theoldgit

https://www.sevenseasworldwide.com/

9 hours ago, Negita43 said:

Yes that's what friends are for - he watches my flat whilst I'm over here

What is your final destination, most, if not, all destination countries have strict limits on how much tobacco you can bring into the country tax free.

You will be aware that the tax free allowance is for personal use, not as gifts for friends who are helping out, it's not uncommon for customs officials to carry out checks, non smokers are likely to carry smoking implements with them.
Whilst the chances of being caught are probably remote, it can happen, though might be lucky and just get a warning and have the tobacco seized. 

22 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

My partner will get that amount (increased to current levels) @ 50%. She will then lose 10% of that because of our 19 year age difference. She will finish up with 45% or around 40,000 Baht per month.

The improved Civil Service Pension scheme also has a clawback when there's an age difference of this size or higher.

I opted to remain on the old scheme which doesn't have the clawback, though I didn't I didn't realise it at the time I made the decision. I must have realised what was round the corner.

The retired Civil Servants amongst us will be relieved to learn that our 10.1% pension increase has been confirmed, effective from 10 April. Civil Service pension increase confirmed

I agree that @Upnotoverhas just about covered everything.

As he points out the application can be submitted no more than three months before travel, unlike applications for Schengen Visas, the UK does not require evidence of flights, in fact they advise that non refundable flights are not booked until the visa is issued, though I've also done so.

Just include a brief covering letter outlining the details of the aproposed visit and your ties togther in Thailand. 

As your question is about your stay in Thailand let’s move this to the Thailand Forum.

If you hold Thai nationality, why did you enter with your Australian passport?

As has already been pointed out the Consular Section are not involved in the renewal of Britsish Passports, they haven't been for a decade or so, applications are handled via VFS who, with all their faults, provide a pretty good service https://visa.vfsglobal.com/tha/en/gbr/hmpo.

I received my new passport last month three weeks after I applied on the 23 December.

There's a long running thread on the subject here How-long-to-renew-uk-passport though you may need to sort out the wheat from the chaff, as this is not a Consular subject, I'll close the thread.  

The British Embassy in Thailand have recently updated their information for British Nationals wishing to marry in Thailand.

Information for British Nationals intending to marry in Thailand

Troll post and response removed.

2 hours ago, Adelphi said:

Yes we now live together in Thailand and I have retirement visa.   I think our biggest problem will be that we have only known each other for six months and only recently started living together.  I am concerned that if we apply this year and get turned down that may count against us in the future.   Maybe I should just do a short trip to the UK on my own and put off applying for a visitor visa for my partner until next year.  Next year we will be able to evidence much more of a shared life in Thailand.  

As @brewsterbudgenhas rightly pointed out, the applicant, your girlfriend not you, has to convince the Entry Clearance Officer, the decision maker, that their proposed visit is genuine, affordable and on the balance of probablities they will leave the UK at the conclusion of the proposed trip.

BB also makes the valid point that this is not so easy when the applicant lives here in Thailand and the partner in the UK, even if the partner supports the applicant financially, the ECO could be forgiven for believing that the applicant might remain in the UK with the benefactor, you are not in that position.

It's certainly sensible to consider the fact that whilst you've extended your stay based on retirement, you've not been together that long so may not be able to demonstrate a sustaining relationship, though it's clearly better than a long distant relationship. Can your girlfriend demonstrate other ties here, such as longer term employment?

If she did apply this year, and her application was refused, she would need to declare the fact in any future application, all applications are considered individually on merit, so a refusal wouldn't be held against her, but in any future application she should address the reasons for the refusal, and by explaining that she'd waiting a bit longer to prove your relationship before reapplying.

I wouldn't necessarily agree that an agent would "bring zero value to your application", a genuine and qualified agent could offer meaningful advice to the applicant on the likelihood whether an application might succeed, given the circumstances surrouding the applicant and any partner/sponsor, and assist with the drafting of the application.   

10 hours ago, surat04 said:

Does anyone have a phone number for Liverpool application centre. It's actually International Team 3 that i want to contact.

They are refusing to accept translations of our blue book as proof of address. Seems strange as we used that last time for the children's applications.

Thanks 

They don't publish any direct numbers for individual departments only a general number, which I suspect you already have - Passport Adviceline
Telephone: 0300 222 0000
From outside the UK: +44 (0)300 222 0000

Have you tried their online form to make a complaint? https://eforms.homeoffice.gov.uk/outreach/Passport_Enquiries.ofml

22 minutes ago, Iannisa said:

thanks that's encouraging, how long did visa decision take after biometrics  ?

From his earlier posts it would seem that his wife applied in the middle of November, so in the region of thirteen weeks ago, so just about back on track.

On 2/14/2023 at 11:33 AM, Neeranam said:

Not what they told me. 

As a matter of interest, who are the "they" that told you?

1 hour ago, kwilco said:

How long ago was that? You have to send off your passport now.

This is a forum for those applying in Thailand, you certainly don't send off your passport from here.

Where are you reading that you have to "send off your passport now"?

5 hours ago, kwilco said:

What evidence are you basing that theory on?

Like everyone elses opinion, it's probably based on my own gut feeling, I'd certainly welcome any meaningful evidence to prove me wrong.

On 2/10/2023 at 9:06 AM, nong38 said:

am filling in the Visa application and am stuck one one question and I hope someone can help me with it, the document required is as follows:-

 

"Provide Evidence that your sponsor is not, or will not be in breach of UK Immigration Laws at the time of your visit."

What visa are you applying for?

I'll move this to Banking

Whilst the rules still state that successful applicants need to travel to the UK within 30 days, as a result of ECO's being redirected to process applications from Ukraine, and maybe Covid as well, the validity of the vignettes has been extended to 90 days, because of the extended processing times.

I'm aware of recent applicants, in Thailand and elswhere, who have all received vignettes with the 90 day validity.

It could revert to 30 days at any time, to my knowledge the extended period has never formally been announced.

2 hours ago, nong38 said:

Does anyone know if you can pay for the visa using the telephone and QR scan or it strictly debit and credit cards?

Payment is processed by World Pay using a debit or credit card, payments and are made online.

You’ve asked in the wrong forum, I’ll move your question to the correct one.

Link to French based commercial website removed.

3 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Or you can get a friend to pick it up. 

Indeed you can, but that still requires two visits by somebody, not only the one you claimed.

On 2/3/2023 at 8:28 PM, Chomper Higgot said:

More reporting on this from The Times:

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bb48124e-a22d-11ed-be83-0b182bac2124?shareToken=f98cba3d7471e1c8c30226586405dd38

That's worrying and an utter disgrace, it beggars belief that it takes a newspaper story for the Government to act.
I read another story earlier where magistrates were issuing thousands of enforcement warrants electronically without checking the status of those affected, claiming such checks are "are now disproportionate and go far beyond the legal requirements".
I do understand that energy companies have to protect their excessive profits though.