theoldgit

I've removed the name of the Consultants your girlfriend has used, save to say I've never heard of them.
It's a shame that after all the advice you'd received your girlfriend decided to go it alone, maybe she didn't like "being kept out of it".
If you want to go ahead with this company you have no other option than to provide what they want, however you have no control over what they do with the information, or indeed that of your girlfriend.
If I were in your position I'd be cutting my/her losses and pulling the plug, but I have an inkling that may not be acceptable to your girlfriend.

15 hours ago, AlfHuy said:

I transfered 250£ from my HSBC business account in UK to my Wise account.

Money left HSBC instantly and arrived in seconds at Wise.

Got email from Wise they need more informations before they can release the funds.

Which company, where based, why I did send the money etc.

 

What a load of rubbish.

 

That's my company.

Do they think I am money laundering 250£?

 

 

 

 

 

Is the business account in your name or the name of the company?

If it's not in your actual name they will want to check, I had a similar issue when my bank in Jersey were using a subsidary to transfer to Transferwise, and I had to jump through hoops for a couple of months to prove the cash came from me.

I noted earlier in the week that on their website Wise now have a warning when you make a transaction advising that the funding account must be in your name.

Now not operating, or at least showing availability, until Friday 4th June.

13 hours ago, nausea said:

I'm paying tax., on my pathetic llittle pension, can't believe it. So does this give me some rights in the UK if I return? Like paying tax must be a p.us in reestablishing residency. 

What sort of "rights" are you looking for? Some take time to establish, whilst others, like NHS cover, are available as soon as you've returned, providing you can satisfy those in authority that you have returned to the UK permanently.

4 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

Explain please. Sufficient funds are decided on the visa application, I've never heard of anyone being asked to show evidence of their funds at the point of entry. 'Means to return home', yes, that may be checked upon entry but they do not have to have either a ticket or any funds - if they are questioned and a satisfactory explanation is given. Therefore, in my opinion, in that paragraph you are talking about 2 separate matters - consideration of the visa application as one and the actual entry being the other. Funds are checked on application and a ticket may be checked on entry.

 

As I have stated several times, my ex didn't have a return ticket in 2009, the funds were satisfied as part of the visa application process and my explanation as to why she didn't have a return ticket was accepted during a telephone call. There are one or two more execptions/explanations that may be given which negate the need to show a ticket home - for example the traveller may have onward travel plans. If they are checked and have both an onward ticket and a valid visa for that country, they will be granted entry to the UK.  Nit picking I concede - just illustrating that the ticket does not have to be a return.

 

I totally agree with the rest of your post.  The point I've been making all along is that there is no hard and fast rule that states that the traveller must be in possession of a return ticket - yet some airlines require sight of one.  For the sake of Mr. Brierley I will repeat again, it is the airlines themselves that impose such conditions - why I cannot understand as there is no written rule that could lead to them having to foot the bill for a passenger being denied entry because they did not have a return ticket.

 

That is no say that the passenger will not be denied entry - just that the airline would not be held responsible.

A quote from the Immigration Rules, whilst this requirement has to be met at the visa application stage, the Border Force Officer should be satisfied that the passenger still meets these requirements at the UK Border, a possession of a return ticket is the simplest way, and many officers will routinely ask for one, though it's fair to say that possession of a return ticket doesn't mean a passenger will return.

Some years ago, I think 2008 or 9, my then girlfriend, now my wife, were taking a side trip to Paris during a stay in the UK, on our return journey to London the IO was giving her a hard time, and I stepped forward to assist her. After I challenged him for the way he was talking to her, he started on me, he clearly wanted to refuse her entry because we had forgotten to take our return tickets with us, I'd also forgotten I had them on my phone. After reminding him that an actual return ticket wasn't required but mean to return were, he landed her and we were on our way.
 

 Argumentative post removed.

As per the previous advice, save that you don't actually have to be married you only have to satisfy the decision maker that you're in a subsisting relationship, akin to marriage, my wife when you was my girlfriend was granted a number of visas before we were actually married.

You mention the "living in two countries scenario" are you actually living here in Thailand, or in the UK?

If you're spending a lot of time in the UK the decision maker, rightly or wrongly, assume that your wife wants to go and live in the UK, if you are living in two countries you might like to clarify your positions.

If you're financing the trip you need to prove that it's affordable for you to do so, and provide evidence of your finances.

You're right in thinking that it's unwise to pad your wifes account prior to her application, that's a red flag, she should also confirm the fact that your financing the trip, and if her savings are limited, then she should say so.

There's no set amount as there are too many variable, plans for the trip, where you will be staying etc, provide details in your covering note, maybe provide an indicitive figure based on your expectations of the cost to you. If there's no cost for your wife then she should say so, maybe including a small amount for incidentals. 

*Deleted post edited out*

I'm glad to hear that all staff employed at the UK Embassy have been vaccinated, as a responsible employer I would have expected nothing less.

I'm pretty sure that our Ambassador couldn't demand that the British Government organise vaccines for those of us that choose to live in Thailand, or indeed anywhere overseas.  

