Tofer

You've implied incorrectly, I'm well aware of the requirements to qualify. I was simply noting the benefits, which is what I was alluding to if you read my post carefully. This visa option is clearly not targeted at most people, as it states "wealthy pensioners" etc, and the benefits make it worth the nominal additional cost for the visas, i.e. B5,000/ann, as opposed to B3,800/ann. if you want multi entry, and a much longer visa, assuming you satisfy the qualifications. What's more, I wouldn't particularly consider the requirements would designate the applicant as "wealthy", in this day and age.

That's what I did, but they decided to run me through the mill, requiring the covering letter to explain the need for a second passport. Unfortunately I did not need it for "business purposes" any longer, and they objected after 42 years in existence. After an excruciatingly frustrating exchange of correspondence, over many more weeks than the target 4 weeks turnaround, I think I finally persuaded them that there is a valid reason stated in their website for "frequent travelers" needing to use one whilst another is in somewhere for visa applications. I say think, because I received a notification that my application was now being processed, after I'd sent a letter noting the above and an offer to relinquish my currently valid passport. At this stage they've made no specific requests, so I assume they have simply capitulated, as I've not yet received the renewal passport.

For the complete technophobes, please explain what a "firestick" is. Thanks.

Just heard the news that the (LTR) long term 10 year renewable resident visas are back on track, possibly from September with, what I would consider, very reasonable terms, and real benefits. I for one can't wait, and see it as a positive step forward to acknowledge the worth and investment of foreigners who have made a financial commitment to the country, and continue to do so with sufficient incomes / pensions to make a meaningful contribution to the Thai economy. A step in the right direction, wouldn't you agree, considering; 10 year duration for the reduced fee of only 50,000 Baht. Annual, instead of 90 day, immigration reporting. Exemption from re-entry visa permit requirements. Renewable every 10 years. Fast track entry points at the international airports. Benefits for workers in the reduction of Thai to foreign ratio of employees. One stop offices for immigration and employment / business bureaucracy.

It's a symptom of the bureaucrats / civil servants power trip...

That would be too easy and practical..... I've had my email messages acknowledged by return email, in which they then ask for a "covering letter" to the email, absolutely ludicrous! I would almost give my right arm to have a face to face with those people, to find out if there's a brain between them.

When I checked the procedure for applying through the Brit Embassy in Bangkok, I was advised it would take up to 11 weeks. I was not aware the BE in Bangkok no longer issued passports, and I was somewhat caught out by the fact my passport expires 2 months before the next marriage visa extn. date. Left with little choice, I made digital applications via a UK family address, for a promised 4 week turnaround, sent the passports by courier, and my Sister posted them onto HMPO. Then the fun began, as noted above.

Thank goodness my 2 hour phone call was paid for by the British Embassy. It was a suggestion from a consular customer services lady, who offered to connect me via their phone system, so I only paid for local charges from Thailand, very helpful.

I applied digitally for my wife and son, with the promise of a 4 week turnaround, and got an acknowledgement of documents received 15 & 17/03/22, for a straight forward renewal of pre-existing British passports. HMPO's acknowledgement is sent out as an email message, and there is a tracking facility showing the application history, with the dates recorded of the documents received, but I was still constantly receiving automated messages requesting we send the documents, noting that if already sent to ignore that message. Since no new information was requested, I did just that, ignored their automated / repetitive messages. I then receive a message stating if they do not receive the documents for my wife & son before a date 5 days hence, they will withdraw the application, and you lose your advance payment. Despite my online messages, acknowledged received instantly, confirming that they have logged their receipt of documents on the tracking facility, they still went ahead and withdrew the applications, presumably as an excuse so they would not be seen to have failed to achieve their target turnaround date. Pathetic, how hard can it be to issue a straight forward renewal of a pre-existing passport. Replies to communication on HMPO's online messaging facility, are usually a 'tick box' response of a selected extract from the generic rules, and do not answer your specific application query, presumably again to keep to their 72 hour promised response time. A renewal application for myself is being questioned as a second passport, but I have had this facility since 1980, including repeated renewals without question. I spent 2 hours on a phone call before being disconnected after finally getting through to, and being placed on hold by, the person I needed to speak to. I've sent them all the information they requested, explanation letter for reasons requiring a second passport and a colour copy of my current passport. I sent them an email and electronic message offering practical solutions to their desire to terminate my second passport facility, which has been replied to as a simple acknowledgement, and noting an examiner will have to consider the options, but they threw in an indeterminate comment of "send a covering letter". Very odd, since they have already acknowledged my email and it's message in their same message. I suspect this is yet another potential opportunity for them to withdraw the application for none receipt of documents. It would appear they are spending the majority of their time covering their backsides, to ensure they meet their performance targets, without actually producing the goods. Obviously the Covid solution of working from home is not working! I've now reached the point where I consider it probably necessary to start making formal complaints, in the hope some senior manager will force a solution.

