theoldgit

I went to a Villa store recently and have to say that I was very impressed with the multi tasking skills of the check-out operator, she managed to serve three people, that's scanning the items, taking the cash and offering the change, without speaking, looking up or interrupting her telephone conversation.

I was so impressed, unlike the two older Thai ladies who were also served, I thought I would pass on my congratulations to the duty store manager, unfortunatly I wasn't allowed to se him/her, I imaging they get so much praise they didn't want to hear any more.

Just remember that Mr Hyde's family and friends might be reading this thread before you post.

Whilst I appreciate "Tigerjohn's'" kind words, I need to point out that I am not a professional in these areas, though I do try to help if I can.

Answering you last question first, the use of an agent is a very personal choice, the UKBA makes this point very strongly, it will certainly not guarantee you a visa. There are a number of cowboys, these are usually lurking around Regent House, but there are a few more hiding in travel agents and the like. Most people say you should only use an agent who his registered with OISC, I have often said this myself, but you also need to bear in mind that there is absolutely no requirement for an agent offering advice in Thailand to be registered. I know for a fact that there are some agents with very experienced staff some of whom have recently been ECO's themselves. Personally I wouldn't use an agent, especially at a grand a pop, the process is pretty straightforward, and there is plently of guidance on the VFS website and of course on this forum.

Regarding your specific points, you are married and need to prove so, your marriage certificate will prove this, but evidence of your time in Thailand together will help the ECO make the correct decision. Also in your sponsorship letter give details of your relationship, your time together and then go on to say why you returned to the UK and your plans for your future together.

Regarding your accomodation, you state it's suitable so you need to prove that's it's suitable for you and your wife and the future child. If the accomodation is yours then again prove so, mortgage statement etc, and proof that it's big enough.

Your financial circumstances seem ok, again you just need to prove that your job is real and that your prospects are sustainable, as much as anybodies is these days.

This is a pretty old link but it's well worth reading http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/81148-robs-guide-to-uk-settlement-application-preparation/

Come back if you have any concerns, someone will try and help you.

Good luck

1. They will not accept photographs on a CD, why do you need photos? You need prove that you are married, a marriage certificate will prove that.

2. You need to be able to prove you have suitable accomodation, you can do this by way of a report from the local authority, mortgage lender etc, you don't need Land Registry Docs. You don't need driving licences or proof of car ownership, owning a car is not a prerequisite of settling in the UK.

3. I can only advice that I have printed photos on regular paper, and they were accepted without question and visas, albeit tourist, were granted.

Have you read the supporting documents required by the UKBA? http://www.vfs-uk-th.com/images/SpouseAndCivilPartner.pdf

The conflicting advice you have been given proves the care that needs to be taken when applying for any sort of visa, the process is really quite straight forward, are you sure you really need the services of an agent?

This is an old thread but pretty useful and worth reading http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/81148-robs-guide-to-uk-settlement-application-preparation/

There is also plenty of reports of other peoples more recent experiences on this forum, worth spending a bit of time reading through some of them.

geriatrickid, you make some valid points and present a balanced argument, but like you I don't know what went on behind closed doors maybe Mr Hyde spoke down to his wife and maybe he didn't, unfortunately he cannot give his side of the story having been beaten with a hammer, stabbed and succumbing to his injuries in this cowardly attack.

However if he did talk down to his wife and she was that unhappy maybe she should have just walked away, taking her lover with her.

Given the "convenience charge" for using a credit card to pay for the bag, I wonder if it's it worth adding it online.

Yes it is, you only pay the "convienience fee" once, when you book.

If you want to add things like baggage, seat requests and meals later on you don't pay the fee again.

No doubt i will not get any refund if i cancel my plans...which i have had before....but this is no scam...

Only once have I not actually flown on one of these cheapo flights once I had booked and that was for a flight to Singapore last year, for that booking the fare was 0 Baht so all we had paid was 2,800 Baht being the Airport Tax, there was no "convenience fee" in those days.

