watso63

Try thinking outside the box folks. It might, maybe could be that the government is fulfilling its main purpose and that is to protect its own citizens first and foremost. Unfortunately western governments have sold out to the globalist elite and ditched this principal in the name of diversity and actually appease the bad guys and terrorists. Its not always about I, me or you.

Well experience counts for a heck of a lot. Be confident, use defensive driving techniques, always be alert. Keep at a speed that goes with the traffic flow. Ride too slow and you might get bullied out of the way. Always expect the unexpected because it often happens here. Of course much of the above may count for nothing to an inexperienced rider but I ain't your nanny so good luck and enjoy??

Stop listening to your mummy and just use the grey stuff between your ears. Experience, awareness and anticipation counts for a lot when riding bikes. Of course the risks are highr compared with other modes of travel. Common sense counts for a lot too. Bike bashers can swivel as far as I'm concerned??

On 01/05/2017 at 8:20 PM, saakura said:

You stayed here for 4 months in total, meet a girl and decide to close down shop in UK and relocate to Thailand for being with her. Love you 'long time'

Why not? I came here for the first time in May 2012 for a holiday with my brother who was and still is married to a Thai. Moved here in August 2012 and have never looked back and couldn't be happier. Not everyone is a mummy's boy that can't take care of themselves.

I put a t-shirt on. Thought about putting some socks on but I've forgot where I put them.

Next, yawn???

Good old Blighty. When renewing a passport, certified copies of your existing passport presented at Trendy Towers along with photo Thai address, payment form etc is good enough and is all handled by the Home Office now. Aarse, elbow...elbow aarse comes to mind???

A passport is only a document allowing for overseas travel for you. Why on earth it is relevent as you have a legal marriage certificate is beyond me but hey ho. As UK citizens have no formal ID card the normal proof of ID is a driving licence or utility bill, council tax bill ??????

All things considered though I would courier the passport back, keep copies here and keep a low profile until it comes back. You could always register it as lost if needed.

Kap Choeng are onto this "scam" and they do want to see bank statements and they also do "home" visits. Nothing to be worried about if everything is above board.

Please don't shoot the messenger, I'm just trying to be helpful. I use the term scam because the letter has been used as proof even though no evidence has been provided therefore it is open to abuse.

Scam?? I'm not aware of any scam. The embassy certification is a valid proof of income. Never heard of anyone abusing it. If a province or two wants to ask for further documentation, it's up to them. It seems to me a few of the provinces that don't have a large number of farangs ask for a lot of supporting documents that others don't. For example proof of address seems to be also required in a couple of province though in all the years I've been in Thailand, I've never been asked for it. Maybe they just have extra time on their hands. I've always just brought the required documents and never been asked for anything extra.

I did ask not to be shot for passing on the message. I know that several people were deported last year including Australians who also don't need to prove their income. How can a anything be galid without proof? It just means if you get caught you're on your own.

Kap Choeng are onto this "scam" and they do want to see bank statements and they also do "home" visits. Nothing to be worried about if everything is above board.

Please don't shoot the messenger, I'm just trying to be helpful. I use the term scam because the letter has been used as proof even though no evidence has been provided therefore it is open to abuse.

No more than about a week before at Kap Choeng.

And then they will only give you a 30-day "under consideration" stamp initially (even for a retirement extension), I believe?

Also a visit by IO to your registered address. They also scrutinise where your living expenses come from even if you use the 800,000 baht method or are in possession of an embassy certified letter.

No more than about a week before at Kap Choeng.

I lost interested when you started "freelancing" on a Tourist Visa.

The tricky thing is that the expat cost of living indexes don't include education, financing/interest, cars and the tax system and that is where Thailand compares rather negative to other countries.

Healthcare being another big consideration, especially with a young family.

A (rich) friend of mine paid GBP 20,000 for an operation here last year.

4 years ago, Bangkok hospital Pattaya quoted me 200,000 Baht for a simple hernia operation. It was cheaper to fly to the UK and having it done in a private clinic. This included tickets and a few nights hotel...

