TickTock

It's been 12 months since I've been to Samui (normally I get to visit twice a year). Had a great time on honeymoon, stayed at Baan Samui in Chaweng.

I've got 8 days holiday in Chaweng on April 3rd and was just wondering if anything has changed? For example, the beer bars on Soi Green Mango (Black Jack side) had been demolished. What's there now if anything? Sound Bar was still be re-furbished? I also heard a new bar similar to Solo bar had been built at the entrance Soi Green Mango. Has PFC re-opened? We also (had a group of buddies with us too) enjoyed the Pool table in Henry's Africa and I've heard that this has been extended.

This time we will have a six month old with us so the late nights will no doubt be curtailed, but I might get a couple of early evening (say 11ish ) passes if I play my cards right, hence the bar questions above. I trust ScreamingEagle's bar(s) are worth a visit and parting me of my hard earned 'Sterling' baht?

Can anyone confirm that Sky Loft/Sky Lounge have closed? On the links above the are still listed on level 6. As one poster said it was quite nice/not too busy and I spent many a happy few hours on the vino up there.

I need to go for an ear syringing. Up until reading this thread I didn't even think there was any 'English' at all. You are right can't get "aind ob da walk" out of my head.

I was married last March in Surin and specifically hunted out FC for some cold beers. There was about six of us outside FC and (as I now know) Martin made us very welcome. A good time was had.

I'll pay my respects in April when I'm next in Surin. R.I.P.

Got the visa!!!!!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Total of 8 months since we started this and I'm glad it's over. Best of luck to everyone who is waiting, at least the waiting times are coming back down to a rational level.

Off to get very drunk.. Strongbow here we go!

Well done Fluid. I was staright behind you in the original queue and can't believe how long you have been waiting. You must be chuffed that the wait was just two weeks this time. It seems to have speeded up a lot from March/April/May of this year. My Mrs came across when she pregnant and we now have a daughter. I still get a kicking about how bad the hospital experience was in the UK and next time 'we have in Thailand'.

I don't know for sure - but I have been obsessively following this forum because my daughter-in-law made her application for spouse visa recently and I helped her with it - but an earlier post was about a stressed wife who was NOT allowed to show her digital camera photographs at the interview, and was very upset about it.

To be really confident, she should print them out and put them in an album that the ECO can flip through quickly. That is what my daughter-in-law has done.

Yes you right you need to print photos off and put the in a simple album for evidence purpose.

Agree, print off. Your wife will have to hand in any electrical equipment to security.

It seems to have gone dead again, There seems to be no movement after, Bukseeda, so near yet so far,

I think it might be that there are so few of us now waiting, not sure if this is a sign that less are applying for visas or just less are using this forum, perhaps 92 pages is putting a few people off reading and joining the list?

I've been thinking the same. If there are so few applications now why is it taking so long for decisions (it did get down to 9wks at one stage) or perhaps previous posts have given ppl the info they need so they haven't joined. Anyway the service has deteriorated to the point where the Border Agency are now breaching their own guidelines so now is the time to lodge formal complaints.

Unfortunately Jaggg it won't make one jot of difference.

Your girlfriend is being very poorly advised, she needs to apply for a Visit Visa.

Hi there

The wife went and took the life in the uk test today and passed 1st time around,result.

Shes only got to wait another 19 ish months before she goes for ilr

Well i spose its another succesful whoop that we have been made to jump through

cheers

jp

Congrats Chantas to the Mrs. I remember you from Uk settlement thread. You are not messing around.

Visa decisions are treated as confidential by the embassy and the passport is returned to the VAC in a sealed envelope. Not only wont the VAC tell you the result over the phone; they can't because they don't know it!

Best of luck, I'm sure all will be well.

As an aside, what's the process with the courier company? Reason for asking my Mrs' sister got her VV about two weeks ago. I asked her if it was for the full 6 months and she said she didn't know. I said, look in the passport. She said she has not yet received her passport (it was being posted from the VAC to her address). It transpired that the courier company had rang her up and asked if she wanted to know the result or not i.e. open the envelope and tell her over the phone. Is this normal procedure for courier applications?

I have just heared from My friend who is waiting for a holiday visa and he has been waiting 6 weeks , seems like they have a large work load ,or they are just making us wait ,

I wonder whether they've started prioritising student visas. Whatever the reason, they need to get on top of this as it seems to have been a problem for months. It's interesting if you read the first posts in this thread as back at the start of the year people were moaning about waiting half the time we're having to!

Good luck. I went through this (Mrs applied 30th March) and waited 11wks 4 days for the visa with a rejection thrown in too. I also sposored the Mrs' sister visit visa to the UK. She applied on the 4th August on got the visa on the 17th - just under two weeks. I thought there had been a general improvement in processing times, but based on 6wks for a vv above maybe not.

Mrs' sister has just applied for a vv. Submitted on the 4th Aug, ready for pick up on the 17th, just short of two weeks to process.

