Waterloo

WorldPay are a similar organisation to paypal on ebay, just a third party billing service, currently do some work in one of there offices in london.

Had to purchase some technical spec's for work the other day and WorldPay handled the billing at no extra charge.

As a buisness they have to charge for there services I suspect this depends on what contract they sign with there client as to whether the client or the customer pays?

Maybe. But a law is a law. Without Laws, then it´s the Wild West. Yes, Denmark has strict requirements concerning foreigners. This Is necessary. because too much junk comes into Denmark and the first thing they turn to, is the cash register where money is paid. Denmark has been too nice in the past. 10 years ago the strict Laws was made. I was to easy in the past. This strict Laws doesn´t make Denmark bad. Try to look at many other countries and see.

The problem action like this creates is that it opens the floodgates, and whilst this woman may make a fine citizen of Denmark, most won't. Soft c**k politicians in Denmark have caved in to minority groups, just as Australian politicians have, and we've imported trash for the past 20 years. We've made a rod for our own backs, and the future here is not going to be as peaceful as it has been in the past.

She may be making another Dane happy within a short time, and therefore not a drain on the social security system, but not many do, and most don't. Australia is supporting way too many freeloaders. Under the last year of the labor government, almost 30,000 'refugees' arrived by boat, illegally, at an estimated cost of $200,000 pa to keep. That's $6 BILLION that could have been used for other government expenditure.

What ANY country doesn't need is more unskilled migrants, and since I don't read that she's a brain surgeon, she would have to fall into that category.

Judging by your comments can I assume you are of pure aboriginal descent

Hi

I would check whether you can do this by post, I thought both parents had to physically present at the embassy/consulate.

We have Thai Birth certificates for both our children (16 months & 3 years) both born to a Thai mother & British father in the UK.

I'm pretty sure we both had to be there when we applied (we are married).

I have called the Consulate in Sydney and the parents don't have to be present its all done by post as explained on their website.

My friend has done this and when i send and receive my docs back from the consulate i will post here the result.

Good news certainly makes things easier

Hi

I would check whether you can do this by post, I thought both parents had to physically present at the embassy/consulate.

We have Thai Birth certificates for both our children (16 months & 3 years) both born to a Thai mother & British father in the UK.

I'm pretty sure we both had to be there when we applied (we are married).

You can't go wrong giving a bottle of Johnie Walker Black or if money is tight then go with the Red.

I agree in toto

Always popular with my Thai family members, quit like a drop of the black myself

My children have recently returned from a 10 week visit with Yai travelling on there Thai & UK passports, I can confirm no Taxes paid.

Some one in immigration is confused or new.

My friend owned a registered Colt 1911 .45 ACP in Belgium.

He moved to Thailand with his wife and daughters 7 years ago and wanted to import this gun.

The ampheu refused a gun permit because .45 ACP is considered "war ammunition".

He contacted a lawyer who confirmed the "war ammunition" limitation and also warned that, as the gun would have to stay with customs for months, it could suddenly "disappear", never to be found again.

He sold the gun thru a gun dealer in Belgium and now has a registered Glock 26 9mm in Thailand.

Are you sure about this, last time I was in Pattaya I used the range at Tiffanys & it was a Colt 1911 .45 ACP I paid to have a go with?

I know it doesn't say on the set (m) guide could I use home insurance has 1 of them ?

Just checked my records from our successful application for ILR earlier this year and we did use insurance certs in our application

Update on this. My friend apparently went down the Pre-Action Protocol route, and sent the letter to the UKBA Judicial Review Unit. It seems that UKBA have 14 days to respond to a PAP letter. Coincidentally, on the 13th day, the Embassy in Bangkok wrote to the applicant, saying that they had reviewed the decision, and decided to overturn the refusal. No mention at all of any Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review letter having been received by them. Coincidence, or the Embassy in Bangkok trying to "preempt" any legal action by making it look like they had made the decision to reverse the refusal before learning about the JR PAP ?

