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Wait till you're over 70.

That seems to be the case. After returning from overseas in August I submitted an online 90-day in October. It was accepted, but remained pending for a week without approval. In the end I reported in person and was given a new 90-day for 30th January, so I should have had an email this week, but have not. I will try online next week and see what happens. I suspect the local office, whether through ignorance or willfully, is not cooperating with the online system.

30 years ago when I was working on the passport control at Heathrow I noticed a tendency for American citizens to fill in the 'Nationality' line on the landing card with their genealogy - so there were sometimes some quite weird combinations like "Irish/Polish/Jewish". Quite a number put "Caucasian", and one of my colleagues used to amuse himself by asking "How are things in Caucasia at the moment?". It was something peculiar to Americans. I never knew any other nationality that did the same.

Whether it's logical or not I don't know, but I think about Covid viruses in relation to flu viruses. Back in England for many years I was given a flu vaccination every autumn because of a lifelong susceptibility to asthma and bronchitis. In the last couple of years I've found a local doctor here who offers a flu vax, so I've resumed that treatment. The flu vax is said to be updated every year to combat the latest strains of the virus. I had 2 Covid vaccinations (A-Z) in 2021 and a booster (Pfizer) in February last year. I had my 4th jab (Pfizer) at the local public hospital this week. I don't know whether Pfizer have changed their formulation to take account of the worldwide changes in the virus, I suspect not very much if at all , and those changes seem to be happening so quickly I doubt whether any vaccination will give much protection. However, I reckon it's better than nothing, and barring unforeseen events I won't think about getting another vaccination until this time next year.

Whatever - the fact is that if you're not a UK resident they won't let you open it, even if you are an existing account holder. It's not unlike the scheme that they wouldn't let me roll over a few years back.

Thanks for that, I might look into doing the same. Apart from some 1-year bonds I've got a fair amount in their Instant Access account, now paying 1.5%, not magnificent but better than First Direct. It is my "health insurance fund", and I suppose it would save a few days getting it to Thailand rather than channeling it through FD.

Probably is, but they admit themselves that they're not a bank, and do not participate in the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (deposits up to 85k) which is a requirement for UK banks. Is it safe to keep money in my Wise account? | Wise Help Centre

I have savings accounts with Skipton International in Guernsey BUT I think it was a requirement to have them linked to my UK First Direct account, i.e. withdrawals could only be made into my FD account. I dealt with FD for many years before I moved to Thailand and informed them when I left. I have maintained my account with them and they never raised a problem until about 5 years ago when they declined to roll over an annual savings scheme which I had used for several years - reason, I'm not a UK resident. I've never tried to withdraw money from Skipton but I doubt whether I could, for example, send funds direct from there to Thailand.

Not necessarily. At the Bangkok Rayong hospital a month ago where I went for a check-up, I enquired about a Covid booster. The doctor said they didn't offer this because Thais know they can go to a public hospital and get it for free, i.e. the BKK Rayong perceived no market for it. I had no problem getting vaccinated yesterday at my local public hospital with the Thai id number I was given for my previous 3 jabs (administered at Medpark in 2021 and Bangrak last February). Whether a tourist could just turn up there I have no idea - so they might have to scout around for a private hospital that does think it worthwhile to offer vaccination. I was glad to see that yesterday's jab now shows up on my Morprom record.

The donation had nothing to do with Brit expats getting vaccinated. It was the British Chamber of Commerce who went to the trouble of compiling a list of those in need of vaccination. When the then Consul was interviewed by a Pattaya radio station last year and asked why the Embassy hadn't done that he had no answer - they didn't give a stuff.

To all the emoji laughers I would just like to say that I am grateful to the Thai Government for getting me vaccinated when the British Embassy displayed a total lack of interest in looking after its expat citizens. Just this morning I had my 4th vaccination (Pfizer) at the local public hospital. I would willingly have paid for all of them, but wasn't asked to.

A former Thai police officer now living in Australia would give a wry smile if he heard this story - the police and army arresting people smugglers? whatever next? I don't know if anyone else saw it, but on Al Jazeera's '101 East' series this morning was the story of a Thai police officer who had a stellar reputation for smashing up criminal rackets. About 6 or 7 years ago he was given the job of stopping the smuggling of Rohingya migrants into the country to work as slaves in factories and fishing boats etc. He identified an extensive network of corruption which came to a head when he obtained a warrant to arrest a leading army general. He and his team were subjected to massive intimidation, and he was transferred to the southern provinces, where he feared the almost certainty of assassination. He got on a plane to Australia and claimed asylum. I think Al-Jazeera featured him before, but this time is more detailed and he named names. I hesitate to do so, but the names reach almost to the top of the government. There's a part 2 next week. I catch it at 9.30 in the morning.

Google is your friend

Which is what I said, not the fault of the DWP - although if the Government Gateway system was a bit more joined up they wouldn't need to send forms to people like me who submit a tax return every year.

Proof of life forms are sent out every so often by the DWP and on occasion by private pension providers. Failure to respond to them does result in payments being suspended. The biggest risk for many, including myself, is that the Thai Postal service is so erratic that the form isn't delivered, so the first you know about it is when the pension is stopped. The notion that the DWP stops payments because they haven't sent out the form is nonsense.

