Pattaya Pat

I'm going there for a butchers today with the fam. I remember when I use to go the pub and football on a Saturday afternoon, now it's walking around Index

Business at Mobi's this past week has continued to surprise me, starting from the resumption of activities after the 2-day Buddhist holiday, last Sunday, through to last night, (Friday.)

Last Sunday was one of our best nights since we opened and every day since we have been doing consistent business, including last night when the customers kept coming, despite the fact that there was at least one large bar party offering free food further around the lake.

I guess Mobi's must be doing something right.

Our mix of good quality music, (on a more than acceptable sound system), extremely welcoming and friendly service, (whether or not the customers desire the company of one or more of Mobi's ladies), and our ever expanding menu of bar snacks and some 'proper' food seems to click with many,who show their approval by returning time and time again.

On the food front, an increasing number of our regulars are ordering a chicken curry to take with them for a late night meal at home. The curries contains large, tender chunks of chicken and a large bowl of top quality Thai rice; and at 120 baht they are a real bargain.

The new addition of Spring rolls (6 for 80 baht, cut in half to provide 12 pieces) is also proving popular either for the single drinker to fill up a 'hole in his stomach' or to share amongst a small group looking to stave off their hunger pangs.

This consistent business is particularly gratifying considering the fact they we are well into the 'low season', and most bars are struggling to attract a single customer.

Good news for all those single guys out there, (and some married ones as well...), we are happy to report that our distaff staff numbers will be swelled by new arrivals over the coming days.

Come on over and give Mobi's a try - I guarantee a warm welcome

Best bar on the lake. No doubt.

I think the biggest complaint is that the new procedure seems totally unnecessary and the process has not only become more difficult, but substantially more expensive.

Why do you need to hand in a form in person?

Why do the staff on the end of the phone not have the answers?

Why do they never call back when they say they will?

I don't know why the process changed, but surely someone must have thought of the difficulties it would bring. Was the previous process that flawed?

In this day and age we are looking towards streamlining everything and making things more efficient, yet this way is going backwards in the face of progression.

Wasn't the catalyst of all this the stolen passports that ended up being used on that Malaysian flight?

Some of us actually have to work for a living, not prance about between countries trying to sort a simple passport renwal out.

One of my Myanmar mechanics working here in Malaysia applied for and received a new passport from the Myanmar Embassy in ONE DAY !!!

But is it real

Please recommend to me, who can act on my behalf in Thailand?

I do not have a credit card in Thailand, neither does my wife.

If you do not have a credit card then that is a problem with this no matter where you are. Have you got a K-Bank account? Apparantly their card is being accepted. If you cannot find someone to do a pick up at least you will not have to make quick successive trips, they are likely to be 3 months apart, remember.

Pat your last sentence, just think about it.

Sounds like you are willing to play along with it, are you serious?

If they said that all applicants must turn up at the office in fancy dress (only those fancy dress's that are in the list can be chosen) and do an impersonations of farmyard animals. Only those that meet a fairly reasonable standard of farm yard animal impersonations are elligible to submit an application - I am guessing you would be the first in the que.

I have no idea what you are rambling on about. No need to take it out on me just becuase you are all bitter about this. As I say, just hop on a plane and get it sorted, with the change in pick up rules youi only need to make 1 lousy trip, but no you won't do it will you, instead you are just sitting on here bitching about it all day long. Sad.

Make that 2 lousy trips Pat.

Oops. I deleted that post as you said I had redeemed myself with post 2005. Anyway, best of luck to you mate.

Pat your last sentence, just think about it.

Sounds like you are willing to play along with it, are you serious?

If they said that all applicants must turn up at the office in fancy dress (only those fancy dress's that are in the list can be chosen) and do an impersonations of farmyard animals. Only those that meet a fairly reasonable standard of farm yard animal impersonations are elligible to submit an application - I am guessing you would be the first in the que.

ha ha..probably

No time to be running around between countries just to renew a passport, now come on.

Anyway, I have complained that although the HMPO says it makes special arrangments for Ill or Disabled, they are doing diddly squat for my girl (a UK Citizen). The reason she is not living with us is due to her disability.

Yes it would be a ballache, I suppose it all comes down to how badly you want to do it.

As for writing the letter, I may well do that, seems unfair that you can do it on-line elsewhere but not here. I think it would be fair to say that I would be shooting from both hips in typical Pattaya Pat style, I would probably make the receiver start crying.

