Pi Sek

I've just seen that SCB have updated their app... unfortunately my device only has Android 7.1.1, which is no longer supported. And I'm in the UK with my wife at the moment, don't expect to back in Thailand for a few months.

So I tried setting it up on my wife's iPhone (with a version of iOS that meets their requirements)... the app installed, I was able to remotely register it, and can login *sometimes*... when I try to log in, I either get the message in Thai "cannot process" and can't login, or I can log in but clicking on the bit I want to access (e.g. Account Summary, Transfer Money) opens a box telling me what that section does - but it doesn't open that section!

SCB's advice via their customer service email... "your device is not compatible, we recommend getting a new device". And their advice via their LINE support line... "fly back to Thailand".

1 hour ago, soi3eddie said:

Useful thread. We just submitted the application for my GF this afternoon and booked with VFS. We too, have to scan and upload all the supporting documentation in the next 2 weeks before the biometric appointment.

 

If taking the premium gold service, they will also do document scanning and upload for you too.

 

I recall seeing somewhere on the UK.GOV website NOT to book airfares in advance. I would not, unless it was cancellable and refundable.

 

OK, so the Premium Lounge service includes them scanning and uploading it for you... seems unnecessary in my case as I've already done all the scanning myself.

Still yet to see a clear list of what the benefits of this premium service are. For 3,490 Baht (that's what it says on VFS's Website), I'd like to know!

Good luck for your application!

9 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

You don't need a flight booking - in fact UKVI advise against booking flights until the visa has been approved......(totally the opposite with a Schengen visa).

 

The online application process asks if you are staying in a specific place. I always cover that off in my 'sponsor' letter by referring to "we will be visiting various locations in the UK and will book suitable hotels in due course - the financial evidence supplied provides more than sufficient cover for such accommodation".

 

If you are staying with relatives you may need a letter of invitation from them - and perhaps evidence that the accommodation is adequate for those visiting. 

Thank you, that covers my question #4 (I hope!).

I also stated during the application process (prior to the VFS appointment-booking) that we'll not be staying with my relatives, we don't have an address, and that we intend to stay at hotels throughout our stay over 5 locations. My sponsor letter specifically states a dedicated hotel budget for this.

For the benefit of others... I understand from a couple of friends who did stay with their relatives that they needed a letter of invitation. (No evidence of "adequacy" was required for the tourist visa, but I think it's different for longer visas.)

27 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

She should demonstrate that she has somewhere to stay but does not need to show bookings and certainly not flight bookings, I also think it is specifically mentioned somewhere not to do this.  3 or 4 successful visas for my wife, all without bookings.

I also saw the specific mention to not "book travel", but 1) I was told by someone in the village that we should; and 2) now I can't find it!

I *assumed* that a dedicated budget for hotels would be sufficient, as we are not planning on staying with the family and would prefer to plan our travel around different parts of the country based on how we're feeling at the time. Is this dedicated hotel budget an insufficient "proof of accommodation"?

3 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

I agree 100%

 

A friend's application was submitted on 10th March; on 27th March the processed visa was sent out by VfS.

17 days even? Great!

Also, if you can help out with question #4 in the post above, about flight/accommodation booking, great ???? I saw when making the application on the UK Govt site that it wasn't necessary, but I'd like extra informed opinions.

3 hours ago, theoldgit said:

1 - Biometric details can only be captured at the Visa Application Centre.

2 - The premium services are, in my humble opinion, totally unnecessary, the standard system works just fine.

3 - Applications certainly seem to be getting turned around in about three weeks or so at the present time.

 

If you’ve already scanned the supporting evidence, they can be uploaded directly to the UKVI website prior to the visit to the Application Centre, there is no service charge if you don’t need supplementary services.

Thank you very much.

1. Sorry, didn't make myself clear - I meant about uploading supporting documentation, not the biometrics.

2. So, what exactly is the difference between standard and premium? I'm curious either way! Is it just having someone to hold your hand and give you a cup of coffee? What about passport return - is it the same?

3. If it's three weeks - good, gives me a few weeks between visa approval and planned travel date.

... and ...

4. I have another question, after speaking to someone that did this before - they told me that you should have a return ticket and accommodation booked, and have the booking confirmation with the rest of the documents. Is this the case?

My Thai wife has applied for a UK visitor visa to come with me on holiday for a few weeks... neither of us have ever done this before, so we're hoping to benefit from the collective wisdom here ???? We're now on the VFS appointment bit, which we'll be doing at their Sukhumvit 13 office.

