RealityCheck

4 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Both drugs are available here so no problem on that score.

 

As you know, no commercial international flights right now and also few foreigners allowed in. Currently only those with work permits, talk of letting spouses of Thais in soon but that's it so far. And mandatory supervised 14 day quarantine on arrival at foreigners expense.

 

I would caution against coming with a plan for part time in UK part time here until the COVID situation fully resolves as you may find yourself stuck and unable to travel. Also nto a good idea to be in a mandatory quarantine with underlying health issues..they will NOT let you out before the 14 days are up.

Hi Sheryl.

Agreed - there's loads to do before we travel, not least selling property in the UK.

I suspect we'll not want to travel until end first quarter next year, and only then if current Covid obstacles are removed and doctors  here are happy for me to travel.

Good news that both drugs I'm currently prescribed are available in Thailand.

It may be that, by the time we are ready to travel, we will have moved on to radiotherapy (currently an unknown).

Many factors contributed to decision to relocate to Thailand, amongst them... Imminent retirement,  a desire to have my partner close to family for support should the cancer defeat me completely, and so on.

Hi Samsensam

Yes - plan is to complete treatment in UK before travelling.

By the time we're ready to travel, immune system should also be back up to strength.

But I'm looking to the future with respect to organising treatment options in Thailand.

Thanks Sheryl.

Yes - the insurance thing is a pain, but self insuring won't be a major issue.

I'm currently part way through a 4 cycle course, each cycle being 1 x infusion of Irinotecan and 14 x days of Capecitabine tablets, followed by 1 week rest. Then CT & MRI scans to work out what to do next.

I'm hopeful that I can get full history docs from the NHS before I travel, so the Thai doctors will know situation.

I am also hopeful that I can coordinate most treatment to be carried out in the UK. I feel fine now so this seems doable but, of course, if things go down hill in the future, it may be more problematic.

Hi Expattaff1308

That's certainly good to know.

What, would you say, is best way for me to initiate discussions with them?

Their website is predominately in Thai.

Phil.

Hi Saakura.

Yes - my partner is thai.

Hi Everyone.

Does anyone have any experience of the Udon Thani Cancer Hospital?

As soon as the airways open again, my partner and I plan to relocate to Thailand from the UK.

We will be spending roughly 50% or our time in Thailand and 50% in the UK over the next few years.

I'm currently being treated for bowel cancer in the UK, but will need an alternative solution for those times I need treatment in Thailand.

Any information would be useful.

Thanks.

Thanks 7by7.

Those were my thoughts also.

And, I've not heard of airlines declining bookings, if the correct visa is in place, apart from the one forum post I mentioned in my OP.

But I don't want to fall at the last hurdle, as it were.

The process of obtaining the settlement visa has been protracted, to say the least.

Thanks again.

Hi Everyone.

My Thai partner has recently been granted a settlement visa to join me here in the UK.

We plan to book the flight (one way) for the middle of next month.

I would prefer a direct flight, and would prefer my partner to fly EVA.

I like EVA as it's direct, the service is good and the price is competitive.

I read, a while ago, however, that EVA has a policy of refusing to book Thais on their flights if the Thai has not previously flown to the UK.

I assume that this is something to do with the liability incurred, should the Thai not be granted access at the UK border.

I would expect, however, that the settlement visa would result in this policy not being enforced.

Has anyone come up against this problem?

And are there other airlines that adopt a similar policy?

Thanks for your help.

Hi Housepainter.

I am in the process of compiling the documentation for my partners settlement visa application.

The UKBA state on their website that they need a certified photocopy of the UK partners passport.

Although I've emailed UKBA about this, they've not responded.....

I am planning to use a UK based solicitor (Commissioner of Oaths) to certify the photocopy.

Would you expect this to be acceptable?

Many Thanks.

Hi Guys..... Good new's!

My partner and I have the oportunity of pulling the Civil Partnership date forward, so we're now planning the first trip to HCMC in September.

Can anyone recommend one or more gay friendly hotels (in HCMC) to stay the 9 nights?

Many Thanks.

I appreciate that it's largely dependant on the mood of the presiding official(s), however, your thoughts on this would be welcomed.

I've been staying in Thailand on Non-Imm "O"s (visiting family & friends) for the last few years. Before that I had a 2 entry Tourist visa.

