hotandsticky

Tom Cruise

Oops. I read your post differently (as I think others will). Thanks for clarifying.

You need to change your experiences. Most of mine have been NOTHING like yours.

Thank you. In the past (we have had 12 or 13 UK visas) they have been very good at picking up on my requests. Only once in the early days did they miss it - but, like you, my trip was only for a month or so and it didn't matter. This time I was trying to cover 2 trips which just fit into 6 months if the start date is our first arrival date. It just saves my time, 100 Quid and a trip to Bangkok if they get it right. Obviously, the passport does not leave Bangkok so VfS insert the visa sticker. I don't know if that is something that is pre-completed online and VfS print off - or whether VfS produce the visa sticker themselves once India confirm approval. I vaguely recall @oldgitchanging one of his wife's visas (or he knew of someone that managed to get theirs changed). We shall see.

Having praised UKVI, for their speedy processing time, it was disappointing to find that the visa sticker has been issued from 29th September for 6 months. I had specifically requested a start date of 14th December 2023. We are permitted to apply 3 months before our travel date and the date of arrival was clearly stated as 14th December - this arrival date was also highlighted in my sponsor letter (in which I requested the start date). I am aware that VfS Global insert the visa sticker once approved in India - I don't know who was 'at fault' for not picking up the requested start date. Trying to find contact phone numbers/email for VfS is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Does anyone have:- (a) Contact details for the UK section at VfS. (b) Does anyone have experience of getting their visa changed in these circumstances. I guess my request is aimed at @oldgitfor obvious reasons and the likes of @sandyf (and others) who have had multiple UK visas.

Indeed "trusted". Some of them are dodgy you know....

Sound advice. If necessary I will transfer funds to my missus and say that she is supporting me/us from her/our farming income.

The bank is OK - I would rather change IO.

Kasikorn statements show "trade finance" for incoming WISE transfers. IMO (worth Jack, I know) that should be sufficient for any Immigration officer to identify it as a payment from overseas. As you know, it isn't, and I find that ridiculous.

It is all to do with compliance with regulatory requirements - and there is a perceived increase risk to falling foul of those regulations with non-residents. Answer - remove the risk; solution; no new non-resident accounts and start closing existing ones for good measure. Your point about cartel is absolutely valid and a virtual cartel has existed forever. If you being uncharitable you might call it a sheep mentality, or monkey see monkey do.

I don't normally have that problem with sms messages from the UK; I receive them mainly to a UK number but also to a Thai number.

You are certainly not good enough to do that.....

I am sure that you don't!! ????????

Perhaps it should, given the Buriram connection.

Only after obtaining Probate.

Of course it is illegal. Nonetheless, the alternative of incurring legal fees (maybe 30k) to obtain Probate makes the ATM - or preferably online banking route - more attractive. Personally, and fully accepting the illegality, I would say bo11ocks to illegality - my partner is the legal beneficiary of those funds (there is backup Will to that effect) and getting access to them in the most expedient and cost-effective is my major concern.

He should certainly have a back-up plan if Plan A should fail for any reason.

Do you not have an 'insincerity' emoji that you could add to your posts.

....and I don't see how it could ever be anything different to that.

Shame............. deal breaker! ????

I'll take the lot - if you deliver, and if the wife comes with a 6 month guarantee.

I have had post from the UK in a week (and vice-versa) to our Isaan home. There is also stuff that has never arrived and if the village idiot of a postman decides to keep post at his house for a fortnight there is little we can do. He doesn't like to come out to us as we are 3km out of the village - as somebody said, we chose to build a house there.

Again, spot on. These international arms of UK are not UK banks - they were specifically ring-fenced out of the UK banking regulatory system. The Royal Bank of Scotland International trades as NatWest International in Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Gibraltar. Why have you changed your trading name from NatWest to NatWest International? Due to ring-fencing legislation in the UK, we've changed our trading name from NatWest to NatWest International. You don’t need to do anything. There is no change to your banking services or how you do business with us. To comply with legislation, we must separate our European Economic Area (EEA) business from our non-EEA businesses such as those in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Gibraltar. We need to be distinctive and clear with our customer who they are banking with therefore we've changed our name from NatWest to NatWest International. https://supportcentre.natwestinternational.com/Searchable/1010233202/Why-have-you-changed-your-trading-name-from-NatWest-to-NatWest-International.htm#:~:text=Due to ring-fencing legislation,you do business with us.

Interesting. Does that make your UK bank account more, or less, vulnerable to current activities by the UK banking industry? Whilst I believe HSBC would be the last of the UK banks to take closure action against expats, they are subject to same regulatory pressures. You cannot rule out them taking the sheep approach.

They do hold deposits but obviously do not provide a full banking service (direct debts etc).... but for receiving and remitting money they are ideal - especially of no conventional bank wants you. Deposits are not covered by the 85k guarantee scheme, but WISE are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA),