Paul888

I have had a lot of cause to use VFS this last year (passports, visas, citizenship biometrics) and have had nothing but positive experiences.

I disagree with the "they are not flexible comment". I found them both flexible and accommodating plus they do have a 2,200 baht premium lounge personal service for visa submissions in a more relaxed private environment that gets you in and out in very good time and includes return of passport by courier.

Thanks. But do you know if appointment times can be modified on-line once made? I would like to book an appointment but will possibly have to change it later.

Thanks

In my experience when dealing with the UK visa appointment system, yes it can be changed.

You don't need a lawyer. The UKF form is not so complex.

I did this for my 11 year old daughter although in her case she was born in UK and I was named on both birth certificates.

I think in your case as you do are not named, you will need DNA evidence or you have no chance.

Take a look at the https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-register-as-a-british-citizen-form-ukf which has both the guide referred to above plus the actual form.

It took me 6 months to get the certificate but it was a very new thing when I applied in April, so I imagine timescales will be reducing as more cases go through the process. With that certificate, I managed to get a passport applied for via Bangkok and in my hands within 11 days which was amazing.

I have had a lot of cause to use VFS this last year (passports, visas, citizenship biometrics) and have had nothing but positive experiences.

I disagree with the "they are not flexible comment". I found them both flexible and accommodating plus they do have a 2,200 baht premium lounge personal service for visa submissions in a more relaxed private environment that gets you in and out in very good time and includes return of passport by courier.

Contact Immigration direct and ask them.

If they say it has to be a new unit, sell the condo you have and buy a new one that would qualify. You say you have two years to do this.

Give whatever you can afford to give them every time you see them in future because once you set a precedent, deviating downwards from that is often perceived as an insult.

7 month overstay = 1000 baht reduced to 800 baht for quick processing/night in cell?

What kind of nonsense is this?

You can bash suggestions to get a Thailand Elite card all you want but at the moment it seems to be the only thing that fits him that doesn't involve headache and questions unless he wants to wait it out in the hope that this new multi entry visa will better suit him but remember that is also supposed to be for tourists.

When you tell Immigration that you are a business owner, their first thought in seeing that you make so many trips to their country is that you are doing business in their country and their second thought is that you are running your business remotely from their country.

Getting a visa issued probably isn't going to stop you being questioned on entry as to why you make so many trips.

If your business can't afford to buy a Thailand Elite card to solve this problem for you, you should probably spend a little bit more time actually working in it so that it can !

They need to add a personal concierge premium service for people that need that little extra bit of hand holding.

Your posts in this thread are the opposite of helpful. "Tens of thousands" is a ridiculous statement and only scares people.

7by7 has listed the costs very clearly. Adding in holiday costs and what you send your wife's family is immaterial.

Please accept my apologies, Paul. I didn't mean to scare you.

But, do consider that future wives will always want to return home on occasion. It does cost money and will do for the duration of marriage. Family costings back in Thailand are also a regular feature of marriage to a Thai and are therefore also a consideration. It goes with the territory and certainly not a taboo subject.

Further, this information may be of benefit to others perusing this thread when considering moving their spouses, and possibly children, to their native countries. You're not the only subscriber to this forum.

They will probably need food and a car also but like your other examples, absolutely nothing to do with the visa cost.

I'm trying to assist the OP, not hinder him. If he chooses to ignore my input, then fine.

I get the feeling you haven't experienced a settlement visa through to citizenship for a spouse and are therefore limited in knowledge on the subject, durhamboy.

Though, It might be helpful to others who are considering the broader picture.

Your posts in this thread are the opposite of helpful. "Tens of thousands" is a ridiculous statement and only scares people.

7by7 has listed the costs very clearly. Adding in holiday costs and what you send your wife's family is immaterial.

I love re-visiting this thread from time to time. Makes me feel young

ubonjoe

Since when have Savannakhet been issuing multiple entry Non O's for being the father of a Thai child? Let alone to somebody with just a birth certificate.

I tried early last year as the father of my Thai daughter whose mother died with not just a birth certificate but a Family Court order naming me as legal father and sole guardian, a similar equivalent document from the local Amphur and every other conceivable paper they could need (death certificates, house books etc) but they said they only ever give single O for this type of visa, which must be extended in Thailand with the requisite 400k or 40k a month financials.

Please could you clarify if this is new information or out of date information you have given.

As I wrote the applicant for the visa must appear at the consulate with his child (or children) and their mother when the application is done.. This is to demonstrate they are living together as a family (de facto marriage).. There have been reports of a few of these being done.

I have seen reports of denials for divorced fathers with full custody of their child denied.

It seems their mandate for doing the visa is for married couples and they have included proof of a de facto marriage as part of it.

In your case it certainly does seem fair that you were denied.

Thanks for clarifying that. It is good information and will surely help somebody. In cases like mine it is unfair to deny multi entry especially as Thai Law is supposed to be all about the children but that said it all worked out fine for me and I have to admit, extending at immigration is a lot easier than trips to neighboring countries for visas all the time.

ubonjoe

Since when have Savannakhet been issuing multiple entry Non O's for being the father of a Thai child? Let alone to somebody with just a birth certificate.

