hotandsticky

In Pattaya every M/C taxi I have used carries a helmet for their fare.

Please don't tell me that qualifies them as good drivers. Anybody can buy a licence.

Family

Excellent. Much of the static data doesn't change; parents names, DoB, ID card, visa/travel history and often the address. If I was a smart IT guy at UKVI I would develop a way of bringing forward any previous input, with the ability to edit certain sections if appropriate.

Mine expired in March and I will renew in July when I get back from Europe. Because a DL runs to your birthday many people time renewal to get virtually 6 years

No apology required. It doesn't help when Thai Immigration refer to extensions if stay as "visas"....took me several years to get to grips with the terminology.

I am confused. Jeez Dude. You probably mean a Multiple Reentry Permit.

Can you still get ME's? You can't in the UK.

I think he already has an extension - based on marriage.

You said you had a visa. You can change an extension type at 'renewal' IF you have satisfied the terms of the original approval (400k) and satisfy the requirements for an extension based on retirement e 800k seasoned for 2 months.

I am currently in Spain and I would happily bring back strawberries (which are far superior to anything in Thailand) and other fruit. And, of course, wine.

I don't know the direct answer to your question but I suspect not, I would think that a visa category cannot be changed - indeed, when you enter Thailand your visa is 'used'. I believe a new Non-O will be required...perhaps that could be arranged - others with better knowledge of your situation could give a better reply. My question would be (given that your stay is short), why not get a Retirement Visa on your next (longer?) visit and extend then?

Then create a separate thread about it. This thread is about a UK resident. That is how the forum works.

Nothing to do with welfare, the question relates to occupational pension. The OP is from the UK there is no welfare due to his widow upon his death. As @prakhonchai nick said, many pension funds will accept a nomination. Mine did 15 years ago and we are not married. The 20 year age difference mean s that she loses 10% of the 50% Widows pension. Note - that 50% is based on the pension BEFORE I took my lump sum. Widows occupational pension benefits are an enormously valuable thing to the Thai partners we leave behind - often overlooked. I retired early and took my pension at age 52. My partner will get around 45,000 Baht a month.

Freewilly

They don't play games, silly or otherwise. They are a big organisation who occasionally make mistakes though. That was a waste of your lawyers time then.. and unfortunately, in this case not very effective. Never mind, a phone call to IPC quickly sorts it out .

That is not true...do some research. The form probably also says add their 'stamp'.....that is also not required. I have certified over a 100 of these if you wish to doubt my credibility. Even with that wording on the letters they published the fact that anyone who satisfied the criteria for countersigning a British passport application could certify the Life Certificate. I don't have a copy of their latest missive to hand but, essentially, anyone who is not related to you can certify. Quite right too, better still. allow it to be done digitally with a registered password. Next.

My gripe is also with the visas granted and travel history. I think it is the visa history that is limited to 10 , but the travel history isn't....my missus has probably made 40+ other country visits in the last 15 years. I commend the Schengen system where they just grant longer validity periods once you build up a history - my missus was granted a 3 year Schengen in 2023. Hopefully, next year she will get 5 years.

A strategy that was no doubt learned from Pattaya bar girls. How many phones did the mistress have?

Billy

Do you condone all law breakers with a tap on the wrist? Revoking visas is clearly inappropriate but a suitable financial penalty and a yellow card should perhaps be the minimum.

Camisole

I will dig out the requirement when I get get chance....it may not be a question, it may be a statement. I will come back on that one. Absolutely no argument with you wanting to submit a marriage cert - I enjoy the discussion 🙏... Not necessary is my only point. If I don't need one (because we are not married) then neither should you - only for the first application. Whilst an ECO treats each application on it's own merits, after my first I then stated that the genuineness of the relationship was accepted in application GWY12345678. There is no requirement to prove marriage, only the genuine relationship (unless a spouse visa application). Similarly I wouldn't submit birth certificates for children just to 'add' to the relationship because you would likely be submitting British passport ID pages. As we said, it is a debate with the intention of broadening/sharing knowledge and experience. If something works, fine (unless it really is a wad of superfluous paperwork) - a marriage certificate certainly does not fall into that bracket. If I really wanted to pay I would make sure the missus had enough money to apply 100% in her own right and remove myself as sponsor. I think I could get away with submitting 1 x bank statement/passbook, 1 x chanote (arguably unnecessary given the immigration track record) and 1 x introduction letter. Possibly add an invitation letter if the intention was to stay any length of time in the UK. 😏

LOL.....you posted before I finished my reply to you. 😀 Absolutely, not everyone knows, or takes the trouble to find the information you posted. After making a tit of myself on my first application I resolved to learn a lot more about the process.

Each situation is obviously different. In our case we are not married so, for example, we don't need/have a marriage certificate. In our case, after 20+ successful visa applications(I have been involved in 40+ others) I wouldn't submit a marriage certificate even if we were married. However, if this was our first application (and we were married) I would include the marriage certificate to strengthen the 'genuine relationship' criteria. The point is that there is not a straight answer to your question because everybody's circumstances are slightly different. An ECO is required to treat each application on it's merits and the detailed criteria to which they operate is available online. However, provide evidence to satisfy the 3 key criteria and it would be difficult, all things being equal, for an ECO to decline an application. As a reminder those key criteria are:- Genuine relationship and genuine reason to visit, Financial adequacy and thirdly, Reasons to Return to Thailand. The relationship is easier to prove if you are married and is evidenced by the marriage certificate. The introduction/sponsor letter will give a few more details to show it is not a 'sham marriage'......it is not for no reason that one of the application questions is whether the applicant has actually met their husband. In our case I did not make the first visa application until 4 or 5 years into our relationship so I had enough of a story/evidence to supply. NO photos**. The financial adequacy part is black and white - you either have enough money that you can evidence, or you don't. For UK visas there is no published minimum, unlike Schengen visas for, say, Spain where you need to show something like EUR 77 per day (and have accommodation and flights booked). Reasons to return to Thailand is the nebulous one with the only UKVI indication given towards showing "strong family ties". Owning property and land is almost a guarantee, returning to employment (with an employers letter confirming that) etc, etc....having kids apparently is not a strong case, whereas ageing/dying relatives is. I repeat everybody's story is going to be a bit different. I am not trying to be a smart ar5e by only submitting 5 or 6 documents; I am genuinely trying to make it easier for the ECO to give me the decision I want. Some applicants will need to submit a lot more. ** My very first application - I submitted 3 folders each with over 50 pages including dozens of photos. I quickly learned that the bar stool advice I had received wasn't accurate.