sandyf

11 hours ago, jaiyen said:

My wife kept her surname. To have changed it would have created so much hassle e.g. passports, business name. tax records, ID card, house, land documents and more.  Sometimes it is better to have a Thai name on documents,

Business is the most problematic area. When my wife was working she was responsible for explosives and had to report to the police every 6 months for photo and fingerprints, she was also co signatory on company finance, much easier to not mention she had married a foreigner.

Unfortunately she renewed her passport just before she retired so waited until the next renewal before changing her name, after 10 years of marriage. 

4 hours ago, superal said:

Thanks again for the info but I should have added in my original question , my non o m/e visa was based on the 800k retirement and now expired but now I am back in the UK and will acquire my new non o visa by way of the fact that I receive a UK state pension and that does not require any proof of earnings or money savings in any bank . So that said , is a 1 year extension possible based on my info ?

That may not be as straightforward as it was. The UK is due to go to E visa on 15th June and under the online options the state pension and multi entry may not be available.

I was looking to go the same way as you are suggesting but if the UK follow the Chinese model then it may be Plan?

10 hours ago, Scott424 said:

I am not sure if this is a universal requirement, but some offices have wanted a map from immigration to your residence.  I forgot to print out one from google maps and was reminded by another person waiting at immigration about needing this so I drew one up.

At Sri Ratcha the map must be hand drawn, they threw the google map out and my wife had to quickly do one. I think the IO's that do the home visit have a problem following the google map.

Yes, they do home visits for retirement extension.

6 hours ago, Mukdahanman said:

and get that pink ID card - which appears to have no use whatsoever ????

I wish that I was as fortunate as you.

16 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

As you can see from the replies sometimes it’s just as if they don’t want you to have it and create hurdles.

 

Soon the “ I got mine with a passport and 20 baht “ posters will be along to gloat !!

 

I hate gloaters

 

Unless it’s me gloating of course

 

I got mine with a passport, photo and zero baht but wouldn't gloat about it. That was 2010 and times change, also something I have never heard anyone mention, had to wait 6 weeks for a police check to be done.

50 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

I been in several Thai hospitals and i never noticed any opportunity for NOT paying my hospital bill.

These numbers seem highly disputable.

 

That depends on the system they use, some hospitals retain your ID until you have seen the cashier. I go to Bang Saen hospital regularly and never need to show ID, just the appointment card, you could easily walk away after seeing the doctor but would probably have to leave the country. They do not issue medication until after the cashier.

I would agree the numbers are disputable, I have not shown my passport at a hospital since I got the pink card several years ago and I do not believe the hospitals are into visa checks. Numbers appear to made up for justification.

I have no doubt there are unpaid bills but the bulk I suspect are one time visitors or expats ready to go home rather than the average expat

On 5/10/2019 at 4:14 PM, billd766 said:

Lucky you. I had the full 44 years required by my generation but don't get any extra pension for it.

Quite, I paid 49 years and one incomplete year, the 5 months from the April till my 65th birthday.

A friend of mine in those days was paying voluntary contributions and when they dropped it to 30 years he wrote and asked for the voluntary to be returned, you you can guess the reply.

On 5/10/2019 at 3:05 PM, evadgib said:

During a call to the Ni Cont office this afternoon I established that they're currently running TWELVE WEEKS BEHIND SCHEDULE from the date that letters are received in UK.

Not a lot has changed, told me the same thing this time last year, said it would only be temporary.

On 5/12/2019 at 8:03 AM, KhunBENQ said:

Seems they all go through VFS now.

The Germans will start sometime this year.

For Germany the Schengen application can be done on paper or using their online system called VIDEX.

As far as I am aware the VIDEX system can only be handled by the German embassy.

When I did it the VIDEX system was unable to handle family of EU citizen but that may have been sorted.

On 5/9/2019 at 1:53 AM, MJCM said:

 

Our Immigration (Buriram) told us NO Family members, so that's what I told the OP as he is going to the same Immigration Office, the OP should ask them if he wants to take his wife's niece and uncle just to be sure. We just took people (neighbor and former village chief (NO family ties what so ever) with us, and they were accepted.

