theoldgit

A Standard Visit Visa is valid for six months, longer term visas are available to those who can demonstrate a valid and compelling reason to visit the UK regularly, even to visit. Entry Clearance Officers will be looking at an applicants travel history, whilst it's certainly a better option, though probably not cost effective, your wife will have needed a few visits under her belt before a longer term visa is issued. Be aware that if your wife applies, and pays, for a longer term visa, the ECO can decide to issue a shorter term visa, in which case there's no refund of the extra, quite considerable, cost. It can be more difficult for an applicant living in Thailand, or any other visa Nationals country, where the spouse lives in the UK to satisfy the ECO that they will return to their home country at the conclusion of their visit.

Off topic post removed, this isn't the place to vent your anger. I've also needed to remove a couple of helpful posts, my apologies TM.

Yes, applications are submitted online, but there's really nothing to prevent you assiting your wife by submitting the forms on her behalf, the application would still be hers and she would be responsible for its content, and of course know what the content is, and she would need to attend the Visa Application Centre. Supporting docs can be uploaded from anywhere. A reputable agent would certainly be a good option.

The use of an agent can be reassuring for some applicants, though you can do most of the donkey work from the UK if you wished. If she does use an agent pick a reputable one, preferably one that’s registered with OISC in the UK, whilst that’s not a legal requirement here in Thailand, there are a lot of cowboys claiming to be reputable agents.

It's been reported that Heathrow wanted to almost double their charges but the regulator trimmed back the increase. The Guardian has reported that the Chancellor intends to substantially increase the APD for ultra long destinations, giving Singapore as an example of "ultra long", we will have to wait until Wednesday to see if there's any truth in that.

I'll move this to the Thailand Visa section

I use the mytello app, it costs me 0.3 Baht a minute to a landline and 1.4 Baht to a mobile. You pay for a local call, but that is covered by my contract minutes with true.

Members will be aware that with the help of our member @ianguygil we reached out to Bangok Bank, senior managers promised to look at the issue, and I received this response earlier today. Thanks very much @ianguygil Thank you for informing us about the problem of customers who have sent international funds transfers from Wise to their account maintained with Bangkok Bank in Thailand and do not have the FTT code, referring to an international funds transfer transaction, in the bank statement. As you explain, Immigration may need to see proof that the funds have been received from overseas, when they renew their visa. Bangkok Bank would like to clarify the process we follow when we receive payment instructions from Wise to credit the account of a beneficiary in Thailand. When the payment instructions are for a beneficiary that has an account with Bangkok Bank, the bank will credit the funds to the beneficiary account and the code for the account credited will be FTT code. When the payment instructions are for a beneficiary that has an account with another local bank in Thailand, we will transfer funds to the beneficiary bank via the SMART system. Since it will be a domestic payment in Thailand, the code for the transfer to the beneficiary bank will be the domestic code. To solve this problem, the customer can contact Bangkok Bank to ask for a Confirmation Letter of International Funds Transfer which they can submit to Immigration, together with the bank statement and the Confirmation Letter of the Balance in the Account. This can be used to prove the international source of funds. We are attaching the guideline for obtaining a Confirmation Letter of International Funds for your reference. If the customer has an account with Bangkok Bank but the payment instruction from Wise was sent to another local bank in Thailand, that local bank will send funds via the SMART system to Bangkok Bank. In this case the customer must contact that bank to ask them to issue a Confirmation Letter of International Funds Transfer. The person remitting the funds can see the name of Wise’s banking partner in Thailand in the receipt for international funds transfer issued by Wise. We hope this is helpful and would appreciate it if you could also share this information with your members. Guideline for obtaining a Confirmation Letter of Int. Funds Transfer (1).docx

I live in the next province, Prachuapkhirikan, and did my report online a day or so ago and got an instant approval.

I've used Agoda for bookings throughout Europe also, never had an problem.

I did an online 90 day report yesterday, my confirmation of approval was instantaneous.

And maybe even in the same office. ????

With the K+ App I did neither, it was pretty straightforward. Your screenshot seems to be from the website, I previously mentioned the App. I can’t remember the fees, but at the time I thought them to be reasonable.

Thanks loburi3, I have to confess that nobras post confused me as well.

Nonsense troll post removed.

"Has anyone else used the Kbank app to transfer money out of Thailand" "Can I just download the Kbank app and then transfer baht out to my Australian bank account without and paperwork?" Yes, I have used the K+ App a number to send funds out of Thailand, I found it to be pretty straightforward provided the transfer met the criteria. Yes, once you have the app you can transfer funds for a number of reasons, you do have to confirm the reason for the fund transfer. I've only ever used it to send cash to Singapore and Malaysia, though Australia is on the list, whether you can send to your own account overseas I don't know, it might flag up a request for further details, though I don't really know.

If you've married in the UK, you're married anywhere in the world, including Thailand, there's no need to inform the Thai Embassy. If she's taken your name, that would have been her choice as there's no requirement to do so, she should change her passport and ID card, I don't think there's a rush to do so, but any flight tickets she has booked should reflect the name in her passport.. Congratulations

I made the second transfer yesterday, that has just arrived, also with the FTT code I’d hoped for.

Having a sponsor is not a requirement, if she can satisfy the decision maker that the proposed trip is genuine, affordable from her own means and that, on the balance of probability, she will leave the UK at the conclusion of her proposed trip, then in all likelihood her visa will be granted.

Without wishing to be pernickty a sponsor cannot guarantee anything other than say that a proposed course is in place or to say they would provide funds and could afford to do so. In the event that visa holder overstayed the sponsor couldn't be held to account.

It working OK for me, so I'll close the thread. If there are further issues do let me know and I'll reopen it.

I made a transfer via Wise on Friday, and was half expecting to be in the same boat as a number of other members despite using the "long stay in Thailand" route, but it hit my account with Bangkok Bank about twenty minutes ago with the FTT tag. I'd only sent half of what I needed on Friday, with the intention of sending the other today via Swift from my bank if I didn't get the correct code, I'll now send the other half via Wise. It seems to be very hit and miss, and not good for my stress levels at my age.

A couple of weeks I think, the funds just appeared back in by account. They did send me a letter, but to an old address.

I had a Bangkok Bank debit card, I'd never used it physically or online, in fact it's never left a drawer at home. I received an SMS from the bank that it had been used for a EDC transaction for just over 2,000 Baht. I notified Bangkok Bank that I hadn't made or authorised the transaction, they required a police report after which the cash was refunded. I have absolutely no idea how it happened, and I've not bothered to get a new card.

Do think this will be a surprise to her, or do you think she probably knows it's coming?