I also have 2 daughters, both are UK and Thai citizens. The youngest (6) is with us, we are moving to Singapore in September and she will be starting a new school theres.

The eldest is living with the rest of our family near Korat and being cared for by my parents in law, she is 12 next month. Reason she is there and not with us is due to the fact she is severely mentally disabled, she isn't going anywhere in the near future.

This is besides the point, her UK passport is expiring and I would like to renew it.

If we were to visit or return to the UK, she would obviously travel on her UK passport and not Thai.

Yes, even if you have no immediate plans it's still good to have the passport on hand.

So why are you not jumping on a plane and getting it sorted?

I understand Pat, but wouldn't you wish for access to this on line instead?

My girls passport will now expire, I'm not going to renew it until this excuse of a service has been rectified.

Yes, there should be a better system, particuarly for those that are unable to travel for health reasons to bkk, at least now you can send someone else along for the pick up.

As it so happens I have a situation here, I wouldn't say similar to yours, as yours sounds quite urgent.

I have 2 young girls (Thai Mother) one is 5 who has been to the UK twice and the other is 2 who has never been to the UK. The 5 year old' passport has now expired, the 2 year old has never had one. I was conTemplating ( nothing definite) a trip to the UK with all 4 of us (money permitting) as I haven't been back for 3 years and my little one has never been and I have some family in the UK who have never seen her (my Mum and sister have as they were over in Feb this year) but it would mean having to apply for 2 more passports, 1 renewal, 1 new...with this current farcical situation I am not prepared to do it as you just know it will be a huge headache and I really cannot be arsed with it, so no trip home in the forsseable future for us.

Btw, why was you so keen to renew your daughters passport? Was you planning a trip home? Has she got a Thai PP? Both my 2 have.

Your thinking is totally wrong IMO.

You are allowing the flawed system to dictate your movements (or perhaps using it as an excuse to not to go to the UK).

You know the passports will be back within 10 weeks - plan round that.

You are doing 2 together - that must be easier and is coordinates the expiry date should you need to renew in 5 years time.

If your main objective is to visit the UK the just get on with it and book a VFS appointment.

If I really wanted to go back then I agree I would make the effort, no doubt. But as I am in 2 minds and money is tight right now it's really not a priority. Hopefully will go back next summer and hopefully the system will be easier/faster by then.

I understand Pat, but wouldn't you wish for access to this on line instead?

My girls passport will now expire, I'm not going to renew it until this excuse of a service has been rectified.

Yes, there should be a better system, particuarly for those that are unable to travel for health reasons to bkk, at least now you can send someone else along for the pick up.

As it so happens I have a situation here, I wouldn't say similar to yours, as yours sounds quite urgent.

I have 2 young girls (Thai Mother) one is 5 who has been to the UK twice and the other is 2 who has never been to the UK. The 5 year old' passport has now expired, the 2 year old has never had one. I was conTemplating ( nothing definite) a trip to the UK with all 4 of us (money permitting) as I haven't been back for 3 years and my little one has never been and I have some family in the UK who have never seen her (my Mum and sister have as they were over in Feb this year) but it would mean having to apply for 2 more passports, 1 renewal, 1 new...with this current farcical situation I am not prepared to do it as you just know it will be a huge headache and I really cannot be arsed with it, so no trip home in the forsseable future for us.

Btw, why was you so keen to renew your daughters passport? Was you planning a trip home? Has she got a Thai PP? Both my 2 have.

Pat.

I am living in Malaysia, my girls passport is expiring and renewal can only be done inside Thailand. I have no idea of any third party that can do all this on my behalf inside Thailand, as well as pay the fee, etc.

This means I have to make international trips, twice, to get her passport.

UK Citizens residing in most countries in the world can do their applications on line and have the passport delivered to their door.

That, is the complaint Pat.

Obviously that is slightly different as you are in another country. But aren't trips from Malaysia to BKK very cheap with Air Asia and only a 2 hour flight? So again, why is this such a huge problem for you? A lot of people here go to Malaysia/HK etc for a day or 2 for a visa run and to break the monopoly up a bit...it's hardly like your trecking off to South America..

Each to their own I suppose, but a trip from Phuket to bkk is a doddle and very cheap, it just seems some are making a mountain out of a mole hill here..Dig says that he could also lose his family...come on!!

