Eff1n2ret

Sorry, I don't understand that. If you access the gov.uk website for renewing a passport, click the 'apply online' box, enter , for example, South Africa as your place of application and answer another couple of questions you'll get the instructions for how to apply online. It's the same for applying from most countries in the world. It's not necessary to be in the UK to apply online, we in Thailand are in one of the few countries where we suffer this arbitrary discrimination. I once wrote to HMPO and asked for an explanation and didn't get one.

In fact, it's possible to apply online from most countries in the world. The alleged reason why we in Thailand have to either apply in person or use an accredited agent is that we are required by law to be in possession of our passports at all times. This jobsworth interpretation by HMPO and the British Embassy is as you say ridiculous, (a) because in the 16 years I have lived here I've never been asked to produce my passport by anyone except immigration and hotel receptions, and the latter invariably accept my driving licence, and (b) if you hand your passport to an agent you are no longer in possession of it. Carrying a scan of your passport and current extension should meet any situation here.

I haven't tried to log in to the HMRC website since last May/June, so I tried just now. There is a change on the sign-in page, which now offers 3 options: Government Gateway - Government One Log-in - Create new sign-in details. I selected the first option with my existing user i/d and password and got the passcode to my Thai phone number as before, so nothing appears to have changed for existing users. I was relieved to see on the PAYE page that their forecast for my income and coding from April 2026 does not show any increase on my state retirement pension.

I'm sure I remember seeing posts that it's not possible now to register from Thailand either. I was able to do so 10 or more years ago, and get a passcode on my phone when I want to log on. I wonder if anyone has tried to apply in recent years.

That's what they told me when I phoned them around this time last year, not having received a postal notification. As you say, I think we can expect the next exercise next year.

In preparation for my extension application at Rayong Imm last week I downloaded and printed 3 forms from the Thai Immigration website - STM2, STM9, STM11. When I handed these in with the bundle the IO handed them back and said "We have new forms" and sent me to get them from the reception desk. There were two forms, which I didn't really read, I just quickly filled them in. No great panic, but I won't be wasting my own paper again. Whether the "new forms" are a local requirement or the 3 originals have been replaced but the website hasn't been updated I have no idea.

Is that common to all offices, or one of these requirements where offices make their own rules? Anybody know about Rayong, for instance?

That looks exactly like the one I bought from Office Mate about 4 years ago. I'm still using it, but the surface broke up a long time ago, and it is now covered in cloth and a towel. I wouldn't buy another one.

It doesn't get any better if you're over 80. My December and January payments were made. However, I also was unsuccessful in registering on the website and am locked out. I filled in a 'contact us' form a month ago, but have heard nothing. They're probably dealing with tens of thousands of those by drones working from home.

Yes. If you were looking at the house on the corner opposite the clubhouse, the landlord there maintains the pool.

We've been retired here 16 years, bought the house a few years before that. The developer buggered off about 7 years ago when the development was completed but the Land Office refused to sign it off because the place had planning permission for 2 developments, but they built it as one. They are facing legal proceedings, but who knows when there will be any favourable outcome for us residents. Some of the houses were bought on speculation by buyers who have never or rarely lived here, a good few are rented. We residents are in a catch-22 because we cannot enforce payment of a modest maintenance fee, hence the 'tired look'. There is, however, a spirit of cooperation and enough comes from voluntary payments to keep security on the gate overnight and occasional maintenance of the park. The place is quiet and civilised, and we're quite happy living here.

I once had a similar problem on my Isuzu D-Max - a broken gear selector cable. The dealers aren't far away, they sent someone who jury-rigged it, I think with cable ties, which kept us going for a day or two until they had the part.

I do it my way to minimise my remittances to Thailand which might incur a tax rate of more than 3%. Yes, I know, the anoraks will tell you that credit card payments are also liable to Thai tax, but unless the Revenue Department do a number on you I can't imagine how they can distinguish foreign credit card payments by tourists from those made by 180-day+ residents.

It's disappointing that the news bulletins now can't pronounce the name of the city where they come from. "Pt eye ah" just sounds like some ill-educated amateur Youtuber and detracts from the presentation.

I paid for a cataract operation in November c. 60k Baht using my UK credit card, it went straight through without verification. The only drawback is the 3% foreign currency surcharge, but for larger purchases I prefer the convenience and also reducing the remittances to my Thai bank.

