Jumbo1968

52 minutes ago, parafareno said:

i have etihad in april....<deleted> will happen

I have a BA Flight booked in 2 weeks for myself, Thai G.F and our son, Visa all sorted as well, nightmare if flight cancelled.

I walked along Beach Road In Pattaya the last 2 Sunday’s around 1 o’clock it was deserted with very few pedestrians, the Beach Chairs had very few customers, there were a few farangs in the Bars but not packed out.

8 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

 

You took all that time, To NOT answer the question I was asking? Hope it's good for you, have no clue what you're on about.

I wasn’t attempting to answer your question just stating a few facts, tbh I don’t didn’t fully understand it obviously you got out the wrong side of bed this morning ?

13 hours ago, jackdd said:

If the landlord is living in Timbuktu this probably means that you are renting the place. This makes you the possessor and in your function as possessor of the property you have to inform immigration police about foreigners staying there, using form TM30. So you report yourself with a TM30, that's what you have to do according to the law, and then you have the receipt.

My owner lives in ‘Timbuktu’, I do a Tm28 and have been doing at Jomtien for over 2 years. They stamp the bottom receipt tear if of and throw the rest of the paperwork in a big pile behind the desk.

14 hours ago, LomSak27 said:

Serious ? Cause this is what my Trips to the IO have been about.

The TM30 I believe was introduced to stop unlicensed hotels/Guest Houses etc and relieve the faring of a few baht.
 

What info does Immigration actually input from your Arrival Card, certainly not where you are staying, imagine how long it would take to decipher and input the address. The barcode doesn’t mean nought as if you lose it you just complete another one which has a different barcode.

The UK has now abolished Landing Cards as they served no purpose, I can only think of one other place where I completed an Arrival Card, The USA. 

Just now, steve187 said:

i collect my state pension next April at 66, my pension will be reduced by about £30 per week, due to contracting out for 9 years, i will have more than 35 years of contributions

 

''the Department for Work and Pensions makes individual deductions from state pensions - known as the Contracted Out Pension Equivalent or COPE'' 

taken from this web page - https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-4094526/What-contracting-does-affect-pensions.html

The 8 years you contracted out would have been paid into a Private Pension Scheme. I contracted out for a similar time but a colleague didn’t. His State Pension is more than mine but adding my Private Pension to my State Pension there isn’t much difference.

It can cost nearly £800 a year to top up, you have to work out if it’s worth it.

https://www.moneywise.co.uk/news/2019-01-15‌‌/top-your-state-pension-now-avoid-contribution-cost-hike-april

1 minute ago, KhaoYai said:

Guessing here but as nobody has answered you - I'll have a stab.  I doubt the date you start the online application process will be used. I suspect it will actually be the date you actually submit the application online.

The date of your proposed travel is 90 days from your application date.

In general there doesn’t appear to be any consistencies about reasons to return. In my case my GF had no job, no property no money only family ties, we had been co habiting in Thailand and said I would withdraw all my financial support if she absconded albeit she had no connections to any Thai people in the UK.

On the other hand applicants provide info stating property, money in the bank and employed but get refused.

i have a colleague who was liberal with the truth about the length of his relationship around 6 months albeit he owned property in the the UK and Thailand and his girl was granted a Tourist Visa, twice ?

There appears to be no official record of how many Chinese Tourists are still arriving, is this a deliberate ploy by the Thai government ?

its difficult to gauge where I live in Pattaya as it’s not predominantly Tourist area, I had a walk along Beach Road on Sunday and today and there were few if anybody out and about apart from a few farangs in the Bars.

Bottom line how many Chinese are arriving, thousands or just a few. Usually at the airport you are falling over Chinese people, has anyone recently passed through it recently ?

3 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

Ripping applicants off seems to be common with many countries. My application for a 12 month Multi Entry Non O Visa for Thailand is priced at 5000 baht. However, I will be applying in to Ho Chi Minh City where payment is to be made in US Dollars. Todays dollar/baht rate is 31.20 so I would expect to pay around 160 dollars. I realise a little flexibility must be built in to the system to allow for currency fluctuations but they really are taking the P.  The cost of the visa in US dollars is 200!!!

