theoldgit

Just for clarity travel insurance is not mandatory for visits to the UK, though obviously a good idea.

7by7 is absolutely correct with his comments about the Visa Application Centre, they seem to get plenty of criticism about the vulchers circling the office, though they have no control over them.

I think the offer by Thai Visa Express to photograph the "rouge agents" offices is sound and very helpful, though whether he would be able to post it on this forum is debatable.

It really sickens me to see these "rouge agents" giving people the once over as they enter the building or the VAC area and then usher them into their rooms to fleece them.

The ECM is called Gerry Grant, his name is listed on the Thai MFA website. I don't know if all his calls are diverted to a voicemail, but I imagine that he and all his team are pretty busy at the moment, so it doesn't seem unreasonable to use his voicemail to filter calls - providing he does return them.

You are correct about actually putting an appeal in as you only have a specific time, I was just advising that appeals can take a considerable time. I think that they would rather review them and possibly reverse decisions locally, if justified, rather than having appeals upheld centrally.

Just be aware that a formal appeal can take a considerable time, though it's possible a refusal can be overturned in the meantime.

Why don't you do what others have done and try and contact the ECM, Entry Clearance Manager, explain what's happened and ask him to have a look at it and maybe consider the additional evidence.

I think your experience is a lesson to all, ensure you have covered everything without overwhelming the ECO with too many documents.

The most economical way is to bring travellers cheques, you pay a very small stamp fee, get a better rate, I personally thinks it's also less hassle.

Whilst you don't pay the 150 Baht at the counter, I think, most UK banks will charge you a fee and a conversion rate.

You will be suprised they can remove her i know of a guy who wrote and confirmed this and she was deported at Heathrow on entry from a family visit.

Being refused entry isn't the same as being removed when you are already living in the UK is it?

No, but I checked in on-line and then had to join the standard queue to hand my luggage in as they didn't open the on-line check in desk.

Might get a bit of a grilling if it's a young woman and she is entering on her own, my gf did but was still allowed in.

Unless she is alleging the marriage breakdown is due to domestic violence committed by you on her, and she has police and medical evidence to support this allegation.

A very good point, there is a very good network amongst the Thai community and I have been told that in such cases women are advised by other Thai women to claim they have left their home because domestic violence, then under the protection of the Immigration Act they allowed to remain, at least for the time being.

Thank you for your posts. If I think she is really going to go on the game then I will have to try to get her removed from the uk as I still care about her and am worried about her safety. Would informing the police of her plans help my case or not. Will I have to pay for her flight even though she has left me. I dont have the money but if she is safe I will be happy to find it somewhere. I am going to get legal help next week but any more info would be great. Cheers

I think that it's unlikely that the police would take any action but on balance it's probably a good idea to advise them of your concerns, if you believe that she may be sucked into the sex trade against her will then your case might be stronger.

I think regarding the payment of flights you are between a rock and a hard place, someone has to pay, you obviously don't want nor can you afford to, she probably cannot afford to either, and she wants to go home with a wad of cash, her options are limited.

I have said elsewhere that you need to advise the UKBA that the relationship is no more it's then in their hands, and whilst her reason to stay fails with the end of the relationship it's highly unlikely that she will be removed though she will be required to leave when her visa expires.

If you write to UK/BA and inform them you are no longer in a subsisting relationship they will write back to you for confirmation of this. If you sign it and return it they will remove her from the UK.

Yes you should inform the UKBA that you are no longer able to support her as the relationship is no more, but it is highly unlikley that they will remove her from the UK.

Congratulations on the success all that now remains is to enjoy your time together, have a good trip.

My friend contacted VFS as she was concerned that she has been waiting a couple of days short of five weeks, last time it took two or three days, she was told that the applications are being processed by the intended date of travel. I suppose it's fair enough that they are at least trying to ensure that people are able to fufill their travel plans, but there is little incentive to apply early and if you do it's probably better to suggest an earlier travel date. Of course my friend still has to make her travel arrangements, including applying for her Schengen Visa which remains far quicker and cheaper, and purchase her flight tickets, which of course get more expensive as the proposed trip gets nearer.

After 3pm is when the passports can be collected from Regent House.

I doubt if it will be an interview for a tourist visa, they rarely take place and the Embassy staff do not work on Friday afternoons.

I am also suprised though pleased for you, hope the result is positive, my friend still waiting after a tad over four weeks, 31 days to be exact.

Her travel date is mid August though she still has to get a Schengen Visa as she plans to visit Greece, and of course purchase her flight tickets etc.

It looks like they are processing by date of travel, so much for planning in advance.

Anyway good luck at the "envelope opening".

Air Asia have some good deals at the moment if you can plan well ahead, I have just booked some flights to Singapore at 1,400 Baht return everything included, though I am not checking any bags..

