thonglorjimmy

I don't think Dr Jack is trying to force anybody to use an agent to open a bank, by saying "an agent is a good option, I mean agent just for bank account" is just suggesting a viable option when bank staff are not aware of the actual critera, or just just can't be bothered to open an account.

I suspect the friend may be in the same position as me regarding postal deliveries, my last postal delivery was in early February, and was a couple of Christmas cards. Maybe he's wondering if a life certificate may have been sent but not received, and concerned about his pension being suspended.

An interesting concept, I never really thought about encouraging corruption as being a "win win situation". Maybe it works for you and you're happy to feed it, but if it becomes the norm it will no doubt cause problems for those of us that abide by the actual rules, and expect the IO's up and down the country to apply the rules consistantly.

I didn't know you could buy a 1 year visa from an agent, year after year. I've always extended my stay at 1,900 Baht a year directly at the Immigration Office, that's probably saved me almost 200,000 Baht over the agent route over the years, but each to their own.

The OP's profile suggests they're located in Jomtien, so maybe the office there.

I'm assuming that's a typo, I don't think the UK Embassy process visas to Thailand

Not quite true, the EU have always had this rule for travellers from outside of the EU, or at least have done so for many years for third country travellers. It's the UK that chose to be subject to this rule when they voted for Brexit, it's quite amusing how many "brexiteers" are now calling foul as they "weren't told this would happen".

@JimmyJJust a thought, maybe work from home you could have everything exactly as you like it, I suspect the coffee drinkers and the coffee shop owners wouldn’t object.

What if you left Thailand using your current valid passport, containing your retirement extension and re-entry permit based on that extension, and then renewed your passport in the UK and travelled back with your new passport, and old passport containing your re-entry permit and extension? I know it works the other way round for Thai passport holders, who have a valid UK visa in an old passport, when travelling on a new one.

I think the word has probably got out that the arrival tests carry the risk of a positive result, without having any actual symptoms, and then being carted off to hospital for a miracle cure at great expense. I know a number of regular visitors to Thailand along with a number of potential tourists, who are just not prepared to risk it. Likewise I know a number of local businessmen who really should be travelling, but also can't risk being caught up in the current debacle.

That's pretty decent of them, they were probably concerned about your wellbeing.

My wife pitched up, without an appointment at the MBK office, on Thursday afternoon, and like your wife, her application took about ten minutes. Her passport was delivered to our home in Hua Hin on Saturday. We were impressed with the whole process. Thanks for the advice.

"Thailand is supposed to be obeying zebra crossing rules since a doctor was mown down by a policeman on a Ducati last month." So this wasn't always a requirement then, albeit hardly ever complied with?

Maybe use the bypass, then you wouldn't need to pass through Hua Hin. ????

Did she need to make an appointment, or just turn up? My wife has tried calling, no answer though.

My wife renewed her passport via the MRT Klongtoey office some years ago, and wants to do so again next week when we're in Bangkok. Does anybody know if the office is still operating and if so is an appointment required of can she just turn up? I can't find any info online. Thanks in advance

That's ok if you live near an agent, if not it might be better to take by hand to VFS.

You know this to be a fact do you, or are you just being cynical?

"These are clearly first and middle names, notes ASEAN NOW. Other information circulating online and unconfirmed suggested the decease had the surname Evans and is 49" The BBC are reporting that the Royal Thai Police have confirmed the the deceased guy is Marcus Evans, 49, who was originally from Weston-super-Mare and has been in Thailand for five years, and the injured guy is Shaun Dagnan, 54, who has been in Thailand for three years and is from Nuneaton.

An excellent sugestion and certainly ok for those who are not concerned about looking over their shoulder for ten years, and the ban on returning to Thailand for some period of time isn't an issue.

Did your agent give you an explanation for the delay?

So crowds of visitors over the New Year break and now they’ve returned home restaurants are no longer permitted to serve locals, and returning visitors, alcohol with their meals, I wonder if there’s a connection?

The same newspaper is now saying that alcohol cannot be served at all, not sure which version of their report is correct.

Sombody is killed.....why the "LOL", what's funny about it?

Ha Ha, when I said “That said the frozen pension issue is certainly wrong” I meant the frozen pension issue is certainly wrong, I apologise if that was confusing.