JB300

 
Of course I am still registered with my GP.
 
 
Only a fool would give up that 'privilege' unless absolutely necessary.
 
I make sure I visit the surgery at lest every 2 years and I occasionally send health reports etc from Thailand.

I wouldn't assume everybody has remained on their GPS register, am sure a lot of people didn't give it a 2nd thought when moving assuming they would always be "on the list".

I know I didn't but as said, I haven't seen mine for 25 years, 16 of which I was still living in the UK so why would I?

Seem to recall there was a "clean up" exercise a few years back where they removed people they hadn't seen for the 18 months (my Brother got removed from their list, but he lives a 4 hour drive away so registered with a local GP instead).

If I had a problem I would go to a hospital and lay on a stretcher and let them sort it out...

 

It's their job, they don't give a stuff who you are, plus my NI number is tattooed on my forehead....

 

 

Now I know you're telling porkies...

The number plate of your 1st Transam is tattooed on your forehead, your NI number is tattooed on your backside.

[so tempted... but I won't make a comment about how it's easy to mix the 2 up... whoops [emoji14]]

 

I still believe that any ID checks are aimed at obvious 'Non-Brits'.

 

If I were to stroll in I (a) Doubt that I will be challenged and ( Even not having a utility bill would not prevent me qualifying

I agree... but are you still on your GPs waiting list (I haven't been for 25 years so I doubt I am) & if not, do you think they'd want to see proof of ID/home address?

I thought it was obvious but we are talking about non-emergency treatment here (the OP is going back as he has a family history of heart problems), not somebody who's been in an accident or attacked or something.

Do these foreign folk get shown the door with their arm hanging off....?

Come on, you know we're talking about non-emergency treatment.

In an Emergency, everybody is entitled to NHS treatment & nobody has to pay for it (save for us UK Tax payers).

There are a zillion Eastern Europeans "lost" and working in the UK, many of them for sure get injured doing their thing and end up at A & E.....Do they have a problem...NOOOOO.

Sigh [emoji17]... and it's exactly because of this that the Government is tightening up on the rules (there are already NHS Trusts that ask for your passport & a Utility bill as proof of ID).

Rules change & are changing, if you want an obvious example of a rule changing relating to the NHS, look to the charge that Foreign spouses have to pay when settling in the UK.

But that didn't happen to your mates who settled there 20 years ago so it can't possibly happen now right?

 
JB, you can post as many links as you wish (thanks for the www.gov.uk link, that is the most concise I have seen) it will not change my stance.
 
I maintain that should I need the services of the NHS  (and I am able to travel to the UK) then I will neither be refused treatment, nor called upon to pay for that treatment.
 
As you rightly say, a one-way ticket will also be part of my strategy.

And you are absolutely correct, if you are (or claim to be) resettling there.

If you turned up & said "Hey Doc, need a bit of treatment, any chance you can sort it out in the next 4 weeks or so only I need to get back home to Thailand"... you'd be charged.

This all started because I made a throw away (though based on "Facts") comment about NHS Eligibility, the real point here is that there's no way the OP can know for sure how long his stay will be so it makes more sense to get 1-way tickets to give himself maximum flexibility (he does sound like a flexible guy who can travel from any UK airport).

The fact that this is a plus on his side should he be asked about UK residency is a bonus (can also use it when talking to the DHSS etc...)


Anyways... I think enough talk of NHS, what's the weather like in the UK at the moment as I've just booked a 2 week trip back for March [emoji1303]

 
 
JB, I am sorry but once again you have used a headline and story to try and support your view that we are "doomed".
 
 
We are not. The new rules are not aimed at British expats, although in theory they are a 'catch all'. As said, if you are (particularly) a white English speaking, Anglo-Saxon looking person you will be assumed to be British and will not harangued to supply your passport as evidence of spending 6 months in the UK.
 
Let's say I am wrong (and I am not) then you will be accepted for NHS treatment immediately you return to the UK and state your intention to stay permanently. Changing your mind a month or so later will not land you with a hospital bill.

Ok, maybe the Gov website will convince you https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-overseas-visitors-hospital-charging-regulations/summary-of-changes-made-to-the-way-the-nhs-charges-overseas-visitors-for-nhs-hospital-care

Appreciate this next link is the Guardian but note the rule change coming into effect in April https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/06/hospitals-check-patients-entitled-free-nhs-care-law-jeremy-hunt


Nobody is doomed, if you're returning to settle in the UK you're entitled to NHS from day 1, if you're a "Health Tourist" (for our purposes, somebody who's lived outside of the UK for more than 6 months" you're not.

How people want to play/view those facts is up to them, but if I were in the OP's shoes I'd use 1-way tickets (not because I think I'd get "caught" more the flexibility it would give me when returning).

Enjoy your life in Singapore,
I'm not sure where I said that I have a house in UK, but I did say i have 2 places, so I will leave you guessing. I quite enjoy going to and fro as it suits me, it's a great lifestyle.

I do enjoy Singapore, but am only here because I'm committed to a Project for the next 1 year & 49 days (not that I'm counting or anything).

