theoldgit

As I say the UKVI website is cumbersome and can be very misleading.

VFS play no part in the actual decision making process, which is not carried out here in Thailand, so probably wouldn't offer any advice regarding the status of the application. I think the advice that the paid for enquiry service will give her no meaningful advice either was sound and she should wait, though it does seem to be taking a while. You'll need to factor in the Easter break and the fact that the UKVI are diverting resources to deal with Ukranianian applications.

Your wife will need apply for settlement from outside the UK, she could apply from inside the UK if she was given leave to remain in the UK for more than 6 months, which she wouldn't have been when she was granted entry as a visitor. As a matter of interest there is no such rule that only allows a holder of a longer term Standard Visit Visa to remain in the UK for six months in any year, but a visitor would be asked searching questions if they attempted to visit too often, the Border Force Officer would need to be satisfied that they were not seeking to use the visa to stay in the UK semi permanently, through "frequent or succesive visits". The UKVI website is notoriously cumbersome, and can give misleading information. You're right not to pay the two hundred quid for an online consultation, if you want to pay for local professional advice, search for an OISC Advisor in your area https://home.oisc.gov.uk/adviser_finder/finder.aspx

9. Documents you should not use as evidence Some types of documents are less useful as evidence in visit applications. These include: bank statements or letters issued more than 1 year before the date of application credit card statements driving licence educational certificates that are not listed as required for your visa evidence of car ownership personal photographs notarial certificates business cards hotel bookings flight bookings (unless transiting) photocopies of bank cards certificates relating to leisure activities, for example sports trophies travel insurance sponsor’s utility bills sponsor’s council tax bills You may be asked to provide additional information by a decision maker.

I think you're spot on, in fact some would say that we shouldn't even receive a State Pension, it's been said to me. I also believe that this view is one of the reasons Ministers, of all persuasions, feel comfortable rolling out the same old lame excuse as they've done for years. I do remind people in the UK that I pay hundreds of pounds a month in income tax on my combined pensions, and save the country money by not receiving winter fuel allowance, Christmas bonus, a bus pass and access to the NHS, so I would argue that I pay my fair share to the UK economy. My State Pension is £116 per week, about 5,100 Baht.

@SidJamesThanks for pointing out the expired link, and for others for pointing you in the right direction. I've corrected the link, and will review the whole post as soon as I can.

I’ll move your question to the appropriate forum where someone will, I’m sure, advise. This forum is for those seeking advice for travelers from Thailand.

But even with the underground lottery, the "lucky numbers" sell out when the operator decides they would be at risk if too many of these numbers actually came up.

You really need to give us a clue as to what you’re asking. What do your family want to travel to the UK, to settle, study or visit, and how long for? As for the requirements for you traveling to Thailand, I don’t think people could give meaningful advice beyond the next few weeks, and certainly not what the requirements might be in 2023.

Nonsense troll post removed.

There are currently two flights a week to Chiang Mai.

I've rented cars in the UK using my Thai Driving Licence for well over a decade.

No I'm sorry but you're both wrong: For those moving to the UK Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence You can drive in Great Britain on your full, valid driving licence for 12 months from when you became resident After 12 months you’ll need to apply for a provisional licence and pass the theory and practical driving tests to drive in Great Britain. https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence/y/a-resident-of-great-britain/full-car-and-motorcycle/any-other-country And for visitors: Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence You can drive any type of small vehicle (for example cars or motorcycles) listed on your full and valid licence for 12 months from when you last entered Great Britain (GB) https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence/y/a-visitor-to-great-britain/any-other-country

No, you can drive any type of small vehicle (for example cars or motorcycles) listed on your full and valid licence for 12 months from when you last entered Great Britain (GB), whether it be as a visitor or to take up residence.

This isn't set in stone and can vary from different Pension Providers, or even an individuals status within the scheme. It's certainly something worth checking, this is the response I got from the Civil Service Pension Administrators last year: An age difference reduction to widows pensions is only applied to member's who are in the Premium/Nuvos/Alpha sections of the pension scheme. The rules of these sections of the scheme state a reduction must be applied if the spouse is over 12 years younger than the member. However as you are in the classic section of the scheme no such ruling applies and a spouse is entitled to the full widows pension regardless of age difference. The advice to enlist the help of a friend or family member to assist when it's time to claim is really good advice and something we did a few years ago, enlisting a close friend who has recently retired from the Civil Service and my neice who is a current Civil Servant, we keep them supplied with all new comminications and a they both have a letter entitling them to act on my wifes behalf. I wasn't aware that the issue of a tax number was automatic, it was certainly something I was concerned about, with the current personal allowance that would have cost my wife/widow £2,500 a year, and like the OP I got the same response from my pension provider and HMRC.

Have you tried using their contact form https://www.kasikornbank.com/th/contact/Pages/contact.aspx The contact form also suggests contacting them via their email address [email protected]

I'm not sure that I've ever come across a queue in the Customs Hall, which is after the check at the border, people enter and are selected at random, Customs/Border Force Officers, already have a good idea who they're going to stop for questioning. At the Border it's certainly prudent to present yourselves to the Border Force Officer together, I normally go for whichever line is shorter. If the officer wants to ask more questions it's better if a family group, including girl/boy friends, are both together. There's nothing written down, but Border Force Officers are encouraged not to split up families, and it certainly makes it easier for them.

Please think about any responses carfully before giving advice. I'll be monitoring responses closely. Thank you

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-airport-chaos-plane-delays-23515849

There’s numerous reports in the local media regarding chaos and extensive delays at Manchester both on arrival and departure.

My bank in the UK sent debit cards for my wife and I before the previous cards expired, Santander International, no idea what they told DHL. As our cards needed to be activated on arrival here, I'm not sure what the issue is. Maybe send the card inside a book.

I used to get instant approval via the old version of the reporting website, but now two or three days. No problem with two or three days, though was concerned first time I used it.

I don't think many restaurant staff appreciate being told that the food served is not up to a good standard, so their response would not be in their script. We went to a restaurant in Phuket a couple of weeks ago, an international franchise which boasts American food along with rock music. I ordered a steak, which cost a tad over 1,750 Baht, when the server came and asked if everything was ok, my response that it was probably the worst steak I'd ever been served, and held up the steak which was just fat and grissle, she looked like a rabbit stuck in a cars headlights, to lighten things I added that "the broccli was nice though", there was a big smile on her face and a "thank you", and off she went. I do have some sympathy for restaurant when diners who overfill their plates at these sort or outlets, especially when they don't eat all they've taken, but I'm sure it's costed into the price they charge. I don't believe that threatening to sue disgruntled diners for defamation is a particularly good business model.

You would not be refused, or charged, for initial emergency treatment, but any ongoing or elective treatment would be charged at 150% of actual cost for expats, whether you're a UK taxpayer or not.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-pensions-annual-increases-if-you-live-abroad/countries-where-we-pay-an-annual-increase-in-the-state-pension