic" condition. A quote from aleading British daily characterizes the current South Asia dilemma as follows:"Over ten months the total number of visas handed out to Bangladeshis rose six-foldfrom 3,380 to 21,226." Obviously Britain does have a serious problem in its UK Border offices.

Be careful of what you believe in the press.

In the High Court recently the UK Border Agency was given the opportunity to prove once and for all that economic migrants were using the student visa route as a way into the UK; specifically English language courses.

You would have thought the opportunity would have been taken to bring everything out in the open.

The UK Border Agency could not produce one shred of evidence.

I implore you to read the judgement for yourself. You can arm yourself with the facts. Case reference: [2010] EWHC 1726 (Admin) .

It is just listening and speaking skills that will be tested, not reading and writing. The required level is absolute beginner, a score of 1.0 - 2.5 in the popular IELTS test.

UK immigration has been subject to abuse for many, many years. It is about time something was done to combat this. At least if partners have a minimum grasp of the English language they stand a much better chance of integrating into British society and not ending up as another welfare claimant.

You should consider it lucky that partners only need a basic grasp of English. If you want to come to the UK to learn English for more than 6 months you are required to be at A level standard - this is the real injustice and is quite absurd.

What do you want the VPN for?

No need to pay for a service, there's plenty of free ways to do it.

Thanks for your reply, would you care to explain the alternative ways to access UK resident only web sites.

PM me what it is you're trying to do.

I chose not to because of increased tax burden (foreigners pay higher tax than Thais), too much paperwork and large capital requirements (2m Baht minimum cash in the business to sponsor a work permit, if memory serves me right).

A highly intelligent comment from one of our asute, high flying, farang businessmen in Thailand...

Tax burden for foreigners and Thai's are exactly the same

If you have Thai residency you are then liable for tax on any Thai income as well as any income brought into the country from elsewhere. Hence, higher tax burden.

You can therefore print the company details from your own country on your business cards. There is nothing to stop you doing work for your company back home whilst you are in Thailand.

I have not read through to the end of this thread, so maybe this is discussed later but this advice looks incorrect. It is my understanding that anything construed by the Thai authorities as work requires both appropriate visa status and a work permit. I think there are some exemptions concerning work permits for a few fields (mostly sports/entertainment and some diplomatic stuff) but doubt this situation is covered by these.

In any case, if you're considering going into business in Thailand, it obviously behoves you to find reliable, expert advice from impartial lawyers and accountants. Kind of an Escher thing, really....

Right, so you're anywhere in the world on holiday with a tourist visa. You have a roaming plan and reply to some work emails on your BB. Need a work permit? Think not.

If you're looking for headaches, start a business here.

If not, earn your money other ways.

What you need to do is hire a good accountant who will fill you in on the necessary details to avoid said headaches.

As long as you don't draw a salary or dividends from the company, you can be a share holder with no need for a work permit (but don't do any work).

If your type of business allows, incorporate your company in your home country as well as Thailand, split revenues and take your salary from there. E.g., UK tax laws are much more favourable than Thailand; in Thailand dividends are classed as income and taxable at any level. In the UK, it's possible to withdraw £40k from the business and pay no tax, no NI, no employer's contributions etc.

You can therefore print the company details from your own country on your business cards. There is nothing to stop you doing work for your company back home whilst you are in Thailand.

Why would you want the trouble and expense of incorporating the business in a Western country where it has no operations? UK tax laws are not more favorable than Thailand's and dividends are taxable in both jurisdictions. However, in Thailand there is an option to pay a flat rate of 10% on dividends. If the business is actually, you can also receive a dividend on this basis, based on the shares you own, and you don't need a work permit for that. If she is willing you can get her to transfer her dividend to you. She should be receiving a salary from the business at least up to the amount that is tax free for employees. As a director, she does not pay social tax. If the business is not a company but is in her name as a sole proprietor, tax is paid on income at the progressive rates. If no credible accounts are provided, the Revenue Dept will assess tax based on reported sales alone and their fixed formula for expense deductions, if they believe reported sales. Otherwise they have the power to assess the sales themselves. If the business is substantial, a limited company is nearly always better. Small businesses can stay under the radar as sole proprietorships.