Out of devilment I thought I would ask for it back, I sent three emails, none of which were responded to. Travelling through Suvarnabhumi a couple of weeks later I asked at their counter, the young lady told me it was a waste of time sending email, she took all the details and the 2,800 Baht was refunded a couple of weeks later, without any deduction, I was quite a happy bunny but I am easily pleased.

The SRT has expanded the times of the free trial period as of this week until the 23rd to the following;

6am to 10am and 4pm to 9pm, still M-F only.

That's intersting because I certainly saw trains running last weekend and I noticed trains running at 23.00 last night, there were certainly lights on in the carriages but my eyes are not good enough to confirm if there were any passengers on board, so they could well just be training runs.

That's correct, your girlfriend and daughter will each need a Schengen Visa obtained from the country where you first enter the Schengen area, as the UK is not in the Schengen Area they will need a separate visa.

For the UK visa they will need to apply in Bangkok and physically attend the Visa Application Centre for their biometric details to be taken, the VFS website gives a lot of useful information http://www.vfs-uk-th.com/ .

Assuming you will be entering the Schengen Area via Belgium then apply here http://www.diplomatie.be/bangkok/default.asp?id=28&ACT=5&content=18&mnu=28 again it's in Bangkok, once they have their Schengen Visa they can travel anywhere in the Schengen Area, if you are entering via another Schengen State the Google the relevant Embassy.

Good luck, and come back if you have any specific questions.

even then I've managed to leave a checked bag off one of the legs.

You can add the bag later, with these offers I never check bags or reserve seats until much later, just in case I know I'm not going to be able to make the flight.

You've done vey well there as the offer states that you fly from april 2011 to aug 2011

You will, of course, be aware that Air Asia hold regular promotions, our trip to Bali on Monday was booked in their promotion that ran last November, and our trip to Bali last November was booked in February, oh and I didn't mention that we are going to Krabi for 260 Baht in September, these were the 0 Baht promotions.

In the current offer I booked domestic flights at 180, including the taxes and CC fees, for May and July next year.

I had presumed you would have realised that I was making the point that these fares are available, though as well as saying you need to be ultra flexible I should have added that you have to be prepared to book months in advance.

It's a crock of BS....tried booking BKK to Bali....changing dates. It doesn't even list a promotion fare for April...11,000 a person r/t. Those of you who seem to get these "special" fares are mighty lucky.

Well maybe I'm just lucky, we are flying to Bali on Monday at a cost of 800 Baht each all in, and we went last November for a similar price.

I don't want to book any more flights to Bali just yet, but I did notice some 500 Baht fares, plus tax, available a little while ago, and I nabbed some 10 Baht domestic flights this morning.

You can get these cheap fares but you have to be ultra quick and flexible.

Yes I got caught by this scam, this morning I booked a number of return flights from Bangkok to Udon Thani, yes I know this is the Chiang Mai forum, each ticket cost me 290 Baht for the return flight, including the 100 Baht fee for using a credit card, I don't check luggage or reserve seats.

On Monday we are flying to Bali for 800 Baht return.

Long may these scams continue.

Children under the age of 18 require proof that their parent or guardian in their home country agree to the travelling, your wife is not under 18 so, as far as I can make out, will not require this.

This is a quote from the ECO guidlines

All applicants who are under the age of 18 must show that

• They have adequate travel, reception and care arrangements for their stay in the UK;
• they have a parent or guardian in their home country or country of habitual residence who is responsible for their care; and
• their parent/guardian agrees to them travelling.
  

The restriction for under 21's applies to those applying for a settlement visa, though if somebody is under 21 and already married there can be some descretion, but this does not apply in your case.

I certainly wouldn't be paying this agent 9500 Baht for a seemingly pretty straight forward application, as they don't seem to know the rules.

Are you living in Thailand?

thanks for your answer! Our intention is not that she studies or works - she simply wants to stay with me while I am studying there. But I thought that the officer might ask her during the interview what she wants to do when I am in the University and for this particular question I was looking for a good answer suggestion.

You make a good point but when you say a question that might be asked at interview do you mean by the ECO or, if her visa is granted, by the Immigration Officer at the port on her arrival in the UK?

