theoldgit

Copper in OZ would not accept my Thai license without an IDP.

He was of course wrong, though there is no point in arguing the point.

Visitors can drive using an overseas licence providing the details are in English, which a Thai licence is.

This is from one State, though I understand all the Sates have the same rules

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/Assis...tional_drivers/

The words "p*ss up" and "brewery" spring to mind.

Yes, I have also used mine in the UK and France without question.

Try this guy

http://mrmooltd.com/index.html

Also consider the Heathrow express if times are tight ...peng but only 15 min to Paddi then circle line to the X....although assuming no rail works (check on net TFL for info) U should be OK on the Picadilly .......

I was also going to suggest the Heathrow Express, they run every 15 mins and it's a 15 min journey, you can book and print your tickets on-line. As you will have luggage I would suggest taking a cab from Paddington to Kings Cross, it's not too far and as you are travelling fairly late the journey would be quicker then the tube even though it's only five stops, but it would certainly be better than lugging your luggage up and down the stairs.

I agree with others that an overnight stop in London might be more relaxing, you don't want to spoil your trip by worrying about queues and train connections.

^^^^

Great, thanks for that.

The British Embassy is certainly open on 3rd May, and as VFS website only lists the closure dates of the embassy I assume they are open as well.

Correct me if I'm wrong. It is illegal to to send any passport overseas from Thailand. If you need to renew a passport you must go threw your embassy in your host country (Thailand). This is Thai law.

Not sure that it's against the law as certainly the UK Passport Processing Centre in Hong Kong requires residents of countries other than Thailand to send the passports being renewed to Hong Hong. As I said earlier the arrangements for those applying from Thailand to just send a copy only applies because of the reason I have mentioned.

You are not allowed to send you passport to the UK, where replacement passports are considerably cheaper, "for security reasons" but you can send to Hong Kong, so work that one out.

It's been stated on this thread that it's not necessary to send your old passport when applying for a new one in HK.

However, On the Passport documents link on http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for...sport-documents

It states,

Renewing your passport or changing information in your passport

If you are applying to renew your passport or change information in it, in addition to the documents, you must also provide:

• your current passport or

• your old passport - the passport that has expired.

So which is correct, who has done what?

The information in the link I provided is the correct one as it specifically applies for those applying from Thailand, the link you provided is for those applying in Hong Kong and are actually in Hong Kong.

The procedures are different for those applying from Thailand because if the "legal requirement" to carry your passport at all time whilst in Thailand.

This is from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, where all the Diplomatic Missions are listed.

http://122.0.2.102/protocol/list_detail.as...e_code=11020001

My wife had/has a 'permanent leave to remain' sticker in her passport since 2002 but as we haven't lived in UK for more than 3 months a year for the past 2 years will it still be valid if we revisit UK or will she now require a tourist visa?

Sorry I'm not 100% sure about the requirement to spend time in the UK with permanent leave to remain though I think you neet to be out of the country for two years before you would encounter a problem, but that's only think.

I was just pointing out a potential problem with a visit visa, albeit one with a ten year validity where somebody spent more than six months in the UK.

The other thing to bear in mind is that a visa does not guarantee you entry, if the IO at the border notes that the visa holder has consistently exceeded the guidance of six months in the UK in a 12 month period then they could deny entry.

My wife paid an extra amount to be notified by text.

Yes I appreciate that, but the text only advises that the passport has been returned, it doesn't give the result of the application.

For the benefit of others, this is the details of the SMS service from the VFS website

SMS service - track your application

SMS and e-mail news updates will be sent to your mobile phone and your registered e-mail address provided in your application form, informing the status of your visa application. You will receive several automated messages to your mobile phone and e-mail informing you what stage your application is within the process. The service supports the transfer of SMS text into the language of your choice (Thai and English languages are available). At the end of the process you will receive an automated message informing you that UK Border Agency has made a decision on your visa application. You will not be informed on the outcome of the decision on your visa application.

You can buy this service for 75 Baht at the same time you submit your visa application form, supporting documents and biometric data at the visa application centre. The SMS service application form can be downloaded and completed before you visit the application centre by clicking here.

That said, I truly hope the application is successful

Not a settlement visa I know but my wife applied for her "tourist" visa on 21st april and she has just had a text today (30th april) saying it is approved and ready for collection.

So they may have their doors shut to the public but they are still working and therefore should be clearing some of their backlog which should please some people.

I am very suprised that the text said that the visa had been approved and was ready for collection, Visa Section normally return the passports to VFS in a sealed packet and the result is not known until until the applicant opens the pack, I will of course be more than happy to be proved wrong.

Just one point, the application centre is actually open for a limited time this afternoon, 15.00 - 16.30, for people who have been advised that their visa decision is ready.

Good luck.

But it wasn't the esteemed PM's fault he slagged off the lady in the privacy of his car, straight away he looked for someone to blame, in this case it was Sue, one of his advisers.