The UKV&I in Bangkok now say this about the applicant's previous visits to UK, and the "6 in 12", and have kind of skirted around the "frequent or successive visits" side of it :

"She has now made a series of visa applications in order to spend lengthy periods in the UK. However, I do accept that her actions hitherto do not constitute her residing in the UK by way of visit visas, although this is of course open to some interpretation. "

I'm sure they will try this again with some future applicant, and I hope that applicant has access to this forum for advice ! But, a good result for common sense on this.

Out of interest Tony do you know what this has cost your friend?

No cost at all so far. The Pre-Action Protocol letter is sent by the applicant, or her sponsor, or a representative. It is free to do this stage of the process as no solictors are involved ( unless youchoose to use one at this stage). The idea is, apparently, to set out the arguments as to why the decision should be, or can be, challenged at judicial review. The respondent, in this case the UKV&I then have to decide whether they want to actually go to a JR hearing. They take into account such things as having to pay the applicant's costs if the applicant wins, etc. JR seems to a complicated undertaking, and decisions can only be challenged on certain grounds - illegality, unreasonableness, expectation, etc.

If the UKV&I want to maintain their decision, then the applicant, sponsor, etc, must decide whether they really want to go to the expense of a legal challenge, and the cost if they lose. In this case, I feel pretty sure the UKV&I would have backed down as the decision seems certainly unreasonable, and possibly even illegal.

If you want to use the Pre-Action Protocol there are certain formats to follow, and I'm certainly no expert. Others here have made useful contributions on the subject. You might want to consult an OISC registered immigration advisor, such as the forum sponsor here, who can advise you on the PAP process, but would not be able to represent you at any JR hearing. Only qualified lawyers ( I think ) are able to do that. I stand to be corrected on that, of course.

Thanks for the follow up Tony, glad to hear your friend got a sensible decision without further expense.

Update on this. My friend apparently went down the Pre-Action Protocol route, and sent the letter to the UKBA Judicial Review Unit. It seems that UKBA have 14 days to respond to a PAP letter. Coincidentally, on the 13th day, the Embassy in Bangkok wrote to the applicant, saying that they had reviewed the decision, and decided to overturn the refusal. No mention at all of any Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review letter having been received by them. Coincidence, or the Embassy in Bangkok trying to "preempt" any legal action by making it look like they had made the decision to reverse the refusal before learning about the JR PAP ?

The UKV&I in Bangkok now say this about the applicant's previous visits to UK, and the "6 in 12", and have kind of skirted around the "frequent or successive visits" side of it :

"She has now made a series of visa applications in order to spend lengthy periods in the UK. However, I do accept that her actions hitherto do not constitute her residing in the UK by way of visit visas, although this is of course open to some interpretation. "

I'm sure they will try this again with some future applicant, and I hope that applicant has access to this forum for advice ! But, a good result for common sense on this.

Out of interest Tony do you know what this has cost your friend?

First of all congratulations on your wonderful news David, your life is about to change beyond all recognition.

Regarding naming the children, when our children were born in the UK we knew we would be raising them here & that would have to be the first priority.

So we gave our children western first names and then Thai middle names to connect them with their Thai routes.

Also as we were going to be raising them such a long way from their Yai we asked her and her partner to choose there middle names, of course if they had chosen something awful we would have asked them to choose again

Toby Jirawut Waterloo & Layla Onuma Waterloo

Good luck & enjoy the experience

Seeing trees without leaves, when my mother in law first visited the UK she commented on all the dead trees and wondered why someone hadn't made charcoal from them, it was the middle of winter!

Entertaining where the host does not make a special effort with food for guests when throwing a party.

Surely the simple route is to just submit another application?

A Judicial Review would be long winded and expensive and would face problems with the applicant not being UK resident.

You appear to have a tendency to make assertions which simply aren't true. This, in the context of internet boards generally, is of little relevance in the scheme of things but it does have a significance in this particular site where folk do hope to gain some knowledge in their own applications. Therefore, when you spout nonsense it can be quite misleading to those foolish enough to attribute some importance to your comments which are seemingly based on your ignorance rather then anything founded upon the truth.

A judicial review is not a long winded process at all. From the submission of a pre-action letter to the point when papers are submitted before a judge it can be accomplished within two months, a period significantly shorter than a typical immigration appeal currently taking 5 to 8 months to be heard.

