falang1969

Hold on.....

"Five of the accused had been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment each"

That's not what was reported in the British media, 30 years in TOTAL!

The actual sentences are below....

"Mark Gould, head of the project, is the one who receives the heaviest sentence: 11 years in prison. His partner Steven Gordon will have to serve a sentence of 5 years and two months. The pair took home £4.6m (€5.35m) and £1.7m (€1.98m) respectively from Flawless. Their three comrades were sentenced to 5 years and two months, 3 years and 11 months and 4 years and 9 months."

On 5/7/2023 at 12:50 PM, falang1969 said:

Has anyone applied for an adult UK passport renewal at CM VFS in the last few months?

 

If so, what was the turnaround time?

 

Deciding whether to renew here or in the UK, but don't really want to be stuck in the UK for months!

 

 

Being the OP, just a bit of feedback.

Applied at CM VFS on 11th May 2023

Picked up from CM VFS 5th July 2013

So almost 8 weeks exactly.

On 5/8/2023 at 9:05 PM, Upnotover said:

It is cancelled in the UK system when the application is received there but as they don't tell anybody outside of the UK it remains perfectly usable for travel although if anybody actually checked for whatever reason it may cause some issues.

I was told today by VFS in Chiang Mai, is that you can use for domestic flights but not international flights.

10 hours ago, blackshadow said:

why not call the place and ask ???

Because they will just quote the standard UK Passport Office response...."up to 11 weeks", when in reality Visa's and Passports are often quicker in real life...that's why!

RIP Ubon Joe, that man was a fountain of knowledge regarding immigration rules and procedures! Always came back with accurate information.

Has anyone applied for an adult UK passport renewal at CM VFS in the last few months?

If so, what was the turnaround time?

Deciding whether to renew here or in the UK, but don't really want to be stuck in the UK for months!

I know it was last month but anyone know why TG910 was diverted to Azerbaijan? 

Looks like it landed there and took off the next day for LHR.

Just curious if anyone on here was on it and can enlighten me?

My wife applied for one at Chiang Mai VFS on 11th July, got it back on 24th August using standard service.

On 7/2/2022 at 11:01 AM, BritTim said:

To be clear, this was for a first passport, not a renewal, correct? That was not true in my own daughter's case, but that was some time ago, and the rules may have changed. Later renewals are as straightforward as for anyone else.

Correct, her FIRST UK passport, she is 2. I was surprised at how easy it was!

On 6/17/2022 at 5:45 AM, BritTim said:

Bear in mind, if you decide to get an extension when you return, that November 12 is a Saturday. If not of a nervous disposition, this can work in your favor. You are allowed to apply for the extension without penalty on the first working day that follows the weekend (in this case, Monday November 14).

 

If, as @ubonjoe suggests, you plan on requesting the 60-day extension, make sure you are entitled to one. If you ever used a 60-day extension since your most recent entry that did not use a re-entry permit, then you cannot get another one. That can then, possibly, tip the balance in favor of a fresh Non O visa rather than a re-entry permit. I would personally go for the 90-days on a fresh visa anyway. That would ensure you have the 60-day extension in your pocket for any possible future need. It can be very useful. One possible disadvantage of the new visa through the eVisa system is (IMHO unlikely in the UK) a chance of the visa application being rejected. As far as I can see, the document requirements are not onerous.

I must admit that seems more appealing, I need a new passport anyway (as getting full and only 1 year left), so could get that (cheaper and possibly quicker) in the UK and no need for a re-entry permit. In the UK for 6 weeks so plenty (hopefully) of time.

3 hours ago, BritTim said:

This argument is going around in circles. Three UK citizens were denied boarding for a flight to the UK (where, with UK passports, they had no need for visas to enter). You stated that the airline was within their right to do so because the passports might be fake. I do not see how there is any greater risk that their passports would be fake than mine. The UK authorities are very careful when it comes to issuing of initial UK passports. For it to be issued in Thailand, this will have included a visit with the children to the UK embassy for an interview.

"For it to be issued in Thailand, this will have included a visit with the children to the UK embassy for an interview."

