Bredbury Blue

Tip of the hat to the VFS Application Centre Bangkok for their quick and efficient service Over the past +20 years I’ve applied successfully many times for UK standard 6-month visas for the wife, first at the old British Embassy (Ploenchit) and then at the various VFS centres. As my parents are in their 90s and in ill-health, I decided to apply for a UK standard 2-year visa for the wife this time. The application we submitted did make mention of my parent’s situation and this being reason for applying for a visa ‘just in case’ we need to visit. My wife works (own company) so was able to show funds, reason to return to Thailand and support / guarantors in the UK from my family members. Not sure why but I thought it would take up to 3 weeks for the application. We didn’t pay for any additional services except for the passport to be couriered back to our home (we live in neighbouring province to BKK and we didn’t want to have to drive in and out of BKK to collect the passport). The *new VFS centre is way better than the previous one in Trendy Building, which was over-busy, difficult to find some where to sit (or park), long queues for the lift up to the VFS office, etc. At the new place, the UK has a separate office to the VFS office for Australia, Canada and others. The building is spacious and quiet, and the VFS service was very quick – the wife took no more that 10 minutes in the VFS office to do her biometrics, and the appointment was on time. *VFS (Thailand) Ltd. The Shoppes Grand Rama 9 @ Belle, 2nd floor 131/1,141/1 Rama 9,Huai Khwang, Bangkok The timeline of the service shocked us how quick it was: UK visa application made and paid for = Monday 12.12.2025 Uploaded the visa application support details = Sunday 18.12.2025 Wife attended UK’s VFS centre BKK = Monday 19.12.2025 Wife’s passport arrived with the visa = Saturday 20.12.2025

Stayed in songkhla about 30 times on short business trips and really liked the place. A quiet pretty place, but not for those who like bar life (though there are some bars). Can visit Hat Yai for shopping, and airport.

Wife and I have both noted the lack of mynah birds visiting our garden. Used to be plenty of them.

That's probably what happened (after my wife had to answer the usual IO questions: "when / where did you meet?"...that was +30 years ago, doh!).

Think requirement for a witness depends either on applicant or on the specific immigration office or both. A witness was not required when I renewed my Thai Wife extension in Samut Prakarn recently: we've been doing renewals at this office for +15 years.

It is hard to understand BBL's logic: The money in your account is your money. If you ask for a bank statement letter they should provide it for the fee just like all the banks do. It is not BBL business to lock your money up for a period of time. If Immigration has any concerns on the amount in one's bank account as shown in the bank statement letter, it is Immigration's prerogative to ask/question. It is not BBLs business to get involved in one's Immigration matters. Surely what BBL is doing is wrong. Is it even legal? Some body (legal, embassy, whatever) needs to pick the ball up for all expats suffering at the hands of BBL, and challenge the right of BBL to act in the way they are doing. I was hoping the American lawyer guy on YouTube or one of the Pattaya newspapers might pick up the ball. SCB has none of this nonsense.

New addition to my garden, Indian nightjar (นกตบยุงเล็ก (Nok Dop Yung Lek - meaning "small mosquito-slapping bird"). Only heard it once or twice. My wife (from an isan village is UNfamiliar with it). Weird call.

Same for me in Samut Prakarn. Lived at the same address for +20 years (our house in wife's name). Officer signed the slip off of a TM30 indicating that status years ago, and I use copies of that slip whenever a TM30 is required.

Wanting to CANCEL my work permit, I tried to register myself (as employee) in the E-system but kept getting error messages; system wouldn't accept my WP number or my passport number. My wife, as Employer, also couldn't get registered. The helpline on the e-system website doesn't work. So we went to our local Labour Department office. They didn't seem surprised we had problems with the E-system. They (1) gave us the paper forms, (2) told us what documents we needed, and (3) told us to come back with screenshot printouts showing we couldn't register and the officer would process the cancellation for us. Returned the next day to the labour office with the paperwork/company seal and printouts, and it took the officer about 10mins to cancel my WP. As employee, seemed I was just required to show up and bring the WP book. I did say anything, didn't do anything, just sat and waited while the officer and my wife as employer filled in two forms online. Officer was very helpful. Fair to say the E-system isn't fully working yet and a trip to the Labour office is still required.

Agree with you that Google Lens is pretty good for identifyinf fauna and flora. I've also been working overseas alot and it was excellent for helping me read signs, menus, etc (also use it to translate thai).

