theoldgit

I beg to differ, I’m fully aware of the proof required to satisfy the decision maker, and that there are a number of highly qualified, and respected agents here in Thailand, who could assist with the application. Did you read the OP’s comment that he has “plenty of available funds available”? I’m sure the OP’s wife could satisfy the ECO that on the balance of probabilities she would return to her home country after their visits, where she and her husband have lived for 25 years or more without resorting to enlisting the help of an agent halfway around the globe.

I have been advised that, sadly, Darren McGarry the owner of Key Visa, unexpectly passed away yesterday, he will be missed by many of his friends and of course his family. No doubt the company have contingency plans in place for such an event, to ensure that the operation would continue with the minumum of interuption for visa and passport applications, I would however respectfully ask that the team at Key Visa are given some slack during this difficult time. On a personal level I offer my condolencies to Darrens family, colleages and friends at this difficult time, may Darren RIP.

For the avoidance of doubt there are many Visa Agents in the UK, probably hundreds, who are registered with the OISC to provide advice on Visa Applications and other Immigration matters, it’s a legal requirement in the UK for agents to be so registered. Whilst I have no doubt that the company you recommend are properly registered and come highly recommended, the OP and his wife are located here in Thailand, and if they feel that the use of an agent is necessary, they may be better using an OISC registered agent here, where the applicant needs to submit her bio details and passport.

You're probably aware that the longer term visas, those with a two, five or ten year validity, are designed for those who can demonstrate a need to travel to the UK regularly but still have ties to their home country, these visa still only allow the holder to remain in the UK for up to six months, subject to satisfying the Border Force Officer on arrival in the UK, that their visit is genuine, and they are not using the visa to make the UK their home. You seem to have strong ties to Thailand, and your wife would need to demonstrate those ties in her application, keep in mind that if she applied for a longer term visa and the Entry Clearance Officer had concerns, they could issue a six month visa, and there would be no refund in the extra fees charged. I would be totally honest in the application, and whilst you're correct in saying that it would be unwise to pad her bank account, there not really an issue in indicating that you will be funding the trip. My wife rarely has large sums in her account, I'm well into my retirement, and she's never had a problem getting visas approved - touch wood.

It seems that the local senior police officer who perished was the driver of the car.

"Investigators are working to ascertain how and why the accident occurred" Soi 94 is at the edge of a popular bar area in Hua Hin, maybe there's a link. "One of the deceased was a senior officer from Hua Hin Police Station" ???? I drive over that crossing frequently but I can’t remember if they have manually operated sliding gates, at 04.00, or automatic gates, either way it shouldn’t have happened.

This has nothing to do with Visas to countries other than Thailand, so I'll move it to the Thailand section.

Seems that the Thai Embassy in London doesn't know either. "If you would like to drive, either vehicle or motorcycle, while visiting Thailand, you are required by law to hold an international driving license. When asked for, you need to show your international driving license along with your passport and national driving license. For those who temporarily stay in Thailand, you can apply for a temporary (one year) driving license at the Department of Land Transport or a Provincial Land Transport Office." https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/84710-driving-in-thailand?page=5d6636ce15e39c3bd000734d&menu=5d6636cd15e39c3bd00072e2

The latest guide to processing times https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-uk

Moved to Banking

There are no embarcation controls when leaving the UK, which means there are no Immigration checks on departure, though the carrier will need to see her Thai passport to show that she has an absolute right to enter Thailand, without needing a return ticket, though no doubt she’ll have one. On arrival in Thailand she should present her Thai passport. On her return to the UK she should check in using her UK passport, this shows her carrier that she’s not subject to Immigration Controls in the UK. When passing Thai Immigration Controls she should present her Thai Passport, as there will be no entry stamp in her UK Passport. I’m assuming her UK and Thai passports have the same name.

