delboy

Another point on looking forward. Attached to my receipt was a URL which I have looked up. It is a beta website for online passport applications. The interesting thing is that on the first page there is a country box with a drop down menu. If you select Thailand and then next, the next page tells you that the service is not available in that country.

Indications are that it could become available in the future, big question is how long? Not that it will be of any benefit to me, I think that I have just applied for my last passport.

The real benefit of the online service comes from the online tracking facility.

When I read this, I re-checked my receipt, and found that they state the Passport Collection time as Monday-Friday 8.30-15.00.

This is different from the times I was told at the office which were 10.00-16.00. So I think it would be safe to assume 10.00-15.00 would be OK.

The URL is https://passportapplication.service.gov.uk/ips-olc/

I handed my application in on 7th May, and the fee was deducted from my account on 13th May. At Trendy I was told that the cost was 101.01 Pounds, and that's the amount I entered on my authorisation form, but the amount deducted was 102.86. I'm sure they have a random number generator somewhere. That's another obstacle out of the way.

Flew down from Chiang Mai this morning and back this evening.

My appointment was for 2pm, but I arrived at the office at 10am. A long queue, and I asked if they could process me early. I was told to return at 1.15. Returned at 12.45 and joined a somewhat smaller queue. I was sent to HMPO counter number 11.

A lady, who spoke good English, checked my papers, told me the cost was 101.01 Pounds, and gave me a receipt showing what papers I had submitted. She said to expect a 1-2 month wait, and they would telephone or email me when the passport was ready. They will hold the passport there for 1 month, but did not say what happened after that time.

She also confirmed that I could appoint somebody else to collect the passport, I have to give them a letter of authorisation. No appointment necessary for collection, anytime from 10am to 4pm Mon-Fri.

A long, and tiring day, but all worked out OK.

Hope this is a help to someone.

As I stated in an earlier post, I have a Certificate of Residence from Thai Immigration and a certified translation of it, but, as I said, the Immigration Officer noted that it was for a passport application, and said it was valid inside Thailand only.

My driving licence, which was issued in 1995 is still valid, as it is a lifetime driving licence. They ceased to be issued around the year 2000, but the old ones are still valid.

I have still to find something to prove my address. As I stated in an earlier post, we have no mail delivery at my home, I have a PO Box at the nearest Post Office, besides which, all the bills are in my wife's name. My Thai driving licence would not be accepted as it was issued in 1995 (more than 1 year ago) and it has the number of my old passport that was valid at the time.

I'm due in Bangkok next Wednesday.

I see Trendy performing 2 functions.

1. A visual confirmation that the applicant is the same person that is shown in the passport.

2. A check that the application includes all the necessary documents/photos, with a cursory check of the application forms to see that data has been entered.

I do not imagine that they check the validity of the data, or that the photos are of the required standard, they just send everything to Liverpool where the detailed checks are made. So, not only are more applications likely to be blocked by payment problems, but also by problems with photos and residence data submitted.

As you say, just an expensive post box.

I received my Certificate of Residence from Thai Immigration, but it was all in Thai including the address. Cost of translation 400 Baht. The immigration officer noted that it was for a passport application and said it was only valid for 30 days from the date of application, and it was only valid in Thailand. So by the time it reaches Liverpool it will fail both of those rules, but the Passport info says that documents must be dated within 1 year.

What happens if it reaches Liverpool and is rejected by them, is anyone's guess.

But this is just nomal for Thailand. One thing for one person, a different thing for the next person.

I recently applied for a Certificate of Residence and was given a ticket showing the date for collection. I collected it on that date, no fee.

Nothing was said to me about a 500 Baht fee for express service, but I certainly believe that other applicants have probably been given different information,

Hey DELBOY

Have you paid any bills yet?

I still haven't been billed.

Strange you should ask today. I received my first CTH bill yesterday (Wednesday). It covers the period 1st March - 31st March and it's for 961.93 baht.

There is no previous outstanding balance mentioned, despite the fact that I have paid nothing since the system was installed last July.

I paid it today (Thursday), and expect regular bills from now on. At least the possibility of being cut-off should have been avoided.

The reason why the slots are filling up quicker than last year is probably because more people have got to know about the system by reading forums such as Thaivisa.

Bangkok Bank charge 150 baht fee for each Travellers Cheque cashed, from March 1st

I was here on holiday in April 1985 and was getting 32-33 baht to the pound for travellers cheques. I also had money transferred over in January 1998 and got 91 baht to the pound.

I just checked my link http://www.chiangmaiimm.com/th/queue-online.html and that's still in English. Is it still linking to the new upgraded system?