And no I am not retired, I will either take a day off, or work online if taking 1 lousy day off is such a catastrophe..

Just to update. I received an email saying the passport will arrive within a week to the UK address I asked for. I'm don't consider myself to be out of the woods until I actually have the passport, but it is looking a quick turnaround for me. 17th June - 25th July, IF I receive it. Add on an extra week or so if it was to come to Thailand it's very good considering what others are going through.

I'm not suggesting anyone didn't do this, but if you are applying soon, get copies of EVERYTHING, and then get more copies of things they might need. The guy that processed mine at Trendy showed me some other applications that were missing far too many documents and this may be causing the delays.

If you need to verify your address, just get someone from the UK to send you a letter or parcel. This is what I used and they were happy with it.

Once again, I am not suggesting anyone didn't do this, I'm just letting people know what I did.

Pleased for you, it appears you might be close to having have received an almost second class UK passport renewal service.

However HMPOs handling of your particular case makes a mockery of their treatment of the vast majority of current overseas applicants.

Me personally, I am now approaching 9 weeks and sit just 11 days from overstay, with loss of extension , Work Permit, livelihood and family looming ever larger in prospect.

Now have got the message that my passport is ready for collection in BKK, going there by bus Sunday for Monday, hopefully to finally hear the fat lady sing.

However..........

Wrote to HMPO in April, concerned about the need for/ high personal cost of going on 2,000 plus km round trip, twice, to renew - HMPO reply - was basically told tough s..t, this is the way it is, no changes are possible to the procedures, whatever your circumstances.

Wrote to HMPO in May, concerned about obtaining address confirmation, was basically told tough s..t, this is what we need, with the usual list of government/commercial documents that are acceptable - no mention of private letters.

Wrote to HMPO in June concerned about the impact of a 10 week plus turn around on my ability to live here, was told tough s..t, this is the system and you should get your passport back after 6 weeks.

Phoned HMPO UK Help line perhaps 10 times, each time was told basically tough s..t, this is the system, your passport is 'in examination' and should be back in x, y, z, etc weeks well before you will need it.

Never have had one complaint from HMPO about 'missing documents' and was in/out of trendy in May in around 10 minutes - no problems with payment or passport cancellation - that was lightening fast.

What I would like to know is, what it is it that I and many other have to do to get other than the third class totally dismissive service that most of us have received?

In your case it was, I recollect, a change of travel plans along with your UK based family's intervention, others, it appears myself included, have benefitted somewhat by begging to the British Embassy/influential MPs on bended knee.

Broken system, please change it now!

...... and btw what about some compensation for the massive stress and inconvenience?

I for one will never forget this 9 week + living nightmare, which stands in stark contrast to my last then FCO led renewal in BKK, now 10 years ago, which took less than 2 weeks, was painless and stress free, also not involving any emails with only one phone call to BKK and my not leaving Phuket once.

Dig - I know that you have been a great help to many on here and huge kudos to you for that, but this constant complaining about going to bkk still puzzles me. You're an expat so you cannot be averse to travelling, Is taking 2 trips to bkk really that much of an ordeal and an expense? You're going to bkk not Australia, why is it such a big orderal for you? Serious question. I will be going to Mukdahan/Laos to get my Non-O soon, and quite looking forwad to the trip, have a mini break and get out of the missus' hair for a day or 2. What's so wrong bad about that?

Well well well, no sooner had I received an email from bkk, I've now had an email from Liverpool informing me that my PP has now been passed for issue and will be printed and sent off within 48hrs. So one email to bkk and all sorted, although I suppose there is a possibility that it's a coincidence and it was getting done anyway, but as someone once said, I don't believe in coincidneces. Anyway, happy days.

Do I still need to go to the embassy and get a letter thingy to take to immigration before I get my visas trnasferred, and I assume I can do this at any immigration office, it doesn't have to be Lad Phrao?

The response that I get from Liverpool will tell a tale. You said you were in the 6-7 week stage, I am in the 8-9 week stage so theoretically my passport should be at Trendy.

Indeed, best of luck.

This really is all getting rather silly now.

Next we will have 'I last come to Thailand 5 years ago for a week, will I be allowed in?'