However, more often than not, the Home Office will concede a case when it appears to the government lawyers, or to the UKVI's own senior management, there is is little chance of winning or, even worse, a definitive judgement inconvenient to the UKVI might be reached. Thus, challenges are often conceded at the pre-action protocol stage.

Anyone concerned in the adverse decision can lodge an application for a judicial review. In this case that would be the British sponsor. Therefore, there are no " problems" to be faced by virtue of one party to the action being located outside of the UK.

JR applications are not necessarily expensive and most actions, whereby the Home Office concede at an early stage, i.e. the majority, involve costs in the order of £1,000 but if the HO concede at the PAP stage ( a significant number ) the costs are much less and between £300 - £500.

Being largely ignorant on JR's I found this most informative, Cheers

[quote name="hellodolly" post="6931667"

The bridge itself was just a rail toad bridge probably didn't take that long to build it. I am told it is not the original one any how.

Edit

GD spelling

It is the real bridge!

The bridge standing today was the second built at K'buri and was brought to Thailand from Java by the Japanese. They had already built a timber bridge that was used while construction of the second was under way. Both were regularly bombed by the allies during the latter stages of the war and damage can still be seen on the original metal spans of the remaining bridge.

A visit must include a trip on the railway over the Wampo viaduct and on to Namtok where you can get a bus on to Hellfire Pass. The last time I travelled on it I think we payed over 300 B on the outward trip on a train full of tourists but only around 10 on the way back because the tourists on their organised tours had got off to return by road leaving the train to the Thais.

The cemeteries were not built by the Australians. Of the two in K'buri the most moving is at Chunkai over the river and the site of the original hospital camp burial ground. I think there may be a reciprocal arrangement in place with the UK where Australia manages cemeteries in Asia and the UK looks after Australian graves in Europe and Africa but don't quote me.

The Japanese interpretor in the book and soon to be released film, The Railway Man worked for the allied team recovering POW bodies from the up country railway construction camps for re burial in the three Commonwealth cemeteries on the railway after the Jap surrender.

Further to what tahaan says, regarding the age of the bridges take a look at the bridge in the right of the black & white photo in cpofc's excellent post (#11) & compare it with the bridge in the photo I posted #18, same bridge!

As said before no trip will be complete without a short ride on the railway over the viaducts, again see photo on post #18

Glad to here your good news, good luck for the future

I am currently on vacation in Thailand, but intend to live here permanently from early next year.

I'm only 60, so won't receive my state pension for another 5 years.

However I have already made extensive enquiries with the DWP and the Inland Revenue.

Everyone will have different circumstances and incomes, so my advise would be to do your own checks with relevant departments to see what works best for your situation.

Next year because I'm only 60 my income will come from renting my home and private pensions.

I'll register for self assessment for tax purposes.

No tax will be automatically taken from my private pension payments or home rental.

I can claim maintenance and agents costs against my total income and hopefully should break even without having to pay any tax.

When I'm 65 I'll receive my state pension and another private pension.

I can either notify them I am living in Thailand in which case my state pension will be frozen and I'll have to pay taxes, or;

I can claim exemption from the UK and pay no taxes there.

Theoretically I should then pay taxes in Thailand, but I won't tell if you don't

If you want to keep a UK address in order to get state pension increases, then you'll also pay taxes on your income.

You either make a clean break and live in Thailand or keep looking over your shoulder.

When considering where to have your money paid, either Thai or UK banks, consider interest rates.

The Thai banks offer a far better rate than UK banks.

Offshore banking is another option, although even their rates are lower than Thai banks.

If you spend more than 181 days in the UK then you can claim the current state pension.

Every 5 years or so, I'll visit family and stay to claim the current rate.

Even when I move back to Thailand that rate will continue.

There isn't any one answer to cover everyone.

Out of curiosity how long a visit would you need to make to have your pension increased?

Something worth considering as Thai passports are good for 5 years & applications cannot be made by post is arranging for the renewal dates to all be the same.

We have 3 Thai passports in our household, the wifes, our 3 year old boy & our one year old daughter.

When our boys passport expires we will let it lapse & wait to renew it when the other 2 passports need renewing so that we will then only need to make one trip to London to deal with this every 5 years.