My last "Admitted Until" stamp dictates that I leave Thailand on the 15 September - my "O" Visa has now expired.

The plan was to return to the UK, just before the 15th..... No problem.

However, my mum and brother (and his family) have booked flights to Thailand, arriving on the 1st October and leaving on the 21st October, and I would like to stay in Thailand until they leave.

My question is, with several non-imm "O" visas in my passport, am I likely to get a two entry Tourist Visa from Vientiane, to allow me to stay through to the end of October?

If I go to the consulate in Vientiane and am declined the Tourist Visa (baring in mind that I can't re-enter Thailand on my expired "O") am I pretty much guaranteed a 2 week visa on arrival at the friendship bridge?

As a last resort, the 2 weeks will allow me time to get a flight back to the UK before the 15th Sept.

Thanx.

Once again - thanks for the info.

A friend of mind registered a CP in the UK several years back, and that was very much a "full blown" event with around 50 guests at the actual commitment cerimony and around 200 at the reception.

There were vows and rings exchanged, tears (of joy) shed, formal attire, 5 course meal, wedding cake, et al.

What you describe, however, is about what I was expecting.

So I reckon we'll ask for a simple exchange of rings, but skip anything else.

We can then hold a big party upon our return to Thailand which will involve friends and family and much merriment .

Many thanks Pauln and JohnLeech for the additional information.

Any and all knowledge will help the event run more smoothly, I'm sure.

I didn't realise, for example, that there was quite so much involved in the certification of the Certificate of No Impediment.

None of what you say is a problem, but very useful to know because extra time (and a trip to BKK) will be needed to get what's needed.

The Consular website states that there "is no cerimony" involved in the registration of a CP.

Does it, therefore, follow that there are no exchanging of vows and rings?

Is it just a case that, on the day, one simply stands at a counter and signs one's name?

We have no immediate plan to reside in the UK (as we're happy in Isaan) but, should this change, I suspect there'll be a whole new series of issues that need to be reviewed regarding my partners immigration. He has pretty fluent English and is 30 years old.

Again - many thanx.

A big THANK YOU from me also.

I can't tell you what a benefit it's been to have such responsive, reliable and unbiased new's consolidation.

The threads have been permanently loaded into my browser since this whole thing kicked off.

There's nothing worse than being left in the dark in a crisis situation.

I honestly believe that the expat community was probably better informed of minute by minute developments than those people actually taking part in the event, thanks to your efforts.

Again - Many Thanks - the service you provided has been magnificent.

Hi.

Thanks for your very comprehensive response.

Sounds like it's all going to be fairly straightforward.

We've been together (living in Isaan), now, for five years, and thought it about time to make it official.

Regarding the dress-code, that won't be an issue.

Neither of us are in the least flamboyant.

Congratulations to the two of you also. I hope everything goes well for you both.

If you're planning your trip in April, my partner and I will have gone through the process before you, so I'll post here and let you know how it goes.

Again - Many Thanks and Good Luck!

Hi Everyone - apologies for bumping this tread to the top, but I couldn't find a better place to post.

My Thai partner and I (Brit) are planning on going to HCMC later this year to cement our relationship.

Have any of you done this recently?

I am looking for any helpful comments and pointers to pitfalls that I should look out for.

Where does one obtain the "certificate of no impediment" that the Thai partner needs to present at HCMC?

Does one need to make an appointment at the British Consulate General in HCMC or just turn up at the door?

Is a letter from a hotel proof enough of the 7 day residence requirement?

Is it possible to purchase the services of the 2 witnesses in HCMC or should we plan on taking family members?

The link towards the top of this thread, which I understand is extremely useful, no longer points to the article.

Any pointers to where the article can now be found?

Many thanks.

If you're happy to shop on-line.....

http://www.weddingrings-direct.com/

Hi everyone.

Can anyone recommend a hire place in Phuket where I can get a self-drive minibus for 2 weeks?

Everywhere I've found, so far, hires cars as self-drive, but provide a driver with their minibus'.

Thanks.

I'd like to thank everyone for your earnest and considered responses to my OP.

There is much to think about, but I guess the final answer has to be: "go with the flow" and just "chill out".

Now that I know what to expect, of course we'll host more parties; probably enjoy them more now that I'm more Thai-culture savvy.

