OJAS

As is mine. But those claiming the new State Pension between now and 5 April 2026 will receive a weekly payment of £230.25*, which, by my reckoning, converts to around 525k THB per annum on the basis of current GBP:THB exchange rates. Since this is in excess of the various TRD allowances and exemptions which potentially total 500k THB in the case of those eligible for the State Pension, it follows that they might actually have to pay tax locally in respect of their State Pension income which was fully remitted on a calendar year basis - subject to prevailing GBP:THB exchange rates, of course. Strikes me that those who are already in receipt of a frozen new (as distinct from basic) State Pension and are clamouring for this to be increased to current triple-lock rates in their cases may need to be careful of what they wish for! * https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/what-youll-get

In what context is this "ongoing discussion" taking place? And between whom? If you are suggesting that the TRD may be seeking amendments to ALL existing DTA's aimed at ensuring that ALL pension income is deemed assessable for local taxation purposes regardless of its source, what evidence do you have for this?

What your local revenue office has told you is one thing. What others' revenue offices tell them can be different. You also need to bear in mind that someone else in your revenue office might tell you that you DO need to file. And even the individual who told you that there was no need to file is capable of subsequently changing their mind, depending on which side of the bed they got out of that morning.

TiUK actually. That's where HMPO, at whose behest you're having to jump through all these hoops, are based.

@Andycoops Neither UK company occupational pensions nor the State Pension are exempt from being taxable in Thailand as a result of the UK/Thailand Double Taxation Agreement. Only UK government occupational pensions (Civil Service, local authority, military, police, etc) are so exempt.

The fleet is made up of low- and zero-emission (at the tailpipe) buses, including electric, hydrogen, diesel and hybrid buses, all of which all meet Euro VI emission standards. https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/improving-buses?intcmp=42923#cleaner

The separate issue of HMRC tax-coding some on their perpetually-frozen state pensions as if they were in receipt of the triple-lock increases is IMHO clear evidence of a joined-up approach between HMRC and DWP on all relevant matters being, to all intents and purposes, non-existent!

Yes, you would have needed to have something drastic to affect your facial appearance (e.g. dyeing your hair a lurid shade of green) as to necessitate formal certification of new mugshots.

Highly unlikely that you were allowed to provide digital mugshots if you renewed from Thailand, I would have thought. The official guidance states: "You need 2 identical printed photos if you are applying for a passport using a paper form." https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports/photo-requirements

In my case the difference between August 2014 (when I became eligible) and April 2015 (when I claimed) was reflected in the weekly rate (with payments every 4 weeks). But you, of course, will be receiving the "New" State Pension, as distinct from the "Basic" pension in my case, so that may well be why DWP are giving you a lump sum instead.

So all in all, a storm in a teacup by the sounds of it.

Well, it takes me a good hour to get to my local immigration office (Rayong) from where I live! And I gather that others living out in the sticks have considerably longer travelling times to theirs.

If it's a new visa that you're after, you need to be heading to a Thai embassy or consulate in an adjoining country (eg Savannakhet), not the Bangkok Immigration Office!

In any event I believe that we Brits were always alone in being able to have the validity period of our new passports extended by a max of 9 months to cover unexpired periods on our old passports. I was informed by an American on here some years ago who renewed his passport way ahead of time that his new one wasn't extended beyond 10 years from the date of issue. @DrJack54 - also true of Aussie passports?

Fingers firmly crossed that you receive a reply from someone who actually knows what they (and, more importantly, you) are talking about - as opposed to HMPO's resident clueless idiot who has always seemed to reply to my complaints over the years about various aspects of the whole antiquated bureacratic nonsense we Brits are subject to when renewing our passports from Thailand.

Beats me as to why HMPO insist on proof of our Thai address in any event, given that they don't send our replacement passports to us direct. Typical pointless bureaucracy for purely typical pointless bureaucracy's sake, I think!

Indeed, Ireland is a part of what is known as the Common Travel Area: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Travel_Area

Not just with you but also with some clueless idiot in HMPO feeding you duff info, I think!

Looks like you could well be jumping from the frying pan into the fire, then, if you're headed for Melbourne or Sydney! https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14445241/melbourne-crime.html https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/violence-is-coming-from-the-edge-sydney-s-horror-week-20240419-p5fl3u

They will probably think twice about paying 1,000 THB for a Big Mac should the Thai government decide on retaliatory steps aimed specifically at the US fast-food sector, though!

Even simpler 4 years previously. Make a trip to your local post office to send all relevant application docs to the British Consulate General in Hong Kong. Lo and behold a courier showed up at your front door 7-10 days later with your new passport! And even simpler up to around 2010, I gather, when the British Embassy in Bangkok ran the whole show.

Presumably you meant to say "With Wise you know what you will be getting". With Swift, anything but - unless you have succeeded in acquiring a crystal ball which will accurately predict the TT rate levied by your Thai bank at the time your transfer finally shows up with them. And, in my experience, while you may well be able to work out the charges levied by your originating home country bank and destination Thai bank, the big mystery is how much extra the intermediary Thai partner bank used by your home country bank will add for their services on top.

Accessing banks for account confirmation letters and statements needed for extension of stay applications can IMHO prove more problematical for those with limited mobility like myself than accessing immigration offices. For instance, my office (Rayong) is accessible via a ramp with railings to hold on to on either side. No such luck in the case of the Krungsri branch from which I obtain my account confirmation letters and bank statements, though - just a steep flight of steps which I find extremely scary to negotiate.

Or an abacus?

I get the impression that the OP seriously considers it to be his god-given right to be spoonfed with detailed info about each and every relevant law passed in Thailand (and presumably in his home country as well), which could impact on how he leads his life!