I actually tried to register our UK-born daughter in Thailand first, and get sent back to the embassy to do it - as the passport office in Thailand wouldn't accept a UK birth certificate.

You have to do the registration (at the embassy), and you can either apply for the passport then, or once you have the registration, if you're going to Thailand, it's a lot quicker to get the child onto a house book in Thailand and apply in Thailand for the passport. (The embassy website says it takes 2 months to get a passport from them, compared to two days in Thailand).

Just remember, if the baby enters Thailand on her UK passport, she also needs to leave on it, or you'll come back in 20 years and find she gets hit with an overstay fine.

To my recollection received all our documents through the post in under a month.

Pension entitlement can be maintained by paying voluntary Class 2 contributions - I did this after leaving the UK and continued until the DWP wrote to me and said "enough".

I also believe youi can still make up some or all of the shortfall in a lump sum - but you would have to check that with them.

I believe that the determining factor is 'residence'. That in turn probably follows the tax rules as to whehter you would be counted as being resident in country X or country Y. However the distinction is not binary. I for instance spend time in Cyprus, in Thailand and in the UK. I plan to maintain my residence status in Cyprus even after I retire as you can do this and still not pay any income tax as long as you are not in the country for over 180 days. As Cyprus is in the EU, it would appear to meet all the DWP rules.

I do hope this isn't an enquiry about claiming to be in the UK and so getting your pension increased over the years in line with UK inflation versus claiming to be in the UK and having the pension amount frozen for the rest of your life. If you're resident in Thailand that would be fraud.

I must admit, I am vaguely interested in what will happen when I retire, as I can see me spending rainy season (April - October - i.e. Summer), living in the UK, while wintering in Thailand. Would my pension be frozen while in Thailand, then jump up again each time I'm back in the UK. - and when I return to Thailand, would it still be frozen at the rate when I retire, or does it reset to the rate when you last lived in the UK.

Given the recent changes to restrict FULL state pensions to people with 30 qualifying years of contributions, and the fact I've spent 12 years abroad, I'm not even sure I'll end up getting a full state pension. I am not intending to rely on it, because western governments are bankrupting themselves with entitlement spending and I fully expect them to run out of money paying pensions for the "baby boomers". They might end up deciding that the way to deal with the obvious unfairness of the frozen pension retirement country lottery (pension frozen if you retire to Thailand or Canada, not frozen if you retire to the Philippines or the USA, etc.), is to simply freeze the pensions of everyone.

When I looked recentley you could make up to 6 years back payments, there was some mention of there going to be some sort of transition arrangements for the change from 30 years of contributions to 35 years

I do hope this isn't an enquiry about claiming to be in the UK and so getting your pension increased over the years in line with UK inflation versus claiming to be in the UK and having the pension amount frozen for the rest of your life. If you're resident in Thailand that would be fraud.

I must admit, I am vaguely interested in what will happen when I retire, as I can see me spending rainy season (April - October - i.e. Summer), living in the UK, while wintering in Thailand. Would my pension be frozen while in Thailand, then jump up again each time I'm back in the UK. - and when I return to Thailand, would it still be frozen at the rate when I retire, or does it reset to the rate when you last lived in the UK.

Given the recent changes to restrict FULL state pensions to people with 30 qualifying years of contributions, and the fact I've spent 12 years abroad, I'm not even sure I'll end up getting a full state pension. I am not intending to rely on it, because western governments are bankrupting themselves with entitlement spending and I fully expect them to run out of money paying pensions for the "baby boomers". They might end up deciding that the way to deal with the obvious unfairness of the frozen pension retirement country lottery (pension frozen if you retire to Thailand or Canada, not frozen if you retire to the Philippines or the USA, etc.), is to simply freeze the pensions of everyone.

I believe the situation is that it would have no affect on you if you were not absent from the country for more than 6 months and a day in any given calender year.

Registered our youngest about 6 months ago, relatively painless in & out in about an hour, passport, birth certificate and renewed the wifes passport at the same time.

Cheers Guys

All looks very promising, didn't know there would such a large Italian presence in Chang Mai, will be my first visit.