Chris Ubon

3 minutes ago, Tuvoc said:

What is a "Smart VISA " for example ?

I don't know. You'd be best asking Ubonjoe.

3 hours ago, Tuvoc said:

Lots of new VISA types on that list that I didn't know existed !

Something for everyone! ????

3 minutes ago, ExpatNP said:

Have these financial requirements always applied, or are they new?

For the Non-Immigrant visas? I don't know but, as far as I'm aware, they aren't a recent innovation.

4 minutes ago, PREM-R said:

Seems that there is a price increase from today:

http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/contents/filemanager/document/Visa%20announcement.pdf

Yes and not an insignificant one. ????

Thanks, Joe. I had already watched the video and read the guidelines but couldn't be sure it applied to ALL visas. The guidelines seem to indicate that it will still be possible to submit the documents by post rather than attending the embassy in person - assuming, as you say, that it goes ahead.

I can't find your original post of 22nd March, Joe. Does this new procedure apply to ALL visas, including Non-Immigrant. The page on the Thai London Embassy site listing those hasn't been changed nor has the link to the original application form: http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84508-Non-Immigrant-visas.html#6

Thanks in anticipation....

I had a similar experience two days ago but managed to use the CAPTCHA OK. It was when I clicked on the 'Submit' button that it was rejected, as per intermittent experience of the past. I did have a run of 12 months' luck with it a year ago so perhaps I should count myself fortunate. 

Jalansanitwong, are you suggesting that gay men are not real men? If so, that is bigoted and highly offensive.

Depends how one looks at it don't you think.......?

No, I don't think so. It's amazing the views that surface here and what it can reveal about people's mindsets.

Jalansanitwong, are you suggesting that gay men are not real men? If so, that is bigoted and highly offensive.

As much as I despise the British Embassy, and dread ever having to go there, it is enlightened and progressive that a gay married man has been chosen as the next ambassador. Good luck to him and his lovely wife.

Lovely wife? How would you know this .Youve met them?

Youre simply expressing the opinion of the minority and by the way gays have partners not wives. Men have wives. Please dont twist things to suit your agenda.

I had a similarly excellent experience at the Liverpool Passport Office a few weeks ago. Again, very jovial, helpful staff and a service that was a delight to use. £128 - it seemed a relatively small price to pay for peace of mind.

OK thanks for the clarification, Ubonjoe. I can't think that I'm being singled out for special treatment but it's a real pain whatever. Incidentally, I still have the receipt portion of the last TM30 from a year ago in my passport.

Sorry if I have confused things. They have told / reminded me on the last two occasions I have renewed my extension (the most recent 6 days ago) regardless of whether I was getting a re-entry permit.

As I said my wife and I have never been asked for any report other than my 90 day reports. I have gotten 7 extensions at Phibun.

I don't really understand why they are asking you for them.

Me neither, Ubonjoe. Perhaps you haven't left the country and returned within the last 12 months or so (ie they only implemented this requirement 12-15 months ago). It says on the Immigration website that the report can be made online but I can't see how ... I shall probably have to contact them.

Sorry if I have confused things. They have told / reminded me on the last two occasions I have renewed my extension (the most recent 6 days ago) regardless of whether I was getting a re-entry permit.

Maybe when you next return from abroad, Ubonjoe, they will ask why you didn't report ....

Not a change if address form, Ubonjoe. I was told earlier this week when I obtained a re-entry visa that I would need to report within 24 hours of returning from my next proposed trip back to the UK. They previously spoke of a fine for non-compliance.

The problem is that if I don't report as advised, the next 90 day visit could be expensive! I am amazed others haven't experienced this.

The T28 is for more than a change of address. It is to report staying in another province for more than 24 hours.

If they are telling you to file a TM30 form that is for a homeowner to report an alien staying in their residence that is even worse. That should only be needed once unless you change to another house.

It was the TM30 that they insisted we needed to complete. In effect, because I had broken continuity by going abroad, they required my partner, whom they automatically assume to be the homeowner, to report that I have returned here. I should be very interested to know what they would tell you if you queried the policy, Ubonjoe. We have been left in no doubt about the necessity of doing this!

Not a change if address form, Ubonjoe. I was told earlier this week when I obtained a re-entry visa that I would need to report within 24 hours of returning from my next proposed trip back to the UK. They previously spoke of a fine for non-compliance.

The problem is that if I don't report as advised, the next 90 day visit could be expensive! I am amazed others haven't experienced this.

Are you saying this is not a requirement, Brit Tim?

The only rider to this is that some Immigration Offices require you to notify them each time you return to Thailand. As there isn't a postal or online method of doing it, this entails a visit. I was amazed when Ubon Ratchathani office told me this by way of a reprimand after my last re-entry 18 months ago and have tested this 'instruction' with them since and they confirm the requirement. Apparently, it always existed but hadn't been enforced.

This is fascinating. One would expect Ubon to have access to the central computer system by now! I suspect the requirement (that I have no doubt is really still on the books) is probably a hangover from the days when all travelers (Thais and foreigners) had to report in to the local authorities on arrival in a province.

As recently as 30 years ago, a venerable English university still had a regulation that a student taking the final exam had to be properly dressed, including wearing his sword. Fortunately, the regulation was not routinely enforced.

The only rider to this is that some Immigration Offices require you to notify them each time you return to Thailand. As there isn't a postal or online method of doing it, this entails a visit. I was amazed when Ubon Ratchathani office told me this by way of a reprimand after my last re-entry 18 months ago and have tested this 'instruction' with them since and they confirm the requirement. Apparently, it always existed but hadn't been enforced.

Something is wrong because the article suggests that the capacity of Don Mueang is already higher than Suvarnabhumi and will be proportionately even higher once both projects have been completed. ?

Whatever, its their country.

Barring gay men from enteting the country and especially working with children +2.

Don't they have enough toilets and parks to pick up strangers and enough glory holes to visit at home? Why come here to exploit young men half and one third their age?

I needva shower...ugh.

Do I understand correctly that you want to discriminate against gay men? That's illegal in most countries from which TV members originate so why should it be legalised here?

OK. Thanks, Ubonjoe. That's worth a try next time I leave and return to Thailand. In the meantime, we'll try to get clarification when we go for the next 90 day report. Thanks, again.

Thanks for your replies, Ubonjoe. I had no idea you used the IO at Phibun. The first time they mentioned it to us was when I applied for my third extension based on retirement in July. The Officer dealing with us picked up on the fact that I had returned from the UK at the end of November (2013) and NOT notified them. The irony is that we called in there during December, ie 3 weeks after returning, just to confirm that I didn't need to do the originally scheduled 90 day notification (23rd December) and they said nothing about this 'new' requirement. Perhaps someone was having a bad day!

That was my understanding , Ubonjoe, but our Immigration advised us in no uncertain terms that this was now an ongoing requirement for anyone in our situation (ie extension of stay because of retirement, marriage, etc) within a few days of re-entering Thailand. This would, of course, be 80+ days earlier than the next required 90 day visit.

Do you think this is another case of differing policies at different IOs?