RJaidee

If a course is a hidden gem it has bad promotion, which is nothing to be proud of. There are lots of great value courses, but everyone likes different things, so best to play some and work out which ones you like.

Thank you I need to apply anyway, with an 11 (eleven) week turnaround, due to it being a busy time (what with all major airlines collapsing), but will also get his Thai 1 incase it takes even longer than 3 months to print a piece of paper.

My son has a UK passport that expires in September. We are planning to go to UK in July, returning before September. He is also a Thai citizen so he did not need his passport to enter here last time he came. Do I need a new passport for him to travel to the UK with less that 6 months till expiry, or is it ok?

Has anyone heard anything recently after finishing the Special Branch stage? Seems a long delay to the next stage

I have heard that you cannot apply until 12 weeks before and the time taken is 13 weeks. If this is the case, could the application window be extended? I will have to renew my sons passport and sort my wifes visa in the near future so hope this can be sorted as its pretty embarrassing. Sadly no votes in it so no one cares.

Update - went to do my name thing today. Important point - take your 5K receipt as you need that for some reason. 1 hour wasted there driving home and back for that. Picking a name is tricky, as you cannot choose an existing surname for fraud reasons, nor something that sounds silly or unThai. Basically it is like trying to guess what someone else is thinking, in a language you can't speak very well. They gave me a book of potential names, but as it was old all, the ones my wife chose were taken. I suggested the name of 1 of my favourite Thai golfers, and the lady behind the desk checked a slight derivative of that, which past the 1 factual and 2 opinion tests, so we got it done. I have now done everything required in the envelopes (feels a bit like the Crystal Maze) and await whatever's next.

I already had those 2 things in my file. Best not to worry too much, as long as the case manager is happy then Im done I think. Need to do the Thai name, which my wife has chosen for me after decrying my efforts as "stupid". As my sons name is English and he is Thai I have no idea what purpose this has but why not.

It has been accepted.

It depends where you get married. Where I had to get married I had to put forward 2 people and they were interviewed for about 10 minutes by the Amphur Headman. They dont do that where they have lots of Western / Thai marriages though.

From what I could understand my sponsors were asked how they knew me and about my character. Im not sure how they would know about my financial situation.

I went to the British Embassy and asked the front desk if I could take a photo of me handing over the letter to them. He called his boss, which tells me I am the first person who has asked, or this is a practiced technique for answering questions they want to say no to, and the answer was no. My mate then started going off at them about human rights, so I left him to it and as the British Embassy is in a tower block (the shame) and the reception in the lobby (double shame) I was able to take a photo of the desk behind me and the plaque outside with me and the letter. Hopefully this will be enough. If not, I will report back.

Update My wife just spoke to the person who handled my file Letter 1 for British Embassy is the intention letter. I have no need to do this again having submitted it already. Letter 2, and this is directly from the person, we need to take a photo of us handing that over at the British Embassy and submit that as evidence. The only way to to find out is to submit the evidence requested, find out why that is wrong, submit it again, and repeat until accepted.

There is the Mizuno shop at Thaniya who are lovely people. Some good deals right now as they didnt shift last years stock to Japanese tourists. If you want 2nd hand then Golf First at Thonburi Driving Range on Rama 2 are excellent.

I have also just received these envelopes and as am confused by these responses as I am by my wifes explanation of what to do with them (her being unaware of the British Embassy's unhelpful nature). I haven't opened the letters as I presume they are in Thai and the wife says you can't open letters not addressed to you, which is correct. I have provided the letter stating my intention to give up my citizenship already (costing 50 GBP + 2GBP postage + translation + MOFA stamp) so do not want to be doing that again. I provided a Police clearance certificate in my original information folder to but they had no interest and told me to remove it. My wife LINEd our staff member who says that she requires nothing back from the British Embassy, they are just to be delivered. Therefore, if the British Embassy will not accept the letters, and nothing is expected in return, do I have to give them to the British Embassy? I may be able to provide my own answers as I know the husband of someone who works at the BE, and if I find out then will report. However, as no one seems to know its best to ask in different places.