Another thing to consider when discussing 5 or 10 year visa extensions is how much money Immigration would require applicants to have in the bank. At present they require 800,000 baht so that you have enough funds for one year. Surely, if they were to issue a 5 year extension you would have to have 4 million baht, and for a 10 year extension, 8 million baht. Perhaps they would insist you visit the office once a year to prove that you had 800,000 baht in the bank, which defeats the object of issuing long extensions, anyway.

If it's just details of Premier League coverage you want, try:

http://www.cthbpl.com/th/index.php

At the top it carries links to video highlights of recent matches, then if you scroll down, you'll find details of upcoming matches with the channel showing them live, plus details of re-runs.

Well, it's now February, nearly 7 months since I had my CTH system installed, and still no bill from them.

I have sent 3 e-mails (all of which they have replied to), informing them of the situation, and they have phoned me twice to ask if I have received a bill.

I have managed to change my billing address to my Post Office Box, to which all my other correspondence is succesfully sent.

They have confirmed that they have my correct billing address, and I have requested that they send me the payment references and the amount outstanding, by e-mail, so that I can try paying at the bank, but they don't want to do that.

I'll wait another week or so and then phone them again, otherwise I really don't know what else to do, except wait until they cut me off for non-payment.

All 4 televised matches (Arsenal, Bournemouth, Stevenage, Chelsea) are scheduled live on the Media channel. All except the match at Bounemouth scheduled live on Channel 7.

I booked tickets with Air Asia in October online using my Bangkok Bank Be1st card with no problem.

I applied for a Barclays Connect Card in August, and they required proof of my address in Thailand, even though they have been sending me regular statements and cheque-books for 24 years. I got a Certificate of Residence from the Immigration office and sent that. The card arrived within a week and it's been working OK.

Macclesfied v Sheff W shown delayed after Arsenal match

Forest v West Ham shown delayed after Man U match

Both shown live on Bugaboo

I have a table leg that branches into 3 smaller legs. It is coming apart at all three joining places and I'd really like to find somewhere that can repair it. Anybody had good dealings with a furniture repairer ?

It's a channel associated with Thai Channel 7. I think it's available free-to-air using an old-style antenna. It's available for online streaming at http://www.bugaboo.tv/

I don't think it's on True or CTH.

As far as I can see, the FA Cup matches being shown in Thailand next week are scheduled as follows

Saturday 4th
Macclesfield v Sheff W 22.00 Live Bugaboo and 02.30 Delayed Sunday 5th Channel 7

Sunday 5th
Arsenal v Spurs Live 00.15 Bugaboo and Channel 7

Notts Forest v West Ham 19.00 Live Bugaboo and 01.30 Delayed Monday 6th Channel 7
Derby v Chelsea 21.10 Live Bugaboo and Channel 7
Man U v Swansea 23.25 Live Bugaboo and Channel 7

Channel 8 is also available on CTH but I can't find a list of their channels, so unable to say what channel number. Their online schedule does not show any Cup matches for Sat or Sun.

When I get a transfer from the UK into Bangkok Bank, I go to my branch about a week after the transfer and ask for a printed copy of the transaction. After waiting a few minutes they produce a small report showing date and time of transfer, exchange rate used, transfer source, amount, Bangkok Bank charge, and currency it was transferred in.

I keep the reports in case Immigration ever request to see proof of transfer, or if I ever need to send the money back to the UK.

When I phoned CTH about not being able to do OTA upgrade, they had me check which level of software I was on. I'm on Level 1, and was told that the latest level is Level 3. Perhaps it's not possible to upgrade from Level 1 to Level 3.

Yesterday (Monday) afternoon, my friend and I contacted our local hospital in Doi Lor, Amphur Chomthong, about the scheme. They phoned to Mae Rim and we were told that we qualified, and the best days to go were Tuesday and Thursday. We decided to enrol in the scheme today (Tuesday). We were concerned when we saw this thread last night, but decided to go anyway.

We arrived at 8,30am, completed the registration form, had a blood-pressure check, had an X-Ray, and provided urine and blood samples. We then saw the doctor, gave them copies of each page of our passports, the wife's ID card and Tabhun Bahn (spelling?). We paid our 2,800 baht and got a temporary card, we have to return on Dec 20th for the real card. We were finished at midday, the staff were very helpful and friendly, and it was a great help to have someone with us that was fluent in Thai and English, as few of the staff spoke English.

We were told that we can use the card to get treatment at any government hospital in Thailand, not just the hospital we registered at, and that the medical check will be neccessary at every re-registering.

After the points covered in this thread, there must be a doubt as to whether we will get the real cards, or not. But there is nothing we can do, except to wait and see.

Thanks to everyone here for their comments and advice.