And to add to your woes, if your GF gets anything less than a 12 month visa (e.g. six month visit visa which is the norm) then she won't be able to visit Gib without another visa. I thought I'd take the Mrs (in the UK on a settlement visa) and her sister (6 months vv) to Gib. Mrs OK, but sister needs to apply for a visa. That canned that idea. Good eh.

For those guys updating the list, wayne mcclymont submitted 06/05 granted 04/08,waited 12 weeks 6 days. Ade 2007 success on 04/08.

Global - good luck to you and the Mrs. I'm in the same boat, the website today is saying that the Mrs' sister's Passport (visit visa) is ready for collection - being sent by post to another part of Thailand. After going through all of this for the Mrs Visa over Mar - Jun, I thought I'd do it again for the sister. I nearly forgot how much fun this can be .

Uae, sorry to hear your bad news. What's the plan?

1. Country of Origin

2. No, my Mrs applied for a Settlement Visa in Thailand in March and still had a Visit Visa valid until May.

Not yet Dean999 still waiting =/

She had her interview and tbh Im starting to think we were too truthfull. its really doing my and my wifes head in atm.

Just carnt help thinking we trying to do everything legal and above board and going to get screwed over by my own goverment.

But still no answer as of yet. Is it possible that a 2nd interview can be asked for etc ?

What did they ask the Mrs, uaelaelil? I've never heard of a 2nd interview.

ajsp9 - well done mate, all the best

Nice one ajsp9. Although 10 weeks, it seems like you've been on here an age, I seem to remember you had the whole of June to yourself for about a month.

Yes, the passport is stamped on the last page. It will say "UK", the date, and be underlined. Whilst the word "refused" is not mentioned within the stamp, it indicates to other embassies/immigration officers that a visa for the UK has been declined.

Scouse.

Just checked the Mrs' Passport and indeed on the last page it is as above with Bangkok and the reference number written in. Did not even know it was there! The Mrs got a SV refusal that was overturned the next day - due to an Embassy admin error. My beef is that she has a black mark on her passport that should not be there. Thinking about now, she was asked to got back to the Embassy a few days later for her Visa to be inserted, you'd have thought they would(could?) of cancelled the stamp on the back page? Is this possible? Just thinking that this might rear its head at a later date etc.

Took MrsFiend to the local jobcentre and they gave me a card with a phone number on and told me to ring it - the number was 0845 600 0643. Told them my wife had just arived and was wanting to register for a NI number. They took a few details and a few days later an application form arrived in the post. We filled it in and 7 days later she received a letter with her NI number on it.

Mine is already applying for some part-time jobs.

Have you got a bank account sorted? Lloyds TSB only require to see her passport and visa to open one in her name.

Scotland - have a shuftie at the items below:

Council tax (bang goes my 25% discount!!)

utilities bills

Insurance policies such as home and motor

register with GP

Apply for National Insurance number

Joint bank accounts

Provisional driving license

Tennancy agreements

Register with dentists

Wage / salary advices

HP Agreements

Credit cards in joint names.

Hi Dean999,

I'd echo what TJThai suggests. If you are going to appeal, then use Ralph Davies, he's helped countless people on this forum either officially or with general advice.

With respect though, I disagree with BoroDave.

Firstly, you don't need to show you've been in a relationship and living together for at least two years. Who is to say how long is enough for a relationship to be genuine and how are you going to be able to live together for two years if you are based in the UK whilst your wife is in Thailand. Factually I know lilterally dozens of people that have been granted a visa without being together for two years - my own case included.

More importantly though, by definition, an appeal means that you believe the decision is incorrect based on the evidence submitted and the actual circumstances. If you are planning to appeal you have a specific time period to do so and I'd suggest you start gathering your plans and making your case - with help if needed - immediately.

I'd also suggest you need to do as much of the work as possible, taking the onus off your wife. She'll have enough to deal with, so anything you can do to take off the pressure has got to help.

chok dee krap

You don't need to demonstrate a 2 year relationship/living together. I had 'lived' with my Mrs on two previous visit visas - about six months in total. I'm surprised that the vac 'advised' your Mrs to take out the divorce certificate - as other people have mentioned they just process the application.

Result. Enjoy.

Bet you can't wait for the ILR submission.

Passport ready for collection today. More nervous now than ever, It only took 21 weeks to get to this stage. Will let you know tonight when i get home from work what the answer is.

My first reaction was are you sure Chew?

Know what you mean about the nerves. Fingers crossed. If I was the ECM I'd be putting a personal apology with an explanantion in the passport too. Bet this does not happen. Good luck.

Hi there.

Would just like to add, a friends wife applied on the 6th June and recieved her visa today, It's definatly moving faster now.

Good luck everyone..

Cripes [gulp]!

Looks that way. The Mrs' sister submitted her Visit visa on Tuesday and she was told about two weeks wait. A couple of months ago this 4-6 weeks.

Checked on another forum and I think Dolphy got the Visa (son) on the 29th July, 14 week wait.