theoldgit

You heard wrong

Don’t count your blessings just yet, let’s not forget that some of those entering on the old route and fail to meet the current threshold could, and l stress could, be switched to the ten year route. I think we really need to see what the requirements will actually be when they’re eventually published before we jump to any conclusions.

Neither did I, I was referring to the “royal we”

Let’s put this in the correct forum.

I printed of a statement from Kasikorn earlier this year, that was fine. There numerous agents that will carry out the task, Thai Visa Express can do and your friend can post him his passport and all the forms. l think 5,000 Baht is the standard fee, plus the fee for the passport. I believe there are agents in most larger towns.

We voted for this, that’ll teach ‘em a lesson 🥸

I’d be interested to learn how you reached that conclusion, is it based on personal experience, knowledge of Immigration Law or just hearsay? In my experience and fully qualified agent fully understands the application process, how to draft a meaningful application and even how to advise an applicant when not to apply.

Yes it’s a shame thar despite my earlier concerns such an important topic, that could affect many members, has been hijacked. The OP’s question has been answered, yes he “did hear it right” so this particular topic can be closed. There are a few more threads on this topic still running for those members who wish to discuss the progress of these proposed changes and how some of us may be affected.

OK can we reign this in a bit now, this thread was started to ask and comment about the proposed new fees for UK Visas and the NHS Surcharge, and its implications, not religions, so can we stick to that please. It’s maybe worth noting that the increased NHS Surcharge was actually announced by Sunak when he was Chancellor.

It might seem fine to you but it might not seem fine to the Brit who owns his own home, has a reasonable pension of say £25k, his circumstances have changed and he finds himself on his own. During has travels he meets and finds happiness with a foreign national, he wouldn’t be able to live with in his home, despite the fact they could live reasonably comfortable and be no burden on the State.

She would need a visa whichever passport she used, the fact that she has an interest in a property in the UK where she intends to spend half of the year will make it difficult to satisfy the decision maker that she’s a genuine visitor. She will need to satisfy the decision maker that she has compelling ties to her own country, whichever one she calls home.

Yes and that’s what the media are reporting, we need to keep in mind that whilst the new figures are more than the average wage in the UK, for FLR and ILR applications both the applicants and sponsors salaries can be combined to meet the threshold, along with any savings they may have. I suspect most couples will make the cut, but sadly not all.

The issue is that there are not hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, the hundreds of thousands are legal immigrants, hence the crackdown. Bizarrely you will probably find that there are less immigrants arriving via the English Channel than arriving legally at airports with their partners. The Goverment are playing the numbers game and looking for a quick fix, l suspect in the full knowledge that many Daily Mail readers support the policy.

The Ascension Islands were apparently considered at one stage but not picked due to other concerns.

These are the current guidelines https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1187167/1.7+-+Financial+requirement.pdf

We’ll have to wait until the new plan is published, but currently the figure has to be met on initial application, and again at the FLR and ILR stages when any salary earned by the applicant can be used. The current guidelines already detail the various scenarios that are acceptable, sponsor already working in the UK, sponsors with job offers, pensioners and those relying on an element of savings, no doubt new rules and guidance will be issued in due course. The BBC is already claiming that only those who continue to meet the requirements would be allowed to remain and are quoting families who think their plans have been scuppered, it’s all conjecture at this stage. In the event that a sponsor passes away, there is currently a route for those currently in the UK to immediately apply for ILR, hopefully that option will remain.

Only the salary/income/capital of the UK spouse/sponsor can be used for the initial application, for subsequent applications, at the FLR and ILR stages, the applicants income can be used to meet the financial requirement.

My “immigrant tax” comment was really directed at the NHS Surcharge which is still paid by those who are in employment and liable for income tax and NI in their own right. You are of course correct in saying that the measures may well be popular with the low and averagely paid workers in the UK, though it’s worth remembering that the lower requirements were brought in because many UK residents were not interested in this type of work.

The UK media, BBC, Telegraph and Mail at least, are specifically reporting that it will apply to Family/Settlement applications from March next, what isn’t clear yet is whether the new figure would apply for those, already in the UK and would be applying for FLR and ILR after the increase, though of course if the applicant is in employment, their salaries can be included in the to meet the figure. i don’t think that an increase was unexpected or unreasonable, but this is a massive increase and is in excess of the average wage in the UK, £32,750 as reported by the ONS. I the savings figure hasn’t been clarified yet, but no doubt it will be increased.

It’s probably worth noting that the NHS Surcharge is still payable by those settling or coming to work in the UK and are making National Insurance and paying Income Tax in addition. it’s basically an “immigration Tax” which will be popular with Daily Mail readers.

The Uk Government has announced that the salary levels for visas for skilled workers has risen to £38,700, from little over £26,000. The BBC have added that the salary levels for Family Visas will require the same income level, it’s currently £18,600, to “ensure people can only bring dependents they can support financially “. Its not clear if the increase in income requirements include those returning to the UK with their spouses, but the BBC are indeed quoting an increase of £20,000, so it would seem so. I’m not aware of any policy papers yet, just the report from the BBC.

Let’s try this in the Thailand visa forum

Let’s try this in the correct forum.

Yes, he should clear Thai Immigration using his Thai Passport, but check in using his UK Passport which shows he doesn’t need a visa. He is a UK National so is not subject to Immigration control and has an unfettered right of entry, whatever the validity of his passport, even if expired. He could renew his passport in the UK in the if he has time. He should show his Thai Passport when checking in for his return flight, to negate the need for a return ticket, there are no Embarkation Controls when leaving the UK, that role is carried out by the carrier.

As you’re asking about entry into Thailand, I’ll move your post to the appropriate forum.