theoldgit

As your question is about your stay in Thailand, rather than applying for visa from Thailand, I’ll move your post to the Thai Visa forum.

Members may find the guidance to caseworkers regarding Continuous Residence helpful https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6618005e6b4cf65594d1eae0/Continuous+residence.pdf

UK Visas are multi entry, no such thing as a re-entry permit.

A number of off topic posts removed.

It’s certainly the case for those who joined over the last few years, or even longer, but I’m not sure if those who’ve been in the CS for decades are also affected. There were numerous changes to the various CS pension schemes over the decades, at the time we were encouraged to transfer to the new schemes, many of us didn’t and that turned out to be a good decision, pure luck though.

The requirement for pensioners to make NI contributions was made in a recent budget, I was considering taking a position post retirement, l would have been effectively working for half pay as l would have been taxed at40% and liable for NI contributions on top. Civil Servants pensions were based on the best of the last three annual earnings, some of my colleagues who were overtime grades and received premium payments for weekend and bank holiday working, hammered both in their final year to enhance their pensions, this acceptable practice was abolished some years ago when the final calculation was based on a career average. I totally agree with your response to the belief that pensioners have had it good for too long, l however believe this view is still out there, and the Chancellor may have addressed it to appease the Daily Mail readers.

It’s certainly the case for those who joined over the last few years, or even longer, but I’m not sure if those who’ve been in the CS for decades are also affected. There were numerous changes to the various CS pension schemes over the decades, at the time we were encouraged to transfer to the new schemes, many of us didn’t and that turned out to be a good decision, pure luck though.

Those of us lucky enough to be in receipt of a State Pension and a Civil Service Pension are being caught up in the Fiscal Drag, along with other pensioners. The Treasury are well aware that this is quite popular with those still in employment who take the view that pensioners have had too good for too long, maybe they have a point, as we don’t pay NI, unless we’re in employment. We will be aware that State Pensions are not taxed at source but Personal Allowances are reduced by the same amount ensuring that the tax due on the State Pension is collected by Pension Providers, my Personal Allowance is reduced to £1,500 for 2024/25. There was an interesting letter in yesterday’s Telegraph which discusses my claim that Civil Servants were traditionally paid less than those in the private sector, to fund their “gold plated pensions” and job security, it’s just a shame that the Treasury didn’t pay these savings into pension pots. “SIR – Neil Record takes a swipe at “gold-plated” public-sector pensions (Business, March 28). In the early 1980s I was a middle-ranking civil servant responsible for administering a £7 million annual grant scheme, which frequently involved complex negotiations with senior businessmen. My salary was a whisker over £12,000, with no provision of overtime payment for long days spent away from home. I eventually discovered that my opposite numbers in industry were earning three or four times my salary, and enjoyed the perks of annual bonuses, company cars, medical insurance and private dining rooms. Civil servants accepted that a modest salary was offset by full job security and – by the standards of the day – a generous pension that paid 50 per cent of final salary after 40 years’ service. In other words, the pension was partly deferred pay. Blame for the Treasury’s failure to make provision for this commitment should not be laid at the feet of pensioners.”

Hi TF, you are indeed correct to say that current pensions are paid from the current tax take, but as I pointed out that’s because the abatement of salaries which should should have gone into pension pots was used for current day spending at the time. That may seem to be far fetched, but sadly how it worked, l have personal experience of “Budget Challenge” meetings with Treasury Officials where this was past of the negotiations, believe me meetings with Treasury Officials are indeed challenging. It’s probably worth pointing out that NHS funding also comes from general taxation not, as you might expect, from NI Contributions, a point that was made by the relevant Ministers correspondence unit when l called foul of the Cameron/Clegg introduction of 150% of cost charge for NHS treatment for expat pensioners. They reminded me that the NHS wasn’t funded by from the NI fund but from general taxation, a fact that l was already aware of. My claim that some private sector salaries are higher is based that some of my former colleagues jumped ship and went to the private sector when some Home Office functions were contracted out and were paid substantially more, l stayed put. l do have sympathy the the current day taxpayers, including you and I, eventually all of us gold plated pensioners will die off and the problem will be solved.

This “story” rears its head every year or so, including the allegation that the Civil Service Pensions are unfunded, which isn’t strictly correct. Some public service employees, certainly the police and maybe others, have always paid towards their pension pots. Other Civil Servants, including me, were traditionally paid a lower salary than their private sector equivalents to take account of the cost of providing a “free pension”, sadly the Governments of the day didn’t pay these savings into a pension fund but used them for every day spending, this borrowing has to be paid back. It’s also worth noting that Civil Servants regularly had their salaries frozen during various Government spending cuts. I worked for the Government for forty years, l was able to retire at 60 with a pension of 50% of my final salary, l concede that it’s reasonably good but l worked pretty hard for it. As the article says, final salary schemes are no longer available to Civil Servants, contributions are actually deducted from salaries, that doesn’t necessarily mean those deductions are paid into pensions pots, and the concession to retire at 60 is long gone- l personally don’t think that the terms and conditions can be changed retrospectively, at least l hope note, MP’s are on the same scheme and l can’t see them voting for it.

Insensitive and off topic post removed, along with measured responses

You cannot pick and choose which country you want to to apply for a Schengen Visa, you have to apply via the Consulate with jurisdiction for your main destination within the Schengen Area, if you are travelling and spending an equal amount of time in two or more Member States, then you should apply via the Consulate with jurisdiction for your initial entry point. Your previous posts about validity of a visa is a separate issue.

If you feel that you need an agent to assist with a Standard Visit Visa application, and most applicants don’t, l would highly recommend Thai Visa Express based in Pattaya. There are numerous agents around the country but TVE is the only agent registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner in the UK, it’s fair to add that registration is not compulsory in Thailand, anybody can set themselves up as an agent.

No, British, l mentioned it was our first application since leaving the EU.

She applied for the Netherlands, she specifically requested a visa with a longer validity, and whilst she provided supporting evidence for our four day side trip, her covering letter citied her previous travel history and indicative future travel plans. I have to admit we were pleasantly surprised, it was her first application since we actually left the EU and gave up the Freedom of Movement throughout the EU.