Three questions:

1) The appointment is for biometrics and submission of documents. Is the biometrics just having a photo and fingerprints taken? Can scans be submitted on the VFS website (we haven't got to that bit yet) in advance of handing over the file of paper she's got (I've already scanned it all for her)?

2) What are the differences between VFS's standard appointment and the Premium Lounge appointment? As far as I can tell, the standard one is free (but I saw something about a 500ish Baht service charge), and the premium one is 3,400 Baht (and I'm not sure whether she still has to pay the 'service charge' from the standard one). As far as I can tell, the premium one comes with a more comfortable waiting area, "personalised service", free use of a printer, free refreshments (water? coffee?? beer???)... do VFS post the passport back with the visa when it's done for both the standard and premium services?

3) I understand this whole process takes about 3 weeks... has anyone here experienced (preferably recently) this?

Thanks in advance for any insight krub.

The plot thickens... still at Suratthani Immigration. 

In short, it looks like I will have to get a 7-day extension on Friday and do a border run next week.

Apparently I have been illegal ever since the first Covid extension in May 2020, and the Labour Department should have rejected my last 3 work permit renewals because the Covid extensions invalidated my 3-year non-B. 

I will be "legal" again the moment I come back in on an entry stamp!

A "TIT" moment, evidently. 

11 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Not up to rogue offices such as what you were told by Samui immigration.

Covid extensions have been made available untill July 25.

Just typical Thai immigration office rubbish. 

Samui Immigration have just flat out told me that Suratthani (and Krabi, as I saw above) are incorrect. They advised me to leave the country. 

1 hour ago, Pi Sek said:

Suratthani Immigration have just told me that Samui have got it wrong and they've extended the Covid extensions until 25 July. They said that Samui Immigration probably haven't got the news yet. 

 

I asked if I should go to them because Samui just told me "no". They told me it's better to stick with the Samui office, and they need an appointment anyway. I told them that I might get back in touch in a couple of days! 

OK - I decided to drop by Suratthani Immigration as I am close by and spoke with a police-uniformed Immigration Officer named Khun "Don" (his surname was "Hiemnan" or similar).

He had a look at my passport, my visa, all the extensions so far, and he told me that it is no problem to get another 60-day extension. He was surprised that I knew of the July issue, as it was only confirmed this morning. 

He told me that Samui probably hadn't got the news yet, but that they will issue the extension. 

As so many are stamped in until 24 May (tomorrow), I expect there to be a few people sweating at Samui Immigration today and tomorrow. Fortunately I have until 27th. 

Samui Immigration told me on the phone that there is no good reason to extend the Covid visas as the Hat Yai border is open. 

11 minutes ago, Pi Sek said:

I've just phoned Samui Immigration - they told me that the only extension they can do is a 7-day (so I presume the "7-day get out" one). 

 

For a non-B multiple valid until this July with a Work Permit valid until February (next year). 

 

I'm in Suratthani now, I'll give them the same question. 

Suratthani Immigration have just told me that Samui have got it wrong and they've extended the Covid extensions until 25 July. They said that Samui Immigration probably haven't got the news yet. 

I asked if I should go to them because Samui just told me "no". They told me it's better to stick with the Samui office, and they need an appointment anyway. I told them that I might get back in touch in a couple of days! 

I've just phoned Samui Immigration - they told me that the only extension they can do is a 7-day (so I presume the "7-day get out" one). 

For a non-B multiple valid until this July with a Work Permit valid until February (next year). 

I'm in Suratthani now, I'll give them the same question. 

I have not had to leave the country since Covid started, so am unaware of the ins-and-outs of ThaiPass, Test&Go, or any other of the seemingly fluid Covid-prevention measures that I have heard mentioned.

However, as the announcements from official sources are (as usual) as clear as mud and because I expect I will have to make my first visa run since Feb 2020 in a month's time, maybe it's time I asked for some advice here.

If it matters, I have a Covid-extension stamp until end-May and an existing non-B multiple valid for another few months.

20 hours ago, Pi Sek said:

Koh Samui Immigration NOT issuing these extensions, even though they acknowledge the reversal of the decision to stop renewing non-immigrant visas by central Immigration Office (they have had no problems extending tourist visas).

 

The Chief Immigration Officer told me Chiang Mai can issue them because they are a "Head Office", but Koh Samui must wait on a letter of authorisation from Songkhla - which they have not received yet. She told me that they expect it to arrive to be able to made the CEs as of tomorrow (which means Monday) - but then, she told me yesterday that they expected it to arrive this morning!

 

So, they suggested two choices:

1) overstay illegally on Monday and *maybe* they can extend for 60 days then.

