theoldgit

Are you asking about a UK State Pension or a private pension from an employer? If a State Pension, then you've already been given the correct answer, if a private pension from an employer, some will pay to a widow and some will not, even then it depends on what scheme you're in, you'd need to talk to the scheme administrator.

The Priority Service is currently suspended for Family Visas, when they were available I think it was in the region of £500 each for a decision in five working days, or £800 for a next day decision, that's the published price but applicants in Thailand are charged in Baht, even if you pay in the UK, and the cost is higher. The UKVI currently advise that processing is currently taking 24 weeks. https://visa.vfsglobal.com/tha/en/gbr/news/important-changes-to-priority-visa-services-offered-by-ukvi

Yes, @howerdeis spot on, it has to be done in Bangkok. https://register-uktb.iom.int/uktbdp-register/login.jsp

It depends how long you have been in salaried employment in the UK, you seem to be posting from the UK so I'm assuming that's where you're employed. The Financial Requirement document state the following requirements: In respect of salaried employment in the UK (except where paragraph 9 applies) all of the following evidence must be provided: Payslips covering: a period of 6 months prior to the date of application if the person has been employed by their current employer for at least 6 months (and where paragraph 13(b) of this Appendix does not apply); or • any period of salaried employment in the period of 12 months prior to the date of application if the person has been employed by their current employer for less than 6 months (or at least 6 months but the person does not rely on paragraph 13(a) of this Appendix), or in the financial year(s) relied upon by a self-employed person A letter from the employer(s) who issued the payslips at paragraph 2(a) confirming: • the person's employment and gross annual salary • the length of their employment • the period over which they have been or were paid the level of salary relied upon in the application • the type of employment (permanent, fixed-term contract or agency) • Personal bank statements corresponding to the same period(s) as the payslips at paragraph 2(a), showing that the salary has been paid into an account in the name of the person or in the name of the person and their partner jointly • where the person is either a director or employee (or both) of a limited company based in the UK, evidence that the company is not a type specified in paragraph 9(a). This can include the latest Annual Return filed at Companies House In addition to the evidence listed above, paragraph 2A of Appendix FM-SE specifies that P60(s) for the relevant period(s) of employment (if issued) and a signed contract(s) of employment may also be submitted in respect of paid employment in the UK. If they are not submitted, the decision-maker may grant the application if otherwise satisfied that the requirements of Appendix FM-SE relating to that employment are met, or they may ask for the documents to be submitted in accordance with paragraph D of the Appendix. The above is lifted from 1.7_-_Financial_requirement.pdf starting from page 28. The Financial parts regarding salaries are outside of my comfort zone, if you have any specific questions maybe contact @TonyMhe'll have it on the tip of his tongue.

The instructions say the translations should be dated, unlike the English and TB Tests there's no mention of expiry dates for translations. Certifying a translation If you need to certify a translation of a document that’s not written in English or Welsh, ask the translation company to confirm in writing on the translation: that it’s a ‘true and accurate translation of the original document’ the date of the translation the full name and contact details of the translator or a representative of the translation company https://www.gov.uk/certifying-a-document

https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse

As you’re talking about Thai Immigration I’ll move your question to a more appropriate forum.

No she doesn’t, as has been correctly pointed out previously Thais can enter their home country even with an expired passport, though that could cause carriers to be twitchy. You’ve already confirmed that she will renew her passport on arrival, very good thinking. I can also confirm that passport renewals here are excellent, my wife renewed her passport in MBK when we visited Bangkok for a long weekend, her new passport was delivered before we got back home. I’ll move your post to the Thailand Forum, though you’ve already got a definitive answer.

We’ve just been driven from Hua Hin to Bangkok, there was a police check point on the Hua Hin by pass and another in Petchaburi, each with at least twenty Police Officers milling around, they were checking that those in cars were wearing seatbelts, motorcyclists, with or without helmets passed at their leisure. Whilst I applaud the officers giving occupants of cars the opportunity to “belt up” whilst waiting in the queue for the check point, I did wonder if it was an effective deterrent, and if they might have been better used elsewhere.

I'm assuming you're talking about the UK State Pension when you refer to a "Government Pension" as opposed to a pension as a former Government employee. Transam has covered everything, but you might also find this helpful State Pension if you retire abroad

Prehaps they could start by appealing for witnesess.

Indeed, by the Cameron/Clegg coalition, the same pair that removed free NHS care for expat pensioners visiting the UK.

Chang Watthana

As Upnotover has said, there are commercial operators who provide a meet and assistance service but they don't come cheap, probably in the region of £350, in the absence of any freeservices for non English speakers/readers on arrival maybe she should just follow the crowd to Immigration, if she's on a direct flight I'm sure there will be others in her position, or at least someone she can ask. I'm assuming you and you wife will be there to meet her, she should your phone number available in the case the Border Force Officer wants to clarify any points, they do have access to telephone translators, and they do use them. Once through Immigration, again follow the crowds, it's all one way. Downloading a Thai to English app was a good suggestion.

Troll posts removed.

Yes, you've this in the wrong forum, but as I see you've now also posted in the correct forum, I'll close this thread.

As I said, the THB is weaker against many currencies, but stronger against against Sterling.

Offensive troll post removed.

I think the GBP is only that value because the THB is also relatively weak, but it would seem not as weak as Sterling. I think we’re in for a bumpy ride.

I don’t think that’s correct, my understanding is that pensions from the UK are taxed at source, that’s certainly what my pension provider advised what would happen when my wife was eligible for her widows pension. The figure of 200,000 Baht you mentioned equates to less than the Personal Allowance, l don’t think non UK residents who are not British Nationals who are recipients of a pension automatically get the PA, but they may be able to claim the tax back at the end of the tax year. I note that the pension is paid from offshore, does that mean it doesn’t originate from the UK?

Yes, mine is frozen and paid into a UK account in the Isle of Man. It’s where you’re actually resident that decides whether your State Pension is frozen or not.

Yes, you can renew it in the UK, you can even do it online, confirming his current address in the UK. You will need to forward his current passport to the UKPO, remember you should send it from the UK, if you’re currently in possession of it, no problem, but it’s not supposed to be posted internationally. If he holds a Thai Passport, that must also be forwarded to HMPO. Somebody who has known him personally for at least two years will need to confirm his identity as a friend, neighbour or colleague, they must be qualified to do so and they will be personally contacted by HMPO to confirm their statement. I personally agree that it may be safer for him to apply from Thailand, even if long winded and more expensive.

Yes, Civil Service Pensions are uprated anually, in line with the CPI, wherever you live in the world, even Thailand. UK Pensions are taxed at source by MyCSP, your Personal Allowance is reduced by the amount of your State Pension, effectively taxing your State Pension. As your State Pension will be frozen your Civil Service Pension will be increased on the full amount, irrespective of its division between pre and post 88 GMP, I think that has something to do with the contracting out.

A friend of mines wife collected her passport with her UK Standard Visit Visa inside on Friday, it took one month and three days from the date she had her biometric details captured. She didn't pay for the priority service, I think it was a fluke rather than a new norm.

Objectional troll post removed, along with a few responses.