The Embassy seem prepared to issue a letter if you ask for one. This from their website:- "You will be given a template visa transfer letter from VFS Bangkok when you collect your new passport. You can also request a letter in person by visiting their offices, from 8:30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, at 8th Floor, VFS, The Trendy Building, Sukhumvit Soi 13, Klongtoey-Nua, Watthana, Bangkok 10110. Alternatively, apply online for a letter to be sent to you. To request the online service send a message via our online contact form, giving the reason for your request along with your name and address in Thailand." I'm not so sure that if you are applying in the UK to replace a stolen passport (as opposed to an expiring one) when actually in Thailand is entirely straightforward. A quick check of the HMPO website about reporting lost/stolen passports seems to imply that they may wish to talk to you, as they requesta mobile or landline phone number. Outcome - Cancel a lost or stolen passport - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

It's anybody's guess, but mine is that if you do it online the system will accept it and you'll get a "pending". Whether it gets any further than that seems to depend on the local office. In the case of mine, Rayong, nothing happened and I ended up reporting in person armed with a printout of the online acceptance. My next is due on Jan 30th, and I no longer have any confidence that the Rayong office is willing to work with the online system.

The online system works. Offices such as Rayong are choosing not to use it, although they used to quite happily. For some reason they've taken against it. The excuse they gave you is nonsense.

Now I'm confused. The OP stated HSBC, now it's First Direct. Yes, I know FD are a division of HSBC but they operate independently. I have had a First Direct current account for many years, and they raised no objections when I told them I was moving to thailand 13 years ago. However, their rules on opening new accounts have become more restrictive in recent years. For several years here I took advantage of a savings account they operate whereby existing customers could save up to 300 pounds a month over a year, earning 6% interest. All of a sudden 4 or 5 years ago they said I couldn't open a new account because I am not a UK resident. They are still my main UK bank into which my pensions and house rental income are paid, and I submit an annual return to HMRC. I have no UK residence. It looks as if the OP's problems arise because he is trying to open a new account which is pretty much a no-no unless he can show that he lives in the UK. "Tax residence" won't cut it.

Fine in theory, if you live close to the agent, otherwise it would require the agent posting it back to you, and then the reverse when the new passport is available for collection - and that still means you are without your passport for a few days. We all know that in practice that doesn't really matter, but as already pointed out, the requirement to be in possession of your passport at all times is the reason for the convoluted system by which we Brits have to apply. Some time back I was wondering how it works in the rest of the world, and at random put in my country of residence on the HMPO website as Philippines, South Africa and Brazil respectively. In all those countries you can apply online, as you can in the UK. How it works with submitting your expiring passport I have no idea, but why Thailand (and from memory Cambodia) are singled out for this cumbersome process is beyond me. When I applied at Trendy the VFS clerk didn't inspect the 48 pages of my passport at all, just counted them. I wonder what they do with all that paper.

I just played the video and it's set off one of the blighters in a neighbour's garden.

15th December is the cut-off date

Are you on medication for that? I only ask because at a check-up nearly 3 months ago I was diagnosed having high blood sugar, borderline type 2 diabetes. The doc prescribed metformin (Glucophage 1000mg). Over the next 6 weeks I suffered headaches and 3 bouts of stomach pain and severe diarrhoea. The leaflet with those pills mentions gastric upsets as a common side effect, also that they are largely ineffective for over-75s and not recommended. I am 78. I stopped taking them and have been fine ever since. I have a follow-up appointment in just over a week and will tell the doc that if there is no alternative chemical, then I will reduce my blood sugar as best I can. Just another possible cause to consider. I hope you get better.

GP and A&E treatment are free to all. (Good luck with getting a GP appointment). In-patient treatment in an NHS hospital will be charged at cost + 50% to non-residents. In practice, this might depend on how long you've been away. I moved to Thailand in 2009, but in 2016 I was taken ill over a weekend, GP surgery closed so I went to A&E. When I gave my name and date of birth the receptionist said, "Oh, that's 36 XXX Road, then?" obviously I replied yes - so I was still on the system 6 or 7 years after leaving. Within the last year I tried searching for my record on the NHS app, nothing doing. I can't remember my NHS number. Clearly I have now become a non-person as far as the NHS is concerned. I get insurance before I go to England now.

Immigration Rules Para 18:- 18. A person may resume their residence in the UK provided the Immigration Officer is satisfied that the person concerned: (i) had indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom when he last left; and (ii) has not been away from the United Kingdom for more than 2 years; and (iii) did not receive assistance from public funds towards the cost of leaving the United Kingdom; and (iv) now seeks admission for the purpose of settlement. 18A. Those who qualify to resume their residence in accordance with paragraph 18 do not need a visa to enter the UK. 19. A person who does not benefit from the preceding paragraph by reason only of having been absent from the United Kingdom for more than two consecutive years, must have applied for, and been granted indefinite leave to enter by way of entry clearance if, he can demonstrate he has strong ties to the United Kingdom and intends to make the United Kingdom his permanent home. Edit. I don't know where those numerals at the beginning of each line came from