BUSBY

Hiya PJ,

The one I used works in conjunction with the Bang Lamung D.Center.

In my case a school at Sri Racha, they contacted them after processing my documents, forwarded all via there online facility with them

I had to wait for just under 3/4 of an hour for this to be checked and  make an appointment for me.

They got a vacant slot for the following day and I was provided with the details, plus confirmation of the appointment.

The slot was from 11 am to 11.45 but I got there early, reported to counter 2 who allowed me to renew without having to wait for the allotted time.

It was so easy and well worth the extra 250 baht fee they charged for their services.

There are many unofficial driving schools and sadly it appears this is where your difficulty has arisen.

Perhaps a search on line may provide you with the school that can provide you with this service.

Good luck

Busby

Thank you for the courteous follow up reply TBTF

I did a bit of research and went to the local driving school in Sri Racha.

They have a facility for preparing, arranging and providing all relevant paper work needed and stamped  along with an arranged appointment at the Bang Lamung licence center.

In my case the following day.

Total cost for this brilliant service was 250 which I think was more than reasonable considering what you get for it.

I went to the DLA and went upstairs, turned left into the licence issuing dept. Counter 2 as instructed and was in and out in less than one hour.

Thanks to you and Johng I was encouraged to look outside the forum and it was certainly much appreciated. 

250 at the driving center plus 555 at the local DLC = 805 which is so cheap for renewal fees, and the all important new five year licence.

Oh I forgot to add it cost me 300 baht for the required certified address letter from Siracha immigration..

It is valid for 60 days from issue but they take the original at the DLC so I would advise photo copying it as it could come I handy for future reference, especially if Immigration should they question where you live and possible non reporting it.

Best Regards and stay safe.

Michael

Thank you so much tbtf and johng,

You have put my mind at rest and I can visit a few days after re opening when hopefully the initial chaos and back log have been taken care of.

Busby

My licence expires on the 10th of July 2020.

How long is normally allowed after the expiry date please.

If the 20th is the same for Chonburi and we are covered by a temp. extension I would like to attend a few days later and wonder if that is officially possible.

Thank you

Busby

There are many versions of when they open so it is confusing to say the least.

I rang my insurance company up yesterday who reassured me that as far as they are concerned I will still be able to continue driving and will be covered for anything accident ect. as per policy.

I am insured by Viriya (fully comp.) by the way.

They also told me the police will accept my existing D/L so long as the insurance is OK

That said I do not feel to confident about driving with an expired licence, especially accident wise if the other parties are Thai

Latest available updates for d. licence renewals.

I am due to renew my driving licence which expires on 10-07-2020 and wonder when the local office for Sri Racha is due to re open.

I have tried but with no success to contact the relevant Gov. office but it keeps ringing engaged or busy.

How long after expiry are we allowed please.

Thank you

On ‎2‎/‎20‎/‎2020 at 7:32 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

Whenever I look at my Thai air pollution app I see red in or near Lopburi. I don't know if that is only one little part of that area or the whole area. I would check it out before I would move to that place.

 

Thanks for the heads up OMF, I will certainly take this into account and investigate it further when I meet up with my friends there. along with Finnc's appreciated observations from living there.

Busby

Hiya Finnc,

Many thanks for the much appreciated information.

I was wondering if anyone had seen my enquiry after it was moved to the new location.

We have a couple of Thai friends / families who live there and have asked us to consider moving, hence the enquiry.

So much relevant information and I will now discuss things with my wife.

We are planning on a visit to see them so I can check things out further with the help of your post as a guide to go by.

Take care and a big thank you again

Busby

Good afternoon everyone,

I have been searching for a post that was enquiring about Tamsulosin medication for prostrate / urine flow costs that a member had posted.

I cannot locate it but if the person making the enquiry or another member can message me or indeed reply to this post I may have some good news for them.

Thank you

Busby

Apologies Ubonjoe,

I put it on the visa forum to initially enquire about immigration for Lopburi but understand as there are several non related visa questions in my post.

Thank you for moving it for me.

Busby

I am thinking of moving to Lopburi and would appreciate helpful, experienced advice of the area.

Immigration, hospitals.nearest airport connections and renting a property to name a few.