We just filled out the UK passport application forms and submitted them via Chiang Mai VFS, never had an "interview", 3 weeks later passports arrived.

I always use my kids Thai passports for leaving/arriving in Thailand and UK passports for entering/leaving the UK....always seemed the most obvious and easiest thing to do.

A serious question though....say they HAD left on a UK passport, when they come back to Thailand on a UK passport they will be treated as a UK citizen arriving in Thailand and all the hassle re visa's that most of us have to deal with? Correct?

I am looking to go to the UK with family in Sept for the first time in 3 years.

I am currently on a Non "O" Visa based on marriage and get yearly extensions.

My question, is that my current 1 year visa extension ends on 12 Nov 2022. We arrive back from the UK on 10 November, so my "re-entry permit" will be valid for just 2 days before my visa expires. This does not give me much time to get prepared for my yearly visa extension.

If I come back in on a standard tourist "Visa on arrival", I guess I will lose my actual Non "O" Visa? Would I be able to apply and get another Non "O" Visa during that 30 days on a VOA?

Just looking for the easiest way.

Comments?

I am on a Non Imm "O" Visa based on marriage with a yearly extension, reporting every 90 days.

Me, the wife and kids are thinking of having a holiday in the UK, not been since before Covid.

My questions are:

1. I need to get a "re-entry permit" from immigration before I leave? How long before I leave?

2. When I return do I need to get insurance cover?

3. Do I need to apply for a "Thai Pass"?

Just don't want to head off to the UK, only to find I can't get back into Thailand, where we live!

My mate went home yesterday to LHR on the FIRST commercial flight of one of the new 777s, was also announced by the Captain.

Says it even smelt new!

Hi,

I've got a friend that wants a charcoal portrait done from a picture.

I used to get them done in the basement of the Night Bazarre, there used to be maybe 30 or so talented artists in there.

Obviously, the place has been closed for the last 2 years. 

Does anyone know if they relocated or are still trading in some capacity?

They used to be in below...

Your post has hit a nerve with me (British and from London).....I've been here since 2008 almost permanently.....I've done the full works, been tucked up in the first 5 years and lost a few quid to some nutter.

I almost lost faith in Thailand in 2012, but hanged in there, roll on 10 years....fantastic wife, 2 lovely kids and just bought our own house (yes, before you lot start, her house...but I'm knocking on now and don't care, have houses in UK!) and our plan was all to move back to the UK. 

In recent months, I've really enjoyed being here (taken a while) and thinking of putting our plans on moving back to the UK as a family, on hold for a while.

Just seems the UK isn't what I left in 2008! 

I think the only positives for me moving to the UK, is for the free (good) education for my young kids and the NHS for me, one day! 

It is "swings and roundabouts"....we will make the move and I'm curious to see how long I get sick of the UK!

Me (British), the wife (Thai) and the kids (both have dual nationality) are thinking of moving to the UK.

My wife has to have a TB test in Bangkok, but what about the kids (2 and 7)?

What about me? Bearing in mind Covid has kept a lot of us away from the UK for over 2 years? Will the UK start enforcing us all to have a TB test?

UK Gov quotes below.....

Who does not need to be tested

You will not need a TB test if any of the following apply:

• you’re a diplomat accredited to the UK
• you’re a returning UK resident and have not been away for more than 2 years
• you lived for at least 6 months in a country where TB screening is not required by the UK, and you’ve been away from that country for no more than 6 months

6 minutes ago, placnx said:

So in reality did you get Pfizer or Astra?

I didn't get anything, I had Pfizer a few months ago courtesy of the USA at Promenada.

It was for the Mrs, she's waiting for Pfizer.

At Chiang Mai Central Airport today Pfizer and Pfizer was finished at 11am today 30th November.

Only Astra Zeneca and Pfizer available.

35 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Which is strange as 90 day report has zero to do with obtaining extension. 

Correct, but they wanted it, the officer even specifically mentioned to me and showed me my last 90 day report to remind me when my next one is in January, which is nothing to do with the extension.

So it won't be 90 days from when my extension is granted, I guess that is normal?