 

It's a waste of time and money to go to Immigration (approx 70km roundtrip for the OP) and to get send away.

Quite right, as i said you should have been a bit more specific rather than a definitive statement that could be misinterpreted.

1 hour ago, andreww said:

Thanks folks, very helpful!

Another question on topic: they ask to show PRE-booked flight tickets, as I understand, not every airline allows this nowadays, how to go about that requirement? 

Same question about insurance: they require insurance to be purchased prior visa application, how can one get a refund for insurance policy in case his/her visa is not approved?

I shouldn't worry to much about it, unless there is criminal activity or you make a mistake there is little chance of rejection. Your wife will be the applicant and when it comes to the question on who is paying the costs, tick "other" and provide a letter saying you will be travelling together and funding all costs.

You did not mention your nationality, if you were a Swiss national with Oz passport you could probably still travel under the freedom of movement which means less paperwork and a free visa. 

6 hours ago, MJCM said:

Also very important NO Family Members !!

When making statements like that you need to be specific.

My witnesses were my wife's niece and uncle.

12 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

Why don't you email the embassy and get the proper info. Then post it on here so everyone knows the latest !!

Why didn't you read post No 21.

15 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

The Consulates can now only authorise TV's, although you can still apply for a Non Imm O at the Consulate's, but the applications have to be approved by the Embassy before they can issue a single entry Non Imm O only.

The multi entry is only available by applying direct to the Embassy.

 

Savannakhet is another option, unless there are other reasons to go back to the UK.

Feel free to keep on posting what I already know.

I am still waiting for your proof that what has been put on the website recently is not valid.

14 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

The land the airport was was constructed on was previously a large swamp known as Nong Ngu Hao, or "cobra swamp", reportedly a habitat for snakes before it was built. 

Yes I did see that on Google and stand corrected. I was dubious as the land does not sit in a position to be a genuine swamp, they are normally created in low lying land adjacent to a water course.

21 hours ago, Farmer1956 said:

You can't get a multiple entry non - o visa based on marriage, it is a single entry only.

I applied and got a visa last year, using it in January this year.

I had to send copies of marriage certificate, copy of wife's ID, proof of last 6 months income and photos, did mine through their office in Hull, took about a week for approval, had to take all original copies when I went over.

You certainly could. I spent the first 6 years in Thailand on multi Non O based on marriage. Only stopped when my passport got caught up in the changeover and I had to go and do an extension to get another 30 days.

In 2017 I wanted to change the timing of my extension so when I was back in the UK I did a single entry Non O based on marriage through the post and only had to send copies of MC and ID, it was late in the year so only about 18 months ago.

Living in Sheffield I used to use Hull and they were very good, too good, they had their wrist slapped so difficult to know from what you say if a local or general enforcement problem.

23 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

If you look at the Beijing website you will find that there is not a non-o for being 50 or over shown.

I pointed that out in post no 21, also that for Non O that the only option may be single entry.

Most can sit back and see what transpires but some of us may have to rethink our options fairly quickly.

On 5/5/2019 at 12:58 AM, balo said:

I use AVG antivirus , the free version , been using it for 10 years. Sometimes there's an annoying popup that want you to buy the license, but just ignore it.  

I also used AVG for a long time up until fairly recently and in recent years the sales pitches have become increasingly annoying. What really got up my nose was that after buying their VPN I still got bombarded with messages saying I was at risk and should buy their VPN.

A couple of months ago I kicked them into touch and opted for a paid subscription with Webroot, on 3 year basis I think it worked out at around $30/year, you get 3 devices and a password manager thrown in, quite happy so far. The Webroot scans do not seem to slow the system like AVG did.

53 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I have no idea what is going to happen with the E Visa applications. It might get dumped entirely. I suspect the delays now may be because embassy personnel object to it.

 

What you can read now on the site might be changed. Or if you could actually try to do the application and it might show something different.

The system is operational and you can sign up which I have done.

When you start an application as a UK resident you cannot progress but if you say you are Chinese resident you can move on. There are about 6 or 7 Chinese locations available so I suspect a few more to load on. The UK is supposed to follow China then France.