6 years ago I had a dental crown done in BPH for 15,000 Baht, not too bad, last year the same crown, on the other side would go for 45,000 Baht, 3 times the price in 5 years, the room, dentist and all equipment was the same...

I paid 3,500 baht for an upper molar crown at my local hospital. Good job, no problems.

I live in the province of Surin and Kap Choeng is being a pain in the arse for retirement extensions. I also have a condo which is almost completed in Pratumnak. Sounds like Jomtien's going to get my vote next year.

Just never do anything in Thailand, or anywhere else for that matter if you can't afford to walk away. Who cares about social standing and what other people think?

I for one take less notice than a buffalo of what they think, say and do and my skin is thicker too. Chillax, have the last laugh and tell them the ATM's empty???

@watso63; I think you are being a little intolerant with your local amphur with respect to your application for a YTB....many offices (and local govt officers) are not aware that such a thing exists. If you speak to the amphur staff in the same tone as your post above then you aren't going to get anywhere quickly....Not criticizing you mate, just offering friendly advice....hope you view this post in the way that it was intended....good luck

My tgf has explained and even tried to show him a printed off version of the rules. Without writing a long essay about his tricks I understand and recognise a jobsworth when I see one. He has done them for married friends of mine. His last excuse was to get a residency acknowledgement from immigration, then he denied ever saying that. Thanks for the advice.? Oh, by the way. I'm always polite as is my very well behaved and mannered gf.

"About a week at Kap Choeng" Don't waste your time, effort and money trying to be efficient and organised???

It seems the problem at KC is the boss there. I tried to renew my retirement extension 30 days early. All the staff were very helpful and they checked all my documentation. My gf drew a map of where our house is. Even though I had the required 800K they still wanted to know where my income for my living expenses came from. I provided my savings (current account) passbook showing payments coming in from the UK which they photocopied, no more questions. Even though everything complied with the rules I was turned away as I was applying too early (according to he who must be obeyed) and was told about a week early would be accepted. So a wasted journey plus I had to get another confirmation letter from my bank when I returned. I too was told to expect a visit (still waiting 3 weeks later), but was not given an under consideration stamp (maybe for people that use a foreign visa card at a Thai ATM to draw cash for living expenses and why not?), but the full monty.

I have been trying to get a yellow tabien ban too but my local amphur nazi's having none of it. Lazy, incompetent toerag comes up with a different excuse everytime I go there??? Can anyone give any advice as to who it's worth"complaining" to? ie an official government department??? I know, I know TIT???

I note that these proposals do not apply to UK resident bringing their spouse to the UK.

The requirements of this are draconian already, my last enquiry (last year) revealed that to return to the UK with my spouse I would be required to have £63,000 in the bank or an annual income of in excess of £19,000. Despite owning my own home in the UK valued in excess of £600,000 which is mortgage free, on the income or capital requirements I can not qualify. I wonder how many retirees can. Surely being unable to live with my wife in my country of origin is a Breach of my Human rights to a family life.

This is something being used all the time for criminals to avoid being deported from the UK, yet I am precluded from living out my life in my country of birth with my chosen partner

You could always go for equity release or downsize (in cash terms) but your point about being denied a family life is a valid point. Hire a lawyer and see where you get. Good luck if you do and let us know how you get on.

I need to renew my passport. It took 3 emails over 10 days to get an appointment. The last email was sent 3 days ago. Today I received an appointment for 27th May. Hopefully it will be plain sailing from now on.

you re lucky, I have now sent 3 emails over 2 weeks and still not had a rply regarding an appointment. VFS must be a Thai/Indian agency = we don't give a toss to customers, especially British passport holders

That's bad, but check your spam mail box. Good luck.

Then again without clarifying what is acceptable as "unable" they've left a little loophole. A doctors letter I suppose, would have to be translated, presented for notorisation to the embassy...???

Further to my last post. Someone at VFS in Trendy must be facilitating this commercial exploitation of the concession enabling this business viable. Meanwhile, the rest of us...