rumbo1

I live in MUANG N.K and yes we did have a bit of rain last night and again this morning , but it is rainy season here ?

I've seen more rain in the uk during summertime than we received here last night !

Driving Test is the most important test you will take in your whole life. It trumps all the academic exams etc. because its no good being a successful doctor or w/e and you end up in a big crash.

This is something that needs to be really underlined, because society is putting ever increasing value on academic rankings, all of which are ultimately meaningless if the road outside the Uni is full of unskilled motorists. Even if the graduate in question is very smart, and a careful driver, they can still lose everything they worked for if the road has unskilled drivers.

So really, highly strict Driving Standards laws are an investment, much more so than academia. If you are investing in your nation, to make it a world leader, safe roads for your skilled workers to drive on is a first priority, not an afterthought.

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you on that statement . Whilst good training and a test should be a requirement to receive a license it won't make someone a good driver/rider.

Strict enforcement of the laws and experience gained over time is the only way people's attitude/ skills will improve, even then there will still be some bad road users because everyone's skills and road sense varies

Are there any good old threads or web links showing what is required to take a Thai wife to visit the UK please.

I have been married about 18 months in Thailand now and I was hoping to take my wife to visit the UK early next year.

Is it really going to be so complicated ??

It's not complicated at all, just takes a little bit of preparation.

See the pinned topic UK visit visa basics, which should tell you most of what you need to know.

Any further questions, I suggest you start a new topic as they may get missed in this one.

If you use an agency you shouldn't have any problems , if you try your selves then it's down to luck from my experience.

The 1st time we tried our selves it was rejected so we went to an agency with the exact same information and 2 weeks later had a visa !

Tried our selves again this year with the same info plus more proof of our living together for an extra 2 years in Thailand since we last visited the uk and she got rejected again

Using an agent does not mean there will be no problems; all an agent can do is advise on how to prepare the application and what evidence is required to show the applicant meets the criteria. If the applicant does not meet the criteria for the visa applied for there is nothing an agent can do to change that.

Whilst there are plenty of professional and honest visa agents in Thailand, there are plenty of sharks and scammers as well. Unfortunately Thailand's draconian defamation laws and hence the forum rules prevent them from being named here.

If anyone is considering using an agent, I suggest they read the pinned topic Visa Agents first.

Obviously, rumbo1, I cannot comment on your refusals without seeing exactly what the refusal notices say; but that you and your girlfriend are not married should not make any difference to a visit application; though you may need to provide a bit more evidence of the relationship than a husband and wife would.

The refusal notice said there was not enough proof of our relationship even though we provided the same information as 2 years ago when she received a visa plus continuing proof of our still being together , I.e home rental agreement , flight tickets for us travelling to Vietnam together , photographs of us at our rented home in Nong Khai , pics of us with the car we own , copies of both our passports and recent visas , my Thai driving licences with our home address on etc.

The other reason was no proof of my work in the uk even though I showed copies of my last 12 months bank/ savings ac's in the uk with large sums of money in them to prove I could sponsor the holiday.

Are there any good old threads or web links showing what is required to take a Thai wife to visit the UK please.

I have been married about 18 months in Thailand now and I was hoping to take my wife to visit the UK early next year.

Is it really going to be so complicated ??

If you use an agency you shouldn't have any problems , if you try your selves then it's down to luck from my experience.

The 1st time we tried our selves it was rejected so we went to an agency with the exact same information and 2 weeks later had a visa !

Tried our selves again this year with the same info plus more proof of our living together for an extra 2 years in Thailand since we last visited the uk and she got rejected again

I forget to mention we are not married yet , I don't know if it's any easier if you are married

Are there any good old threads or web links showing what is required to take a Thai wife to visit the UK please.

I have been married about 18 months in Thailand now and I was hoping to take my wife to visit the UK early next year.

Is it really going to be so complicated ??