I chose Beijing and moved on to the next step and then cancelled.

Screenshots.

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

That does not start until June 15th now and may be pushed forward for a 3rd time.

There may be changes to the online visa site to reflect what the embassy in London does.

I am trying to plan for when my extension runs out end of October, renewal is no longer an option. Realistically what are the chances of it going back to November?

The operation guidelines indicate it is a global system so wouldn't count on London having much say in the matter. The real question is that once it does come online how will it affect visa criteria in non E visa countries.

3 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

 

Rather than state I shouldn't be making comments to the contrary, I suggest you e-mail the London Embassy yourself and find out what others already know.

I am perfectly aware of what transpired in 2014 so there is little point continually repeating the same thing.

You are quite right, as I was only hearing opinion I was going to email the embassy and when I went to the website there was the message about UK  applicants having to use the onlne system.

It would appear to be a wasted exercise as the Non O as a pensioner is not available in the online system and that what Non Os that are available are single entry only. Long term visas are only available as O-A or O-X. Another spanner in the works.

Non O  - https://thaievisa.go.th/Home/Family

Long stay  - https://thaievisa.go.th/Home/LongStay

23 hours ago, johnwf1963 said:

I have 40 full years of NI contributions, and they say I shall have to pay a further 6 years of NI contributions, to get the full New State Pension rate, as I was "contracted out" for most of the 40years! (I think the NSP is a bit of a propaganda exercises, as it effectively capped the maximum benefits paid and accrued by people under SERPS, to a lower cap, under the banner of Simplification! In 2016. That minority may not realise they were ripped, until they draw it, or not know at all)

 

Full New state pension rate £168.60/week (35 years NI of certain types)

Full Old state pension rate £129.20/week (35 years NI or credits)

 

On the phone front, I have an app called VIBER OUT, set up against my current UK mobile number. This app perfectly emulated calling from the UK mobile, whilst in Thailand recently ( to a banks security department). Rates seem ok, perhaps not the cheapest, but not expensive.

There is no SERPS in the new state pension and if you were contracted out a deduction is made for the contributions that were never made. Post 2016 people would have been paid the higher of the old and new calculations. As SERPS stopped in 2016 the influence will deteriorate as the years go by.

You are right in principle that the 2016 reforms were a deliberate move by the government to move responsibility for income in later years away from the government and on to the individual.

As life expectancy increases the burden on individuals will also increase but recent reports indicate that the rise in life expectancy is slowing down, good news or bad news?

8 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

Since late 2014 you haven't been able to obtain a Non Imm O for being over 50, even with £10,000 in a bank.

The site still suggests it's possible for an over 50 to obtain a Non Imm O.

I received a Non Imm O in 2014 based on being over 50 and showing £10K in a bank account.

It ceased shortly thereafter as reported by many.

 

They will only issue a Non Imm O if retired, over 65 and in receipt of DWP pension, or have Thai family.

 

There is no dispute that post 2014 it was state pension only.

The recent change in text is not the same as pre 2014 so it was deliberately changed rather than by accident, from 2012

"Visiting Thailand as retired person aged 50 years and over"

The implication of the new text would be that other forms of pension would be taken into account other than the state pension. You shouldn't be making statements to the contrary unless you can definitely back it up.

On 5/4/2019 at 6:31 PM, Loiner said:

You probably haven’t noticed, but the two main parties trying to trick us in Remaining are CON & LAB. The people have voted against both of them.

You probably haven't noticed the implied "transparently" between the words "that" and "back" in the comment.

22 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

I'm saying it's incorrect.

They will only issue the Non Imm O if 65 and receiving the state pension, or married/Thai child.

It's no longer available purely on the basis of being over 50, regardless of income or savings.

So you are saying that since 2014 they have decided to put incorrect text on the website.

I know for a fact that in 2016 the 2014 text was being enforced in that only a DWP letter would be accepted and that text was still in place in 2017.

You are suggesting that in the last 18 months the Thai Embassy have made a change on the website that is invalid so I would have to assume you have some definitive proof that is the case.