Then it's pick somewhere to live (Thailand being Favourite) & use it as a base to Travel from (as I did from KL in 2015).

As a matter of interest, where do you flit between?

 

 

Quoting the Daily Mail (or any newspaper) as "facts" is dangerous.

 

It is a story - one journalist's slant on on a statement from someone in the NHS.

 

 

The fact remains that the NHS's prime role is to administer healthcare.

 

I invite anyone to provide evidence of one Anglo-Saxon looking patient who has been asked to provide documentary evidence that they have resided in the UK for the last 12 months.

 

It doesn't happen, it won't happen.If you have a British passport you will be bullet-proof.

 

That does not mean that it is not sensible to keep up to date with changes/intentions coming out of the UK. To suggest that a Thailand expat returning to the UK for medical treatment will be denied treatment (or charged for it) is, IMO scaremongering and not facts.

 

I'll throw it out there but I'm guessing the views of the BBC will be dismissed as well... http://www.bbc.com/news/health-38876527

But, yet again, my point is the rules are changing...

Good news is it seems you can spend up to 6 months out of the country now for those who do flit back & forth (I do my twice yearly "Visit the folks" & get back to SEA asap )

Don't tell others that or you'll be called PC

Because they can't figure out ways, they revert to

scare mongering. None so deaf as those who don't

want to hear. Let them live in their scared world if

that's what makes them happy. I now have two 

places and I'm very happy

Again... sharing facts is not scaremongering.

If you want to bury your head in the sand & ignore what's going on with the NHS (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-190218/Ex-pat-pensioners-denied-NHS-treatment.html) then be my guest, I could care less seeing as I have worldwide health cover & am more than happy with it here in Singapore.

However this thread is about an OP who's looking to go back to the UK to get some treatment on the NHS before returning to Thailand (I.e. A self confessed Health Tourist)...

Should he be entitlement to treatment - Hell yes, he's British

Is it entitled to treatment - Clearly not given the facts.

Will he get treatment - I bloody hope so.

Lol, you're not the only one who has a house in the UK, it's just for some of us, there are more advantages in being completely non-resident than what we lose in access to the NHS.

This forum is full of scare tactics, quotes and links.......never happens in reality

 

OP is going back to the UK for NHS care, which (rightly or wrongly isn't the point) he isn't entitled to unless he can demonstrate he's returning to settle (burden of proof is on him) as he's been away for 3 months.

UK NHS Trusts have been instructed by the government to crack down on " free treatment for people who aren't entitled to it

To the point where it might even be "Pay now, claim it back later"

www.express.co.uk/news/politics/763521/nhs-health-tourists-pay-free-treatment-crackdown/amp

Not scaremongering, just sharing the facts which are changing all the time... in the wrong direction

They don't ask you on arrival in at a UK airport if you have a return ticket, you just place your passport on a glass reader, walk through and collect your luggage. Customs don't care if you have a return ticket or not, just how much contraband you're bringing in.

As CM has highlighted, this is more around NHS eligibility which you're not unless returning to the UK to settle.

So why risk them being able to find out you plan on returning in 3-4 months when in the OPs situation 1-way flights are probably better for him anyway.

Some very harsh pricing to Manchester. What's a good deal to there then?

S$888 for me from Singapore (CNY offer with Lufthansa) [emoji14], but they were around 20kTHB in Jan (mate swears Emirates sent him a promo for 10kTHB but I think it was 1-way), they're around 30k now.

Generally cheaper to fly into London though.

31 minutes ago, Rc2702 said:

Rates are falling too. 304 now choose a Tuesday flight both ways for the best deals. I reckon it will go down to 280 in next few weeks.

I'm watching flights from Bangkok to Manchester and they're going up at the moment, but am expecting them to dip over the next week or so as they always seem to go in peaks & troughs.

 

As mentioned previously, in your scenario I would be looking at one way tickets there & then start looking at one way tickets back when I was getting close to returning.

 

Downside:

 - It will be more expensive.

 

Upside:

 - No evidence that you're not returning to settle in the UK (NHS eligibility) -

 - No penalties for flight changes & free to travel with which airline suits you best so If all goes well, you're back earlier, if it takes a little longer, no stress/drama :)

 

 

10 hours ago, Morakot said:

 

You run a back backer hostel?

 

Average UK wedding costs £25,090 (THB 1,103,00).

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/price-of-average-wedding-uk_uk_57e28ff9e4b0db20a6e7f2ed

... and it's because it costs so much that a lot of couples get married overseas...

 

Mate of mine did it in the Philippines, cost him approx 100,000 THB (included flying his mum over from the UK, most other guests came from Singapore or Philippines)

 

Another mate did it in Bali, cost him approx 800k, maybe 1Million THB but he flew a couple of people from the UK & his Wife flew her parents in from Australia (most of the guests were in Indonesia & Singapore)

 

3 hours ago, Flustered said:

The only ???? I have on this, is paying out 1 million baht before being given a visa. The visa is stamped in on the first visit to Thailand as a paid up member.

