theoldgit

You might find the attached document useful, it gives the grounds for divorce under Thai law.

A couple wishing to divorce can pitch up at the Amphur with their marriage certificate sign some forms and their marriage is at end, this is also recognised in the UK. Obviously this is not appropriate in your fathers case, so he will need to go to court to get divorced, I would have thought that section 4 or 4/2 would be most appropriate, but he will need legal advice.

7by7's advice is sound, and there is no reason why your fathers girlfriend should not be granted a visa in the circumstances you explain, I know from personal experience that it can be done.

I wish him all the best.

Grounds_for_divorce.pdf

whats quiker guys ;

doing an appeal, or, just submitting a fresh settlement visa application.

If you have spoken to an ECO and they have indicated they will look at further evidence then it seems that they might consider it without a further application, I think that's what you are saying, otherwise they wouldn't indicate they could overturn the initial decision. Nobody likes having their decisions overturned.

I would submit the additional evidence, but have your appeal ready to go in before the deadline.

The countries with which the UK has social security agreements with are: Barbados, Bermuda, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia, Israel, Jamaica, Jersey and Guernsey, Mauritius, Montenegro, Philippines, Serbia, Turkey, USA, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/ipc/faqs.asp

Also, I've heard mixed reports on this BUT.........you cannot take your pension and enjoy your pension years in Thailand, or anywhere else outside of Europe. So if/when you get your pension, just don't declare you're moving to Thailand to spend it there as they will freeze pending appeal.

There is on bloke i know off who declared he was living in Thailand, they froze his pension pending appeal, it still hadn't been dealt with 2years later and now living in Laos as its cheaper than Thailand and his life savings will only last him "so-long".

The British government are thinking of bringing in o.a.p's with random appointments to make sure there still in this country. Also of trying to bring o.a.p's in once a month to sign for pensions.

Sorry you have been misinformed, you can draw your retirement pension in any country in the world, there is a department that deals with overseas pensions, they will even pay your pension directly into a foreign bank account in some countries - Thailand is not one of those countries, but there are ways round it if you no longer have a UK bank account.

When you leave the UK your pension is frozen at the rate when you leave, there are exceptions to this, Philippines and the USA for example.

Edit: Having read your post again, I'm not sure if I have understood you correctly. Yes, they freeze your pension if you declare that you are living in Thailand, it's not pending an appeal, you tell them and they freeze it. If you don't declare that you are living overseas and they are still paying the UK rate then it's unlawful, if and when they find out, you will need to face the consequences.

Your pension is frozen from the time you start to draw it and is not calculated from the time you left the UK .

You are correct, as well as being too quick.

I suppose you might get some sort of a pension based on your contributions, try this for a starter

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/state-...-calculator.asp

I have found that they are very helpful if you email them you questions.

Be careful at the Tattoo there is a nice Thai restaurant just down the road, the good lady might not be able to get past it

Thats the point I am trying to clarify, If I check in on line and print out a boarding pass, have only carry on luggage

can I just go direct to the plane?. just transfer so to speak.

When I have checked in online I have still needed to go a check in desk for their "document check" where they actually stamped and kept a portion of the boarding card I had printed.

I can see that benefits of what you are hoping to achieve, but I suspect that in practice it might not work.

Thai Air and also Gulf etc are all competitive with prices starting at 29,000 Baht.....these are prices that were the same at least 5 years ago.

Stick us down for a few of those 29,000 Thai flights from Bangkok to London. 65,000 Baht (£1181) for the dates I was looking for in October, as opposed to the other direction £366 (20,130 Baht) - both quotes on the Thai website so thought I would have been looking for similar prices.

I had swapped postings with some guy who was going to tell me when his gf got hers (but now cannot find that thread). Hope yours works out on a timely basis too mate.

That might have been me, my friend applied on 26th May and she picked up her visa today, so five weeks and a day for a process that took three days last year.

First application and successful, though a number of trips around SE Asia.

Seems that they are indeed processing by planned departure date which is fine though a little frustrating for those who try to plan ahead.

It was a Summer Sale offering discounts of up to 50% that ended yesterday, I think there was another post about it, so if it in fact ended yesterday then yes the prices would have doubled from today.

I also managed to book a room at the discounted rate in Hong Kong.

Anyone know the fax number???

From the Diplomatic List: Fax: 0-2254-9579

Looking to get a Post Office Box, anybody know if they are easy enough to get and the price?