2) get a 7-day extension (which means you sign away your right to get the CE, even if it's available, and must leave the country) and go to Malaysia when their border opens on 1 April.

 

There was another option - to get a letter requesting a 30-day extension from my embassy - but my embassy is no longer making these letters.

 

The Chief Immigration Officer asked that I contact my embassy and tell them to complain to Thailand about this poorly-though-out series of events. My embassy told me they have no ability to do this.

 

Not impressed, all-round.

Update: Koh Samui Immigration were only issuing 7-day you-must-leave extensions yesterday until the mid-afternoon; when they started advising people to overstay illegally ???? until Monday.

On Monday, these overstayers can come in and get their 60-day extensions (regular 1,900 Baht fee + 1,500 Baht for 3 days' overstay). There is another form to fill in, you have to submit a GoogleMap screenshot, and two sets of documents instead of one.

Koh Samui Immigration NOT issuing these extensions, even though they acknowledge the reversal of the decision to stop renewing non-immigrant visas by central Immigration Office (they have had no problems extending tourist visas).

The Chief Immigration Officer told me Chiang Mai can issue them because they are a "Head Office", but Koh Samui must wait on a letter of authorisation from Songkhla - which they have not received yet. She told me that they expect it to arrive to be able to made the CEs as of tomorrow (which means Monday) - but then, she told me yesterday that they expected it to arrive this morning!

So, they suggested two choices:

1) overstay illegally on Monday and *maybe* they can extend for 60 days then.

2) get a 7-day extension (which means you sign away your right to get the CE, even if it's available, and must leave the country) and go to Malaysia when their border opens on 1 April.

There was another option - to get a letter requesting a 30-day extension from my embassy - but my embassy is no longer making these letters.

The Chief Immigration Officer asked that I contact my embassy and tell them to complain to Thailand about this poorly-though-out series of events. My embassy told me they have no ability to do this.

Not impressed, all-round.

Anyone know... possible to get more than a (3-month) single-entry visa on a brand new company - i.e. no balance sheet from the previous year? The govt websites just say the previous year's Por Ngor Dor 50 & 30...

Wife just told me that the Co-op that was targeted in Suratthani was owned by Suthep so I can see the link there...but why Central?

A lot of Thais on social media are blaming this one on Red Shirts/Thaksin.

By their logic:

- car was falsely registered in Chonburi, parts of which are a UDD stronghold.

- car originated in Yala. Bomb part suppliers to the Nonthaburi UDD bomber who blew himself up were from Yala.

- April 10, 5 years ago... the day that the RTA responded to a UDD attack on their 1st Army Barracks with the clearance operation at Khok Wua intersection, where the Black Shirts first showed up and 25+ got killed.

- The warehouse in Surat belonged to Suthep.

- Central Festival represents the elite.

- As the bomb was planted underground in the parking lot, it was not meant to cause death as much as to send a message of discontent. This supports the argument that the bomb was not planted by Islamist insurgents.

In a way I hope they are right... we don't want the Islamist insurgency involved in tourist areas. Red Shirts on the other hand, well, their record of blowing up things where they don't live is well documented.

Still, though, could be anything, including a false flag operation.

Why would the red shirts go all the way to Samui? They could put such a device in any city car park they could, why not Patong/Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai or any other major tourist location ?

Makes no sense to detonate/plant this in Samui. This is another convenient way to justify article 44, the same thing happened after thenBangkok incident incident after trying to justify Martial Law remaining.

There is a strong resentment towards the Junta after the army admitted error in killing the 4 guys in the south, tensions and resentment are running high.

Keep an open mind, people sometimes they only see what they want to see, and literally the red mist descends and clouds their thoughts!!

Samui seems quite a natural target for the Red Shirts to me. Suthep said he'd retire there, his son is supposedly investing in large swathes of coconut land in the middle of the island, and in PAD's heyday there were large rallies there with speakers asking gas station attendants not to sell fuel to vehicles with Udon Thani number plates. And besides, Phuket had the highest concentration of Peua Thai voters in the South (30%, significantly higher than any other province), Chiang Mai and Pattaya are full of Red Shirts and businesses that support them, Hua Hin could be seen as an attack on the monarchy (there is only a small minority of UDD members who are anti-monarchy).

Still, you're right - we should keep an open mind. It could be the UDD (as I will openly say I suspect), it could be the army justifying martial Law/article 44, it could even be the PDRC. But I think blaming on the Deep South insurgency before any facts come out (as the BBC did) is premature and irresponsible, especially given that this bomb wasn't intended to cause loss of life (as is the insurgents' MO).

