TexasRanger

I think we've got everything covered with our upcoming flight to the UK, but is there any crazy burocratic nonsense we might have forgotten to trip us up? Got the Thai passport for exit, got the uk one for entry.

Any tips greatly appreciated.

Cheers. TR

I can rwad through my app but the comments won't load, anyone else have this problem?

Probably doesn't help but I am becoming enraged on your behalf.

Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk

Well here's a bit of an update on my situation.

So I applied 4 weeks ago at the VAC at Trendy in Bangkok. They told me it would be about 4 weeks so I was getting a bit itchy not having heard anything back so I looked to call the VAC for an update but, of course, they have no means of telephone communication. So I checked the passportapplication.service.gov.uk website and it says that I can track my application online by logging into my account, but I don't have an account login because I made my appointment in person.

So I called the HM Passport Office in UK and spent 40 minutes on hold waiting for an operator to pick up my call. When he finally answered I was asked for my reference number of the application which I also didn't have from the VAC. The rep told me that they have been getting calls all week from people in Thailand who are not being given a reference number but because of this he cannot track my application. All he could do was email the Liverpool office who were handling my application and get them to email me with my reference number and the status of my application. Which so far they have not. I'd already emailed them using their website to check the status and they hadn't answered that either yet.

He also told me that from last Tuesday they have been given a new turnaround time of processing applications of EIGHT WEEKS before sending them back to Thailand. So this means we are looking at 10 weeks until we get the passport if the application was successful, which I'm not sure it will be because the girl in VAC who sent my documents off didn't know what was required and I could easily have missed something or got something wrong.

If I had known it would be like this then I would just have got my daughter a UK visa and made her UK passport in the UK. As it is I'm thinking about cancelling her trip in July and just going by myself and my son.

A couple of years ago we made our son's UK Birth Registration and his UK passport a the same time, at the same counter in the British Embassy and both documents came back in about 3 weeks. Now, if I am lucky, then the same procedure has taken me 12 weeks and involved a lot more legwork and stress.

A shoddy, disgraceful level of service.

So just an online translation service, i.e. fully electronic online. Not something that could be used for visa applications etc?

The service can be used to translate any document. Complete the contact form with all the relevant information and a translator will be in touch to inform you how you can proceed with your translation.

How can it be stamped and signed as an official translation if its online? Useful for some things I am sure, but skeptical if its the one stop shop as advertised.

Have you ever heard of a post office. I worked with a company for the last document I needed translated, stamped, and signed. Prior to the simple process of stamping and signing, they sent me an email with the translation to proofread. My wife proofread it to confirm it was correct. I gave them my okay. They finished the job and gave me the option of either picking it up or having it sent to me by post. Being close to my home, I opted to pick it up.

Have you heard of a post office? They offer a service where documents or parcels can be sent to your home, office, or other address. It's pretty amazing!

Who rattled your cage?

Cheers for that Ebeneezer the geezer.

So just an online translation service, i.e. fully electronic online. Not something that could be used for visa applications etc?

Agreed. We are doing that with scb. 40% deposit.

Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk

I just got a 2 year visit visa, used the same folder as Tim16 above.

We are taking babs to the UK soon and my folks would like to stock up on stuff before we arrive.

The problem is I only have experience with Thai brands.

Does anyone know of a similar/equivalent brand for Mamy Poko Pants (the type you rip down the sides and then roll up and secure with the sticky tape) and Enfalac A+ formula?

Thanks in advance.

It's OK, problem solved. Went direct to Emirates and booked online and paid with credit card. Just have to make sure I carry that card when we check in. Didn't need the flexibility as you can make changes for 2000 Baht.

I just looked at a flight online and it was Quantas/Emirates because we want to fly to Gatwick, the booking form said you have to visit the Quantas office in Bangkok with your credit card??? That's ridiculous, there's no way I am going to travel to Bangkok just to show my credit card, anyone heard of this before? Insanity. Maybe I'll have to use an agent after all?

If you fly often enough they won't require you to go to their office, you can just pay at the airport when you fly out.

I fly all the time, but never with Quantas. I just wanted to book a flight online with my credit card, I certainly have never encountered someone wanting me to go to their office to pay before. Bit of a shock.

I just looked at a flight online and it was Quantas/Emirates because we want to fly to Gatwick, the booking form said you have to visit the Quantas office in Bangkok with your credit card??? That's ridiculous, there's no way I am going to travel to Bangkok just to show my credit card, anyone heard of this before? Insanity. Maybe I'll have to use an agent after all?

Hi,

I need to book us some flights to the UK, I have been looking at sites like Skyscanner to get an idea but I need the return flight to be flexible.

I don't mind booking a provisional return date but due to work I may have to change the return date at short notice. I accept I will probably have to pay a fee to change the date, right?

Can anyone advise the best way to do this, can it be done online or would I need to use an agent?