You have to remember Gordon can do no wrong, I can hardly believe there could be another four years of that <deleted> idiot at the helm.

We flew down from Chiang Mai last Friday only to find out from a colleague phoning them directly during the taxi journey to their office that they were shut. We had booked an application time for a tourist visa for my wife but they didn't bother to inform us they were closed. We wasted 2 round-trip tickets and a whole day. Now they are saying they are not sure if they will be open or not so how can we plan another trip from Chiang Mai? My mother is seriously ill and she wants to see her granddaughter before it's too late.

The demonstrations or the fall out from them are going to be there a while so why isn't there a contingency plan?

Of course they should have a contingency plan, and I said so yesterday.

They are opening on an ad-hoc basis and have been taking applications on a walk in basis and returning passports to people who have checked they are available, they have been updating their website with information, though you couldn't have checked this on your flight, or answered the phone. Of course it would be ideal if they contacted everybody but I really don't know how practical that is, though I agree it should be, I cannot remember if they asked for contact details. Clearly this is a very difficult situation for applicants and the people working in VFS, but to be fair it's not of their making is it?

I don't suppose the demonstrators really care whose lives they are disrupting.

When using UKNOVA I never notice my stats, also if I download something I keep my computer on all night but the UKNOVA

tracker seems to find others or just stop trying to download from me, therefore my ratio (If I ever find where it is located) is

not very good.

See where your user name is in the top right hand corner, hit the drop down box to the right of your user name and it shows your score.

My score is well in the red and despite leaving it connected for hours on end it hardly ever budges, for some reason it just seems reluctant to upload.

Based on Flash Gordon's comments about the lady in Wigan, think this gives us great insight into what the "ruling classes" think of the common UK born citizen/subject... ....." I apologised profusely in person, as there was a misunderstanding".....<deleted> Gordon, start packing your bags now...

Summed up nicely, the boy is still trying to wriggle himself out of that stupid remark as I speak.

Which she didn't, thefore the requirement as above.

You are of course correct, I had forgotton that the lady concerned had been in the UK in excess of 12 months, sorry all.

The Embassy has certainly not been closed for two days, though the VFS office has been closed on and off for a number days.

I don't think it's unreasonable to close if there are concerns for the safety of their staff and visitors.

Of course it's a major inconvenience to people waiting to collect passports and submit applications but this is yet another fallout from the reds demonstration, and is up there with the thousands of Thais who have lost their jobs or the people who have gone out business as a result.

It seems that the demonstrators are not too concerned about the havoc they are causing their fellow countrymen, and whilst I'm not a particular fan of the VFS operation, I think they have no choice.

I would hope that Visa Section has some sort of contingency plans to deal with this disruption if it goes on too long.

We went last year, four nights, we stayed at Sanur, nice hotel on the beach (Mercure), very laid back resort with plenty of nice restaurants though not too many bars. Picked Sanur partly for it's ease of travel to the airport.

Went to Kuta one evening, really glad we didn't stay there for the duration.

Didn't bother renting a car as you can get a car and driver very reasonably, and you can discuss your own itinerary.

We are going back in August, good old Air Asia - 700 Baht return, and whilst we enjoyed Sanur very much we will probably try somewhere else, only because we like to try somewhere new.

Last year I got a visa on arrival for US$10 as I was going for less that 7 days, they have now done away with this short term visa and you now have to pay US$25 for a 30 day visa,Thai nationals can enter visa free

Or that the UK has not supplied the normal letter asking for information to be transferred?

Is that a requirement or something done at the whim of the IO?

I was thinking of renewing my passport in the UK, where it is considerably cheaper, using my re-entry permit in my full passport to return and then get the extension and re-entry permit transferred, do you think that I am I setting myself up for problems?

Had a minor hiccup out here in the wilderness where the new Immigration Office in Udon Thani refused to recognize a new HK issued UK passport even with receipts. The guy stood his ground and after some time they place a call to Bangkok and was told it was OK. Ya gotta wonder!

Are the passports any different or was just the fact it was issued in HK that threw them?

Thanks, but if I send it, then I need a Credit Card, which I do not have, live here and have a yellow book, but not allowed to have a Credit Card. A bankers draft in HK Dollars might be impossible to get in the countryside, so for many a trip to the Embassy will still be required.

A fair point, but I suppose it's what's more convienient, a visit to Bangkok or a visit to a bank that can give you a draft in HK Dollars.

I think they call it progress.

The person wanting a New passport does not send the documents to Hong Kong, they go to the Embassy in Bangkok, who will check it and then send it to Hong Kong for the passport holder.

You can do either, you can send the application form with a photocopy of the passport directly to Hong Kong yourself or you can take the application to the Embassy in Bangkok, they will check and send it on your behalf. Either way you still have to pay for the form to be couriered to Hong Kong and the new passport to be couriered back.