theoldgit

And Cathay Pacific do or don't issue fast-track Immigration coupons in Business Class?

Sorry, Cathay Pacific do issue fast-track Immigration coupons for their Business Class customers.

I looked at going last Christmas and only started looking about October, prices for the flights I could get were well in excess of £1,000 in steerage. In the end we didn't go, and with the snow in the UK I'm glad we didn't.

I am amazed to hear that both Emirates and Qatar business class issue fast track immigration coupons for landing at BKK.

I wonder why Thai Airways do not?

And Cathay Pacific.

My lawyer gave me a copy saying that copies should be given out on arrival, but it was too late by then.

Not sure what the third degree treatment is.......

There have been a few reports of Thai women getting a hard time from Immigration Officers and given in-depth questioning, though I think it is women travelling alone. It has never happened to my girlfriend, and neither have I seen it.

Your girlfriend does not need a visa, but possibly might get the third degree from the immigration staff, only possibly.

Cannot advise on your requirements because I don't know your nationality, but most westerners can enter visa free.

Have always avoided train journeys to Malaysia and Singapore because I have been led to believe they are fairly complicated, but I'm sure it would be fun.

It's wait and see I'm afraid, the text just tells you the package has been returned from the embassy and even VFS don't know the result.

You will know how strong the application was, good luck and let us know the result.

I wonder why they just transfer these corrupt cops to an inactive post, where they probably are still being paid, though the punishment is probably the lack of opportunity for further corruption.

They should prosecute and, if convicted, jail them - have to build more prisons though.

Cannot see the point, perhaps the Mirror have a hidden agenda.

Maybe the police have a hidden agenda.

What happens if you are out of the country when you renew your passport?

Will the re-entry visa in the old passport be valid to get back into Thailand?

That's a good point, I was thinking about renewing mine in the UK on cost grounds.

Buy the paint and do it yourself is the best bet, it doesn't take long.

Totally agree, this will ensure that you have proper preparation and ultimately a better, and probably cheaper, result.

I didn't think BA had a lounge at Suvarnabhumi, I thought they used the Qantas lounge, is this new?

So much nonsense here, HMRC says that UK purchases are non-vatable to non-residents, forget the BS about the need for return tickets, extra payments et al. If in doubt, email HMRC.

So I can pitch up to a High Street store and tell them I am a non-EU resident, please sell me that laptop tax free?

Or do I pay the VAT and claim it back at the airport, like I have done in Singapore and Hong Kong?

^^^^

I really don't know, all I did was cut and paste their reply to me.

I presume this is to claim your refund at the airport, the other company I contacted didn't say you had to have a ticket but did say you must have the goods examined by HMRC before checking in, which infers that you are leaving The EU.

I wanted to know this answer for certain so I emailed one of the refund companies in the UK, it can be done and this was their response:

"I confirm that you can claim VAT on purchases during your visit to the UK if you can provide the following at the point of Departures

1 - Proof that you are resident in Thailand, and will be remaining out of the UK for 12 months

2 - Obtain the VAT form at the point of sale from the retailer as you can not claim with till receipt only

3 - Present the goods and valid return ticket on the day of departures."

Good news, finally!

Well not for me it's not, the cost of my VOA for a forthcoming mini break has just gone up by 150%.

Visa, Never have we had to show or prove we had a visa for the flight before booking.

You can book as many flights without holding a visa, but airlines will not board you without one, assuming you are a visa national.

If a visa national makes it to a UK border without a visa the carrier is liable for a fine of £2000 per person, the cost of repatriation and any detention costs, so you will understand why check-in staff are thorough.

oh shit, sorry, my sincere apologys.

Think we will leave it there, cannot compete with a nutter.

Shady old boy, don't worry about all the negative views, follow your heart.

You do need the wedding certificate from the Amphur, but it is pretty easy to obtain. You have to get a letter from the UK Embassy affirming you are free to marry, details here http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for...ister-marriage/

You have to get the affirmation in person, but I used an agent local to the embassy to translate and, to save the bother of a couple of trips to the MFA, got them to do the paperwork, cannot remember the cost but it wasn't very much.

Once you have all the paperwork from the MFA it's a case of pitching up at the Amphur completing a couple of forms and you are married. The wedding ceremony is nice, but you don't need to do it, you can come back anytime and do it.

Quote - Yes there are probably one ore two people a year who fall for a bar girl and want to take them on the first available flight home, they are few and far between and are pretty soon weeded out by the authorities.

I don't gink so, one or two a year? No way, more like hundreds and many get refused. One or two a year, hahaha - made me laugh that one, thanks for cheering me up!

So you gink that there are hundreds that want to their new bar girl home on the next available flight?

If you have a Certificate of Permanent Residence (PR) you use the Thai Passport lines regardless of your nationality. It's great, just one of the benefits of having a PR watching all you short timers and tourists queueing up at the Foreign Passport lines.

Stick us down for one of them.

Clearly you haven't read the thread bjoe97, the OP is visiting a museum.

When I read your thread I initially though you might be someone with some compassion, but it seems you only want to help some people and have excluded the people who could really do with some help, as unpleasant as that may be, double standards I think.

Thanks very much.

It's coming up to that time of year when I have to extend my stay based on retirement again, I had hoped to also get a new re-entry permit and do my 90 day report at the same time. Is it doable, are the various departments fairly close together, and clearly marked?

I plan to drive from my home in Thonglor, again is it a pretty straightforward drive?

Thanks in advance.

On that subject haven't from JFC in a while, presume he is researching his book.