This is a warning to all Brits requiring a passport renewal, HMPO in UK is simply not functioning, and the British Embassy in Bangkok no longer issue passports directly. People in the UK are having to cancel holidays because they cannot get a passport. I applied digitally for my wife and son, with the promise of a 4 week turnaround, and got an acknowledgement of documents received 15 & 17/03/22, for a straight forward renewal of pre-existing British passports. HMPO's acknowledgement is sent out as an email message, and there is a tracking facility showing the application history, with the dates recorded of the documents received, but I was still constantly receiving automated messages requesting we send the documents, noting that if already sent to ignore that message. Since no new information was requested, I did just that, ignored their automated / repetitive messages. I then receive a message stating if they do not receive the documents for my wife & son before a date 5 days hence, they will withdraw the application, and you lose your advance payment. Despite my online messages, acknowledged received instantly, confirming that they have logged their receipt of documents on the tracking facility, they still went ahead and withdrew the applications, presumably as an excuse so they would not be seen to have failed to achieve their target turnaround date. Pathetic, how hard can it be to issue a straight forward renewal of a pre-existing passport. Replies to communication on HMPO's online messaging facility, are usually a 'tick box' response of a selected extract from the generic rules, and do not answer your specific application query, presumably again to keep to their 72 hour promised response time. A renewal application for myself is being questioned as a second passport, but I have had this facility since 1980, including repeated renewals without question. I spent 2 hours on a phone call before being disconnected after finally getting through to, and being placed on hold by, the person I needed to speak to. I've sent them all the information they requested, explanation letter for reasons requiring a second passport and a colour copy of my current passport. I sent them an email and electronic message offering practical solutions to their desire to terminate my second passport facility, which has been replied to as a simple acknowledgement, and noting an examiner will have to consider the options, but they threw in an indeterminate comment of "send a covering letter". Very odd, since they have already acknowledged my email and it's message in their same message. I suspect this is yet another potential opportunity for them to withdraw the application for none receipt of documents. It would appear they are spending the majority of their time covering their backsides, to ensure they meet their performance targets, without actually producing the goods. Obviously the Covid solution of working from home is not working! I've now reached the point where I consider it probably necessary to start making formal complaints, in the hope some senior manager will force a solution.

Good point, and it certainly makes a mockery of the pension increment freeze for expats in certain countries.

Anyway, back on topic. Wouldn't the Pension rules be deemed an unfair contract, in regard to the small print T&C laws introduced, particularly considering employees and the self-employed were never given a contract to sign, with said rules clearly displayed, before their NI contributions were automatically deducted / demanded from their income. In other words, it was not an option, nor clearly explained way back when, and the rules were never generally known / available before the internet was born, I believe.

Simple, BTC only increases in value when someone else buys it, and if no one else buys it, you have nothing.

Explain fully then.

Gambling, wishful thinking, call it what you like. What about the poor sucker who bought off you at 2M and sold at 1.6M.

It's not an "asset", it's a delusion... Totally reliant on someone else buying it from you to artificially inflate the value, which I believe is as clear a definition of a pyramid scheme as any other. However, this is off topic, so draw a line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUsgoPAes8w Watch this and then you'll know.

Gobsmacked! I'm British and will return whenever I please. If you live in Thailand, you will never be given indefinite leave to remain, unless you get PR or Thai citizenship.

Not sure. I only know that if you work overseas, you need to stay out of UK more than a full fiscal year (April 5th to April 4th) to avoid UK income tax on those overseas earnings. It's a b....y minefield, I only discovered the overnight rule talking to a specialist tax accountant.

Could be a better solution, if the rule is still current.

I wouldn't ever trust a tenant to do anything you ask of them.

Hmmm, but if you're renting it, and the tenant is paying the council tax, you may be on a sticky wicket, i.e. it's not your home... Have a look into my info about staying overnight at a UK address where you keep clothes, I'm not sure if it's still current.

Make sure it's a female tenant you can shack up with for a month... ????

Yes I do. You obviously don't know what an investment is.

$#1t, that means I'm gonna have to visit UK...