@condobrit001The new rules were only published by HMG last night: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-confirms-traffic-light-list-ahead-of-cautious-return-to-international-travel

Thailand is currently on the Amber List from 17 May, which means if travelling to the UK you must complete the pre flight requirements and on arrival in the UK quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days, and take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8.

Different, more stringent, rules apply if you're transiting in a Red Zone country, like the UAE, Qatar or Turkey, including the fact that you can only enter the UK from a Red Zone Country if you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK, and there may not be any direct flights to the UK from Red Zone transit points.

Don't forget that these restrictions can and do change, though usually some notice is given.

55 minutes ago, atitex said:

Thank you very much for your valuable input. Is it because of COVID that she can apply ?

No, UK visa applications can be made from wherever you are legally living.

Applications are processed centrally.

She can apply online from within Thailand and submit her biometric details from here as well.

There could be an issue though as she’d have to deposit with the Visa Application Centre whilst her application is being processed, which would mean that she couldn’t comply with the requirement that she should have it with her at all times or at have it readily available.

There is an option for some applicants to retain their passport whilst the application is processed, I’m not sure that she falls into that category.

There is also the danger that a decision hasn’t been made before she leaves Thailand.

The short answer is yes she could apply here, but it’s not without risk, she certainly doesn’t need to apply from India.

27 minutes ago, petermik said:

Will I need to set up a new payment to Wise through my bank or are the account details/transfers to the old Transferwise account just the same?

All my account details are still there on the renamed site, as well as the details of those I've transferred to, together will the details of all my previous transactions.

@davidillNo need to get the visa vingette transferred to the new passport, your wife should present her new passport and the one containing her visa at check-in on departure, and to the Border Force Officer on arrival at the UK Border. The officer will stamp the new passport on entry along with a written note, something along the lines of "VIPP".

She could if she wished apply for a new vingette, but it's expensive and not necessary.

3 hours ago, Andycoops said:

But will it be sent overseas, it doesn't say so.

Yes it does, when you start the order process under service options it says "Post - 1st Class (Priority) and 2nd Class (Standard) for UK address, Airmail outside UK".

If the application is urgent, you can opt to pay for a priority applications which are sent by DHL for overseas customers - Priority applications sent to Addresses outside the UK Only (+£12 per batch of up to 5 Certificates)

41 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

There is no "like aliens" about it, we are literally referred to as 'Aliens" in documentation.But when you consider the actual meaning, it is correct.

 

Alien: belonging to a foreign country or nation.

The UK introduced an "Alien Act" in 1705, it was changed to the "Aliens Act" in 1905  and there was a  "British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act" in 1914, I'm not sure if these latter two are still on the statute.

The police used to keep a register of aliens, many of whom were reqired to report to them, similar to some bail conditions. 

7 minutes ago, Surasak said:

Was just refused by Roojai. No reason given.

Refused what, the purchase of a policy or a claim?

16 minutes ago, jackdd said:

That's only for certain if you have permanent residency status.

If you hold a temporary visa or extension, for example based on a non-immigrant visa, according to Thai law you are "visiting" Thailand, not "living" in Thailand.

Before signing up for such a policy somebody should confirm that they also pay if you are holding a temporary permit to stay, because with the wording that they use they could just refuse to pay because you are not living/residing in Thailand, but just visiting, according to Thai law.

 

Thanks for that, maybe you could provide the actual reference to Thai Law and the insurance companies take on it. 

I do note that you only say "they could just refuse to pay because you are not living/residing in Thailand, but just visiting, according to Thai law" and don't claim it to be a definitive answer.

Seems they've suspended the routes again for a couple of weeks, not sure what it says, maybe Covid, it seems to be operating today but not from next Friday.

1 minute ago, Porzio said:

My worry if they send the copy of my passport to immigration. Thank you for your help

They should record your details and pass them onto Immigration, but the online system is down so it would probably be some days before your details were received, even then I'm not sure that they'd cross reference.

You should reach the airport safely, though there's always the remote possibility that you were stopped enroute and your overstay was picked up.
The most likely scenario is that you'll reach the airport safely, you'd pay your overstay fine on departure and be on your way.

9 hours ago, BeastOfBodmin said:

I don't have exact numbers at the moment, but I think he is taxed 30% at source and I think he is paying too much tax versus what hew would pay if he was resident in the UK. Also, the way he converts GBP to THB is via his bank so he is probably getting hammered to the tune of 5% versus Wise or Currencyfair, etc.

Your friend should be paying income tax at 20% on everything he receives above the Personal Allowance of £12,570, anything over £50,271 would be taxed at 40%, tax would be deducted at source.

If your friend receives a State Pension it wouldn't be taxed at source but his PA would be reduced by the same amount meaning that he would pay tax via his main pension provider.

Yes, buying Baht in the UK isn't cost effective, though some pension providers will pay pensions directly to a Thai bank at a slightly better rate and without transfer fees.

The other option, as has been pointed out, is to continue receiving pensions into his UK bank and then use Wise, or another company, to transfer what he needs every month, or whenever, this method is cost effective if you don't want to transfer all of your pensions evry month.