Chelseafan

Here's a novel idea. Introduce a longstay visa visa that's affordable, hassle free, doesn't involve reporting every 90 days and doesn't require the applicant to put the equivalent of a small countries annual GDP in the bank.

Wonder how the TAT can spin this ?

12 hours ago, Zaphod Priest said:

Costs of a UK will using a solicitor vary enormously depending upon the solicitor concerned and the complexity of the estate.  A rough figure might be between GBP 500 and GBP 1,000.

 

As for your Thai estate, you would be intestate.  I believe that stepchildren are not on the list of statutory heirs.  Your wife (assuming you have a legal marriage, not a village or temple one) would inherit your Thai estate.  However, better to make a separate will covering your Thai assets to make things absolutely clear.

Thanks. My marriage was registered with the Embassy and local Amphur and I'm happy for her to keep the Thai assets.

Will speak to a solictor about ensuring she has income from my estate.

I am looking to make a will in the UK where I currently reside (retirement a few years to go)

I am married to a Thai and have three step-children. We have a house & car in Thailand which I would assume would naturally default to them. Land is in wifes name.

Obviously I want to make sure they  financially secure in the event of my death. Has anyone any experience of using a UK solicitor to draft up a will for an overseas family and rough costs ?

Thanks

12 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

You're obsessed with "illegals". It's not healthy.

Well I hope the birds feel better soon.

If Trans people want to play in sport then they should create their own seperate associations, after all we seperate men and women so why should it be different for Trans?

18 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

If the UK fails to deliver , you will blame Reform 

If the UK delivers, you will congratulate Starmer/Labour

Sounds like someone we know across the pond 🙂

6 hours ago, Stocky said:

Reform have largely been a single issue party simply throwing stones from the side-lines, they now have 10 councils to run. It will be interesting to see how they fare.

I'm not entirely clear what that issue is to be honest and I suspect if you ask most of their supporters they wouldn't be able to tell you 🙂

2 hours ago, Watawattana said:

Why did it need the UK Supreme Court to give this judgement for the UK sports bodies to start to see the obvious?

"Common sense" got packed into a container and was buried deep underground back in the 90's. Finally it's been dug up!!

I am fine with people switching sex (on their own dime) but they must know they can't have their cake and eat it!!

No but I am in the same boat in August albeit flying to Bangkok instead. Be interested to know as I have to exit to claim my baggage and re-checkin.

Remember to complete the online entry card 72 hours or less before arriving.

7 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

Yes, we are sure.  It's well established that there is no Thai rule.  You cannot quote a UK website and claim that it is the definitive Thai rule.

it's the UK Goverments website so I would think it's correct but irrespective of that, I am more concerned with being able to board the aircraft in the first place, it only needs a "different" interpretation of the rules by some jobsworth to deny me boarding.

I am sure many people have been allowed to fly and clear immigration with less than 6 months but knowing my luck, I'll be the one they make an example of so why take the risk ?

15 hours ago, Lite Beer said:

There is no six months minimum.

Passport has to be valid for  length of stay 

Are you sure ?

22 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

If you do the online renewal in the UK, you can either upload one of your own pictures that will be checked and either accepted or rejected. I did a high-res scan of passport photographs taken in Udon, and they were accepted.

 

The passport office is also connected to Max photo booths in many locations in the UK where the pictures can be digitally linked to a passport application or renewal.

 

It's very difficult to submit an unsatisfactory or unacceptable passport photo when doing the application or renewal in the UK.

When you upload the photo, they give you a rating of how acceptable it is with "good" being the best. My photo was at the top end of "good" so I'm hoping all go's well. Anyhow they have received my old passport; now the waiting and nail-biting begins 🙂

2 hours ago, soisanuk said:

Agree - Immigration has now for several years required only sufficient time on the passport to cover the period of stay for entry. Thus there should be should be no problem in the airline allowing boarding.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, if applying at a Thai Embassy/Consulate for a Visa still requires the passport to have 6 months validity.   

I really didn't want to risk it. I only need to get an officious gate attendant and I'll be screwed.

3 hours ago, HK MacPhooey said:

A big risk as you will not know if the PP photo or other details on the application will be acceptable in which case you will lose probably three weeks on top of the three weeks or so it will take already and all for the sake of one day off work.

Yes, very but I BELIEVE in our govermental services..... 😕

Decided to send it off and risk it. Thanks for the feedback everyone

13 hours ago, Maestro said:

 

24 May plus six months is 24 November. On the date of arrival in Thailand, your passport will have a remaining validity of six months and 22 days.

Apologies I meant Nov not Dec.

13 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Suggest you obtain a new pp.

Is there option for "express service" for pp renewal.

 

Having stated that it's the airline that might have an issue with the "6 month rule" not immigration 

Yes can do 1 day express but will have to take a day off work which is something I want to avoid 🙂

I am travelling to Thailand, arriving 24th May leaving a week later. My passport expires on 22nd Dec so will be short by 2 days of the 6 month minimum.

How stringent do you think immigration will be ? For the record, I have plenty of stamps showing in/out dates, never overstayed or done visa runs

I'm thinking of renewing but I'm worried that the passport won't get back to me in time.

Thanks

I don't particuarly have any love for the BBC but I do find they, more than any other news organisation get it in the neck for the simplest 'slight' and do more than most others outlets to TRY to be neutral, whether this is misguided or not is of course open to debate. On the other hand, it's time to remove the stupid license fee particuarly in this era of digital entertainment.

9 minutes ago, candide said:

Actually, other countries are massively buying American brands, such as Apple, HP, Dell, etc... but they are all produced in China, SE Asia or India. The current trade imbalance is caused by decisions made by American firms.

Sure but on the basis that consumers want cheaper goods. Try building that Apple or Dell product in the US and see what the actual cost go's up by.

8 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Given I agree with him that retaliation will only make things worse, perhaps Blair isn't as dumb as I thought he is.

Trump likely wants some grovelling and a deal, and then he'll make the horrid tariffs go away. Starmer should at least try that before going all kindy war on the US.

For once I agree with Blair. UK already imposes tariffs on a lot of commodites from the US so this sort of balances it out a little. In 2023, we exported £60.4b and imported £57b so not really much of a deficit. Ironically the UK consumer won't shouldn't see any increases unlike our American cousins.

5 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Oh please not more pork to China from here.

They suck empty the market.

Their demand is insatiable.

 

I know. If only there were tariffs and quotas in place to control it 🤪

Thailand has a problem, nearly 20% ($50b) of it's exports are sent to the US, unless they can negotiate a deal then there's going to be some hardship for Thai business.