Thank you @SunsetT for your response. I'll certainly look into my postal options when sending for my visa.

I've just gone to the online profile setup but it's currently down due to maintenance. Let's hope this isn't a regular occurrence.

PS. I'm still unsure whether the embassy will issue a visa now without a pre-booked flight or confirmed accommodation, which is what they used to do. I tend to get my visa first, flight next, then arrange my accommodation last once I know everything is in place.

6 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Not sure but I think you can go to a post offices and buy a prepaid envelope for the return of your passport with tracking.

Thank you @ubonjoe. I'll be sure to check that out. Fortunately I'm not planning on returning to Thailand until late September so I have plenty of time to sort out any queries. Maybe I'll start a new topic taking new applicants through the various problems and correct procedure with this new online process, especially as there doesn't appear to be hardly anyone using it in the UK so far? 

Many thanks @Ubinjoe for finding the relevant bit of information regarding the postal application changes. For some reason I couldn't find that.

However, I can't find any information with regards to payment by a postal order. It appears they now only accept hard cash or a prepaid return envelope. It says: Fee for return post of £10 in cash (only Bank of England bank notes are accepted) and the return address, or enclose stamped and addressed envelope (recommended to use the postage stamps rather than a franking stamp from the post office as franking stamps can only be used on the date of purchase)

I'm not a fan of using postage stamps and it going in the normal postal system as I'd rather have my passport and relevant documents returned in a secure post. It would seem my only option would be to stick a £10 note with my passport.

Apologies, folks. I've just noticed on the PDF of the Guide To E-Visa Application that it's still possible to choose a Postal Application whereby I can send the documents by post. Has anyone chosen this method? If so, can they please enlighten me to how things have changed from the previous postal method?

I'm surprised there hasn't been more of a discussion on this new online visa application nonsense. This was the first I knew about major changes for applying for a 60-day visa until I went to their Thai Embassy website to check visa prices. To my horror I saw: From 15 June 2019, visa applicants have to apply online. I take it that it's no longer possible to apply for a visa by post anymore? I thought this was a good service and much more convenient than having to make 2 trips to the embassy on certain given dates. Does anyone know why the postal service was abolished? I can't understand why they've gone and changed it to be honest. Also, the added requirement of getting a recent bank statement, scanning it, then uploading it seems rather excessive just for a 60-day visa. I can perhaps understand this for a 6-month visa, but a 60-day is only an additional 30-days to a bog-standard visa exempt which requires nothing of the sort. Also, the requirement fields of accommodation and travel booking confirmations would be blank until I have total confirmation that I have the visa first. Why would I book and pay for these without knowing if I can get a visa or not? I used to fill these on the form as TBC (to be confirmed) once I have the visa. Is that still acceptable or possible anymore? It certainly used to be.

Can anyone tell me the exact procedure and how they approached it, please? For instance, do they still stick a full-page visa in your passport even though they're calling it an e-visa?

Also, from filling out the online form, did you leave any fields vacant such as your travel booking confirmation and accommodation? Do you think this would prove problematic if I didn't upload anything in these fields? 

Again, I have to ask why did they abolish the postal service for a 60-day tourist visa?

I thought I’d throw in my own tuppence on the matter of abscess and drainage, especially for those in the Pattaya area. Mine was in my scrotal region, but at first I was unsure of what it was as it only started as a small lump. Extremely anxious I made an appointment with the urology department at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. The diagnosis was a cyst and not anything cancerous. Cost of the consultation was approximately 800 baht. The advice was to get it surgically removed and sown up. After getting a cost for either a general or a local anesthetic, I made my appointment for the op. Stupidly I thought I had more time than I actually did before it worsened, so I made the appointment for 2 weeks later. Big mistake. I should’ve had it done that afternoon when the surgeon was available and before the pain and misery started.

Long story short, the lump grew increasingly over the next three days until it had formed into a formidable abscess. Now extremely painful to sit down I was trying desperately to bring my surgery forward, but was told it was was no longer possible. Eventually the abscess burst, oozing blood and puss in my boxer shorts. There was an immediate short-lived relief due to the pressure being eased. However, the wound had not completely rid itself of the bacteria inside. When I phoned the hospital they were extremely concerned and told me to come and see them immediately. Truthfully, I was in no condition to sit down in a taxi for the 20 minute ride to the hospital, so I agreed to come along the next day.

