James105

Another 200 million pounds completely wasted and they have learned absolutely nothing from this as they have reverted to flawed inaccurate modeling again instead of using the actual excess death data and comparing against other countries/states who took a different approach. The pandemic plans for an outbreak like this were meticulously planned in prior decades by cool scientific heads and were thrown in the bin by the panicking idiots in charge in only the second week. This led to demands from the panicking public to destroy the economy and take away freedoms, destroy kids educations, probably kill more people from heart attacks/cancers due to hospitals becoming a covid only/ TikTok dance service... and all for nothing. For a worse result than Sweden who didn't do any of these things. So the rich got richer, the poor got poorer, the country got (even more) massively in debt that will take generations to pay back (if ever) and it achieved a higher excess death rate than Sweden.

So just to wrap up on this and provide closure, I ended up going the agent route as it is too inconvenient for me to leave the country right now and I wanted as close to 100% guarantee that I will get this visa without issue. I went to see 2 different agents, Manereet and OneStop and the user experience is quite different between them. Manereet. Cost of 3 month Non-o + 12 month extension = 30,000. Operates a bit differently to how I would expect an agent to work as they give you a list of things to do yourself such as get 6 passport photos (not included in the 30,000 cost and have to be obtained from another shop) and give a slip of paper to pass to the bank, again to do by yourself. They do not seem to do much (anything) in the way of "hand holding" nor explain much (anything) about the process or where the passport will be sent to (just they need to keep for 1 month), hands you a couple of slips of paper and sends you on your way to do the initial busy work. Also wanted "ATM Card" for reasons they didn't explain which I found very strange as the ATM card doesn't even have my name on it, and the only useful info on there is the card number, expiry and CVC code. OneStop. Cost of 3 month Non-O + 12 month extension = 29,000. Operates like I'd expect an agent to operate, gives full advice, takes photos and printouts in shop, accompanies you to the bank to explain what is needed to the bank clerk and then meets at immigration for another photo taken by immigration to get the 3 month visa. So this is the one I used as they didn't send me on my way with a couple of bits of paper to do the busy work, they actually helped. They did not want or need my ATM card for anything. Inflation seems to be quite high in the agent world as both quoted 3000+ more than when I went to see them last month. For time reasons I didn't try any of the other agents to see if cheaper options available. Using your own 800K in the bank seems to have no impact on the cost of visa via an agent, but I used my own anyway so that I can DIY next year if I want to or I can always not worry about keeping the account 800K+ and pay 15K next year to use agent for 12 month extension. If I'd had the foresight to put the money in the bank a week or two earlier I would have saved myself 20,000+. Lesson learned. One other clarification point is that it seems the Non-O visa has to be applied 20-21 days in advance of visa exempt expiry so I presume the 15 days mentioned earlier in this thread is 15 business days.

It's a stupid policy that is ignored by most anyway. If really I wanted to have an alcoholic drink between 2-5pm and I lacked the foresight to purchase crates of alcohol before 2pm then I can think of countless places to buy it from anyway. This trial will really just affect chains like 7/11 and supermarkets that follow the rules so the very predicable outcome of this is trial is that 7/11 will make a bit more money from selling alcohol during those times and mom/pop stores will make a bit less, otherwise there will be zero difference. If they were in the business of wanting to "save lives" they could maybe start with proper deterrents for drink driving and not wearing helmets.

The UK's biggest liar has spoken. What we can read from this is that if he doesn't manage to delay it indefinitely that the inquiry will be watered down, and will not be a thorough examination of the offenders ethnicity and especially not their religion.

Americans have the right to free speech and this does not affect Americans as they do not need to apply for a visa to enter America. Even the most vile and disgusting Americans can celebrate Chariie Kirks murder without the state kicking down their doors and arresting them. Foreigners are not protected by the first amendment and America has a right to refuse entry to their country if they prefer not to allow such abhorrent individuals into America. Those who wish to visit or enter America will now be aware that if they celebrate the murder of an American citizen then America might not want to allow them to enter. Seems perfectly reasonable to me, and as I am not a vile individual that celebrates someones murder for having a different view to me I will remain unaffected.