Very few applicants are interviewed by the ECO, they normally make the decision whether to grant entry clearance on the evidence supplied with the application, so exactly does she plan to do throughout this long holiday? with respect, I say again, it's really not the sort of question you should be asking here.

If she is granted a visa the IO at Border Control will certainly ask the purpose of the visit and how long she intends to stay, once again she needs to convince the IO that she is a genuine tourist, remember she can be refused entry even with a visa.

Sorry if I seem to be the purveyor of doom and gloom, I'm not, but I am a realist and am try to help you.

Need to add a few more, don't drive motorcycle the wrong way down a road or on the pavement, stop at pedestrian crossings (now that would be novel), and I'm sure there are loads more.

Like the bit about shunning bribes, I wish him well.

I am afraid so

But shopping down town Bangkok will come cheaper

And safer

A tourist visa is just that, she would be visiting as a tourist, any intention of studying and the application would fall at the first hurdle.

So why does she want to go for a six month holiday? it's not something you should be asking this forum what to put, it's something she should have already decided.

One of the most important thing to consider when applying for a tourist visa is convincing an Entry Clearance Officer that she is likely to return to Thailand, that would normally be employment, studies or other strong ties to Thailand, and I don't know many jobs that would allow a six month holiday.

If you have really though this through then I apologise, but I really think that you need to lower your expectations and prepare an application for a proper holiday.

^^^^

Yes, as far as I can make out that map is up to date, the BTS extension from On Nut to Bearing is due to open in...............???????????

Without wishing to be pedantic but you are referring to The Airport Railway Link, it's totally separate from the BTS, though I believe you can transfer fairly easily to the BTS at Phayathai.

They are running a limited trial service and you can travel free of charge. The full service operates from 23rd August which is offering reduced fares until, I believe, the end of the year.

There are numerous threads about this topic, this is one of them http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/369458-airport-rail-link-again-sorry/

I think the CEO is keen to break the governments influence on Thai Airways, and to stop it being their toy, if he is able to break these shackles then he might have a fighting chance of making a go of this venture.

All well and good,but its still risky if you need to connect to a long haul home.Penny Wise Pound Foolish.

I agree entirely, hence my remark:

I agree with "elliss" I would think long and hard before I used them for a flight to meet onward travel.

I suspect there will be some good deals on offer from Thai Tiger Airways when they get going, hopefully with Air Asia offering some good headline fares in reply, I don't think AA will go down without a fight.<br />

It is happening tonight. Check AA website.

Yes, I have already seen that, I think this is one of their regular offers as it's far too early for a head to head with the new kids on the block.

Though it's still a trial service it is now running later, pretty frequently and at weekends, I only know because I see it from our condo.

i could not have a refund , because i paid by debit card .

Wonder why they wouldn't give you a refund because you paid by debit card, surly that should make no difference?

I have had a few dealing with AA Customer Services, which in the main have been positive.

I booked a 0 Baht fare to Bali and a couple of weeks before departure I noted a typo in my girlfriends name on the booking, thinking she could be denied boarding or at least be required to book another ticket I called their Customer Services for advice, with the expectation that they would refuse to alter the ticket, however they corrected the name on the ticket without question and free of charge.

Like you we had flights cancelled for outward and return flights to Krabi, I suspect fewer people flying, and were put on alternative flights the same day. The flight times were not that convienient so I called to change them, they were very helpful on the phone and changed the flights without charge, admit I would have been miffed if they had wanted to charge in these circumstances.

Had booked flights to Singapore, again 0 Baht but we paid the taxes, had a change of plan so didn't go. Thought I would try and get the taxes back, sent three emails to the relevant department all of which were ignored, spoke to the girl on the desk at Suvarnabhumi Airport when we were passing through, she smiled and told me that it's a waste of time trying to get a response by email, she processed the refund on the spot and it was credited to my credit card in about a week.

I think it's the luck of the draw dealing with them, but it seems emails are a waste of time and a phone call might get results.

I agree with "elliss" I would think long and hard before I used them for a flight to meet onward travel.