Any advice greatly appreciated, I am seriously looking at Emirates via Dubai as I would like to fly to Gatwick and as we have a young child, the halfway break might be nice.

Thanks.

Finally received the 2 year visa, 28 days start to finish.

@

I know it has been written before and I know that past criminal activities have affected it. I am however very angry that I as a British citizen with no criminal record, cannot bring back to England my Thai wife who I have been with for 3 years, when I chose to do so. We don't want to settle in England just come and spend the summer months May - September in England. I have a good pension and savings, what is the problem?

Rant over

Thanks for every ones advice

Cheers

Jim

my sentiments exactly.

Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk

Typical, I sent an email to the helpline and less than 1 hour later got an email saying the decision had been made and the passport will be sent. Now fingers crossed until it arrives.

Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk

Just finished my wifes visa in 15 WORKING days.

Great during visaka and other various holidays.

So what day did you submit your application? Ours went in to VFS on 23rd April and we still haven't heard anything. Were there a lot of holidays?

Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk

Um. We got the notification last Thursday and passport was delivered on Saturday. But lots of days off in between.

Email was 24th April for submission. Don't get too excited, you won't get any message to say whether it's granted. U won't know that until you look in the passport.

It was a little fraught because we had had a problem with a settlement visa recently, but this tourist visa was granter easily.

I have a theory that the govt wanted to keep the immigration numbers low for the last 6 months to combat UKIP.

Now the brakes might be released a little.

OK, we got the email that said it was received by the decision making guys on 24th April. Fingers crossed it won't be too much longer.

Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk

Just finished my wifes visa in 15 WORKING days.

Great during visaka and other various holidays.

So what day did you submit your application? Ours went in to VFS on 23rd April and we still haven't heard anything. Were there a lot of holidays?

Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk

Yes, your calculations seem correct, but your agent should have advised you that a visit visa is just that, for somebody intending to visit the UK for a holiday, I really don't know if a later application would succeed.

The ECO could be forgiven for thinking that your girlfriend was intending to use the visitor route to circumnavigate the settlement route. Four months is one heck of a long holiday.

The trouble is that there doesn't seem to be a visa suitable for those who intend spending half of the year in the UK and the other half in Thailand.

Thanks for the reply. You have summed up perfectly my situation. I am retired I want to be able to live with my wife when and where I want. Now I know that is not possible due to visa limitations.

As I have a house in the UK and Thailand and I have retired early. I am hoping to spend 7 months in Thailand on my Retirement visa and 5 months in the UK with my wife. I am not trying to circumvent the Settlement route because we don't want to live in the UK permanently. In the above criteria my wife would not qualify for one anyway.

As you said there is no visa suitable for those who intend spending half of the year in the UK and the other half in Thailand. In our next application I will somehow have to make it clear in my sponsors letter and apologise for unknowingly appearing to try and break the rules.

Cheers

Jim

I feel yourpain as we are in the same situation. There really is no middle ground, they see you as a holidaymaker for a couple of weeks or you want to live there permanently. Pathetic really.

I should have updated this thread before now, so we went back the week after our first visit and got there early, around 7.30am, it was pretty busy.

Staff were outside handing out numbered tickets, we got a number allocated and were told that we would be called in, in sequence after the office opened at 8am to be given an appointment time.

We got in around 8.20am and was given an appointment for 2pm, arrived ahead of schedule in the afternoon and left around 2.30pm, all pretty efficient.

The passport duly arrived the following week.

Apparently they have an allocated number of appointments per day and arriving around 7.30am had us get the 4th last for that day, so maybe an earlier arrival time might be wise to be sure for same day service.

If the office has now closed however then the above is not relevant!

Glad you got it sorted out, thanks for the update.

Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk

Hi guys thanks for your support. My lady went to VFS at Trendy building and was allowed in. Her application was ready even though we received no notification e mail. Her visa was refused on the basis that she has not allowed enough time to elapse I e stayed in Thailand 6 months before applying again. We allowed only 4 months, we wanted to visit the UK for 4 months and then back to Thailand for 7 months, I have a house in both countries. Today I am travelling back to the UK alone as I have to go to Germany for my sons Stag party on Friday, I managed to cancel my ladies flight for a £25 cost. Booked to come back to Thailand on Monday, expensive refusal this one. Today I spoke to Darren in Key Visa and was advised to apply in Mid July when 6 months has elapsed.

Two things though has really made me angry. (1) The application was returned with many missing papers. My bank staements, copies of passport and copy of my house council tax were all missing. (2) The reason for refusal stated "as you have stayed in the UK for 5 months already". This was totally wrong as we only stayed 4 months. I don't think it affected the outcome but they should get there facts right.

Sorry to hear that, but thanks for letting us know. Best of luck for the next one.

Stay off drugs kids!

I am sure they will all listen to you now..!

Youth is a 'sickness' of sorts..

You have to wait it out patently and wisely...

Patently?

Stay off drugs kids!