If you use an agency you shouldn't have any problems , if you try your selves then it's down to luck from my experience.

The 1st time we tried our selves it was rejected so we went to an agency with the exact same information and 2 weeks later had a visa !

Tried our selves again this year with the same info plus more proof of our living together for an extra 2 years in Thailand since we last visited the uk and she got rejected again

It's by no means simple.

My gf applied 2 years ago for a uk visitor visa to be with me while I returned to the uk for 3 months contract work.

I helped her with the application and wrote a covering letter offering to be her sponsor , I supplied copies of my uk bank ac going back 12 months , many pics of us together in Thailand , evidence of regular contact between us while I was in the uk , copies of my passport and visas etc.

Basically she was refused so we went to an agent with exactly the same paperwork and 2 weeks later she had a visa ( and we had £600 less money ! )

We have just tried again this year with the same files as last time plus more evidence of our living together in Thailand since we returned back to Los 18 months ago and she has been rejected again stating not enough evidence were in a relationship , no proof of my job.

I'm a contractor and the job wasn't starting till we returned but that shouldn't matter as I showed bank statements again with £100,000 +

She provided pics of us together on hols in Vietnam together , copies of our passports and my visa for Vietnam , pics of the house we've been renting together for the last 18 months since we returned from the uk together the rental agreement etc .

I'm not paying an agent again so it looks no more returns to the uk

My vote would go to straight talking no nonsense Ubonjoe but he's not on the list !

Apparently he moved to Thailand two years ago so travel insurance wouldn't be applicable.

However, health/accident insurance should be taken out by everyone living here, if they don't have the funds to self insure.

Totally agree but there is a limit on the payouts of all insurance policies. This is why he needs to get back to the uk where he will be taken care of by the NHS

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought I read quite recently that British expats were no longer entitled to NHS treatment once they'd left the uk for more than 6 months ?

If anyone is planning on flying from dmk to uth try lion air , they're are charging 660 baht at the moment with the option of paying at Tesco lotus or 7/11 etc , that total price also includes 15 kg of check in luggage.

It seems crazy to be able to fly cheaper than the train or bus !

If you want to go over the friendship bridge into Laos you can get the overnight sleeper train into Nong khai for about 750 baht second class aircon and it's only about a 15 minute walk from the train station to the bridge. Also worth a visit while you are in Nong khai is the sculpture park ( sala ka kaew ) , I think that's how it's spelt !

Remember if you go over the bridge it will cost you 1500 baht for Laos visa or 35 u.s dollars ( cheaper to pay in u.s dollars ) and you will need a passport photograph. Your current Thai visa will finish when you exit Thailand , so be careful of your visa situation .

I have been staying in Los for 13 months on tourist visas .

I returned to the uk for 3 weeks and whilst I was there I went to Hull and got a triple entry tourist visa without any problems and also had no problems re entering Los at bkk on 13/10/2014.

What did surprise me was I met another expat on my return flight who says he has lived here for 12 years on visa exempt !

I asked if he had a return flight as I doubted he would be allowed on the airplane to which he said yes this was his return flight to bkk , no return flight to uk though !

He works offshore 1 month on 1 month off and says that's why he's never obtained a visa but I was still amazed after arriving in bkk having changed aircraft 3 times he had no problems getting 30 day exempt again and was not challenged on any of the flights

Rumbo can I ask what is the validity of your "triple entry visa" ?? What's it's expiry date

It is 3 60 day tourist entry visa valid until 05/04/2015

By the time it expires I will be 50 and hope to get a non o visa and add a 1 year extension based on retirement

Thanks Rumbo, I have been applying for only 2 entry visas the past 3 or 4 years and it was all okay with one 30 day topup and maybe a border crossing or 2 I could stay 6 months;all has changed though these days; will try for a 3 entry next year and see what happens. I'm nowhere near Hull though; from the other end of the globe.

If I understand correct you can only get a triple entry in your home country or possibly Bali !