Thonglor/New Petchburi Road.

Thanks

How is the parking around the BTS station?

Pretty grim (there is a bit but very hard to come by), I would actually use the BTS.

We acknowledged of receipt the below e-mail and passed on to the relevant officer whom will reply in 20 working days.

Another four weeks, that's kin ridiculous.

Yes that wont be enough to cover her stay.

Strewth that's over eight thousand quid, can have a pretty good holiday on that, though it depends on the length of the trip.

When she applies she will need to explain why she has a sudden influx of funds into her account as the ECO would probably be suspicious, the funds could just as easily be taken out after she has Entry Clearance.

She will need to explain the reason and length of the trip, and, importantly, convince the ECO of her reasons to return, affordability is only one part of the process.

Actually I have a different one? 0-2255-9278 ?

got it from the british embassy website bangkok?? should I use your one? really appreciate that !!

Sorry I honestly don't know, I copied mine from the Diplomatic List.

Well your up late and I'm up early, I am just off to make an offering to the monk - I will put a word in.

Oh, the fax for them: does anyone know if its just the general fax number that is on the website for the British embassy bangkok, or would Gerry Grant have a different number. Just want to make sure he receives my documents...

I don't know if the ECM has his own fax number, I suspect not, I presume you have this one: 0-2254-9579

Edit: Just a thought I would be inclined to address you fax for general attantion just in case he is on leave and it gets put to one side, I obviously don't know their internal procedures. Without wishing ing to give egg sucking advice don't forget to put the reference numbers on your fax to ensure it's linked to the correct file.

Good luck.

Let me guess oldgit - you come from a place well south of Watford Gap

Watford Gap? isn't that near the Arctic Circle?

I stand corrected, yes you can apply for a Certificate of Approval, but that is a very long process which involves a lot of evidence and has to be done by post, I think Durham or somewhere, and a wedge of cash. You also need to have a certain time left on your visa.

I was trying to advise that you cannot just go to the UK and "just do it".

I have to disagree as I have seen the Thai immigration write in passports that the holder is a convicted criminal, the charge and the punishment, plus whether the holder is banned from reentering Thailand or not. The Thai immigration do as they please, so you are completely wrong.

And the UK Visa Section put a stamp in a Thai, or any other nationalities, passport when a visa is refused.

Would it be worth contacting the foreign office in London seeing as i am in the UK?

UK Visas are no longer part of the FCO but are part of the UKBA, though some of the staff are still FCO staff. I honestly think you will be running round in circles trying to find someone in the UK who could, or would even try to do anything.

Some posters have contacted their MP's and seem satisfied that at least they are being taken seriously, though I am not sure if there have been positive results, though I suppose that if enough MP's are involved questions might be asked about what is going on there.

I really think you need to be persistent with the Bangkok, and stay positive.

They will ask her long long she is staying and where and possibly who she will be staying with, I presume you will be there so if so make sure she has your cell phone number. Is Glasgow her first arrival in the UK? if so she will obviously clear Immigration there in the full knowledge that you are only a few steps away.

You are absolutely right in telling her to stick to the truth and not try to elaborate, tell her to try and remain calm and confident, easy for me to say.

Remember the visa is actually Entry Clearance meaning she has been checked and cleared for entry, so unless there has been a significant change since she applied the Immigration Officer would find it difficult to deny entry, and wouldn't really want to.

Tell her to sit back, enjoy the flight and look forward to visiting Nittshill National Park

I dont think you should have any problems getting a visa to go to the uk as long as you can provide proof that you are genuine.

why dont you just apply for a normal 6 month tourist visa and then get married in the uk during that time? you dont need to prove anything about getting married. just do it.

You need to be aware that you are not allowed to get married in the UK on a Tourist Visa, you cannot "just do it"

This is from the UKBA website, hope it helps.

"Can I get married or register a civil partnership in the UK?

If either you or your future husband, wife or civil partner are not EEA (European Economic Area) or Swiss nationals, you can visit the UK together to get married or register a civil partnership as long as you intend to leave the country within six months.

• Everyone coming to the UK to get married or to register a civil partnership (except EEA and Swiss nationals) must get a visit for marriage or visit for civil partnership visa.
  
• You will need to show evidence that you plan to enter into a marriage or civil partnership during the period for which you are granted leave (which will be for six months)."