Local meeting places for farang and shopping facilities also please.

Is there a local dedicated forum.

Anything helpful would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Busby

Thank you for the replies which are appreciated.

I have already made a list of the things required by my works pension provider.

My wife's English is not so good and she gets confused when dealing with legal matters and I can imagine she will be really flustered when the time comes.

We have been legally married 20 years and all the original documents / certificates plus translations which I had done some time ago for immigration are in her possession.

I will contact the company again and see if they will let her claim after sending the required information the advised me about while empathizing with the difficulties.

In recent times they keep changing the requirements so I tend to contact them annually just in case I have to provide something further.

As saengd has mentioned I did contact them via phone and after nominating her again recently got them to email the list as a reference to download.

No one speaks much English in the village so I will also try to find someone who does who she can contact locally.

Thank you again for your replies which are helpful.

Busby

Can anyone recommended a Pattaya ( brit ) lawyer or someone who is familiar with UK procedures relating to my company pension inheritance my wife will be entitled to and assistance plus an idea of possible fees please.

Does Thai Visa recommend / advertise for anyone ? 

Any advice and information I can record for her would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Busby

13 hours ago, Genericnic said:

I fully agree about the need for insurance in Thailand - or anywhere else for that matter - and would not live without it. And like you, I am fully covered by my US based health insurance that has unlimited inpatient and outpatient coverage and does not expire. What I resent is that Thailand is now telling me that in addition to my high quality coverage, I have to buy over priced, second rate insurance from a Thai company just so I can get an O-A visa. The required coverage would not have been sufficient to cover my last hospital visit but my US insurance did so with no problem.

 

David

 

Hiya David,

I agree with your observations but should it become a new stipulation we must as always bend with the wind.

If it does become so then searching for the least expensive cover will do.

The following is an important observation based on the sad demise of uninsured expats

For those over 75 then as like in the UK unless you took your cover out at a younger age then it is as far as my searches both previously and recently getting ins. is unattainable.

Forget the visa scenario for a minute and look at what happens and I have observed over my time here is....

Sadly so many who where well off finished up with zero after paying extortionate bills in attempts to get better, especially with the more serious life threatening situations and spent their final days in agony unable to get home because of it and eventually passed on in relief.

I can see so many healthy mates even now in my minds eye who went downhill fast, ran out of funds and it has been heartbreaking to witness it.

If you can try to ignore the visa demands if you can and get adequate cover for yourself because I personally would not wish what could happen otherwise on no one.

If you are young enough then invest now before the age limitation scenario kicks in and it is impossible to get insurance.

Get it while you can please as I for one do not wish to witness any more suffering if it is at all possible.

WE all know Immigration doesn't give anything about our well being and like now will continue to put financial obstacles in our way.

May I suggest they come up with a reasonable cover programme with fixed prices for treatment if they are really concerned about us and our quality of life while we are guests in their country.

If only !!!!

Thank you

Busby

I personally do not understand why it is not reasonable to be expected to have medical insurance cover here in Thailand.

Everyone knows or should be aware of the non provisions for expats and should accept responsibility to make sure they have adequate cover.

I personally feel obliged to make sure, should I have need of it I am covered and carry a medical card around with me all the time.

I am now 75 and came here 27 years ago and have been covered from the day my initial 180 UK I had ran out.

Sure the premiums go up but I am safe in the knowledge I can depend on it should the need ever arise.

I'm not sure what the alternatives are but do know that without back up funds or M. Ins. your chances of getting free cover are zero as of the last time I read an article covering this important subject.

There could also be a massive bill being issued to your loved ones following the initial emergency treatment we are allowed ?????

Get insured you know it makes sense

Busby

On ‎9‎/‎15‎/‎2019 at 4:53 PM, BUSBY said:

I've just come back with my old and new passports (renewed in the UK) and had to show both as my one year visa and re entry are in the old one.

The new passport was stamped for entry and I didn't have any problems.

The officer was really helpful told me to keep both and show them at my local I.O. when I do my next 90 day report in December.

 

Sadly I lost 10 months from my old one as I learned  would not have had enough time that is now required left on it to renew my retirement visa ( 3 months )

Busby

 

 

I have had yet again received some great information and advice from Darren of Key Visa and how to progress to transfer my visa from my old passport to the new one.