Loving the 'BirdNet' app to identify bird sounds.

Not sure about the accuracy of the "Waiting time for CF83 is approximately 13 months to 26 months or longer" as it differs greatly from my recent experience: 1. On 09 August 2024 I filled in Form ONLINE ('Apply to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions when abroad (CF83)') and then posted a cover letter and COPY of Form CF83 to *HMRC (PT Operations North East England). Cover letter explained i lived overseas, i had been paying NIC Class 2 and i wanted to pay my NIC Class 2 shortfall years (years outstanding and unpaid). 2. On 03 September 2024 i received a response letter from HMRC (PT Operations North East England) advising that: i could pay voluntary Class 2 NlCs, the years outstanding and how much to pay for each of those years. 3. I didn't do anything until January 2025 when i proceeded to make my payment for outstanding NIC class 2 years from my UK bank to HMRC's UK bank account. I then sent a letter to HMRC (PT Operations North East England) confirming i had made the payment, with a screenshot showing payment from my bank to their bank. 4. Received confirmation of my payment in April 2025 (actually received from DWP). *PT Operations North East England HM Revenue and Customs BX9 1AN England, United Kingdom

From the lawyers we use: "As announced by the Ministry of Labor, all work permit processes (application and cancellation) must now be completed online through the E-Work Permit system. You may access the system via the following link: https://eworkpermit.doe.go.th/ " I just tried registering in the system as employee using my WP number (got the message "fail - Not found an account, please check your id number"), and then using my Passport number (got the same message "fail - Not found an account, please check your id number"). So looks like i will have to visit my local Labour office. Taninthai - Did you find that they were helpful when you visited the labour office to register?

Just downloaded the 120MB PDF. Very generous of James to make it available free!

You could use Google, however the website I quoted gives you From / To dates for: In person, Online Report, and, By mail (up to), so states your various options and is therefore quite helpful.

Nice little 90 day calculator https://bangkokhasyou.com/thailand-90-days-report-online-calculator/

I don't see Thailand and Vietnam as much the same (the other two I know less about). I have lived/worked here for +30 years. Worked in south Vietnam, about 4hrs drive from Tan Son Naht airport but only 180km (a lengthy drive as road systems poor away from HCMC), for several years. In Thailand these days (not so 30 years ago), including upcountry, it's very easy and comfortable to live, with good quality shopping malls, supermarkets, petrol stations everywhere. Now compare that to Vietnam, which has poor road infrastructure, petrol stations not in abundance and have poor facilities (not the brilliant coffee shops, toilets, etc, here), few or no supermarkets (it was a 2hr round journey for me to buy something like yoghurt), 7/11, etc. Living upcountry here is not a hardship (unless you don't speak some Thai), but I wouldn't want to live upcountry Vietnam.

Same at Samut Prakarn I do same at Imm Office. Also when I enter on my re-entry at Swampy, always check the date stamped in before you leave the IOs desk area. The IO once stamped me in and got my permitted to stay until date wrong, pointed it out to him, I was taken to a desk to give me a correct stamp.

Are they seasonal?

Wife and i just noticed a bird we've noticed before in our +20 years in our mooban, a Blue-tailed Bee-eater, sat in a tree near the pond. Stunning bird (pic from Wiki)

Bredbury (GKN Bredbury Steelworks)

I used to get the train to Belle Vue, then the 53 to Maine Road (walk back to Belle Vue from Maine Raod sometimes). Used to be a great train station at BV with coal fires (great on the way back from a cold winter's match), now it's just the platforms. Belle Vue itself was great. Saw a couple of 50 pence concerts there including Status Quo (free ticket of my mate). Had a period of going to the 10 pin bowling before going to Maine Road. Then there was the mighty Belle Vue Aces...Ivan Mauger, Peter Collins, etc. Now there's not much of interest in the Belle Vue area.

Never been to any of them, but have been to Blackpool, Southport, Morecambe, etc., on the left side of the Pennines.

In my village there was a steelworks, Crown Wallpaper and one chippy. Dreaded my mum sending me to the chippy at lunchtime, because if I timed it wrong, i'd be in the queue behind a dozen workers, each one wanting something like: "10 fish and chips, 4 pie and chips, 2 steak pudding and chips" for them and their work mates.

Budgie!