Simple to fix problem If they own the land with legal title offer two choices on live in peace in Thailand or sell your land back to Thai government at fair market value and go to Malaysia who will welcome you with open arms. But if you choose the sell and leave option you can't return to Thailand for 20 years, if you return automatic 20 years in club Thailand hard labor. The others who don't own land offer stay in peace or 10,000 baht to start new life in Maylaysia with same terms for return as land sellers. Cause trouble and locked up for natural life. If they can't be civilized then breed it out of them.

And you call yourself civilized with half-baked uninformed comments like this?

These people feel that their country was unfairly taken away from them by Britain and Siam as part of a land deal over 100 years ago. Why should they have to sell or move? Treat them as human beings, respect and encourage their cultural identity, give them the same consideration as people elsewhere in Thailand, and most of all get rid of the thugs in the Thai army who think know that they are above the law and you have a chance of solving the problem.

Do you mean the thugs who are shooting teachers and many others dead in cold blood ?. How is that the fault of the Army ?. How many do you think would be dead if the Army was not there ?. Buddhists would have been driven out in fear of their lives long ago.

One thing I have learned is that you cannot trust much that the Muslim's say. One set justify murder by quoting the Karan, another set say the first ones interpreted it too literally and yet another say it doesn't matter what the Karan says : Allah knows the intention in his heart. This pick-and-choose hypocrisy basically allows them to do anything and claim some justification.

Maybe you think the Thai authorities should pull out and let them rule themselves ?. Then maybe we can get a few women stoned to death and people given 100 lashes by their sharia laws.

This religion needs to get out of the 15th century. At the end of the day, this is Thailand. Maybe 100 years ago it wasn't and maybe 1,000 years ago it was something else again. It doesn't matter. Every one of them now was born in Thailand and didn't have anything taken from them. If they want to go back to Malaysia and live is a Muslim country, Thailand should help them do it. At the end of a barrel for some.

"Shooting teachers and many others dead in cold blood", as you put it, is deplorable regardless of the situation, but you must understand that they have been doing this in response to atrocities committed against them; atrocities which, as this article rightly points out, have gone un-investigated or simply ignored. I can see that you consider Islam to be evil, but actually this isn't an issue of religion - it's an issue of the local population, who feel no affinity with their official nation but have historically reluctantly submitted to their governance, being consistently harshly treated by their government - in that, there are perhaps stronger ties to medieval times with Scotland. It's not quite historically correct, but the movie Braveheart probably strikes a cord with the Thai-Malays in the Deep South. They know they can't kill their way to independence or whatever, but they see an ongoing fight for recognition to be more equal human beings than they are currently being afforded... and over time, they might even be able to trade their violence against the State for negotiations for more autonomy. It seems fair enough in principal to me... if they weren't cutting people's heads off.

The separatist movement has been around a long time - the violent insurgency has only been around for the last decade or so, and its levels of severity have been directly correlated to the spikes in military & paramilitary "enforced pacification" operations. So, you see, "at the end of a barrel for some" is a proven way to increase the violence problem, not resolve it.

and the fact that her other daughter is a red shirt terrorist that has been caught out trying to plant bombs means nothing hey. The only ones trying to stir the pot are the ones that dont want the real truth to emerge, last thing they want is for the red terrorists to be shown to have been a major cause and possibly the ones doing much of the shooting. Easier to blame everyone else, seems they were quite happy when the ptp were running the investigation as they were trying to pin all the blame on the pm and let all the reds off but now the truth is going to come out they are all sh*tting themselves

I wasn't aware that the bomber was Phayao Akhahad's daughter?

I was under the impression that the bomber was merely one of two key witnesses in Kamolkade Akhahad's murder... not a relative. I may be mistaken, but don't think so... you have a link?

Hang on a minute... when Methee was arrested driving around in his car in Bangkok with Tavors and M16s which he had "confiscated" from troops on 10 April, he folded and gave a statement that it was Natthawut who had given the orders to instigate violence.

Of course Natthawut denied this, and Jatuporn denied Methee's claims that Jatuporn had him threatened in attempt to get him to change his story... but how can anyone with as much incriminating evidence against them as Natthawut (above is one piece of many, and this one didn't even come from his own mouth) POSSIBLY demand any role into investigations in which they are the accused? Madness!

But, I suppose, in a world where those who question the "official 9/11 story" (which, as it happens, is physically impossible) are labelled by the US government as "terror risks", and GW Bush was allowed to give a statement in the "investigation" in secret, not under oath and behind closed doors... madness is the direction in which the world seems to be going.