Jonson83

None of the scams, wrong advice , malpractice etc. mentioned in the above posts were carried out by the VAC or members of VFS staff. All of such practises are done by unscrupulous so called agents operating from Regents House. None of these offices are 'licensed by the British Goverment' or have any connection with any official government organisation.

As Mjo says, unfortunately there is no way either VFS or the British embassy have any way of evicting or otherwise stopping these people. They could move the VAC, but these sharks would only follow. Even in the old days, when queueing up outside the embassy we were accosted by such scum trying to persuade us to let them handle our application.

The possible exception is the wrong advice about divorcing at the Thai embassy in London. However, as the VAC is only responsible for collecting and checking visa applications I am not at all surprised that the VFS staff did not know about divorce law in the UK.

For some time, whether it's for security or overcrowding reasons, only applicants have been allowed into the VAC, with some obvious exceptions such as child applicants.

The UKVAC website a photo of their staff in uniform.

If the person talking to you is not wearing this uniform then they are not VAC staff. Tell them to Foxtrot Oscar.

Notice also the clear signage to tell you that you are in the VAC.

Having said all that, if one feel that any VAC staff are acting improperly then one should make a formal complaint to the embassy.

If you guys took the time to actually have a look at the VFS sites or at pictures like the one posted above you would'nt be getting yourselves into such a pickle.

It really isnt that difficult.

Am I right in believing the OP actually mistook the cowboy visa agent for the VFS office next door and it was normal practice to pay a fee of 25,000 to the outfit contracted by the British embassy simply to manage their " queue " and the application process?

Surely not?

Perhaps the chap would like to buy shares in my timeshare villa complex in Yala?

Believe me its very easy to get mistaken especially when they stand in front of the portable sign for the VAC.

Come on, schoolboy error is you ask me. I was approached by a couple of these touts and told them to @@@@ off. A little thought is all thats needed. Far too many people looking for the quickest and easiest way to get their missus a visa.

This should serve as a warning to them.

Kennkate, the best thing to do is give them a ring once you get to chiang mai, they are actually supposed to ring you when they recieve the package but they didnt ring us?!?. The courier is located across the road from the large Tesco on the hangdong road, so it shoudlnt be too hard for you to find.Good luck.

Good luck to chantas and gypsymoth aswell.

Guys we got it! We had to wait until this morning to go and get it from the courier. Really nerve racking, but we got it!

I really hope things start speeding up,because 10 weeks is a joke if you ask me.Ohwell, good luck to all of you.If anyone has any questions, go for it.

cheers, Jon + Aom

Guys, VFS messaged us this afternoon and said that the application has been processed and in a 2nd message that it has been returned to the courier.

Were gonna go try pick it up tomorrow,were in chiang mai btw..do you think ill have to wait until monday before i can collect it?

Either way, atleast the waitings over,lets hope we get some good news!

Well done tlusername and tango7, hope everything goes well for you in england!

TheFiend, hopefully me and you are gonna get some news this week!

I feel bad for your m8, but surely they cant have refused his wife just because he failed to provide utility bills.

Hi guys, got an update for you.

Got a call from the embassy on thursday, The bird who phoned was thai and she spoke to my missus first and then me. The conversation went like this,

'You have not sent any evidence of your accommodation in the UK'

i said ' yes i have, its in the application for sure'

she said ' where?'

i said ' in the accommodation section'

'oh yes,now i see it, thank you'

She did this a couple more times, first saying that i had not given something and then after i had told her where it was saying 'oh yes thank you' . My application ,although pretty big, is very,very easy to read through.Even the VFS guys complimented the missus on it! I mean really, a blind <deleted> monkey could find its way through it...... Which really makes me wonder, <deleted> am i paying my money for! 27k !! The embassy workers english was far from perfect aswell. A completely pointless phone call that had she taken the time to read through the application carefuly would not have needed to make.

Also i asked her how much longer and she just said al settlement visas are taking about 3 months.But atleast their starting to work on mine now,i applied 11th march btw, so im assuming that their working on the march applications now.

5 weeks yesterday here...Really takes the piss.

Theres a few guys that have had applications from mid feb already processed.I think the waiting time is still about 6 weeks.We'll have to see. Does the embassy stop work for songkran?

Yeah just to add to this, do a course with a provider that is well known. Your prospective employer will be able to easily check about the course.

from what i understand, a TEFL course is now NOT a requirement to teaching in Thailand. It's been 'replaced' by the Thai cultural awareness course.

Thailand is a cheap and nice place to do a course though. Just pick your provider carefully.

I don't think anything has been replaced by anything Mark well at least in Chiang Mai.

A degree will get you a wp. A director's letter can get you a wp if you don't have a degree. An application fee will get you a non-imm B visa. A TL, or temporary TL, is required to renew at Nan and Tak but this must only affect less than 1% of teachers in Thailand. A TEFL is a bloody good idea if you have never taught languages before. It's also a requirement of many employers.

The private schools association ran a 3-day cultural awareness course last year at Yupparat Government School in Chiang Mai. Of the teachers who spent 5K plus for the privilege of attending non, that I know, have been asked to show when extending visas or wps this year.

I thought the course wwas at montford? but i think the 'test' will be at Yupparaj this year....?

It took me and the missus no more than 10 minutes to get the bankers draught sorted at Regent House.I think any bank in bkk will do it..

Congrats eddie,

Yeh, it looks like about 5-6 weeks. So I've got atleast another 2 weeks to wait...

Congrats m8

I'm thinking about purchasing a second hand motorbike, just a standard Yamaha or Honda, manual or automatic. Does anyone know any good places to purchase a bike from around Chiang Mai? And does anyone know any rough prices?