Pattaya pat that's what happened to me, passport miraculously on its way within 24 hours of my email to the consulate.....coincidence? Probably not. I collected it this morning and am ready to exit tomorrow. Keeping everything crossed I can come back in with no problems on the new passport and a new tourist visa.....I know, maybe pushing it but worth a try!

I'm sure you will be fine mate, just have a story ready if they do ask you any questions. Maybe let us know how you got on. Cheers.

Well well well, no sooner had I received an email from bkk, I've now had an email from Liverpool informing me that my PP has now been passed for issue and will be printed and sent off within 48hrs. So one email to bkk and all sorted, although I suppose there is a possibility that it's a coincidence and it was getting done anyway, but as someone once said, I don't believe in coincidneces. Anyway, happy days.

Do I still need to go to the embassy and get a letter thingy to take to immigration before I get my visas trnasferred, and I assume I can do this at any immigration office, it doesn't have to be Lad Phrao?

I just had a reply to my email I sent to the Brit embassy in bkk. They forwarded on to me a reply they received from Liverpool, it stated that they would forward the request (received from the Brit embassy in bkk) on to the relevant dept and request they look at my case asap and will respond (to the Brit embassy in bkk) soon with an update. So it appears that it is worthwhile getting on the Embassy's case, but I would only suggest doing it if you are up to around 6-7 weeks like I am and give them a reason why you need it back pronto, ie you are going on to overstay soon, etc.

Must have done yours just after mine. When did you email the embassy? my reply came in less than 24 hours.

Same, 24 hours. More to follow...

I can't think of any other country where a tourist visa does not practically guarantee entry into the country. Unless you are a criminal and the immigration office somehow detects this. That' s the only exception.

Other than that, welcome to Thailand (hopefully).

PS. To those that might be affected, take your money elsewhere. Thais understand only one thing: Baht.

Agreed. It's about time some on here started to grow a pair.

What to do? - booked to fly in on the 23rd passport full of visa exempt/on arrivals - stayed more than 90 days already this year - on rotaion oil field worker but on call and had a lot of R&R in Thailand. Never overstayed or had back to back visas or done visa runs as such , sometimes only out of the country for a few weeks ???

Should I fly Cambodia & get a tourist visa? My flights are through Singapore , maybe I should stay there and get a visa.(what kind?)

Not married but rent shop house - I'll miss my girlfriend if I have to take R&R in another country

You fall directly into the grey/vague that nobody seems quite clear on. My gut feeling is you will be ok but may get asked a few questions etc. Remember that you have done nothing wrong and are a genuine visitor in Thailand, don't forget that, so don't feel like you are some kind of criminal, and if you do get stopped whilst you should show the officer respect don't think of the guy as some kind of God, 'coz he aint. Fly in, going to another country to get a tourist visa should just be your plan B.

I just had a reply to my email I sent to the Brit embassy in bkk. They forwarded on to me a reply they received from Liverpool, it stated that they would forward the request (received from the Brit embassy in bkk) on to the relevant dept and request they look at my case asap and will respond (to the Brit embassy in bkk) soon with an update. So it appears that it is worthwhile getting on the Embassy's case, but I would only suggest doing it if you are up to around 6-7 weeks like I am and give them a reason why you need it back pronto, ie you are going on to overstay soon, etc.

so better move to the Philippines you can stay for 16 months whit a tourist Visa after 16 months you have to go out outside the country and coming back and start again no need to do a Border run paid the extension at the immigration for me its not a problem Thailand i have NON-O but if i have some problem the Philippines its a good option Cebu nice place to live

Yep! If Thailand don't want our money we will go and spend it elsewhere. I appreciate some here have commitments like family etc, but would it really be the end of the world if you can't live in Thailand? Plenty of other good places to live too.

Personally I think nothing will change even after the deadline

This was confirmed when yesterday I got my girlfriend to call head of immigration in ranong as my visa will be expired at the end of the month.

He explained that you are allowed 3 back to back visas but are usually allowed more if you explain your case to the official at the border

Mmmm, I really woulndn't be at all surprised if you are correct, it certainly seems as if they are going to be 'stricter' but I wouldn't be surprised if it is nowhere near as bad as some think it will be. I just cannot imagine a situation where hundreds if not thousands of people are being turned away at borders and airports, it really would be totally unprecendented and a complete and utter car crash. I just can't see it myself. Time will tell.

Well they are fully aware now after Thai Visa called them up to spill the beans. Good work guys.