theoldgit

What I am looking for is ANY help anyone can provide to build a case against this refusal. I have already been told that appeals are long winded hence intend submitting a new application when I'm back over there in Thailand. BUT I feel strongly against this decision and fully intend to appeal. In actual fact having already spoken to a couple of guys in the same position I'm angry.

I've also spoken to one of the Thai agents. He suggested an appeal was a waste of time as it takes too long (around 5 months) and GUARANTEED me a visa for the small fee of 35,000 Baht!!

The agent was in correct by saying that appeal in this case would be a waste of time because for a standard tourist visa there is no right of appeal, though if you thought, and could prove that the ECO has made a fundamental error the applicant could ask that the ECM review the decision, you would need pretty convincing evidence, for those with the right of appeal an appeal form is sent with with the refusal notice.

You are of course right in highlighting the guarantee from the agent, no agent can give you such a guarantee and is just a con.

Why does any thread that has a mention of smoking always result in smokers being criticised?

The deaths of most in my family were attributed directly or indirectly to smoking. And, except for a few that died early of heart attacks, they all said they wish they'd never started...as they struggled with emphysema or cancer. Maybe that's why.

I am a non smoker, in fact I have never smoked in my life nor do I like being in the vicinity of smokers.

This thread is about some people being scammed for illegally bringing excess cigarettes into the country not the rights and wrongs of smoking.

So, I ask again why does this thread which is about people being scammed, not the rights and wrongs of smoking, need to degenerate into smokers being criticised - they already know that it's a filthy habit that could kill them or at the least make them very ill, most would give up if they could.

I will leave it there

I bet they gave the taxi driver a nice tip.

If the fine is 560 Baht for a sleeve (200?) how did it equate to 80,000?

Why does any thread that has a mention of smoking always result in smokers being criticised?

Well done, just proves that they can see sense and be reasonable.

Really good news.

You say your girlfriend applied for a six month visa, yes that is the minimum visa but how long was the visit? anything longer than a couple of weeks will start alarm bells ringing, did you explain the purpose of the visit and supply her intended itinerary?

Not neccasarily correct. For my (now) wifes first visit visa we said she would be in the UK for three months. I explained fully in my sponsors letter the reasons for the planned length of stay and her visa was granted within four days (her second visa was for two months).

Actually it is correct, whilst I don't know how long the OP's girlfriend had hoped to be in the UK, if it's longer than might be considered normal for a holiday, alarm bells would start ringing, I didn't say, or suggest that it wouldn't be granted, but you need to explain any unusually long holiday.

You obviously realised this when you sponsored your then girl friend and explained the reasons in your covering letter. I did the same recently for my girlfriend who is going to the UK for a couple of months, and her visa, her first, was issued.

But you are quite right that the issues raised by the ECO when turning down the application need to be addressed or I fear the result would be the same.

It also depends where your atm card is from, if it's from somewhere like the UK then, depending on your bank, you will more than likely pay a fee, on top of the 150 Baht imposed by Thai Banks, per transaction as well as a conversion charge of about 2.75%.

Another option, if from overseas, is travellers cheques, you have to pay a stamp fee per cheque but you will get a marginally better rate than cash, you could then use your atm card as a backup.

I think you are almost there, when she applies she needs to provide the proof of what you have outlined above, ie the proof of your relationship, letters, email and telephone logs and details of your time together, photos and copies of your passport pages proving you trips to Thailand. As her financial sponsor you need to provide a letter outlining your relationship and the reasons for the trip, you should provide evidence that it is appropriate and affordable for you to finance the trip, if that's what you are doing, bank statement and pay slips should do this.

If she can provide a letter from her employer that leave has been approved and she is expected to return to her job after her holiday, then that would normally be regarded as a sufficient reason to return, of course she should back this up with proof of her income from this employment.

Remember that most applications are approved, and your girlfriends application seems pretty straightforward on what you have described. If she has sufficient means she doesn't need a sponsor, but it might help in this case if she wants a month away, which might be regarded as longer than the normal trip.

Good luck.

Yes you can apply straight away but you must address the concerns of the ECO in the rejection letter.

Unfortunately it's not uncommon for some girls to have one or two boyfriends on the go and as the calls seem to have been one way it might have caused some concerns from the ECO, I am not suggesting for one moment that your girlfriend falls into this category. When she reapplies she needs to address this concern explaining the fact that you call because you can afford to and of course it's cheaper to call from the UK.

Telephone conversations are not the be all and end all, the strength and length of you relationship is important, I have to say that knowing her for seven months is a tad on the low side, but others will say their girlfriends have been granted visas for a shorter relationship. During your visits have you travelled around Thailand or even better overseas, if so give copies of any photos.

You say your girlfriend applied for a six month visa, yes that is the minimum visa but how long was the visit? anything longer than a couple of weeks will start alarm bells ringing, did you explain the purpose of the visit and supply her intended itinerary?

The other important thing to address are strong reasons to return, studies, employment and the ownership of land or property, compelling reasons to return, with evidence, could outweigh the lack of evidence of strength of your relationship.

In short you can apply again but unless she presents a stronger case I fear the result will be the same.

Am not an epidemiologist, but wonder the effectiveness of closing schools for 5 days.... Dukkha

About as effective as the face masks.

I did contact the Embassy as Pingit did and await a proper reply from them. They did send me a message saying that they have received my stuff and "to stop trying to contact them on the matter" so will just wait the 20 days and see what happens.

That remark from the embassy staff is outrageous what do they expect you to do?

Has anyone written to their MP or to some other government office to complain or see if anything can be done?