 

Plenty of time to clarify this.

 

Drop them an email and they'll explain everything to you but yes, in a nutshell they'll meet you at the airport and handle the process with immigration for you OR if you're already in Thailand you can get it done in Bangkok (not sure about the other offices). 

 

One small point about the 5 year Visa, permission to stay is only 1 year at a time (you get a new 1 year stamp every time you enter the country assuming passport & Visa is valid for the full year) so you need to get re-stamped every full year spent in Thailand...  but again, TE will handle all of this for you.

 

From other threads, I know you're looking to purchase property as well so will just mention that the TE Property Partnership option includes 2 x 20 year TE membership which could save you the 2Million BUT would seriously limit your property choices & no doubt the price of the property has been inflated to include a good chunk of the TE costs.

 

Good job he's not from Speke, you'd have a problem on your hands then.

Ay Ay, Calm Down, Calm Down...

A bit of Harry Enfield at his best, always cheers me up [emoji1303][emoji1303][emoji1303]

Watched the final Episode of Apple Tree Yard last night & was thinking "Meh, it's ok", until the very end... excellent stuff, honestly did not see that coming!

From The Dingle me

Ahhh, that makes you a Woollyback (lol, Warringyon/Orford lad myself :))

The pre Columbian inhabitants of the Americans were the first humans there.
 
Of course, if one goes back far enough then all of us who don't live in East Africa are descended from immigrants!
 
How long do people have to live somewhere before they are no longer classed by some as an immigrant? I have a friend whose grandparents immigrated to the UK from Pakistan. Both his parents were born in the UK, as was he. Yet some people consider him to be an immigrant.

My point exactly, how long/ many generations does there need to be before somebody is not considered an Immigrant?

Surely it's just 1 & anybody born to a (naturalised) Citizen isn't an Immigrant, max 2 (Grandparents naturalised).

Having said that I have a mate who was born in Kenya to Indian parents, moved to the UK when he was around 4 & he's more British than I (who's ancestry is 100% British) am, though he has lived there a couple of years longer than me (being 6 years older).

Lol, I love that argument...

So the Native Americans were "Magicked" there & didn't crawl out of the swamp like the rest of us? So what makes them any less of an immigrant than a modern day American who's family landed on Plymouth Rock?


Joking aside, "Immigration" is a fairly modern concept (at least the laws around it are) so claiming somebody who's family has been there for hundreds of years is an immigrant is a bit off.

Let's face it. If it was possible to do what the OP suggested, we would all be doing it.

 

Good challange though, if you read the bumf it does sound like you should be able to do it, full marks to 7by7 for spotting the "gotcha".

4. EUN2.4 What are the requirements for issuing an EEA family permit?

In assessing an application from an EEA national’s direct family member, the entry clearance officer(ECO) should be satisfied that:

1. the applicant is the family member of the EEA national (marriage certificate, birth certificate or other evidence of family link)                  WE can supply a Marriage certificate
2. the EEA national is residing in the UK in accordance with the EEA Regulations (as qualified person (exercising treaty rights) if more than 3 months) and the non-EEA national is joining them; or the EEA national intends to travel to the UK within 6 months and will have a right to reside under the Regulations on arrival, and the non-EEA national will be accompanying or joining the EEA national;            I am a British citizen which is an EU national by definition and I am normally resident  in the UK with a home in the UK

I'm British & have a home in the UK but am neither Ordinary nor Tax resident there.

I'd assumed with you being married to a Thai & her not living in the UK that neither do you but obviously that's an incorrect assumption.

Go for it, if you pull it off you'll be a hero to many of us [emoji1303]

To answer  your point (without establishing residence there) I am a British citizen with a home in the UK .  Dependency the other point you raised is not required for a spouse.

Having a home in the UK does not mean you're resident there (Google UK Ordinary Resident test) & your Wife has to prove that's she's dependent on you.

Have you contacted the British Embassy to see what they say?

Just asking on what basis you say that. Please specify the law which backs up your statement for the benefit of everyone.

As I understand it ss long as my wife is joining me in the UK then 6 months EEA family permit is guaranteed under EU law with less hoops to jump through than a Tourist visa. A simple matter of her passport a certified copy of mine and the marriage certificate.

Technically you may well be correct but your sticking point will be that to get an EEA Family Permit for the UK you "Must be exercising your Treaty rights in the UK" which is taken to mean that you're moving to settle there & comes with the UK's additional requirements so is hardly a replacement for a 6 month tourist visa.

But go for it & less us know how you get on [emoji1303]

Edit: Thinking about it, an EEA Family Permit is to allow non-EU citizens to visit another EU country, so still believe that you'll need to get one from somewhere other than the UK & don't believe (without establishing residence there) you'll be allowed to use it to visit the UK.

But would be delighted to be proven wrong [emoji1303]

Edit2: The more I read, the more this looks technically possible https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eea-family-permits-eun02/eea-family-permit-eun02#eun29-how-do-i-establish-dependency-under-the-eea-regulations

Give it a whirl, it's free after all [emoji1303]