I really don't know much about motorbikes so any recommendations on make and model would be appreciated!

Thank you!

Hmm its a bit of a random theory but maybe the embassy processes the visa by the date that the applicant has requested to enter the UK?

The OP and his wife asked for the late march? Maybe you could keep us informed as 'late' march is coming up.

thanks for the replies........2600 seems a little steep for an x-ray........

It is how much it cost my Gal 2 months ago.

Just been to Noparat Hospital in Bk..Blood pressure,X ray(chest for TB)certificate. for job 350 baht...

350...?

Did the IOM send you there???

I thought there was only two hospitals that the IOM accpeted and they both cost 2600?

I went to bumrungrad, the IOM charge you before you go to the hospital...

I applied on the 10th March ,now i'm still waiting.Doubt i'll hear anything for the next 2-3 weeks...

I am also planning on moving back to the UK this year and therefore my wife will be applying for the settlement visa. I'm lucky in that my parents have two houses and one of those will be 'given' to us until we get on our feet. I do not have a job in the UK, but I will be looking for something ASAP.

Do you need a job offer in the UK before your wife would be considered for the visa?

cheers

My friend took his wife back last year,he'd only been married for 2 months,he didnt have that much cash(not to mention most of that was in his bank came from his family),was going back to live with his parents,did not have a job offer.. yet...he got the visa.No interview or anything either.

With that in mind,Eff1n2ret, could you please go into more detail on why you believe the OP has a poor chance of success?

btw,i too am hoping to apply for a settlement visa,i married my wife 6 months ago,weve been together for 2 years and have a lot of evidence to back this up.I will be staying with my parents.

The OP posed the situation whereby he would have insufficient funds to support himself for a full year and would have to rely on handouts from his parents. The courts have said that the parties in a settlement visa application must be able to support themselves financially, and cannot rely on third party support. That's why I said he might have some difficulty. (If, however, as has been said subsequently, he is able to claim the grants available to prospective teachers (the PGCE bursary referred to by Paully) he should easily pass the threshold for financial support)

It is important in this context to draw a distinction between "support" and "accommodation". If you are able to show that the accommodation offered by your parents is adequate, your application will not be disadvantaged on this point. If you have a job offer or can show that you will be seeking work when you arrive and have a good chance of getting a job then short-term support from your parents should not be a bar to granting the visa.

I hope this is of assistance.

Excellent,thank you

I'll try keep it short and simple.

Does everything have to be translated into english when applying for a settlement visa? This morning i took the documents that needed translating to a translation company and the guy in charge told me that we have more stuff than we actually needed..and we would be wasting money if we got it translated...

The ones he pointed out were my wifes birth certicate, and my 2 step daughters birth certifcates(they will not be going to the UK btw)

The guy was actually turning down money which is rare in this country! and hes obvoiusly got a lot of experience dealing with visa translations...can anyone help me?

thanx

I am also planning on moving back to the UK this year and therefore my wife will be applying for the settlement visa. I'm lucky in that my parents have two houses and one of those will be 'given' to us until we get on our feet. I do not have a job in the UK, but I will be looking for something ASAP.

Do you need a job offer in the UK before your wife would be considered for the visa?

cheers

My friend took his wife back last year,he'd only been married for 2 months,he didnt have that much cash(not to mention most of that was in his bank came from his family),was going back to live with his parents,did not have a job offer.. yet...he got the visa.No interview or anything either.

With that in mind,Eff1n2ret, could you please go into more detail on why you believe the OP has a poor chance of success?

btw,i too am hoping to apply for a settlement visa,i married my wife 6 months ago,weve been together for 2 years and have a lot of evidence to back this up.I will be staying with my parents.

Bit selfish chaps,lots of Thais living near these bars.

Unlike some,they actually have to get up in the morning...

Only 50% ??

The school i worked at was rough as f""".The kids just don't have any respect anymore.

Parents are to blame IMO.The situation will not get any better unless they sort themselves out.

If by lifestyle changes you mean being serious about dieting/exercise then yes you have a point.

I don't understand what you mean by:

"That's what I mean about not being able to resume your former eating habits,"

The tastiest foods in the world are full of fat and sugar.The old man upstairs was obviously taking the p'ss when he decided this! Its just something we have to deal with.Unless someone is happy being overweight,they can never eat that sort of food everyday for the rest of their lives.

In your mind,you should have an idea of what you would like to look like.Your diet/exercise regime should be built around achieving this...then maintaining it.

"OK Let's get personal in an effort to progress the discussion..

I have been on it for a year and my health has much improved and I have

lost 4 kg. It's not always easy to stick with it but I have found that I don't miss

carbohydrates that much... a slice of garlic bread once in a blue moon I still

indulge in..."

Ok.

You don't do any exercise.For anyone considering long term weight loss,thats crazy,yet unsuprising.As i have mentioned before,atkin dieters aren't big on exercise...

If you don't mind me asking,why not? to tired...? lack of motivation? Maybe other reasons that are none of my buisness?

"my health has much improved"

Why? Because you have lost some weight..? Weight loss doesnt always result in better health.Ofcourse,exercise does.

You have only been on the diet for a year,yet you are recomending that others should do it for longer periods(basically the rest of their lives),as opposed to more sensible(IMO) and effective diets?.Do you think you could manage to do it for the rest of your life?

You do understand what will happen if you don't have the will power to keep this up permanantly..don't you?

Well,i hope you understand my point.I understand yours perfectly,i got it in your first post.I just do not believe it is practical for the average man/woman in this day an age.Not as a long term solution to unwanted fat etc There are more sensible,more effective ways of going about it IMO.

Good luck