The UK is officially not a safe country for Jewish people, so much so that their fans are not allowed to attend a football match due to the murderous backward Islamists and leftist supporters who wish harm on a minority religion/race. This is shameful.

Why should it? Presumably you would want to see consequences for failure? Some people are mentally retarded or have other conditions that prevent them from having perfect English skills. Some mental disabilities occur from the result of incestuous marriages common amongst a certain religion. These people would likely fail an English test. After you have finished rolling on the floor laughing at them when they fail where would you like to deport them to?

Let's hope the UK follows Thailand and imposes similar restrictions on foreigners entering the UK: 1. Cannot buy land. 2. Cannot work 3. White English people get half price at Alton towers and other tourist attractions. 4. Detention and deport for any overstayers / illegal arrivals. No appeal. 5. No access to taxpayer funded benefits. 6. No free medical care.

And what if it was a fraudulent transaction and there will never be proof of Thai address? The UK person loses access to their money forever? That does not sound correct. Are you sure this person really wants to send you the money and is not just making up an excuse so they do not have to send you the money? A common excuse I use for requests for money from my ex is that I only have a UK bank account and my bank does not let me transfer money to Thailand. Not true of course but saves me money and this strategy has successfully prevented the inevitable future requests for the same without making me look like the bad guy for not wanting to "lend" her the money.

Really? I didn't realize as they have kept it so quiet. Who is heading the enquiry? You have a link?

Uk gov: Right we need a policy for the plebs that doesn't cost anything and will distract from the fact that we haven't started the grooming rape gang national enquiry and the black hole that didn't really exist before that now does exist and has doubled/trebled in size. Aides: Bring back hanging? Uk Gov: No! Aides: Shall we check the manifesto? Uk Gov: Now you are just being silly. Aides: Ok how about letting them drink in the pubs a bit longer? Uk Gov: That'll do.

How long have Reform been in charge of this council? Since May? Labour just spent £532,000 on moving the dot and changing the background color on the gov.uk website. https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/civil-servants-gov-uk-logo-spend-500k-5Hjd6fX_2/ Glass houses etc.

Who do you think makes the laws? Which world power does the government in the UK answer to? Face it, the Overton window has shifted on this. Multiculturalism is an absolute disaster of a policy. These next 4 years of incompetent, weak government will be the last time illegal immigrants will be welcomed into the UK at the expense of the UK taxpayer and maybe, just maybe, the era of mass deportations will begin to get the UK back on track as a serious country that puts its own citizens before non citizens.

I've slept on it and I'm torn. Seems I have 3 options: 1. Get a 30 day extension to my 60 day tourist visa then apply for the non O visa. This is tight as it will be about 15 calendar days before the extension expires when the money will have been in my account for 60 days. Is it even 15 calendar days or 15 business days or depends on the whim of the IO so could be either? 2. Leave the country in (lets say) beginning of November, pop to somewhere like Manila or Laos and apply for the non O there. Then just get a 12 month retirement extension in Jomtien direct with immigration. Is this just an e-visa and simple to get? 3. Use an agent and accept the shaky legal ground I would then be on for the rest of my time in Thailand (which will probably be decades), but is also financially cost effective and avoids me needing to deal with immigration.

Ah I see. I'm okay with the ethics of it all as where the money sits seems arbitrary to me and whether it sits in a Thai bank account at 0% interest or (let's say) an immediately accessible 4% savings account doesn't really seem to make any difference, so long is its accessible for whatever reason they deem it to be there as a requirement such as medical bills for instance. So I guess it comes down to risk acceptance then (from my perspective) and the chances that a crackdown that implicates all the agents, immigration officers and the visa holders occurs. Something to ponder at any rate.