Eff1n2ret

Presumably it was the airline which refused them? Which one? It doesn't make sense to me, because holding a UK passport the children were obviously admissible at their destination. Unless they were travelling on return tickets, in which case the check-in staff were second guessing problems about them coming back to Thailand. I wonder if your wife has the full story. The only other thought is maybe some child protection issue, the children travelling with one parent of a different nationality, but that seems unlikely.

I can't imagine what other purpose the letter has, but I agree with you that the letter would not be difficult to counterfeit. I didn't check the watermark of the letter which was supplied to me when I obtained a new passport via VFS, but neither did the IO at the local office. He did rub his thumb over the embossed stamp to check that there was one, but didn't examine it closely, and such embossings are easy to simulate to pass such a casual examination. I believe the system relies on the digital scanning of passports at main ports of entry, so passports which have been stamped there are accepted as kosher by provincial immigration offices, who probably lack the equipment and training to identify forgeries, hence the need to get embassy letters for passports obtained within Thailand. I encountered many duff documents during 20 years as a UK Immigration Officer, went on several training courses, and every office had someone trained to a high standard for forgery detection. I doubt whether this is the case in provincial offices here - hence the requirement for mickey mouse letters.

He put it on Twitter - @ukpassportcheck - for anyone who is interested and uses Twitter (I don't)

The article where I saw the comments was about a chap who set up an app to scan the appointment system:- A data scientist found a way to beat the passport renewal queue – and save dozens of holidays (telegraph.co.uk) That might help a few people, but my point was that some commenters were suggesting that applying online worked well enough for them, and apparently waiting times are far shorter than if you submit a paper application, as we have to in Thailand.

I know, that's why I said your quickest way to get a new passport is to go back to Blighty to apply for it.

Just as an update re waiting times, I was interested to note comments on a Daily Telegraph article in the last couple of days where several reported getting their new passports in 3 or 4 weeks after applying online. I don't know how it works in the Passport Office, but I wonder if online applications can be dealt with remotely by staff "working from home", while paper applications, including ours, sit in a pile waiting to be dealt with by the few who actually turn up to an office - or is there another explanation? Whatever the reason, the advice seems to be that if you need to replace your passport urgently, the best way is to go back to the UK and apply online there.

Facebook is nearly as bad. When I wanted to leave I searched all over their website to find out how to do it. In the end I found "How to" websites which pointed out the correct links to follow.

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I don't have a ToT landline any more, but when I did, I used 009 for overseas calls. The bill for those came from CAT. I don't know if it would be any use trying to contact them or call at their office if there is one near you.

Yes

For both my wife's and my applications we took our own photos (simple camera, no fancy gear) and downloaded a passport photo app from Playstore to edit them, then printed them - no bother at all. Many apps enable the requirements of a lot of countries, including the UK and allow free use for small quantities. Edit:- but you're right the UK's requirements are "picky" - if, however, we were able to apply online, as we could if we were living almost anywhere else in the world, you could upload any photo and they would edit it for you.

Not really of much interest any more, but thank you for your previous posts.

They think you're a sucker

I had a reply to my message, asking me to submit a copy of my passport, which I have done, so I guess they're considering it. I'm not that bothered about keeping Paypal, except that it's the only way that Smashwords will pay for the few downloads of my books that I sell through them so if I can hang on to it I will do.

All over Thailand this morning, women are wondering "Why is teerak trying to stand on one leg?"

I've had that email this morning. I tried to enrol on my Kasikorn app and use the "Thai i/d" number from my Covid vaccinations, but it just said "not available" when I hit the NDID button. I've sent Paypal a message that if they won't let me link my UK bank account I'm done with them.

Sorry to disillusion you, but they'll probably manage to fill two pages of your new passport before they get round to endorsing your extension.

Once on a visit 15 years or so ago the rental car I picked up at the airport was new, almost nothing on the clock and with red plates. All the guy told me was to be careful not to lose the brown book. During two weeks I drove it to Pattaya, Rayong and Udon Thani, never got stopped or had a problem. I wouldn't worry about driving with red plates after dark round our way (Rayong). The police only seem to venture out at night if there's an accident.

It is. An extra copy of that page of your passport labelled "Evidence of Residence" should suffice.

I can understand rigorous customs controls on imports to a country, but what on earth the point is of holding up for more than a week basic consumer goods going out of a country is beyond me. It's not an encouragement to trade with China, either for retail consumers like me or for wholesalers.

Certainly the latest proposals to make Housing Associations sell their stock to people on benefits makes no sense at all.

I'm an "accidental" landlord, as I let the house I used to live in. For a combination of reasons I have been thinking of selling up in a year or two, perhaps take the opportunity if/when the current tenants leave. My concern about the new proposals as generally reported in the news is the cancelling of so-called "Section 21" evictions by which a landlord can obtain possession of his property at the end of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. Having skimmed through the White Paper itself (rather than reading what people say about it) I found this:- "Recognising that landlords’ circumstances can change, we will introduce a new ground for landlords who wish to sell their property and allow landlords and their close family members to move into a rental property. We will not allow the use of these grounds in the first six months of a tenancy, replicating the existing restrictions on when Section 21 can be used. This will provide security to tenants while ensuring landlords have flexibility to respond to changes in their personal circumstances." I'm not exactly sure what all that means and will wait for the Bill, but I've never had bad tenants and the only reason I'm likely to want to gain possession is to sell the place. I've no problem about paying to keep it properly maintained and it already has the right Energy Performance Certificate, so most of the other proposals don't seem that threatening to me. Having said that, I plan to be out of the rental market in a couple of years or so.

I can't share a tube of toothpaste with my wife. She squeezes it any old how, I have to squeeze it carefully from the end, not a drop must be wasted.

"During Export Customs Clearance (11th June) Your parcel is currently undergoing Export Customs Clearance in China which usually takes 5-7 business days, awaiting departure to Thailand." So they're taking nearly a couple of weeks to decide whether or not the goods I want should be sent to me, like they're doing me a favour. It makes you wonder how China has become supplier to the world when they carry on like this. Normally I've stopped buying from Lazada unless they have it in Thailand.

That's what I would do. Make sure you have all the paperwork up together before you go, and then make it top of your list when you get back. Sitting in an Immigration office with jetlag won't be fun, but it won't kill you.