theoldgit

5 hours ago, Kinnock said:

I thought Eva was no longer doing the BKK-LHR route?

I understand they may be starting again shortly, they're certainly showing availability for July.

9 hours ago, can123 said:

My present account is with Bangkok Bank and I would be looking at an immediate transfer of £!50,000, in installments if needed. 

Have you thought about using the Bangkok Bank branch in the UK to transfer funds to your account here, I've heard that for larger amounts you might be able to negotiate a better rate? bangkokbank/Transfer-money-from-UK-to-Thailand-via-London-Branch

Do you need to bring all the funds to Thailand now, or might you want to consider leaving some in your UK bank, always a gamble when you factor in possible future exchange rates and changes of plans.

1 hour ago, BonMot said:

Does Wise have a physical location in Bangkok? I see a sign when on the bts but Google maps and Internet turn up nothing.

 

Is it possible to open an account in person and deposit cash?

I think they have a small office but they don't have a public branch, so no, you cannot deposit cash in a branch.

4 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

From the Op's post my first and main concern would be denied boarding by Finnair on a 1 way ticket with a visa exempt entry (no onward ticket). Getting a visa is unnecessary so I would just buy the cheapest disposable onward ticket to a neighbouring country for within the 30 days. 

That was certainly point I was going to make, and I agree that the OP should buy a throw away ticket before travelling to the airport.

When I travelled from a UK airport to start my new life here I also had a large number of suitcases, rather than pay the airlines high excess baggage charges, I used an excess baggage company, who were considerably cheaper.

My excess baggage actually travelled on the same aircraft and I needed an agent this end to collect my bags this end, they need watching but it still worked out considerably cheaper.

I’ll move this to the Thailand forum

1 hour ago, Artben said:

And all of the top 10 are in resorts?  Are you serious?

The restaurant rated as number 1 isn't in a resort, it's alongside a supermarket, though eight of the following nine are in hotels.

Troll post removed.

On 5/12/2022 at 1:50 PM, chilly07 said:

Frozen pensioners still pay full tax in the UK but are prohibited from using the NHS!

May I suggest a slight edit to your response?

"Frozen pensioners remain liable for tax on their combined UK incomes, but are prohibited from using the NHS for anything but emergency treatment, being charged 150% of the actual cost of ongoing care"

As a matter of interest I know a number of people whose UK tax liabilty on their combined private and state pensions exceeds what they receive in their actual State Pension. 

19 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

It is a bit more complex than that  , a weak Pound isn't necessarily bad for the U.K 

Isn't much of their food imported, wouldn't that put the prices up?

I accept that a weaker pound makes exports cheaper, but wouldn't that mean they got less less stable currencies in return?

I have to admit I don't really understand the economics of all this.

This is a month old "news story", I think it's run its useful course.

Thanks Tony M, I'd noticed that they've updated their guidance page for visa decision waiting time, as you say, citing the Ukrain excuse, which also doesn't seem to be doing too well.
There are more processing times on their guidance site for other classes of application.

Join family in the UK

You should get a decision within 24 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre to, if you are applying to settle in the UK as the spouse, partner or family member of someone who has British citizenship or is settled in the UK.

Visit the UK

Standard visitor visa applications are currently taking on average 6 weeks to process. We are working hard to process applications to get back to the 3-week service standard.

Travelling through the UK

Transit visa applications are currently taking on average 6 weeks to process. We are working hard to process applications to get back to the 3-week service standard.

visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-UK

This is the information from the official channel http://pcscenter.sb.police.go.th/filedownload/infomation-service-4.pdf 

There are a number of agencies who will do it on your behalf https://www.thaipolicecertificate.org/ I believe that you can also apply via the Thai Embassy in London.

7 hours ago, nchuckle said:

Unfortunately the basic amount is frozen at the point of your normal retirement age - so you cannot accrue the subsequent increases as the basis for setting the amount of your  eventual claim. 

When I deferred my pension for a few weeks I subsequently received the payment that was in force in the new financial year, not the one that was in force when I actually reached pensionable age a few weeks earlier.

We made a small claim for some damage I did to my wifes car when I was driving it, it's insured for any driver.

I needed to present my driving licence to the insurance guy on his motorbike at the scene as well as at the insurance office who actually process the claim, as did my wife.

Copies of both of our licences were sent of by the local office.

"What are the best contact details to sort this out with the DWP?

There is very little information on how to arrange this on the DWP website – this is rather typical of all communications provided to support pensioners overseas and mirrors the distinct lack of communication informing a pensioner that their state pension might be frozen should they move abroad."

It's regarded as a change of circumstances, and you need to report changes to your personal details (such as your address or bank details) by telephone or letter.

When I visit the UK, which I haven't done for a couple of years, it's one of my first phone calls on arrival, though I imagine it's pretty hard to get through at the moment.

If you travel via the EU on your inward or outward journies, remember to include those details in your claim.

https://www.gov.uk/international-pension-centre

6 hours ago, puchooay said:

I guess the answer is "Yes" but I'll ask anyway. Have UKVI now dropped the ruling that applications can be made in UK due to travel restrictions?

 

My wife's transition from visitor to settlement was done in UK. Albeit nearly 2 years ago.

The temporary concession for those who were visiting the UK and couldn't return to be able to be able apply for Settlement from within the UK ended some time ago, I can't remember the actual date but it was shortly after the travel restrictions eased.

@GinBoy2I like Singapore and we visit quite a bit, I will add that I'm glad I had my heart attack there and not the day before we left Thailand for the weekend.

This has been posted in the wrong forum, the question has nothing to do with visas to countries outside of Thailand.

I'll moved to the correct forum.

3 hours ago, potless said:

I would like to politely reword that. All income from, whatever source, is combined and then the personal tax allowance applied to give a taxable amount. How the tax is actually collected depends on the individuals situation. A private pension is usually the first port of call.                

Noted, however, in my recent notification from the HMRC they advise me my tax code for 2022/23, which is the standard Personal Allowance minus my actual State Pension, the reduced tax code is what my pension provider uses to calculate my tax liability.