Earlier this week my Thai partner and I hosted a BBQ party at our home in Isaan.

Around 30 of my partners immediate and extended family attended (including Aunts, Uncles, their partners, cousins, grandmother, sister & boyfriend, etc) and I was surprised to note that not one of them contributed any food or drink. This wasn't actually a problem as we'd bought half of Tescos in preparation for the event.

At the end of the evening they all departed without a single offering of thanks to the hosts and, with the exception of my partner's younger sister, no one even said good night. My partner's mother took it upon herself to gather all remnants of the buffet and took them home with her.

Coming from a society where it's the norm to turn up to a party with a bottle or two of wine (or beer) and to make a point of thanking your hosts at the end of the evening, my only thought as I sat there at the end of the evening - looking at the debris, including all the dishes, etc., was: "How Rude! Never Again!".

When I broached the subject with my partner, I was told that this is definitely part of Thai culture and, not as I suspect, this particular families culture. I later regretted asking about it as it's created a lot of tension and some considerable aggravation - the "Thai Family" being, of course, sacrosanct.

Can anyone shed any light as to whether this is a Thai trait or is it more likely specific to this one family?

Thanx.

westeast travel in hamersmith, in 6 years i havent been able to beat their price with eva/thai anywhere

I found WestEast Travel very unreliable.

They quoted me a good price.

When I agreed to buy, they "blanked" me - didn't even respond to any of the 3 emails I sent them.

I'm guessing that they couldn't actually supply at the quoted price.

Ignoring clients is extremely rude.

They should have apologised and offered another option - it would have saved both the sale, and a lot of frustration.

Many posters in this thread have suggested ideas to improve the safety of road use is Thailand; most ideas being drawn from their own countries legislation.

An equal number of posters have countered with the arguement that "it won't work in Thailand" for a multitude of valid reasons.

The point is, until the Thai authorities start attempting to improve the safety on the roads by introducing more stringient controls, nothing will EVER improve. Their initial attempts will undoubtedly be circumvented through the strategic exchange of cash, but with legislation in place there is at least the possibility that improvement will slowly filter into the system; without it, Thailand will remain many decades behind the west in this regard.

Let's be a little more possitive towards change.

Hi.

Regarding reliability - I've flown loacally (within Asia) on AirAsia without any problems, however KL-LON-KL, being a new route for them, is anyones guess. I think that providing they don't cancel the service completely, all should be well.

There's a good train service between Stanstead into London and I believe coach services from Stanstead to most locations in the UK. Also, I find Stanstead airport smaller, more efficient and less hassle than LHR.

Regarding prices from agents being cheaper.....

Etihad website price = 29,720 Baht + taxes

Thaivisa (published example) price = 19,500 Baht + taxes

I'm also flying back in April, hopefully with my partner.

Usually fly Etihad as I find these the cheapest, but would recommend trying a few agents.

The current cheepest (booking via the Etihad website) indeed appears to be 29,720 Baht + 11,650 Baht taxes = 41,370 Baht.

I'm hoping to get it down to about 35,000 by going through an agent.

Booking LHR-BKK-LHR instead, yeilds a price (including taxes) of 404 pounds = approx 20,000 Baht.

It might also be worth trying Air Asia from KL, as they had/have a very good promotional price, but last time I checked, seats were filling fast.

come on, next somebody will say that cars or pushbikes are social menace, or mobile phones (yes, used by all gangsters and they are suppose to be not healthy, too).

don't blame teenagers or motorbike manufaturers - blame parents for not educating kids from the young how to behave and to besponsible and blame police, for not enforcing highway cod.

chinese do destroy not only petrol engine powered bikes but electrical (!) as well - where can it end?

I agree with LondonThai....

This is all a matter of social conditioning.

If people (parents and police especially) were "responsible" they would insist on:

1. Driving licences (and therefore a minimum age)

2. Insurance

3. Protective gear

4. Bike in good condition

5. Road registration documents

6. A good standard of social behaviour from the youth of this country.

Unfortunately:

A. the lives of young people are not valued highly enough in Thailand

B. parents, generally, are too lazy to ensure that their kids adhere to the rules.

C. the police would prefer transgressors so that they can collect their tea money.

But the notion that "Motorbikes are a Social Menace" is erroneous....

It's the RIDERS that are a Menace, not the bikes.

Without bikes this country couldn't function.