That night I packed around some gauze I had bought in anticipation of the abscess breaking. The next day I hobbled into a taxi and was seen by a different urologist straight away, who said I’d need to have it drained further and packed after. I was immediately hooked up to an IV and given aggression antibiotics before the procedure. The doctor who performed the operation did it all under a local, not the general I had hoped for. Regardless, the draining took approx 20 minutes before I was walked into a recovery room afterwards. The anesthetic wore off pretty quickly, leaving a sensation akin to having a red hot poker inserted in my nether regions. Within another 30 minutes I was good to go home and just had to pay up and be given my medication and painkillers. The Tramadol really helped ease the intense burning sensation.

The total cost, including medicine, came to about 20,000 baht. I was told to report back every day to A&E to have my dressing changed. This involves having the gauze that’s been inserted into the hole the abscess left behind, and a new gauze being packed tightly inside again. It’s now been 7 days since I first had my dressing change, and I’m still having new gauze inserted daily. The wound is very deep and needs daily attention. I’m figuring perhaps a total of 14 days until the packing is finally ceased. 

Either way, I’m extremely grateful for the doctor, Jimmy Kongcharoen MD, for his expertise and helping rid me of my constant pain. The nurses in A&E have also been truly wonderful.

8 hours ago, Happy enough said:

pretty good service though right. same as getting passports here. they are good to be fair. as quick as they can be

Yes, very good service. Up until now, I'd always taken the effort to go along to the actual embassy and queue up. I just didn't have the time to go and wait this time so decided on the postal method. They turned it around pretty damn quickly considering I know that my passport arrived at 12:00 on the Friday. Therefore, they must have sent it out on the Tuesday as it was delivered to my door on the Wednesday. I doff my cap to them at the visa section.

8 hours ago, AdamTheFarang said:

Are you sure that is entirely accurate?

Ah, I can see where the confusion lies. I was referring to it being 3 working days from the day I made my comment on these forums (that being the Tuesday) and the day my passport was first delivered to the Embassy (the previous Friday), hence 3 working days.

Well, I got the visa no problem, despite missing my home delivery and having to go collect it at the P.O.

So basically it wasn't a problem not supplying my address separately as they clearly took it from my application form. As I stated previously, the Embassy didn't provide me with a tracking number, though they would have retained one from their own business end. I appreciate the alternative is to supply a prepaid return envelope, but it wasn't really necessary.  

Anyway, happy days.

8 minutes ago, markman said:

Update.

Just had a reply from the Thai Embassy (The e-mail service as been very good with quick replies)

I can transfer £18000 from my Savings Account to my Current Account this week and apply for a Visa next week.

Think I’ll go for a beer and have a think ???

Good luck. I was under the impression it had to be seasoned money (3 months) but maybe they've relaxed that now? I take it that you're in the UK and not still traveling as you can only apply for an O-A from your home country?

Well, that's not something I can answer, but I made sure that I had the money in a current account before I applied. Getting an O-A is far harder than any of the others as you have to meet certain requirements. For instance, the doctor's declaration that you don't have TB (or narcotics or syphilis in your blood) aren't a prerequisite for getting an SETV or METV. You can be riddled with those ailments and you can waltz straight through immigration unchecked. 

I think it all depends on the individual and their circumstances. Personally, I'd be worried about doing so many border runs and having those stamps in my passport. If that doesn't concern you, then maybe stick to what you feel is best.

Yes, Ashtons provide the notary service of which we've mentioned for £15. You simply take your filled out doctor's medical form (I had to go through one in Harley Street as mine refused to fill it out) and the Police check certificate. It was only 3 items that needed photocopying by Ashtons and signing. My bank statement was a 3 month one that had the top leaf with everything on it, including the name of the bank. I didn't need to provide an additional Bank letter stamped or anything like that.

Yes, the £18k has to be in a current account (for at least 3 months prior) and easily accessible by yourself. For obvious reasons, it's no good the money being in savings account that you can't access when you're out there.

That's OK, @markman. I know it can be mind-boggling trying to decipher everything. I made the mistake of thinking a notary service would be cheap and quick but they were all asking silly money just for photocopying 3 bits of paper and signing them. We're talking £200 upwards!! Ashtons are still at the same address, I've just checked and they only charged me £15. They will do it really cheaply and quickly, no fuss. I booked an early appointment so I could get over to the Embassy before it closed and handover my forms. I did all this with an hour-and-half to spare. 

23 minutes ago, Happy enough said:

off to the post office then. 3pm over there. should be open ?