I had originally planned to renew my passport with Key Visa in the new year prior to extending my annual permission to stay but due to damage and IO comments on my way out decided to do it while I was in the UK.

I wasn't willing to take a risk of not being allowed back in and also the timing of the renewal had an influence on my decision and consequently sacrificed the ten months  left.

Darren gladly provided me with a letter from the Embassy to enable the transfer of the existing visa and due to the circumstances was kind enough to post one via EMS at no cost to myself.

I am happy based on my experiences with Key Visa to highly recommend seeking advice and assistance in the first instance by their website intercepted personally and dealt with by him unless it is a routine non urgent enquiry in which case his reception are more than capable and willing to offer assistance as I found out.

Busby

 I registered my wife's details and submitted original documents and translations several years ago to my company who in turn assured me they would be kept on file and recorded.

I do contact them every so often to check everything is ok and the last time they said there is no record of these details ect. and I must resubmit them again.

Prior to coming back this year I contacted them via phone to ask them for an up to date forecast of how much based on my present company pension, she could expect which I have received and due to them shifting the goal posts yet again based on what was also said to send me a new list required by post to my registered Thai address.

Everything on it now differs from what was asked for previously.

On my demise she must contact them via registered letter or phone and she will be sent a form to complete plus having to send certificates plus certified translations of her birth, our marriage and death certificate, the latter being the only one they had not received previously......visualize a sarcastic smile here.

I will have it translated for her along with making sure the required documentation, plus contact info and let her keep it in a safe place until it is needed.

I will also tell her to get at least 3 additional original certified death certificates preferably in English if possible.

Based on my experiences I would offer a recommendation all those who have a company pension to contact them on an annual basis to confirm no changes have been introduced.

The important thing for me is my concern that when I do eventually throw a six rather than it being easy for my wife to claim based on the up to date information provided in Thai and prepared by me will be of no use at all.

The problem with my company and several others at least is they outsource our pensions ect to third parties and they in turn put their own interpretations on what is required and it goes on and on. 

The good thing about my company is they will pay her the full pension for 3 months after my demise.

Good luck

Busby

Thank you Steve,

I am enquiring on behalf of a friends wife.

He has passed on and his Thai wife of 20 years is now his widow.

She is 59 years old but is unable to work due to heart related problems.

He gets an OAP which includes a dependent allowance for her.

There are no dependent children

I am trying to ascertain what she may be able to claim / is entitled to and also wish to put her in touch with a good lawyer in case she needs one who can sort  out whatever is needed at a reasonable price along with a documents check on what is required by the DWP.

I've just come back with my old and new passports (renewed in the UK) and had to show both as my one year visa and re entry are in the old one.

The new passport was stamped for entry and I didn't have any problems.

The officer was really helpful told me to keep both and show them at my local I.O. when I do my next 90 day report in December.

Sadly I lost 10 months from my old one as I would not have had enough time that is now required left on it to renew my retirement visa ( 3 months )

Busby

On ‎8‎/‎27‎/‎2019 at 10:01 AM, prakhonchai nick said:

Just wait until they follow the rules of some other countries. Have to be in-country for minimum 6 months a year to receive any pension! That will surely come one day.

 

Just look at how quickly they removed Bereavement benefits from the Thai wives and children of deceased expats. Barely 2 years notice given!.

Hiya prakhonchai nick,

Can you post details relating to bereavement benefits being withdraw please.

I am at present enquiring about the latest requirements for widows in the home country thread of which I have asked if it could possibly be transferred to here.

Thank you

Busby

Is it possible to move this to the UK Pension 2018 thread please.

It could be this has been covered within this thread in recent times.

Thanks

Thank you for the replies.

Has anyone assisted someone in recent times about claiming widows pension.

Can anyone recommend lawyers within the Chonburi area preferably who is familiar with the UK DWP please

Thank you

Can anyone provide the latest requirements by DWP UK for recently widowed adult OAP dependent and required documentation please.

Recommend a lawyer who is familiar with UK law re OAP's and can offer useful advice and if needed assistance communicating with the DWP along with approximate fees.

Chonburi area if possible

Thank you