I thought 3800 Baht for a Multi Entry Visa ?

1 minute ago, saengd said:

Agreed. We got a 2 year visa last time and it all worked out really well. We may go for a 5 year visa this time but there's always a risk they might say no, in which case we'd end up with a very expensive 6 month at best.

What annoys me is the cost, the more years you apply for the more the cost, if 2 years more than double the cost of 1 year.

4 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

Oh jeez, I forgot about VFS. I hope they've improved. When they first took over it was an absolute shambles.

Cash cow now, next time apply we might go for a 2 year plus visitor visa.

1 minute ago, KhaoYai said:

It can be very difficult.

 

Having a verifiable job helps. Show strong family ties, children (only if they live with the applicant), settled accommodation etc. etc. - its a bit of a lottery I'm afraid.

 

If you are in a long term relationship - people often state that they expect this visit to be one of several and the applicant is aware that if they don't comply with the requirements of the visa - i.e. return on time, they may jeopardise any future applications.

Exactly got it in one, my lady who is very Thai said on her initial visit said no way could she live in the UK. We will be on her 3rd visit in March Coronavirus permitting and hinted in years to come she might consider that I apply for a Spouse Visa !

8 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

I take it the online application hasn't changed much? In that I can do 99% of the application online on behalf of the applicant?  I seem to remember setting up an e-mail address etc. for a previous application in order that I received communications - then passing this e-mail account to the applicant near the end. I may be out a bit on some of that, its been a while but I don't think I'm too far out - or have there been major changes?

 

I ask because I'll be making a new VV application soon.

No changes the only difference is VFS Global have added additional fees !

Just now, superal said:

So some good info and opinions from this post . It appears that the most important part of the application is that of " Reasons to Return " .  My partners cousin has no problems getting the UK visa , 3 times ,as she has been working in the same bank for 25 years .  Now my lady is self employed , own house and business plus supports her mother and 6 casual restaurant workers .   If that is not a good enough reason I am stumped again as the last refusal was they did not think she would return to Thailand .

 

How does a lady without assets provide convincing proof of return to Thailand ?   

 

I was told recently that being part of an organised trip using a known travel company is an easier process if a UK tour is all that is needed as opposed to a longer stay with their partner . 

I can’t disagree but as I keep repeating myself my partner, has no money, no property, no job but we have just been granted her 3rd 6 month visitor visa. Reasons for her return on her first application was strong family values and basically if she didn’t return I would withdraw all financial support to her. I did state we had been in a relationship for 3 years, provided details of my adopted son, birth certificate, Tabien Baan etc, 70 pages of documents including all my travel details of my travel dates to Thailand.

2 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

On the subject of establishing a relationship between sponsor and applicant, someone told me a while ago that the UK authorities are now saying they don't want photos of you together.  Anyone know if that's correct?

 

It would seem mighty strange if it is. Many years ago my gf's first VV application was rejected for the specific reason that I hadn't sent enough photos. The ECO's reasoning stated something like "I find it difficult to believe that you have been together for 4 years and can only supply 4 photos". I had never said that I only had 4 photos! The photos I had sent quite clearly showed a long relationship as I'd specifically chosen photos that showed timed events - for example, one of them showed us at the 60th anniversay celebrations of the (old) King's coronation.

 

I had however, supplied plenty of other evidence which the ECO had clearly ignored.  A phone call to the ECM got the ECO's decision overturned - shame you can't do that now. On subsequent applications I inundated them with photos - sometimes over 100 ????

Photos no longer required, what proof is there that you are in a relationship, they could be ‘stage managed’. It’s better to show travel dates, accommodation in Thailand and the actual time you spend in Thailand.

For me ‘barriers’ are being put up, you have to pay for emails and phone calls and not cheap, just under £5 for an email and £1.40 a minute for a phone call. 
is it some thing to do with UK Government’s trying to curb overstayers yet every day loads of people crossing the channel in rubber dinghies and that’s the one they know about.

Are genuine tourists are being denied entry to keep the figures down ?