Sadly, it's a next day pick-up, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow.

I posted something about this a couple of years ago when I applied for my O-A Visa entitled "UK Notary Advice for a Non-Immigrant Visa Category O-A (Long Stay)." It's worth finding on here as it can take you through step-by-step every problem and concern I had until I eventually got my O-A Visa.

Firstly, I used the solicitor provided in the link on the Thai Embassy page - Ashtons and they charge £5 per copy. They were based at 90 Long Acre, Covent Garden when I used them. You'll need to check to see if they're still there. 

Here is just one segment of what I wrote: 

"Went to Ashtons Solicitors and then on to the Thai London Embassy afterwards. The cost of the certification of 3 documents was only £15. It took about 10 minutes. The solicitor, who is called Muhammad, said I only needed to supply the first sheet of my A5 Natwest bank statement, not all the additional transaction pages. He said, he's never had anyone be rejected that's gone through him before. He's a really nice chap. Had a little chinwag with him before I departed. By the way, he just copied the original documents, wrote some words of clarification on them, dated them and signed them. There was no stamp, no fancy binding. It was all simple.

Happy with my £15 charge, I then got a tube train from Covent Garden straight to Gloucester Road Underground Station and then walked to the Thai Embassy. It's a lot closer than it looks on the map. Walked down the steps into the basement, took a ticket, and was seen straight away. I thought I would be interviewed, but it's just 2 girls stood behind a bank teller glass screen that take your documents and money. She obviously has an eagle-eye because she rejected a Thai girl who was in front of me and told her to do her forms again. Anyway, I was next, though she was quick with mine. She said, I'd filled everything out properly and then asked me for my £125. (Note: I didn't fill out my outward travel details on the form, nor my monthly income or any flight details; just my bank balance and other stuff). You have to wait about 10 minutes for your receipt after her disappearing with your forms and money. The other girl called out my name and gave me my receipt with my O-A Visa details, passport number and name on it. I have to go back tomorrow to collect it between 11 and 12."

I did, I got my O-A no problem.

UPDATE: Just received a Post Office Missed Delivery Card through my letterbox which was clearly my passport and visa. Therefore, the Thai Embassy doesn't issue a tracking number for the recipient to use. If they had, I'd have known to be in for the delivery date and not missed it!! Anyway, thought I'd mention it for those that send by post and wonder if the Embassy send you a tracking number, they don't.

Thanks, guys, for your answers. I obviously don't want to get in contact with the embassy yet until the 5 working days is up (I'm now on day 4) as getting through to someone at the embassy by phone can be hell. 

As Tanoshi has pointed out: If there is a problem then they should notify me by email. As I haven't received anything yet, I'm hoping they process it and return it without any problems.

I'll keep you informed of what happens.

Cheers for your input, chaps.

39 minutes ago, NCNC said:

I have a similar question, if I leave thailand 10 days after my 90 day reporting is due, so passed the 7 day deadline, what kind of issues would I have.  I would be flying out of Bangkok airport.

I too missed one of my 90 day reports due to flying out of the country. I didn't return until a month later. I just picked up 90 days from where my new arrival stamp's date indicated on my passport at airport immigration. I didn't face a fine or anything from Jomtien Immigration when it came time to visit them for my next 90 day report, because they could see I wasn't in the country from my passport entry/exit dates. 

Another quick question is: How does the Embassy issue you with your postal tracking number? Do they email you with the details? Everything is a little vague and poorly laid out on the Thai website.

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, but I've just discovered that I might have made a mistake when sending my passport to the Royal Thai Embassy, London, by post. I seem to have missed the part about supplying my "name and address on a separate piece of paper" when I sent my form, photos, postal cheque and passport to the Embassy. Clearly, my name and address is on the form (along with my email address) but now I'm worried that it might cause a huge delay in my visa being processed and my passport being returned.

My question is: Has anyone else forgotten to include this extra piece of paper with their name and address on it, and what sort of problems occurred as a result? I sent my package by recorded delivery last Thursday and it arrived on the Friday (that's 3 working days from today, excluding the weekend). 

Just to clarify, I've done everything else correctly apart from supplying my name and address on a separate piece of paper. Can the Embassy not just take my details from the visa application form and write them down separately for my return of address? I'm just hoping this isn't too much of a problem for a genuine oversight on my part.

It would be great if someone could reassure me that they also missed this and didn't have a problem.