Somebody posted that they went to their MP's surgery and was advised that they would make some enquiries, I'm sorry but I cannot remenber who it was and what the outcome was - cannot trawl through 64 pages.

It really is a disgrace though, whatever the reason.

Its mainly the Thai girls that get scammed not the farang.

For sure, which at the end of the day inevitably means the farang pays, though I think a fair few farangs get scammed as well..

I wonder if the people that work at the embassy, and I include The Ambassador, who are playing with peoples lives actually read these heart wrenching posts and maybe have a twinge of conscience. Maybe the first, but I really doubt the second.

Here's a guide to your NHS entitlement - http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family...from_abroad.htm

That's actually pretty helpful, thanks.

So you can get free NHS treatment, just claim asylum.

Edit: This clause is worth knowing

Visitors who can receive NHS hospital treatment free of charge

• you normally live abroad, and are receiving a UK state pension, and have lived in the UK in the past for at least ten years

When do the NHS check to see if anyone is entitled to treatment

Probably never, but they have the right to and they are told to do so, though I am sure they are so under resourced billing returning ex-pats and their spouses isn't at the top of their list.

For peace of mind we purchase health insurance if we go back for a holiday, it's a requirement for a trip to a Schengen country anyway, and at about 3500 Baht for the two of us for five weeks I think it's worth while doing.

Those are everywhere, not only at the british side of the story.

I once was offered a tourist visa, I just had to pay almost 800 euro. What do you mean corruption? Even the embassy is corrupt.

Who offered you a tourist visa for where and who for?

What was the outcome of your complaint about the corrupt embassy?

I booked online from uk with a thai/farang travel agent (www.moxtravel.com). No problems, paid with my cc online, mrs travelled alone from bkk.

The problem usually arises when you book directly with an airline on their website, Air Asia is a surprising exception. I understand it's all to do with who takes the risk if there is an issue with the card, a travel agent will have ensured that the payment has cleared before the ticket has been issued, so I don't why the airlines cannot do this.

I have certainly had a problem with Thai and Virgin with this rule. There was a thread on this recently in the travel section.

^^^^^^^

I believe the rule about people moving overseas not being able to claim NHS is already in force and I think that you lose the right after two years (only think), though I doubt if I would be refused treatment if I pitched up in an emergency.

Having lived in Thailand for two years I would fall into this category even though I made NHS contributions for 44 years and pay £600 UK tax per month on my pension.

I submited my settlement Visa 23 june, As soon as there is a reply hopfully positive I will book a flight as soon as my lady rings me, Can the tkt be picked up at Bangkok airport if i book it on line in the Uk , You usualy have to print thr E tkt off , but that would be no good for her,

You need to be very careful about booking a ticket online if you are paying with your credit card and not travelling, there have been a number of stories about people being denied boarding in such circumstances.

There are ways round this so check it out.

The problem for some people will be satisfying the proof of identity requirements, generally needing two original bank statements or utility bills in the name and address of the applicant (translated into English if necessary) together with a certified copy of passport (visit to British Consulate). PO Box addresses are not acceptable.

The cost of making a ITT varies with amount but I believe that the lowest rate for the Bank of Scotland Int. is 15 GBP, so probably would not be worth making a monthly transfer.

Certainly with Nationwide they need a copy of your passport, or other photo id, and a utility bill or the like to prove your address and they do have to be certified by a consular official, lawyer or police officer [don't think I will do that] they do say that if you are visiting the UK you can go into any Nationwide branch with your docs and they will certify them for free, they even provide a letter of instruction for the Nationwide staff.

You are of course correct about watching the transfer charges, Nationwide is £20, but I need to weigh this up against the cost of cashing a sterling cheque in Thailand. I am also in receipt of a Civil Service Pension and whilst they pay it into my Thai bank they buy Baht in the UK and I seem to be losing about 1.5 Baht in the Pound, this alone means that I will save every month even after paying the transfer fee, though I probably wouldn't do it monthly, and of course when I am eligible for my state retirement pension it will be much easier.

Just got back from Heathrow from picking the Mrs up. Her flight arrived at 19.10 and she emerged 2 hour 10 mins later...........UKBA having a last laugh.

Would be interested to learn a bit more about your wife's experience at Heathrow, was the Border Control particularly busy with long lines or did they give her a hard time?

The most important thing is she is home now and you can get on with your lives.

I wish you both every happiness.

I remember reading it at the time, this was from the BA website, and where I got some of my info:

Airbus specifies the maintenance regime and supplies spare parts which make Concorde fly. Airbus has made it clear that it will not support Concorde operations, by any airline, beyond October 2003.

Noel Forgeard, Airbus chief executive was quoted in the Financial Times : "The costs of operating Concorde, and in particular maintenance and support, have become such that operations are unrealistic for any operator."

One of my offices used to overlook Heathrow, I got a thrill watching it take off right to the end.

It's just a bog standard reply probably sent by a clerk, and whilst it's of no help whatsoever at least it shows they actually read the e-mails, though they may just as well set up the reply on an out of office feature.

OK so I was wrong, but Airbus decided they couldn't or wouldn't maintain it any longer so that was one of the reasons it was retired - or is that wrong as well?

Concorde is not an Airbus product. Airbus had nothing to do with it's retirement.

No Concorde wasn't an Airbus product but the consortium that built it later became Airbus, and one of the reasons it was retired is because Airbus was no longer willing to service it or provide the parts for others to do so.

Do you ever look anything up before making statements?

I think he probably did.

http://www.concordesst.com/retire/faq_r.html

I was lucky enough to fly on Concorde once from London to New York, fantastic.