I tried early last year as the father of my Thai daughter whose mother died with not just a birth certificate but a Family Court order naming me as legal father and sole guardian, a similar equivalent document from the local Amphur and every other conceivable paper they could need (death certificates, house books etc) but they said they only ever give single O for this type of visa, which must be extended in Thailand with the requisite 400k or 40k a month financials.

Please could you clarify if this is new information or out of date information you have given.

This is a thread started by Pete Beal regarding a specific Settlement Visa refusal, so let's help the OP and stick to that issue, please don't let this thread wonder too far off topic.

Having read the entire thread, I have to say that if it was my situation, I would have already retained the services of Tony M directly to look at my documents and numbers and give me some re-assurance that my appeal at least had a chance. I am sure he could also help you with explaining the misunderstandings on the original application.

To the guy who thinks I'm a bit lazy...I'm a planner. I am and have taken many big leaps in life and love it, but at my age things are different. You cant gamble in stock markets and you can't take someone else down a road that might place heavy burdens upon them with little reward. I didn't set myself up to retire at 40 (37) by being lazy or bad with money. It's not about me, unfortunately it's about someone giving me a job. That is the sad state of the US these days and partiall why I left. As for your great HR job in the oil fields....well, kill me. Pac NW...rent is double elsewhere.

Lazy wouldn't be planning a move like this. Lazy is staying in Thailand and taking the slow easy road to eventual death that most of us are on even if we don't realize it.

It sounds to me like you are going about this the right way....with an open mind and the knowledge that it won't be easy, and that is the key to succeeding. The only thing I would do differently is that I would 'settle' first on home ground. Either the last state you lived in, or where your parents/relatives are based. Then you have a tie to that state and re-establishing yourself there should be easier.

It doesn't matter if there are no opportunities there, once you have dug in, you can then look at other states but be an inter state mover rather than an arrived from nowhere mover which will surely better help you establish your next base etc.

As long as you manage your wife's expectations and ensure she understands that the first 6 months may not quite be the American dream, but things will get better after that, I think you can make it and I wish you good luck.

I think that returning to your "home" country after a long period abroad, when you no longer have property or family to welcome you is a lot harder than people imagine and without a plan B, C and D to fall back on, luck and a few months of running costs in your pocket the odds are very much against you.

If you married your daughter's mother before or even after the birth your daughter is already British and you just have to apply for a passport. Check this for yourself at https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizen. Overseas passport application forms and answers to everything else you need to know are on other sections of that site. Process took about 21 days when I applied a couple of months ago. Cost £76 as I recall.

Imin a similar boat i have a 6 and 5 yr old and i would like to apply for passports for both, we are maried and were at time of birth, is there anything special you needed to do like ofiicially translate birth certificate etc and if so how did you do it?

Thanks

As well as your full long UK birth certificate mentioned by 7by7, you will also need the originals, copies and certified translations of [a] the child's birth certificate naming you as father, both the child and your wife's tabien bahn house book, plus you should also take your wife's id card or passport.

You won't need marriage certificate (or translation) as your child was born after 1st July 2006. This is only needed if the child was born before that date.

If the child was born before that date and you were not married to the mother either at time of birth or subsequently, then your child can still be British but you have to apply for citizenship to be granted first using form UKF.

I got my translations done via http://www.expresstranslationservice.com/cms.php?id_cms=6

Simple process. Contact them, tell them what you need, they will ask for the documents to be emailed, then give you a price, you agree the price (I think I paid about 300 a page + 100 for extra copies) and they will either mail them to you or you can pick them up or they can deliver to a Bangkok hotel etc as required.

It is really just one extra piece of paperwork that needs to be translated and certified and added to the bundle every time you try to do something but if you have children or will in the future it will affect them and their paperwork also.

Plus, what happens when after 2 months this new name has not improved her fortune? My ex twice changed her name (second time without me knowing until she died) so now I need 2 additional pieces of paper and explanations required every time I need to link her name on my daughter's birth certificate to the death certificate which is in a different name.

You do know that 13th was a public holiday right? Did you check back the next day?

If you married your daughter's mother before or even after the birth your daughter is already British and you just have to apply for a passport. Check this for yourself at https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizen. Overseas passport application forms and answers to everything else you need to know are on other sections of that site. Process took about 21 days when I applied a couple of months ago. Cost £76 as I recall.

............ Funny that I failed on income...because last week I got an FLR approval for my wifes visa with the same income, bank statements, pay slips etc.

It is technically possible, because I think that the amount of income required increases when you add a non British child into the mix.

I know that mistakes can happen, but that is a huge one. How can there not be some kind of process in place to catch things like this before they go out the door?

Anyway about resolving the problem..... best thing to do is bite the bullet and call the UK number and tell them to call you back with the number of who you have to call in Bangkok. I know it is not your fault, but you want this sorted quickly. Oh and obviously, maintain calm in your dealings with whoever you speak to!