I have been staying in Los for 13 months on tourist visas .

I returned to the uk for 3 weeks and whilst I was there I went to Hull and got a triple entry tourist visa without any problems and also had no problems re entering Los at bkk on 13/10/2014.

What did surprise me was I met another expat on my return flight who says he has lived here for 12 years on visa exempt !

I asked if he had a return flight as I doubted he would be allowed on the airplane to which he said yes this was his return flight to bkk , no return flight to uk though !

He works offshore 1 month on 1 month off and says that's why he's never obtained a visa but I was still amazed after arriving in bkk having changed aircraft 3 times he had no problems getting 30 day exempt again and was not challenged on any of the flights

Rumbo can I ask what is the validity of your "triple entry visa" ?? What's it's expiry date

It is 3 60 day tourist entry visa valid until 05/04/2015

By the time it expires I will be 50 and hope to get a non o visa and add a 1 year extension based on retirement

I have been staying in Los for 13 months on tourist visas .

I returned to the uk for 3 weeks and whilst I was there I went to Hull and got a triple entry tourist visa without any problems and also had no problems re entering Los at bkk on 13/10/2014.

What did surprise me was I met another expat on my return flight who says he has lived here for 12 years on visa exempt !

I asked if he had a return flight as I doubted he would be allowed on the airplane to which he said yes this was his return flight to bkk , no return flight to uk though !

He works offshore 1 month on 1 month off and says that's why he's never obtained a visa but I was still amazed after arriving in bkk having changed aircraft 3 times he had no problems getting 30 day exempt again and was not challenged on any of the flights

Regarding reporting of address to immigration here's a link

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747147-immigration-foreigners-must-now-carry-valid-id-at-all-times-report-within-24-hours/

paz, who is a regular contributor on this Forum, and who is very knowledgeable on visa issues posted a message on a thread that I had started about options for Retirement / Long Stay in Thailand.

I had said that the web page for Cardiff RTC is misleading. It implies that those who are over 50 are not eligible for single entry Category 'O's; they are only eligible for multi entry 'O's. Cardiff has confirmed that in fact those over 50 are eligible for both single entry and multi entry 'O's if, of course, they meet the financial criteria. paz suggested that I should post a message on this thread, as it may be of interest.

The thread can be read, if you are interested, if you click HERE and go to post # 13.

I hope that you find it of help.

Thanks for that link silver sea , that answers a lot of questions a very helpful link

 

You can get a tourist visa and use it.
That article is about visa exempt entries not tourist visas.
The 12th is not going to mean anything for getting tourist visas.

Ubonjoe my tourist visa expires Aug 23rd and because of the Aug 12th changes I went to Nong Khai immigration yesterday to ask if it would be possible to change from my tourist to non imm o although I'm not 50 until April ( I've heard some people say they got one 6 months early ) . They told me it was not possible and I would not be able to get another tourist visa in Laos and that I should return to the UK
 
???
 
It says right here.
 
"The Immigration Bureau has already instructed officials to deny entry to foreigners doing visa runs as a measure to stop the exploitation of tourist visas and visa exemptions to live or work here."
 

The only thing that has been officially announced is to do with visa exempt entries, They are not going to stop tourist visa issuance and entries. That would certainly slam the door for legitimate tourists.

