hotandsticky

I was considering a 2 year visit visa for the missus, just to save me further application/s in the following 18 months. It also means that she would have a visa in place which helps for any Schengen application.

However, I am struggling with the cost vs benefits analysis.

US$473 for a 2 year visa does not sound good value against US$125 for a 6 month visa. In my case the admin/traveling time savings do not justify an extra US$350.

The length of permitted stay is a minefield with everyone saying that there is no 180 day per rule - yet Immigration criteria pointing to the fact that if you spend longer in the UK, than your home country, then you are making the UK your 'main home'. Could you even get 3 x 6 month visit with a 2 year visa? - it seems to open up reasons for future refusal.

Am I missing something?

3 hours ago, jimn said:

Do I really need to say? Be my wife and live normally, what sort of question is that?

I just wondered how she was supporting herself as you are not giving her any money to be with you

.....   a genuine question is what it was 

8 minutes ago, jimn said:

Well maybe I am abnormal. I have an ex gogo Pattaya girl as my wife of 8 years, lived together 9 years know her 11 years. Still going strong she is 30 years old and I am 66 years old. So despite all the scaremongers out there, these relationships do work. In case you ask no I do not send money to her family or give her money to be with me. Its a normal relationship.

What does she do now that she is an ex-go-go dancer?

3 hours ago, isnakebite said:

I presumed as such, but sending the email and stating "VFS do offer an optional paid for service which permits customers to retrieve your passport whilst we continue to consider your visa application please use the link below for more information:"

 

The link is for visa application centres in India and selection can't be changed. How is my wife going to collect her passport in India if they have her passport? Weird.

The passport does not leave Bangkok.

2 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

In some Countries they can be picked up on the streets , in other Countries they can be picked up in bars , other Countries they leave their telephone number in phone boxes .

   Is there any other difference ?

We are not talking other countries; we are talking Thailand - specifically Bangkok.

1 hour ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Are you looking for prostitutes or non prostitutes ?

Is there a difference in this case. 

5 minutes ago, isnakebite said:

My wife applied 24th August, when I completed the application on line it stated 2-3 weeks but I told her afterwards that because of the Ukraine situation it would definitely be longer.

 

A couple of days later we received the official email that, sent a link to the GOV website that then  stated 7 weeks.

 

27/09/22 We received an email stating "it was under consideration". That applications were taking 9-10 weeks but it would definitely take longer than 6 weeks.

 

I checked then and I checked earlier today, the website still says 7 weeks.

 

We are still waiting. It is 7 weeks today.

 

Weird thing was the email we received in September was sent by the UKVI office in Delhi.

 

 

They are processed in India .

14 minutes ago, JimGant said:

As maybe a point of interest, my own Will was written in 1983 by the Air Force JAG office in the Pentagon (thus it looks nice and official, which the Thais love). Since it says I leave everything to my wife, period (same Thai wife as today), it's about as simple as you can get. So, I'm satisfied that it would suffice here in Thailand (since foreign Wills are acceptable, if properly witnessed, which it is) should it (and its translated version) need to go through probate.

 

But I doubt it will need probate, as all my assets subject to probate are bank accounts. And one is joint with the wife, and the other one (my immigration related account) has the wife as the co-signatory. So the wife has been advised that her first order of business, even before I am barbecued, is to go online and move most of the money from my account to hers -- and also most of the money from out joint account to hers (as there are reports that some bank managers believe half a joint account is subject to probate; wrong, but the manager's belief would prove inconvenient, if she froze the account). No need to close the accounts, as that might require my presence -- so just leaving a few thousand baht should suffice.

 

Several threads (search "asean now wills") on the legality of the above, particularly the co-signatory's authority when the primary is dead. So, I don't want to reinvent the wheel on this thread. But my take is: Who's going to complain, if your Will leaves everything to your wife (or partner) and there's no one contesting your assets? Plus, why would the bank even know you're dead (?), and thus they would have no reason to freeze your accounts. And, if they don't freeze your account, 'cause you're dead but no one told them, they have no legal issues to confront. And if there is no wronged party, who's pressing charges?

 

So, yeah, good to have a Will, should probate be necessary. But if all you have subject to probate are bank accounts -- consider briefing the wife on the above.

I agree with the legality of the all the above.

However, the OP would be wise to consider the practical situation. Jim hinted at it above - it is what happens on the ground that matters - and I have seen some horror stories.

Moving money online or via an ATM  is a smart move, prior to death or after.....irrespective of the legal position it is an effective way to distribute the funds - and will save costs if Probate does not need to be obtained. Remember also that dealing with an estate in Bangkok, and maybe Pattaya, can be totally different to Sisaket, Surin, Buriram etc. 

25 minutes ago, TTSIssues said:

Putin, Xi and Prayut are all unelected dictators so clearly show a similar mindset.

 

i cannot believe that Putin would attend in person, but you never know as apparently he is going to attend the G20 in Bali.

 

there is clearly a massive target on him from so many people - so will be interesting to see if he makes it out alive. 

No way will he leave Russia.

15 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

  I for example am a Britt., I've been in Thailand for 30 years but own UK property that earns rental income. I am UK domiciled because of the property and my income but I am not UK tax resident.

To whom do you pay the tax due on your rental income?

The only purpose of a foreign language drafted Will is so that the foreigner can understand it. 

Far better to draft something in your own language then have it translated into Thai for execution/witnessing.

1 minute ago, KannikaP said:

You must be one of the lucky ones. Most guys on here need full bank details, book, statements etc in order to get their Extension. 

Not sure which office that was but Jomtien would not touch it without the bank letter/statements. 

In fairness the bank book is of little use unless it is updated regularly - if there are consolidated entries you certainly could not identify transactions.

20 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Looks similar to bang saray navy base, so I'll guess somewhere within 10km of that. Post on facebook Pattaya Oracle group, someone will know

Looks a better quality than the navy training base - although the style is similar.

I would guess Sattahip - or into Rayong.  

52 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Such unrealistic projections. Thailand will be very lucky to get 30 million tourists ten years from now. Everything has changed. They are more likely to get under 10 million a year, for the foreseeable future. For a dozen good reasons. 

For selfish reasons I hope you are right.

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Bank statements show each transaction withdraw/deposit and dated.

Intra-day transactions are only subtotals and it is the end of day balance that matters - at least by all international standards.

I fully accept that anything like this can give the opportunity for an IO to create an issue.

Try the Kamagra soluble (7 tablets in a tube).

I did, and switched from Cialis. I pay 200 Baht a tube.

6 hours ago, billd766 said:

IMHO he is/was a far better and more honest than ANYBODY from a military coup and far more trustworthy, as shown by the current lot and all the ones that have come along since 1932.

Honesty is a matter of scale in Thailand  - he just did it better (and bigger) than most.

6 hours ago, MajorTom said:

Why? Since when? I have traveled to Cambodia on motorcycle a few times. Some paperwork on the border but it was definitely possible.

Motocy is not a truck - even that is a faff with covering your headlights and having no insurance.

A border that I would avoid at all costs; I hate it 

Nonetheless, the answers are yes and no. Yes, you need a visa and I recommend getting an evisa online.

No to the truck 

24 minutes ago, ScotlandtheBrave said:

It is tempting to skip it altogether as there appears to be no actual record of the paper requiring me to report. However I am far too scared of Immigration so thank you ubonjoe I shall certainly do it on the Friday. 

You might need to change your user name to Scotland the Scared ????.

Last year I reported 2 weeks early, this year I didn't bother at all.