8 hours ago, jackdd said:

I think a basic task like "taking down the feet" is possible to be explained just by pointing if the language barrier is preventing them from talking.

The Thai tendency is to avoid direct confrontation so as to preserve surface harmony. Basically, Thais hate confrontation. It’s not so difficult to understand why they weren’t told to take their feet down and instead find themselves shamed indirectly on social media. Cultural lesson over for those that keep asking why a Thai simply didn’t intervene and give the two uncouth dozy mares a bollocking off.

54 minutes ago, farcanell said:

The general consensus is that Vella is scum, who should be shot or imprisoned ( with key tossed) and that he gets some unwanted loving whilst incarcerated.

 

i really don’t need to make stuff up.... the post about hanging drawing and quartering was styled “ braveheart” treatment... which is very specifically being hung drawn and quartered ( for high treason)

 

and going by whats reported, vs speculation, it seems like an accident, with police saying “ we think this kinky sex on the balcony caused her to fall”

Ok, I’ve just checked the latest update on this particularly unsavoury topic and it appears, according to The Sun, that “an outstanding warrant was issued against him on October 12 when he FAILED to attend Worcester Crown Court.” Unquote. Therefore, can one not surmise that Mr Villa knew he had a date to appear in court before October 12 but decided to not attend and instead “abscond” and slip out of the country so that he could start this new life and “fresh start” in Pattaya and avoid punishment? Again, I’m only quoting media sources, but his brother has gone on record as saying, “He was going to Thailand to make a fresh start.” Of course, the brother doesn’t mention that Reece failed to turn up for his court appearance hence the need of a bench warrant. 

Sorry, I’ve just noticed I’ve quoted another one of your defensive rants by mistake, Mr Mason, but my original point still stands: Mr Villa absconded from the country when he should have been making a court appearance here in the UK on other charges. Again, I’m unsure of when Reece Vella entered The Kingdom of Thailand as I haven’t come across a mention of that date, yet. Maybe you can fill us in on that, especially as you two seem so close and all? The mind boggles at the reasoning behind why you think this girl’s death is just an accident. You can’t even be bothered to say unfortunate in your anemic defense. It’s like this is an everyday occurrence to you and nothing at all strikes you as unusual about her death. Just one of those things, eh? Shrugs shoulders. 

8 hours ago, JRUSA said:

The Thai immigration should adopt some policies like the US has. Like police certificates that certify you have no outstanding warrants or criminal conviction. I had to pay to have this done by Philippines police department to get a visa to the us for my girlfriend..

Thing is, here in the UK we do have to provide a criminal check certificate for a longtime visa in Thailand. As I pointed out in one of my earlier posts, that’s precisely what I had to do for my own O-A visa. The problem here was that Mr. Vallas didn’t obtain a visa, hence why he became an illegal overstayer. No doubt he came in on a standard visa exempt. He sure wasn’t a law abiding traveler.

I do hope that Mr Vallas now gets his wish and stays in Thailand for another 20 years, preferably in the Bangkok Hilton. And before anyone decides to jump on me about innocent until proven guilty, I could care less. This guy is a piece of filth that should’ve still been serving time in an English prison, not entering Thailand illegally with an outstanding warrant to his name, but thanks to my own country’s useless justice system this piece of work was able to abscond and cause the death of a young girl.

6 hours ago, Mattd said:

Unfortunately UK does not share any criminal record information with Thailand on a routine basis, so with anybody turning up on a British passport entering Thailand on a tourist visa or visa exemption, immigration would have no idea of any past crimes, no matter how bad they are, the only way that this could happen is if the UK had placed a Interpol notice on a person.

As far as I am aware, the only visas that requires a criminal record check prior to issuing are the O-A or O-X visas.

 

I can vouch for that. I had to provide a Police Criminal certificate showing that I had no criminal past when I got my O-A visa, which made me suddenly realize that the Thai authorities are not privy to our databases, hence the need for this certification. 

On a side note, the family claiming he was coming to Thailand to start a new life goes to show how uninformed they are. Without a year long visa, he was always one step away from being deported, border-runs aside, which he clearly couldn’t be bothered to do anyway. No, this guy went there with the full intention of disappearing from the authorities after his short-stay visa expired.

I also agree with those that say UK justice system and sentencing is a joke. A very sick joke on the UK public. Sadly, Thailand got to taste an example of our poor sentencing. If he’d been serving a proper sentence, this poor unfortunate girl would still be alive.