bigyin

MaeJoMTB - Are you really sure that you can leave on an expired passport? I would love for you to be correct as if this is the case you have just saved me a fortune! (I am in the situation of having to renew my son's next month in Bangkok) I could simply take him with me on the old passport, get a new one in the UK and save all of the expense and hassle of travelling to the agency twice from up north!

Let me know if you are 100% sure this is legal thanks.

If this is the fact, then I apologise for my mistake.

Cheers.

You can extend your son's passport, for 12 months, quickly and free of charge.

That was a temporary facility last year because of the back log and has now been stopped.

"Fees for entry clearance and related services are set in UK legislation in UK pounds (GBP). Changes to the Fees are approved by the UK Parliament. Fees can be paid in Locally Acceptable Currency, which is determined by the country where the applicant will provide biometrics. The exchange rate is determined by the UK Consular Rate of Exchange mechanism and may be subject to change."

I don't think the previous paragraph governs this paragraph. What is interesting is that it states that the fees are set by the UK Parliament in UK Pounds and that fees can be paid in locally acceptable currency determined by the country where biometrics are taken. So that suggests that the locally acceptable currency in Thailand is US$ as that is how we have had to pay for some time. My reading of this is no change but I would be happy to be wrong on this.

For 2 or 3 days it is really not worth the hassle of driving over...right hand side of the road as well. Lots of taxis of all shapes and sizes waiting on the Lao side to take you to Vientiane which by the way is a very pleasant place with very cheap Beer Lao.

Good news...well done!

I have a different take as this happens in the school my step daughter goes to and she has had the money back out. My wife tells me this is quite normal in Thai schools. At 5 baht per day even if it was a scam it's hardly worth getting excited about but there is every chance that it is OK.

I have to say that when I moved from Pattaya to Phitsanulok a couple of years ago I didn't do anything. Ignorance was bliss I suppose but at my first 90 report date I went to Immigration in Phitsanulok with my wife. They didn't want to see anything from me on proof of residence and told me that my wife guaranteed me and that was OK. No change of address form or anything. Every 90 days since then I have just gone with my wife and they have not wanted to see any proof of residence so I think as usual it depends!!!!

Renewing a Thai passport in Thailand is a piece of cake.

Can be done down the local passport office.

Done while you wait.

Rules have changed and now all applications are sent to Bangkok. We are in Phitsanulok and had to wait a few days to collect but very easy (in Thai terms anyway).

Technically yes you are not entitled to most National Health Services as you are no longer normally living in the UK. But, having said that, if you are still registered with a GP at your parent's address it would be very unlikely that anyone would question you about this. Personally I have never taken out health insurance for myself when returning to the UK or even considered doing so, but that is just my choice. In actual fact when my wife and step daughter visited last year I didn't even do it for them but I agree 100% with the previous posts that it would be sensible to cover your GF.

Regarding the post above there is nothing to smile about. When I said 'hide' that was perhaps an unfortunate choice of words. Do not walk up to Thai Immigration waving both passports might have been a better choice of words. As you say it is routine but there is no point in drawing unnecessary attention to the 'other' passport.

She is a Thai citizen and doesn't need any form of visa to live in Thailand (or the UK for that matter) so she will not have a visa in her Thai passport and the airline staff should be happy seeing the UK passport as that absolves them from any worries about visas to the UK. I don't really understand your reference to Thai Immigration looking in her Thai passport for a visa as there is no visa. They don't need to know anything about her UK passport as it will only complicate matters. Having said all that there is always the chance that you will encounter someone who makes a problem but really there is no need for anyone be it Immigration at either end or the airline to know about the dual nationality. Equally leaving the UK she just needs to show her Thai passport at check in to again avoid any visa questions. At any rate this is my understanding of how it should all work but someone else may correct me if I am wrong.

As to number 2 you can all go through the EU passport control with no problem. Children would not be expected to be separated from their parents. As to number 1 this has been the subject of many threads on this forum. At the UK end show the British passport. At check in at Bangkok also show the British passport to the airline staff otherwise they will want to see a visa in the Thai passport. At Thai passport control show the Thai passport and keep the UK passport out of sight.

I would certainly renew the passport before. You are going to have to do it when you get back so better before in my opinion. As stated not working doesn't matter as long as you can prove that you have the money to fund the trip. i actually think renewing the visa might be a good idea as it just adds to the evidence supporting a return to Thailand but as said above should not be essential.

Yes the bottom line is that the rejection is absolutely correct as you did not make the £18600 required. Turnover is not income or profit and the ECO knows that.

The short answer is yes. VFS are there simply to process the application and arrange the biometrics and any attempt to remove papers should be resisted but as the applicant is supposed to go in on their own and most applicants from this forum will be Thai ladies it is a bit of a problem. The applicant is entitled to present their application with all the evidence which they consider necessary to support that application.

I have to say that my wife and I have done this twice now and no attempt was made either time to remove items. On the contrary the VFS staff pointed out a couple of things which needed copying and told my wife and step daughter to have their passport photos re done. All helpful stuff really in my experience.

Yes, well done and have a great time.

First important point. Do not believe anyone who says that using an agent is 'the way to go'. Using a reputable agent like the forum sponsors Thai Visa can certainly help if you are in the UK and your GF is in Thailand and of course they don't charge if you don't get the visa. But when I applied successfully about 3 months ago for a settlement visa for my wife 2 of her friends applied using agents and were unsuccessful. I personally have never felt the need to use one and anyone with a reasonable grasp of paperwork and a working knowledge of the system gleaned from this forum should be able to do it.

Your divorce or otherwise should not have had any bearing on your application. The ECO is not monitoring your lifestyle but only whether you meet the criteria stipulated in the regulations and that you have provided evidence to back it up.

