hotandsticky

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),

Spot on. It will eventually dawn on non-residents that their (banking) nuts are being squeezed and people like WISE are going to be their only option. Anybody not yet committed to non-residency (but intend to be) should make sure that they have 2 or 3 bank accounts open with their current, or relatives address. The latter is not 100% foolproof but is better than nothing. WISE as a back-up is essential

What reason, if any, did they quote for the closure? You will not get a normal UK bank account as a non-resident. WISE is your best/only option......loads of threads about WISE.

Yep. That counters the laziness accusation that I have often heard put forward.

Strange that they should all seem happier than you!

Thanks for that, saved me some time.

Try this :- https://finlandabroad.fi/web/gbr/entry-requirements#:~:text=In addition to your visa,per day) to support yourself. https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-visa-application-requirements/means-subsistence/

Coming here for a year, straight off, would not be sensible. Try a taster first. Money is not an issue, I only mentioned budget for a one month trip to LIMIT the amount he spends. Later, after a period of reelection back home, he can then make plans for a longer stay - that is the time to take a look around, research the country, the female company and think about where he might want to put some roots down - or not.

The weather has been idyllic, with a delightful cooling breeze - and very little rain. Probably the driest wet season I have seen.

My situation was very similar. 2 short holidays in 2006, visited 5 times in 2007and moved here in 2008 at age 52. Minimal pension but I knew/hoped that other things would improve my financial position at a later date. This guy cannot view Thailand as an escape from his woes at home (although a visit as a tourist may do him no harm). He has got to want to be here for positive reasons, not run away for negative reasons.

Keep on planning; I have seen friends do it - and die before they reached the start date of their retirement plan. Major events like this throw up opportunities. Of course your friend should go to Thailand, of course he may not 'survive', but he has to give it try to get the past out of his system. It is preferable if he has a friend to accompany him for at lest part of the trip. Tell him to book a month and have a budget of 150,000 Baht for spending money. Be prepared to send the same amount if the budget is blown in the first 2 weeks. DON'T spend more than that, don't buy anything - the budget should cover rental of everything. Go back home for a month and see how it all feels. Take it from there, he is unlikely to be in no worse state than he is now.

Weren't proof of funds and evidence of accommodating part of the Schengen application?

So why shouldn't he get a Non-Imm O ? I think this is posted in the wrong forum... this is not about visas and migration to other countries.

My missus' was processed on 20th September, back at VfS today. I make that 7 working days.

Sound advice. ????