theoldgit

Your girlfriend will need a visa for the UK and one Schengen Visa which will cover her for France, Germany and most other countries in Europe.

I personally would advise her to get the UK visa first, and then apply for her Schengen Visa, which should really be for the first country in the Schengen Area you want to visit.

Have a read through the threads and come back with any specific questions, but basically she needs to prove that the trip is affordable, either by her or you, and that she would return home at the end of the trip.

Good luck

I lost my original copy so I got a certified copy of the court document and it cost me a fiver.

I imagine they would accept a letter from a solicitor confirming that it's a true copy, at the end of the day all you are doing is making an affirmation that you are free to marry.

I think what True needs to realise is that whilst Thai is the national language and therefore it's appropriate that they should broadcast in Thai, Thai language speakers are in the minority worldwide and in Thailand there are nationalities from around the world who do not speak Thai.

True advertise their products in English speaking newspapers in Thailand and I would have thought it would be appropriate for them to mention the fact that whilst they advertise the service in English language newspapers they fail to mention the fact that they are not providing an English soundtrack, after all they mention just about every thing else in the ads terms and conditions.

Whether True like it or not English is an international language and most people around the world, where English is not the first Language, use English as their second language. True offer dual a language facility on many of their out dated movies but not on a world wide event such as The Football Worl Cup.

True have already shown their contempt by the cancellation of BBC Entertainment and do not seem bothered by the ensuing cancellations of premium subscribers. I think I have to accept that True are not interested in any customers other than Thai customers and despite the fact that they do actually employ expat staff they have no interest in becoming a truly international company.

Access to this information. Suspended temporarily by virtue Emergency Decree on Public Administration.

In emergency situations, BE 2548.

The command center of the emergency situation.

Courtesy of Google Translate

She will legally be able to drive with a Thai licence or an IDP but, as Davee58 has suggested, the problem could well be with the car hire company.

When I have used my Thai licence or even my UK licence with a Thai credit card and address, the quoted price more than doubled, think you might need to shop around.

A client came into my office to go through the documents with me when I showed her the sponsors letter she pulled a face saying she could do better ?

I advised her is that correct after 2 failed visa applications you did yourself you are no expert, she got her visa issued some two weeks later .

I hope I have misunderstood you TVE, you're not saying you wrote the sponsors letter are you?

Sadly, for anything fair dinkum to happen about this, the BIB needs to be overhauled and the chances of that are? All other talk is pointless.

That's absolutely tight ND, but it will never happen in our lifetime.

The police here are a national joke and an absolute disgrace, the majority have no desire to set a good example or properly enforce laws, they will only "fine" people if there is quick money in it for them.

When I first came to Thailand I was advised by an expat who has been here for 20+ years that the police are at the root of most of the crimes here, I am at a loss to understand why successive governments don't, or cannot address the issue.

Why do True continue to advertise their World Cup HD package in English language newspapers with a ton of conditions but leave out the fact that their is no English soundtrack?

Does anybody have experience of what happens if you renew your passport in your home country, which in the case of my country is substantially cheaper, and thus don't have a letter from your embassy requesting that the stamps are transferred?

I don't what you regard as loads of dosh but if you found to be carrying excess amounts of cash, I think it's about £2,000 and they have detector dogs at many UK airports, HMR&C can ask you why you are carrying the cash and where you got it from. They can, and do, seize cash if they are not satisfied with your response.

Yes the live updates were essential reading throughout the recent troubles and it was the only safe way to keep abreast of events as they rolled out.

A very big thank you to everyone involved, I realise it was a monumental task.

Obviously the ECO will know you have had some input to the application and it has been prepared together.

I have always left the ECO in no doubt by stating in my sponsors letters that as a couple we have clearly collated the evidence together.

This was around 7 years ago so maybe they've lightened up in the meantime.

Hopefully they have at least improved their interpersonal skills, maybe you were just unlucky with the IO's you had to deal with.

Obviously it's better if you are able to clear the border together in case of any queries.

My local Pub 'The Crossbar' in Bangkok has got a slingbox installed from the UK for the world cup with BBC or ITV commentary so i'll be heading down there for the England games.

Do you know if they will be open for the early morning England games?

Sorry to disillusion you, but I stay in Thailand on an Extension based on Retirement, and, as such, cannot have a work permit. However, this did not stop Amex pestering me for months to take an AMEX Platinum Card with well over 100k credit.

I eventually gave in to them and still enjoy the benefits. I must confess to thinking that there must be a lot of people who have done the same and ended up with problems re-payin them.

