Moonlover

Yes it does make a difference. I received my 1st of the month pension an hour earlier today. Wise do not route cash through any intermediates. When you make a transfer with them, money does not cross any borders at all. 'It’s because of how we work: when you send money with us, we use our Thai banking partners to send out your money locally. It doesn’t cross any borders',

Frequent travellers often fill all the pages and have to renew more frequently than the normal 10 years.

Did you use an agent or did you visit VHS personally?

In many countries, you do send your passport back to HMPO with your application. Thailand is an odd exception to that norm. It sounds to me that someone back there in the UK has got their 'knickers in a twist'. Challenge VFS with this issue. IMO they are the ones who should be sorting this 'misunderstanding' out. Good luck.

No that's not an option with VFS. It has to collected either in person or by an authorized 3rd party.

Sorry, you have stumped me now. I was assuming that your new passport was ready for collection. Is that not the case?

There's no mistake. This is exactly how it works. I had to make 2 long journeys to Bangkok from Udon Thani the last time I renewed. There were no agents back then or I would have gladly used one!

No you have no options regarding the currency or the exchange rate. DWP uses Citicorp as their paying agent to all foreign banks including Thailand of course. The rate you get will be the mid market rate on the day of payment less a small charge of around 120 THB and it will be credited to your account 2 working days after your due payment date (public holiday excepted) You will normally be paid 4 weekly in arrears. Hope you find that useful.

'This type of visa will allow for multiple entries during the specified time period without needing to apply for a new visa for each trip. However, each stay in the UK must not exceed the stay specified on the visa'. So, how many days does your wife's visa specify? Therein you have your answer. https://ayjsolicitors.com/how-to-apply-for-a-multiple-entry-uk-visit-visa/

It sounds like you had a great start to life. That was, of course good fortune on your part. I wasn't quite so lucky, but overall it's worked out ok and I've certainly made up for it in many ways. But I do believe that we should all continue the momentum into our later years. In fact, it's probably more important. Living a long life is of no value unless it's a healthy and fulfilling one. Take care. 😉

Well it seems that 4 people agreed with my post so I'm quite comfortable with that. Have a nice day.

Well, yes to a degree. But I do not believe that it is just down to 'good fortune'. I actively engage in my own health through exercise, diet and what one might call 'right attitude'. It's stood me in good stead for a long time now.

I've never had a flu jab nor (to the best of my knowledge) have I had flu. And I'm still alive, fit and well at 79 years. I So just what conclusion does one draw?

Try Reuters: 'BANGKOK, March 29 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military rulers let in hundreds of foreign rescue personnel on Saturday after an earthquake killed over 1,000 people, the deadliest natural disaster to hit the impoverished, war-torn country in years'. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-quake-death-toll-nears-700-international-aid-starts-arrive-2025-03-29/

I do not believe that indulging in pure uninformed speculation has any merit whatsoever.

Don't ask me @sharot724, ask the O/P. He's the one who reported that egg prices are falling.

No it isn't ASAIK. Chicken farmers in the US had to cull millions of birds due to avian flu, hence the shortage of eggs and a subsequent price rise. The US has been casting around to find countries that have a surplus of eggs that they can buy up. Sounds as they're succeeding. https://www.euronews.com/business/2025/03/28/us-egg-shortage-is-europe-ready-to-help-despite-tariff-tensions#:~:text=Imports of liquid%2C frozen and,a decline of nearly 10%.

No surprises there then.

No it could not. To suffer devastation on this scale, the country or region needs to be close to the epicentre of the quake. There are no tectonic fault lines running through Thailand that could cause such a quake. 'Thailand sits on the Eurasian tectonic plate, which is flanked by the Indo-Australian and Pacific plates. While the country is located in a region that is relatively safe from earthquakes'. http://www.cicc.chula.ac.th/eng/2012-04-26-04-23-32/111-likelihood-of-earthquakes-in-thailand.html

Thank you @This Guy. Someone who speaks a bit of common sense at last.

So what's the problem @thesetat?

Apologies. I should have said Palestine (consisting of Gaza and the West Bank, formally known by some as Judea) is recognized as a state by 147 members of the UN. Full membership is, of course blocked by the US veto.

Yes, Judea is its biblical name, but no one refers to it by that name now. It's now recognized by the UN as part of Palestine.

You're confusing Islam with an indigenous population of Arabs who were there long before Mohammed came along. Islam is just a convenient excuse.

Yes I'm aware of that and the fact that they lived, peacefully alongside the indigenous Arabs for thousands of years up until the creation of Israel. The same Israel that then went on the rampage and stole Arab lands and ejected them from their homeland. And they continue to do so in the West Bank.