Did mine 29th Dec. (due date 8th Jan), approved within 24 hours. If you get the reminder 15+ days before you can reasonably expect the system to work, as long as you submit correct details, mine are just autofilled.

Driving in the UK is such a miserable experience nowadays that I've managed without renting a car on my trips there for some time now. The last time I did, I just used my Thai licence as my UK one had expired. I renewed my UK licence once online after reaching 70 using my son's address, then after 73 (or was it 75?) decided not to bother. If you're required to present an eye test certificate to renew, I can't imagine the DVLA will accept one from Thailand, which will mean that renewing your licence after 70 will require a trip to the UK to do it.

Depending on your circumstances, a usufrucht agreement could be worthwhile, but I would add one caveat; do it through a lawyer who knows the ins and outs of the local amphur and can fix things. This is my experience: I met and married my wife in England and we decided to live in the land of her birth after I retired. We came on holiday and had a house built on a development in Banchang. I thought it would be preferable to protect the considerable chunk of my life savings with a usufrucht, so on the next holiday we went to a lawyer in Pattaya, selected from a list recommended by the US Embassy. This guy (English) drew up what seemed to be the standard arrangement, 30 years lease from my wife, renewable, with a nominal monthly rent. A young lady from the office accompanied us to the amphur in Banchang, where a sour-faced old trout declined to register the agreement on the grounds that when the property was purchased I had allegedly signed something confirming that my financing the deal placed no obligations on my wife, I was seeking to circumvent normal property rights - or something to that effect, it wasn't properly explained to me. The young lady just gave a blank stare. It occurred to me that the trout was angling for tea money, but I didn't have the confidence to try and negotiate that, it could have landed me in trouble. Back at the office the guy said he'd never experienced anything like that before, and he also alleged that my wife had expressed some reservation about the arrangement, although she never said anything to me. He said it was nevertheless a legal agreement which we had both signed, but I doubt it would ever be enforceable without the imprimatur of the amphur. In the end I just wrote the whole thing down to experience. That was 20 years ago, and we've been retired here for 16 years. The memsahib has never shown the slightest signs of wanting to throw me out, or gambling the property away (which has been the fate of a couple of neighbours). Whatever my original worries, I have none now. I still believe, however, that if I had found a lawyer in Banchang the outcome would have been different.

Depending on your circumstances the cost of travelling outside Thailand for 181 days might be more than your tax liability if you don't leave.

I have used Ozforex (used to be called UKforex) since I retired here 16 years ago. I only transfer when I need to top up my (or my wife's) Thai accounts, just log on and see what rate they are quoting. Transfers are free, but they make a profit on the exchange rate. this varies a bit according to how much Thai baht you want to buy, but the rate is not extortionate compared with the mid-market rate, and I find their service very easy and reliable. Their correspondent bank in Thailand is SCB, who take about 200 baht fee per transfer. When I accept a quote I transfer the money from my UK bank immediately and (allowing for thai bank holidays) the funds are in my Kasikorn or Bangkok Bank in 24 hours, except buying on Fridays, it arrives the following Tuesday. I can't advise you about their verification procedures to open an account, when I did that I was still on the voters list as a UK resident which was sufficient for them at the time.

I wonder if a lot of people's experience of Lipton's is from hotel breakfast buffets, where the water isn't boiling and the result is pretty insipid. I have occasionally brewed Lipton's at home in a pot and boiling water and it's not bad.

The Philippines is the only country in this region where the UK pension is uprated. Anywhere else, it's just the same as Thailand.

Early this year I had a bad dose of bronchial pneumonia and was taken to the Bangkok Rayong hospital, where I have been for treatment and checkups on many occasions. 48 hours in ICU cost 120k baht. As I needed an extended period for further treatment and recuperation I ended up in the Banchang public hospital for 7 nights, 5 of them in a private room. I would say the medical treatment was pretty much what I would have expected at the BKK Rayong. The cost was 30k baht. I wasn't asked for payment up front. I don't know on what basis the charge was calculated, but it seemed pretty reasonable to me.

Ok, thanks, my paranoia about signing up to websites unless I absolutely need to dissuaded me from pursuing the VFS link.

I took my information from this:- “e-Extension” online application for temporary stay extension in 3 minutes. – Phitsanulok immigration