36 minutes ago, superal said:

My lady and I have been together for nearly 9 years ( not married ) with me alternating between Thailand and the UK 3 or 4 times a year . The denied visa application was some 4 or 5 years ago so that in itself should prove our long term relationship ?   ( I am supposing that records are kept by the UK visa centre ) .  Does the fact that I , as the sponsor , own a property in the UK favour or hinder the application ? 

I don’t  think having a property in the UK would hinder your application more so in your favour as there is accommodation.

37 minutes ago, theoldgit said:

The end of January, I posted it on the forum last week.

I can’t see where the Visa Centre has moved to Sheffield still states New Delhi ?

15 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

Not on this forum but on another, I have had several 'discussions' on this subject. Sometimes the ECO just doesn't want to allow the visa - despite everything being in order.  When this happens there is usually a common thread - the reasons given for refusal.

 

Let me guess - insufficient reasons to return?

Insufficient reasons to return is a hard one to pin down, a Thai person could have land, house, car, family but that doesn’t mean they would return.

I put down my G.F. had strong family ties, a son attending school in Thailand and I would withdraw all financial support if she didn’t.

As I said if you can prove you have living long term in Thailand with your partner that goes a long way I think.

In the UK there is no TM30, 90 Day reporting etc, in Thailand they don’t ask for a guarantee that you will return to your country of origin of course if you overstay you’re welcome you will have problems.

29 minutes ago, theoldgit said:

Applications are considered by directly employed UKVI staff, who can be any of a number of nationalities.

ECO’s have to work within published guidelines, and their training is quite thorough, though I’m not convinced the consistently of decisions is monitored.

Yours is a good example of a stable relationship in Thailand being used to satisfy the ECO of a reason to return, though I have to say that it was probably despite your 70 pages of evidence, not as a result of, ECO’s have a very short time to reach a decision.

Applications are now processed in Sheffield.

When did they move from India to Sheffield ?

6 minutes ago, theoldgit said:

I'm not sure that I can account for it.

Every case is judged on it's merits, I can only assume that Jumbo1968's partner was able to satisy the ECO that she was in a stable relationship with him, and that she had sufficient other pull factors to demonstrate that she was likely to return.
I suppose it really depends on which decision maker deals with each application on the day, that I'm afraid to say is the sytem we're stuck with, maybe there will be more consistency now that applications are being processed in the UK, only time will tell.   

It would be interesting to know how a decision is reached, is it a ‘tick box’ situation or an individual going through the documents ?

As far as I was aware all the documents are sent to India and the decisions are made in there but by whom, British Citizens ?
Looking at the posters comments I think he didn’t stress or provide enough proof that he was in a ‘permanent’ relationship in Thailand like myself ?

i do know a colleague who had only been in a relationship for 6 months and his G.F. has since twice been given 6 month Tourist Visas. 

33 minutes ago, superal said:

So how does the  " Old Git " account for this ?  I have heard a couple of similar cases and so I am mystified why my lady was refused despite owning her house , own business , car etc and employing 6 people . Me as a sponsor and reference from my son who is in the UK police force . She has no previous criminal history and has never been out of Thailand .  Maybe a Friday afternoon decision ? 

BTW Jumbo , did you use an agent ? 

Nope did it all myself albeit there were over 70 pages of documents, for me the most important thing is the Sponsors letter indicating you are travelling together, indicating you will be supporting them whilst in the UK and a place to live, I have my own house.

We co habit in Thailand, I produced the rental agreement and all my travel dates to and from Thailand. I also said I funf  my G.F. in Thailand, I didn’t produce any evidence and if she did decide to do a ‘runner’ all funding would cease.

9 minutes ago, Fex Bluse said:

I thought tourism was only 10% or less of Thai GDP.

 

Why is the government non stop talking about tourism?

 

Why are they endangering the entire country by encouraging more Chinese to visit?

 

As I've tried to explain to the Thaier than Thai expats in these forum for years, tourism including sex tourism probably makes up around 30% or more of Thai GDP.

 

But the Thais can't admit it

Sex tourism is the biggest attraction in Thailand where else in the world can an old git link up with a 20 year old ?