Judging by comments by Immigration recently, they are looking more closely into businesses in tourist resorts, particularly Pattaya, that are run by foreigners using Thai girlfriends or wives as nominees because they feel that too many foreign criminals have brought stolen money to Thailand and used it to open businesses in this way. Using Thai nominees is illegal under the Foreign Business Act, Immigration Laws and the Working of Aliens Act. Technically the Thai shareholders or proprietors should provide the funds for their own investments and foreigners without work permits are not permitted to perform any kind of work whatsoever in connection with the business. Acting as greeter in a bar is clearly work. Foreigners are permitted to own 49% of the shares in service businesses and can obtain work permits to act as managing director or in other positions if the business appears credible to the Labour Ministry and Immigration. Americans can own 100% of service businesses, except in certain sectors such as finance and logistics. To be honest Thailand doesn't need foreign investors to open more basic type bars and restaurants that can easily be opened and operated by Thais.

Trouble and expense of incorporating overseas as opposed to Thailand? LOL

Incorporating costs at most £50 in the UK. Thailand is much more expensive.

Full P+L and Balance Sheets need to be drawn up once only, at years end.

For a Thai Co. Ltd. full P+L and Balance Sheets must be prepared every month and submitted so the Government can bill you for sales tax, amongst other things. For example, if you buy advertising with a company cheque, there will be a discount in price which represents the tax due. It is the purchasing company who is liable for paying the tax back to Government.

I don't know what you mean by paying social tax, but all our directors get hit for the Thai equivalent of NI. That is, they have to pick a hospital they want their contributions to accrue at and must register with the relevant Government Department. Oh and don't forget the 3,000 Baht or so it costs to register.

Sorry, but UK tax laws are much more favourable. In the UK, if your salary is just for your personal tax-free allowance, you are allowed to make up the rest in dividend payments, all the way to the high rate of tax (£40k). This means you can remove £40k annually tax-free from the business without any deductions for NI, PAYE etc. You cannot do this in Thailand.

Don't just believe me, speak to a bloody accountant for God's sake!

I think given the highly unusual circumstances you now face you'd be best seeking professional advice from a regulated immigration lawyer.

The only question that springs to mind from what you've said is, do you have large amounts of savings to offset no income?

Processing times vary as you have to apply at the consulate of the first country of entry into the Schengen zone. I know this doesn't apply in your case, but this can catch people out if travelling around Europe and they end up with a visa refusal stamp in their otherwise unblemished passport.

You must submit documents stating not only the purpose of your trip but the conditions in which you are travelling as well. Means of transport: for example, a return air ticket, proof of transport by car, train, etc.

The purpose of your trip: this might simply be proof of reservation of a tourist trip. But it might also be an invitation from one of your friends or relatives…

The money needed for your trip: you must demonstrate that you have the requisite financial resources to cover your needs throughout your trip. Requirements may differ from country to country in the Schengen area, so please check with the Hungary consulate for details of those requirements:

The conditions in which you will be accommodated during your trip – a hotel reservation, for example. In some cases, additional information may be requested by the authorities of the countries concerned.

To obtain a visa, you will need travel insurance to cover the costs of repatriation and emergency medical expenses worth at least €30,000. The insurance certificate must be presented at the time of delivery of the visa.

Here's a link detailing all the supporting documents etc: http://www.mfa.gov.hu/NR/rdonlyres/17C22871-B307-4245-97D7-7D30B2730BC4/0/071218_general_information_entering_hun.pdf

Ask your accountant.

Are you ready to marry someone after only 5 months living together? And if you don't think your relationship would survive the time it takes to process a visa, are you sure she's the one?

Have you thought about a student visa?

What do you want the VPN for?

No need to pay for a service, there's plenty of free ways to do it.

Does your husband have any family members who can act as your sponsor? Someone with fixed deposit savings, any type of investments, regular income?

You do need to submit 3 months bank statements, so lack of regular funds may be a problem. Unless of course those bank statements show a healthy commission earned within the period - I assume there's paperwork for it, as you said you've been working legally on and off.....

Sometimes it's much better for your appeal to be heard before an Immigration Judge in the UK - they have a habit of putting ECOs in their place! They do often seem to have a greater grasp of common sense.

Good luck with the appeal - hope it works out for you.

As a general rule of thumb, you should take what is quoted on the UKBA website over the VFS; the UKBA website sets out the immigration rules and guidance that ECOs will use, VFS just forward your application.

For the majority of visa applications regardless of type, if documents are not in English or Welsh then they should be translated by a certified person, with full contact details provided with the translation.

I used to recommend people use a translation service next to Regent House, where it used to be around 200 Baht / page. Reports are that it is now 1,000 Baht per page.

Best you find a translation service away from the Embassy, though this may not be possible if you plan to go tomorrow. If you're really in a bind and can't find anyone, my friend is a certified translator and is in Tannon Thani, N. Bangkok. PM if you need her details.

TT transfers offer best value for big money.

£25 flat fee, very favourable exchange rat (better than withdrawal or changing paper money)