On the Thai consulate website for Hull you no longer need a minimum income only a state pension to apply for a retirement visa
Category O --------------------------see number 4
1) Married to a Thai national. Evidence required:
a) Copy of Original Thai Marriage Certificate (front and back).
b) Copy of spouses Thai ID Card or Thai Passport showing married name.
c) Copy of latest 3 months Bank Statements (Thai or UK bank) showing regular income of
minimum 65,000 baht (or equivalent in another currency) per month. Bank Statements must include name and address of visa applicant and address on Bank Statements must be same as on Visa Application Form. Please bear in mind that it may be necessary to check this information with the employer.
Either a single or multiple entry visa may be granted in these circumstances.
2) Visiting Thai child living in Thailand.
Evidence required
a) Birth Certificate of child showing relationship.
b) Proof of having Legal Custody of the child.
Please note that a child is regarded as an adult when attaining 20 years of age.
Either a single or multiple entry visa may be granted in these circumstances.
3) Volunteer Work with NGO or Charity Organisation (not with Private Organisations). Evidence required:
a) Sponsor Letter from volunteer/charity organisation which must be registered in Thailand.
Only a single entry visa can be granted in these circumstances. Applicant will need to arrange Extension of Stay as necessary. Please check with volunteer/charity organisation for what extra documentation may be required by Thai Immigration to extend stay.
4) Visiting Thailand as Pensioner aged 65 and over. Evidence required:
a) Current DWP Pension Statement showing receipt of UK State Pension (no minimum necessary).
Either a single or multiple entry visa may be granted in these circumstances.

The warning looked like it was mainly south.   BUT in Udon Thani just this minute the rain is coming down in torrents, thunder storm mega. It cannot rain faster than this.    Keep dry lads.

Yet 50k up the road in Nong Khai not a drop !

Why can't the guys from the UK just do what the US people have done for years? Enter the country on 30 day visa exempt status, open a Thai bank account, immediately transfer 800,000 baht into that account, then convert the visa exempt status into a 90 O visa. During the final 30 days of that 90 "o" visa, return to Immigration with a bank letter telling them all about your nicely aged 800,000 baht account and presto, you'll have a 12-month visa extension due to retirement.

The OP can jump start the process by opening the bank account and transferring the money early.

Nancyl

I think you must have misread my original post ,I'm not 50 untill April 2015 let alone 65.

The ruling before was that I could apply for non imm o at 50 but it appears it is now 65.

I already have a Thai bank ac with sufficient funds but that does not make me eligible because of my age.

P.s an American I know from my local bar aged 55 has just been refused a retirement visa after 5 years of having one although I don't know the reasons why

Does anyone know if the rules have changed from 50 to 65 to obtain a retirement visa in the uk ?

A friend sent me a message on Facebook with a picture of the rules for obtaining an o visa from the hull consulate and when I checked the website it does state 65..

I hope not as I am 50 next April and planned on retiring here, I have managed to stay here for the last year on tourist visas but with the clamp down its looking like I will have to go back to the uk when my current visa expires.

That wouldn't have been a problem if it was only a few months but 65 ?

I have a Thai gf of 2 1/2 years and we (she ! ) have a car and land together so I hope I will be able to live here somehow !

I must of arrived on a bad day !

I am a uk passport holder and when I applied for a double entry tourist visa on 19/06/2014 at Hanoi they would only issue me a 60 day single entry

Check out that place near Nong Khai that has gardens of gargoyles and mythical monsters. Anybody know the place I mean?

Yes and it's all man made falling apart concrete rubbish.

Doesn't really float my boat either but there are lots of amazing sculptures there and if I remember correctly all made by one man.

As I said its not for me but to say its man made falling apart concrete rubbish shows a lot of ignorance

Never mind, my mistake.

BTw I also flew many times into Thailand w/o a return ticket.

So far, we have found the most economical method of extending our visas is to fly from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur and back on the same day, where we get a 30-day visa-on-arival. ? Quote

I also have flown into Thailand many times without an onward ticket but I HAD A VISA ,not just hoping for visa exempt on arrival

I'm amazed that the airline has been allowing you to board at kl to come into Thailand without proof of an onward flight or a visa

Airline ? Read again.

Sorry maybe I'm a bit stupid but I assumed if you fly from kl to Thailand an airline company would supply the aircraft ?

Maybe you could explain to me the bit I read wrong

I'm amazed that the airline has been allowing you to board at kl to come into Thailand without proof of an onward flight or a visa