Lawnmower

I can't remember the name but it is actually part of the terminal. You do not even go through passport control to get to it. It's about 100 m from the gates and duty free shops. Not quite the luxury i expected of Dubai.

I booked flights from Bangkok to London Gatwick in March. Last week, i had a call to say there was a schedule change so would i mind switching to London Heathrow. I replied no as we had specifically looked for Gatwick flights to meet a connection. They replied no problem we can put you up in a hotel in Dubai until the next flight (12 hours). As we have two small children, the break between the flights should be great for them. Hopefully it will be a nice hotel with a good pool !

It worked for me. Stopped at the sign, put the car in neutral and it moved at least 20 metres up the hill. This was in a truck with five adults and 4 children too ! Tried it forwards and backwards.

Sniffer dogs are at international airports every day, but they are trained not to react to food.

I think you should def. be due a bigger tax rebate. I work for the same wage and pay about 2,600 baht a month. The school has just calculated my tax return this year (my second year) and say it will be around 4000 baht.

The Similians are much better for diving than Koh Tao, however you will have to check when the Park closes as it closes some time in May for the rainy season. It's too dangerous to get the boats out there. The Thai national Park web-site should tell you.

Cheers guys.

One last thing for now...

I've presumed that my step-son (4) will need to attend when the applications are submitted. Correct ?

So, if we give the applications in tomorrow, there won't be an interview then ?

Hi,

I read on this site a while back that the British Embassy was trying to make a decision on the visa applications on the application day. Is this just for Visitor visa's or settlement too ?

Cheers

Lawnmower.

I've never done it but there are minibuses that run between Koh Chang and the pier for Koh Samet. All the travel shops in Koh Chang advertise it on their boards outside. These are bound to run the other way too. I'm sure you will be able to sort out from Koh Samet.

Hi,

I need to make a decision between the above hotels on klong Phrao beach. I need to stay next to the Amari hotel as more of my family is staying there and i believe these two are the closest. They are similarily priced and look ok on the internet sites. Has anyone stayed at either of them or know anything about them ?

Cheers

Lawnmower.

Hi,

We are applying for settlement visas for my wife and step-son next week. What time should we arrive at the British embassy ? Is there still really big queues ? When we applied for a visitor visa in July 04, my wife had to get there around 4 in the morning, because they were only letting in a certain amount every day. Is this still happening ? Has anyone had any recent experience ?

Cheers

Lawnmower.

We recently got a Thai passport for my step-son. His natural father was not needed to sign off for the new passport in Laksi. My wife just said they were not together anymore. They looked at her passport and saw her name was changed to mine and said ok no problem.

I was quite surprised after reading previous comments on here. We had sole custody documents to show but didn't even have to mention these. We had previously changed his last name to his mother's maiden name, so maybe this helped as-well.

The sole custody documents took a day and a half in the local Amphur. The father was required as were two independent witnesses to verify everything was correct. We also changed his name to my wife's maiden name while we were there.

I am applying soon for a settlement visa for my step-son. In respect of the actual visa application is sole custody papers enough or will i need a letter from the natural father as-well ?

Hi,

The embassy web site says that a cashier's cheque is required for settlement visa applications. To get a cashier's cheque do i just go into my SCB branch and fill out a form ? Is there anything i should know ?

Cheers.

Jersey uk,

The Crapauds let everyone in these days don't they ?

Joking aside, coming from Guernsey, i have had experience of a tourist visa application to the ci's. I can't guarantee that Jersey applications are the same as for Guernsey but i'm pretty sure they would be.

The British embassy in BANGKOK has to approve the application first, to see if she meets the basic criteria. They then make a decision. If they approve the application, they will refer their recommendation to Jersey/Guernsey. Apparently, they fax over all the information you present to them. Jersey will then have the final say over whether a visa is granted.

In my case the Uk embassy told my wife they would have given her a UK tourist visa on the same day, but needed to check with Guernsey first. The checking took two weeks but was approved.

Hope this helps...

All the national parks have camp grounds. Nam Nao national Park in the north of Petchabun province is my favourite. Waterfalls, caves, undisturbed jungle, walking, hills, wildlife etc. Take some cold weather gear though, as it feels pretty cold at night. Unless you go on a bank holiday weekend, most of the campsisites are pretty quiet (except Khao yai).

When you get the translations done (marriage and birth) is it just the one coloured certificate page for each that is needed ?

Do births have to be registered at the UK embassy within a certain amount of time or does it not make any difference when it is completed ?

We were there a couple of years ago for Loy Kratong and really enjoyed it. There are shows and displays from late afternoon until late and it has a real family atmosphere. All the lit kratongs on the water in front of the wats are an impressive site. It gets real busy at night but it's great to just wander around and watch everything.

We hardly saw any Ferrangs in the three or four days we were there.

In the day, hire a bike like the others said and simply explore. It's worth going to the smaller sites outside the main complex, everything is well signposted. The main area is alot less tranquil for Loy Kratong due to all the food and market stalls that are set up.

I'm looking at getting a British passport sorted for a newly born. I note on the embassy web-site that children's passports are valid for 5 years. Does the photo have to be updated at any stage during the five years ?

Thanks.

Has anybody stayed in the Amari hotel in Trang ? I'm looking for some unbiased info on it. Let us know what it is like if you have.

Cheers

Cheers Scouser.

I will leave applying until a little later, but will keep an eye out too.

Will they require all the evidence i put in the first tourist visa we did, or should it be based mostly since then ?

Hi,

My wife, her son, our daughter and myself are looking to go to the UK in July next year. Looking at some of the threads and the interview wait times am i right in thinking i should apply for the settlement visas in January ?

Is there a link or thread on this site which details everything i should include in this package ?

Our brief details are:-

We met in August 2003 and hve been living together in Thailand since August 2003. We visited the UK (wife on tourist visa) in October 2004. We were married in April 2005 and our step-daughter was born this month.

With regards to my step-son, we have sole custody papers and can get letters from his schools saying we have been responsible for his education. Is there anything else we should get ?

Also, the house we intend to live in at first only has two bedrooms. Is this acceptable for the visa application ? The children will be 4 and 6 months when we get there and we wish them to share a room.

Many Thanks.

I haven't stayed on these islands but did a day long-tail boat tour from Koh Lanta. All the islands were beautiful and we will be going back to stay on them at some stage. Watch out for the weather though. We did this trip in April and the crossing was horrendous.

nice one mrboj. Don't worry about the interveiw, they did the same to hubby & then asked me to clarify some points as well. Was a right po faced cow who interviewed him & the translator made a mistake which is why I had to go in. BUT, it's all in the past & the time will fly. Don't forget to tell her to get a lung xtray before leaving as they may require her to have one on arrival for TB & if she alrady has it will save you loads of waiting time at the airport.

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How much do lung x-rays cost in Thailand ?