The VFS is a major issue. Again I have had no problem on the 2 occasions I have lodged an application but there are many threads on this forum where VFS staff have removed papers. If you do this again you should make sure your GF insists that the application is submitted to the Embassy intact. This is very important but of course many Thai ladies will back down in the face of perceived authority. VFS staff are only there to make sure you haven't left something out and to do the biometrics...don't let them do any more.

I certainly don't think there has been any easing of the interpretation of the regulations...if anything the opposite as there is a huge debate in the UK about immigration generally, most of it mis informed.

If the ECO has something they think can be cleared up quickly and easily they might call to clarify but equally they might not. They are not required to and as has been said on here many times they are entitled to expect everything to be provided so they can simply look at the application and supporting documents and make a decision. Everything else is the responsibility of the applicant.

This paints a fairly gloomy picture perhaps but as 7by7 said above 96% of applications are approved so most people manage to get it right.

They publish the overall figures on their website but they don't differentiate between GF/spouse applications and any others but the success rate is high (about 85% I think). If you post your rejection letter with the personal bits deleted I am sure you will get a lot of advice and quite probably an explanation as to why it was rejected. Normally it is because people (and we are all human) assume that the ECO will know what the application means when in fact evidence has to be supplied to support every statement. So let's have a look at it and see what they said. And no you normally don't get a phone call unless it is something they think they can clear up easily. They are busy and they won't go hunting for information...they expect everything to be right in front of them. And last point they is no such thing as a guarantee of a visa..married or otherwise the same level of documentation has to be supplied.

I was at Hanoi Airport to answer your question in May. Going in it was very pleasant. The only queue was at the visa on arrival counter but I would say that I only waited about 20 minutes. Very stress free really. The only important point I would make is that there are no money changing facilities when you leave so do not under any circumstances turn up at the airport with a large wedge of dong. Luckily I paid the hotel in cash but I still had to buy some rubbish. Unlike jimbolai I am no expert on Vietnam. It is a communist country so living there would I think be quite a hassle but I really liked Hanoi. I thought the people were ultra friendly but of course I used to think that about Thailand. You don't really know a country until you live in it but I would go back in a shot. Liked it a lot.

It's neither good or bad news as a rejection takes just as long as an acceptance. They are done in order so it means that they are up to date with their processing at the moment. 2 or 3 days I should think for the envelope to arrive. Good luck!

I did this last year and I just put My sponsor paying for everything in each box.

The instructions do say that documents supporting the application should be accompanied by a translation. It maybe that if everything else is OK this would get through but I would not risk it. I would certainly recommend translation of at least the marriage certificate. I also did the birth certificates and name changes. Any translation service is OK provided they stamp their name and the date of translation on the documents. I certainly wouldn't risk waiting until the day as it is stressful enough without that as well but maybe that is just me. Good luck.

First of all I suggest you read the pinned threads on visa applications as a lot of your questions are answered there. But specifically

Get a UK passport for your child and then for sure no visa is required for her. Someone else can perhaps expand here if you don't get one.

Your partner does not need to be in work or have any income or savings. There needs to be sufficient funds to support the trip and this can come from her, from you or from a third party. Whoever is paying needs to supply detailed evidence in the form of bank statements and source of income to confirm this. Also your partner will need to provide firm evidence to prove that she will return to Thailand at the end of the trip. This part is easier if employed but evidence of your visa history in Thailand, your job with confirmation that you have been granted a holiday, joint accommodation will help. I suspect this will be the hardest part of the application.

You are specifically advised not to book tickets until the visa has been granted and having a ticket will not enhance your chances of success.

Do read the many threads on this subject and you will see lots of reasons for rejection and good advice from many posters. Good luck.

VFS don't do it for fun so yes they are a company doing it for the money but HMG have clearly decided that paying them is cheaper than doing it all in house. This has been par for the course in the UK for many years...reducing Government staffing and expenditure.

I am absolutely sure that VFS have no input in the decision although clearly they can affect the decision by not forwarding all the documentation to the Embassy.

As has been stated many times it is not an interview and I don't believe there is any suggestion that it is Indeed most applicants aren't asked much at all. We have done it twice and their only concern was something showing sole custody of my step daughter and this is properly within their remit...to ensure that salient information is being supplied.

When applying for a visa, people need to get into the mindset of the bureaucrat - a place where common sense often comes 2nd to examining pieces of paper and ticking the corresponding boxes.

If you mention something in the application you need to back it up with a document so that they can tick their little box and move on to the next point.

Write a covering letter refering to the documentary evidence that satisfies their criterea, forcing them to tick boxes and come to the conclusion that a visa should be granted.

Be explicit!

I agree with the conclusion here about being explicit but not the way it is framed. What else has the 'bureaucrat' got to go on apart from the pieces of paper? He or she is precluded because of government decisions from almost any form of contact with the applicant and so must rely on evidence which as you so rightly say must be explicit. There are instances documented on this forum of apparently incorrect decisions but that only makes the ECO's annoyingly human. By far the majority of rejections are because of incomplete or unclear applications leaving the ECO with no choice but to reject the application.

As has been said above there is no interview and it is not possible to just introduce evidence at that stage. You need to get all your evidence gathered together as has been suggested above and present it in a fashion that is easy for the ECO to digest. The staff at Trendy Building know nothing about the evidence required to obtain a visa. Take the advice that you have been offered and get everything prepared in advance with copies...you cannot leave anything to be presented to the staff at Trendy Building. So I think that 7by7's suspicion is correct. 7by7 and theoldgit know a lot about this procedure and their advice is usually worth following.