To book my flights to Singapore took slightly longer that the flight itself.

I managed to buy BKK-SIN-BKK in Oct for 1,400 Baht.

I booked one of those as well, though their website was very slow - or busy.

Not sure how they make money at these prices, I suspect there are only a few on each flight to draw in the punters.

I would have thought that most of the tourist types they are trying to attract, the ones that might stay in a top notch hotel and actually spend some serious money, wouldn't need a tourist visa anyway.

I am pleased that Thai Visa Express is saying that non settlement visas are being processed in a couple of weeks, though a friend of mine is having a different experience, she has been waiting over four weeks for a short term tourist visa, that only took two days last year.

I know it's nothing like you guys are going through but it's still frustrating, there certainly doesn't seem to be any consistency.

This from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs website which lists the details of all Diplomatic Missions http://122.0.2.102/protocol/list_detail.as...e_code=13430001 - no direct lines though.

Mrs. Alayne Anne Howard

Second Secretary (Head of Visa Section)

Mr. Gerard Stuart Grant

Second Secretary (Immigration)

All this info is in the public domain

I see the tracking is down again, could this be when they update the system - really don't know

has anyone tried using the k-web card online to book air tickets, hotels, car rental, etc?

I have used it to make a flight booking with Air Asia as they do not require the Credit Card to be shown at check in. You might have a problem where the card needs to be shown at flight or hotel check in, and certainly with car hire where they usually want a card imprint as a security deposit.

I will use it to go to swampy, as the guesthouse I stay in when I'm in Bangkok is fairly close to Thonglor station.... and I hate the morning trafic.

Don't forget that whilst your guest house may be near Thonglor BTS station, the airport link is a totally separate line and you cannot access it from Thonglor. You will either need to get a taxi to the Airport Link station, rather defeating the object, or travel downtown on the BTS and then walk over a footbridge to connect to the Airport Link - not sure which BTS station has the link.

I live in Thonglor and will continue to take a taxi door to door, really don't fancy lugging cases to the BTS and over a footbridge, but everyone to their own.

My girlfriend also applied on the 8th June, not heard anything yet.

A friend of mine applied on 26th May, and is still waiting.

One thing that is worrying me, is my lack of bank statements, my girfriend does have 3k in savings and she has shown this, also I stated that she will be paying for the trip. I did include my payslips however. Hope this is not reason enough to refuse us.

I also hope that your girlfriend will not be refused because you didn't supply them, but it does mention them in the list of supporting document's. But as the VFS staff did not comment on their absence, I presume, then your pay slips may suffice. When you say your girlfriend has savings of 3k, is that Baht or UK Pounds? she has to convince the ECO that she has sufficient funds available for the trip, be it her money of that of her sponsor.

Regarding the processing of applications, 7by7 is absolutely correct the term flights on the telephone message is for brevity, they are clearing applications by the planned flight date as stated on the visa application.

Edited for typos

I'm not one for sticking up for UK Visas in Bangkok, but to be fair they have realised that the application was refused in error and at they have reversed the decision pretty quickly, I don't know if that was as a result of a phone call or because of the case being reviewed by the ECM or the Head of Section.

Of course the refusal shouldn't have happened and what they put Tick Tocks family through is pretty bad, but at least the decision was was put right pretty quickly.

I am reading this forum with interest, though not involved with the process at all, I hope you will not mind me making one point, I find the thread pretty difficult to read with the quotes that are repeated over and over again and the league tables that appear two or three times per page, I actually miss the valid points that are being made, though I realise why the tables are updated. I hope you don't mind me saying what I think and it's certainly not a criticism, it's clear that the network of camaraderie that has built up has been very supportive.

Anyway congratulations Tick Tock I hope you and yours can now get on with your new life, and may the trend of successful applications continue, without too much hoop jumping.

Multi entry visas are the norm and yes it's as simple as getting on a plane, no need to notify anybody. Remember that she has to finally leave the UK before 180 days expire.

The only caveat is that a visa doesn't actually guarantee admission at the Port of Entry, an Immigration Officer can refuse entry, on the first or any subsequent visit, if they believe there has been material change since the application, but it is extremely rare. Of course it might cause problems with subsequent visas if she stayed for the full six months, or went to the UK on holiday every month.

Just imagine that your wife was on holiday and wanted to pop over to Paris, providing she has a Schengen Visa, well she wouldn't get back into the UK without a multi entry.

Just think of it as a two for one offer.

I know novotel is an international hotel but 4500 Baht for a 5-hour stop - really!!!!!!!.

Absolutely and to put their rate into perspective, I have just booked the Novotel at Hong Kong Airport for 3500 Baht for an overnight stay.