My wife was pretty keen on seeing snow when we visited London in December a few years back, despite the fact we’d been skiing in South Korea, l advised her that it was highly unlikely that we’d get any snow at that time of the year in the Centre of London, my advice was blown out of the window when we were walking in a heavy blizzard in Covent Garden a couple of hours after landing at Heathrow. At last some meaningful advice, my wife certainly had a good idea of what’s she’s wanted to take in on our various trips to the UK, including the Seven Sisters which she’d seen on a photo years earlier, l think you might be pleasantly surprised, and certainly better than some mischievous posters on here. We did nearly come a cropper though, when a visit to friends fell through I asked her for an alternative side trip, thinking she might go for Paris or Amsterdam, her response of Ireland surprised me though. When I asked her “why Ireland” she mentioned the Blue Lagoon, we subsequently enjoyed our trip to Iceland very much, plenty of snow there.

A number of unhelpful posts removed.

https://www.mytello.com/en_TH/rates Rates from Thailand to the UK per minute , 0.4 ฿ to a landline and 1.7 ฿ to a mobile

1 - There are no Immigration embarcation checks leaving the UK, so the fact he's leaving using a different passport than the one he arrived probably wouldn't be picked when he leaves, though his Swedish Passport must be valid for the duration of his time in the UK. The carrier would be more interested in ensuring that he has a valid passport to allow entry into Thailand, his Thai passport should be sufficient for that. 2 - Yes, Sweden is a Schengen Member State, the UK is neither in the Schengen Area or the EU, and neither is the OP's friend travelling to Sweden, so I'm not sure why his time in the UK is really relevant. He could of course apply to renew his Swedish Passport in the UK, though it's not easy to get an appointment. https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/about-abroad-for-swedish-citizens/united-kingdom/service-to-swedish-citizens/passport-abroad/#

Have you considered this option? How to receive payments from a UK-based state/private pension provider or company. https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Other-Services/Transfers/Transferring-Into-Thailand/Transfer-money-from-UK-to-Thailand-via-London-Branch

You can make multiple entries throughout the validity of a Standard Visit Visa, and whilst there is no requirement to declare subsequent visits during the initial application, other than the first planned visit, and it shouldn’t cause any problems in the future, the Border Force Officer may well asking some in depth questions is the number of return visits is too frequent.

Which police force told you that?

Of course it's something Sunak put in place when when he was Chancellor, and yes you're right it's a stealth rise, I think Hunt will increase the length of the freeze meaning that many more will be dragged into the higher rate over the years, maybe even you.

It's not only those who rely on their State Pension, those of us also receiving an occupational pension would also be affected as it's more likely that their pension would far exceed the Personal Allowance. The other thing that is currently in effect is the freezing the rate at when the 40% rate kicks in, those "lucky enough" to already be paying 40% on some of their combined pension would see any increases in their occupational pension being charged at at 40% on all of their pension increase. There are lots of rumours about what will be in the Autumn Statement but the truth is that nobody knows for certain, even those who used to work as an investment banker, who can only make an educated guess. The possibility of this happening raises it's head every year or so, but it would probably please the Daily Mail reader, some of who believe that expats shouldn't even receive a pension. I personally don't think it will happen as the Chancellor would need to take account of the possibilty that the removal of the PA for expats might well be the tipping point for those considering returning to the UK, which would cost the Exchequer even more.

That's because US Nationals, and numerous other nationalities, don't require a visa on arrival or in advance.

Not strictly correct, once a creditor has a county court judgment (CCJ) for a debt, the Limitation Act does not put any time limits on how long they have to enforce that judgment, however if your CCJ is more than six years old, and the creditor wants to use enforcement action, they must first get permission of the court. You might be confusing it with the fact that a CCJ doesn't show on a credit file after six years. Debts that haven't been subject to a CCJ cannot be enforced after six years as the become Statued Barred, they also do not show on a credit file.

Maybe on your travels pop into Hua Hin, and if you find a Foodland please let me know.

I do not live in Bangok either, where I live there are two Villas, a Lotus's, Big C, Tops, Makro and a Gourmet Market, but no Foodland.

If there was one anywhere near me I might well visit Foodland.