Likewise, as per my previous post, I was offered one as a Thai Airways Gold Card holder, only applied out of devilment as I live here on a retirement pension. Surprised to receive the card a couple of weeks later, with a 310,000 Baht credit limit, though I only use it within my means as I appreciate the dangers of building up debt.

I suspect I fell through the net as a friend who has lived here for about 10 years had his application declined.

Correct If I am wrong, but a AMEX card needs to have its full balance paid at the end of every month ??...if so not really a credit card then...

AMEX also do a credit card which I was also offered with just my retirement pension, we could go on for ages about the advantages and disadvantages of a credit card as well as the risks of running up debt, but they are really convienient.

Just be aware that there is a central database that contains the details of all sponsorships worldwide, be it in Thailand, Timbuktu or Tajikistan, which is accessible to all ECO's around the globe, though I don't know if the database is routinely interrogated.

Of course the application form, for a visitors visa, does ask if the person you are staying with in the UK has sponsored anybody else in the last two years, though obviously as you will be sponsoring your wife, and you currently live in Thailand this would not apply.

On a personal note, I was previously married (well actually still am) to another Thai woman and I noted on this fact in my sponsorship letter for my current partner adding that the previous relationship had broken down, I was aware that previous sponsorships would be detailed on the database so I didn't want to think the ECO to think I was a serial sponsor. Despite the fact I was still married my girlfriends visit visa was granted on her first application. Now it's for you to decide if you want your wife to know about your previous application, but chances are that she would find out eventually.

They must have forgotten about that the 3 times I went to Uk with my missus, the second time I was carrying our 1 month old baby that has UK passport while waiting for the missus, and the third time the kid was 1.5.

If you had gone to the UK/EU desk together your wife shouldn't been turned away, it certainly is policy though I doubt if it is writing.

I renewed my passport in the UK six weeks ago, cost 77.50 pounds plus 8 pounds for the optional Post Office check & send service, thought it might be quicker but still took 12 days!

My old passport had my retirement extension & multi entry visa. Just showed both passports at Suvarnabhumi, no questions and no problem at all. Went to Immigration in Khon Kaen a week later and they transferred all stamps to new passport, no charge, and again no questions and no problem at all.

All the best & hope this will help.

Thanks for that Richard, just what I needed to know.

I got a taxi to the airport a couple of weeks ago as we were about 5 mins away the driver realised his meter wasn't moving, he tapped it and it started moving at the proper rate. On arrival the meter was only showing 47 Baht, against the normal 250 or so, I asked the price of the trip and he pointed to the meter with a shrug of the shoulders and a smile, I paid him the normal rate adding a decent tip.

On my return, during curfew hours, I went up to the arrival level where a couple of drivers were cruising around, the one who stopped for me quoted 500 Baht plus the expressway fee, on advising that there was no need to use the expressway for Thong Lor his fixed price went to 600 Baht, I declined his kind offer, as did everyone else, and took a cab from the rank at the regular rate.

We were recently in a restaurant in Hua Hin, at the next table was a couple with two kids, they ordered a meal and Mum's meal was delivered fairly quickly as were the kid's meals, Dad waited patiently, the desserts arrived for Mum and the kids with Dad still waiting for his main course and on enquiry being told his meal was on the way. Mum and the kids finished their deserts, Dad still waiting for his main course, after a little while, without prompting, the bill arrived, Dad pointed to his dinner on the bill explaining that he was still waiting for his dinner, the waitress simply deleted the item and recalculated the total, adding "not have". I suspect that couple will not be returning. Only in Thailand.

^^^

My partner and I are not married so our surnames are different, and we have always gone through together.

There were even real Christmas Trees available last year in Villa Supermarkets, they were available to order but at a price, as I recall, in the region of 10,000 Baht.

The UK Passport Service does advise that overseas residents can renew if they are in the UK and of course it's considerably cheaper to do so, I have noted that passport applications are being turned round pretty quickly at present, though that could change.

The only thing I am not sure about is can I use my new passport along with the full one, which contains my extension of permission to remain along with my re-entry permit, to re-enter Thailand and then get the stamps transferred. I am aware this is allowed by most countries, or would I have to get a new visa, as "loong" suggests, and then start the process all over again. Does anybody have a definitive answer about this?

^^^

Yes, but the OP has advised that the applicant provided all the details of the tenancy, with the supporting evidence, with the application.

Whilst I accept that ECO cannot reasonably be expected to know the ins and outs of tenancy laws, and seemingly Immigration rules, surly they cannot simply refuse an application because they don't understand the rules, they should read the evidence.

if you are young, you can just ask for a student card and you get 99/100 times.

I think ur suppose to be under age 25 for that one.

And have a valid Student ID