Guemlum

I will be extending my stay in Thailand by one month. I have a policy from the UK already and have contacted them to see if they will extend the policy but they can't and won't as most policies have to start and end in the UK.

Is there anything I can buy here for a short duration, to cover me in the event of any unforeseen circumstances?

Regards

Guemlum

20 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Congratulations to your wife - it only seems like yesterday that we were discussing her initial visa/language test.  Very happy for both of you. (Sorry, can't help with your question).

Hi brewsterbudgen, It certainly does and time has flown by very quickly. She even passed the LITUK test on her first attempt. I'm still trying to pass the online mock test!!

My wife was just granted indefinite leave to remain and the decision only took 2.5 months. We were very impressed with the turnaround time.

Does anyone know how long British Citizenship applications are currently taking? We have the application and all supporting documents ready.

Regards

Guemlum

“Non-Thai passengers arriving from countries which refuse entry to infected people must have taken out COVID insurance, valid throughout their stay in Thailand plus seven days, before their departure for Thailand.”

What exactly do they mean by this? The wife and I are going to Thailand on 8th March and will return to the UK on 5th April. Does our insurance now have to be valid until the 12th April?

youreavinalaff... It does sound unusual but I believe it all has to do with processing times. Always look at the “valid until date” on your wife’s BRP and make sure you apply a minimum of 28 days before that expiry date. 5 years is calculated from the time they enter the UK. My wife’s timeline is as follows…

Arrived in UK on 07/05/2018

Her first BRP gave her leave up to 03/02/21

FLR visa to be applied for a minimum of 28 days before 03/02/21 - Actually applied on the 10/01/21

FLR visa granted on 20/06/2021

Her second BRP gives her leave up to 13/01/24

As bigyin says, she will be eligible at the earliest to apply for her ILR visa a minimum of 28 days before the 5 years from when she first entered the UK is up. She can if she chooses to apply later but before her current leave expires on the 13/01/24.  I've since had this confirmed by UKVI.

Guemlum

bigyin, that's good to hear.

I don't suppose its going to be an issue if we applied in May, June or July as we won't have all the supporting documents by then and she's got clearance until Jan 2024? The above date you mentioned would simply be the earliest she could apply.

Guemlum

Hi all,

My wife is currently here in the UK on an FLR visa (family route). She originally arrived in the UK on the 07/05/2018 and is on the 5-year route.

Her current FLR visa is valid until the 13/01/2024 which means she will have been in the UK for 5 years, 8 months and 7 days.

I need some help/guidance with timing as it’s a little bit confusing as to when she can apply for her ILR visa.

Can she apply in May this year as this is when the 5 years will be up or has she got to wait until 28 days before her current visa expires on the 13/01/2024?

I did find a document on the .gov.uk website regarding “continuous residence” which states that…

CR 2.1. To meet the continuous residence requirement the applicant must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period.

If the above regarding continuous residence is the case, my thoughts are that she will be able to apply in May this year as she’s only been out of the UK with me on holidays totalling 6 weeks since she arrived in 2018.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Guemlum

Never trusted Thai insurance companies which is why I’ve also taken out a 2nd policy with an insurer here in the UK.

This is exactly what I thought and thanks for the replies. I will proceed as normal.

Guemlum

The Thai wife has just told me that there is a combined limit of 20,000 baht when bringing personal items into Thailand. I've never heard of this before and have many times over the years brought personal items exceeding that value into Thailand (for personal use) and returned to the UK with said items. ie laptop worth about 35,000 baht, digital camera 45,000 baht, i-phone worth about 25,000 baht, portable bluetooth speaker 9000 baht.

Can anyone confirm the above as I will be wanting to take the same items and return to the UK with them again.

Guemlum 

We'll be doing the same early Jan and then flying up to Udon the following day...albeit we get a negative result with the PCR test. The T&G now require a second PCR test to be taken on the 7th day at a government facility i.e hospital, so I'm not sure what another test prior to the 7th day test is going to achieve, especially if you've just tested negative?

2 hours ago, micmichd said:

Most of them will. If they would not come then all these hustles getting a QR Code and bookings would not have been worth it. 

Agree, but those travelling from the UK also face the unknown as to whether Boris Johnson is going to introduce a further lockdown similar to Tier 2. This would mean no holidays/travel allowed.

Ours arrived within a few seconds of submitting. Now we’re looking to cancel the whole thing if quarantine is reintroduced.

Guemlum

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

You & me both (I'm Jan 2)

And us on the 6th...already in talks with my credit card company to see what can be claimed back, and so far they will refund all flights, but not sure where we stand with the hotel booking, pre departure pcr test and AXA Thailand insurance. I also have a UK based policy but they will not refund if we cancel because of a quarantine extension. Fingers crossed they keep the T&G for double vaccinated and boosted individuals.

Guemlum

9 hours ago, sandyf said:

Obviously why the UK has gone back to PCR testing.

My brother and his wife were £380 for their PCR tests in the UK, I was 2700 baht in Bangkok.

Some just cannot see past that xenophobic perception.

Did that include a meal at Salt Bae's? We just paid £160 for both of ours.

I submitted all documents for my wife and I this morning. Within 60 seconds of submitting, we received an email with our QR code. Unbelievably fast turnaround. Very impressed and was very straightforward albeit you have all the necessary documents in order.

Guemlum

I'm currently looking into this myself as I have high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. All under control with 1 tablet for each. Insureandgo have a policy which will cover you albeit you declare any existing conditions.

Regards

Guemlum

I’m pleased to say that after emailing the home office on Friday, we received a reply today with an accompanying letter granting my wife the FLR extension. 
 

regards

Guemlum

Thanks Bigyin, have you got a link?

Regards

Guemlum

Hi guys, we submitted my wife's first FLR(m) application here in the UK on 06/02/2021 . We knew there would be a backlog of applications due to COVID but we certainly didn't expect to be waiting this long for a decision (almost 19 weeks), and we're still waiting.

Did anyone else apply around the same time and are you still waiting for your decision? Does anyone know how much longer we could expect to wait?

Regards

Guemlum

I don't see the UK on that list but I wouldn't be surprised if it does very soon.

We're going to Thailand next month and in preparation, I've called 111 and my local hospital. Neither are offering tests for COVID-19 unless you are showing genuine symptoms, however Thai Immigration are more than happy to charge you 7500 baht per person for a test upon arrival.

Regards

Guemlum

I forgot to add that he is not part of this application and will not be travelling to the UK, but the question is still asked re any dependants.

Regards

Guemlum