Bangkok HMPO VFS Global relocating - moving to different floor in Trendy Building

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Bangkok HMPO VFS Global relocating - moving to different floor in Trendy Building

 

 

Owing to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) development, please be advised that we are temporarily closing VFS Office in 8th Floor.

 

From Tuesday, 24 March 2020, HMPO will temporarily relocate on the 28th  floor, Trendy Building until further notice.

 

So for submitting the passport applications please contact us on the 28th  floor by using the main elevator (number #10) and go straight to floor 28.

[stouricks]

Isn't the 28th floor where you go for UK, and other country's , visas. So moving the HMPO there should increase the number of people congregationg there.

[OJAS]

So what led the bright spark in HMPO who took this ridiculous decision to conclude that the 28th Floor of With-It Tower would be any safer than the 8th Floor from the coronavirus angle? I'm sure that UK passport renewal applicants will really welcome with open arms the extra 20 flights of stairs they'll now have to climb for the time being whenever main lift (not elevator, we're British, thanks!) #10 is out of order or With-It Tower is affected by a power cut!

 

In any case, rather than subjecting us Brits to even more hassle and inconvenience at passport renewal time for the foreseeable future, HMPO should IMHO instead be taking steps to minimise the risk of our exposure to the coronavirus by making it possible for us to renew our passports by snail mail to/from the UK direct or, even better, their online system which they have made available for use of from practically every country on this great planet of ours, with the notable exception of Thailand for some absurd reason!

[OffshoreMig]

VFS Global Bio Metric Data Collection centres should be closed down.  Moving floor does not reduce the risk to public safety.  There is no need for it.  Most Thai citizens hold an e-passport where biometric data is already recorded.

 

The risk of transmitting the COVID-19 virus is serious  NOT just the overcrowding Lifts, air-conditioning. waiting rooms, Document handling and the Bios Metric data recording equipment  but also the travel to and from the trendy building and if required accommodation.  There are better cheaper and safer alternatives.

We are advising our clients who are required to attend these centres to seek a waiver and exemption.  It is irresponsible for foreign governments (UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, THE USA AND A HOST OF EU COUNTRIES) to continue to require applicants to attend these centres (Even more so if they can not travel - They are closing office in their home state but leaving Thailand/Bangkok at risk)

The system is outdated and needs urgent review.  We are closing down schools, bars. etc. Which are a far less risk then the VFS Global Data Collection centres. CLOSE THEM DOWN. ALL documents can be submitted on line'

Anyone attending these centres should take note of their public liability insurance policy.

Governments could be liable should anyone contract the virus whilst attending these centers or from someone who did.
We have written to WHO and the Australian Government expressing our serious concern about the safety of these centres.

Edited March 24, 2020 by OffshoreMig

[GreasyFingers]

2 hours ago, OffshoreMig said:

VFS Global Bio Metric Data Collection centres should be closed down.

Totally agree. Will be interesting what sort of reply you get from Australia.

[Gandtee]

12 hours ago, OJAS said:

So what led the bright spark in HMPO who took this ridiculous decision to conclude that the 28th Floor of With-It Tower would be any safer than the 8th Floor from the coronavirus angle? I'm sure that UK passport renewal applicants will really welcome with open arms the extra 20 flights of stairs they'll now have to climb for the time being whenever main lift (not elevator, we're British, thanks!) #10 is out of order or With-It Tower is affected by a power cut!

 

In any case, rather than subjecting us Brits to even more hassle and inconvenience at passport renewal time for the foreseeable future, HMPO should IMHO instead be taking steps to minimise the risk of our exposure to the coronavirus by making it possible for us to renew our passports by snail mail to/from the UK direct or, even better, their online system which they have made available for use of from practically every country on this great planet of ours, with the notable exception of Thailand for some absurd reason!

While on holiday in NZ I renewed my passport by post to UK. Application was done on line and confirmed as correct and I received my new passport in a couple of weeks. I was very impressed.

[Max69xl]

16 hours ago, OJAS said:

So what led the bright spark in HMPO who took this ridiculous decision to conclude that the 28th Floor of With-It Tower would be any safer than the 8th Floor from the coronavirus angle? I'm sure that UK passport renewal applicants will really welcome with open arms the extra 20 flights of stairs they'll now have to climb for the time being whenever main lift (not elevator, we're British, thanks!) #10 is out of order or With-It Tower is affected by a power cut!

 

In any case, rather than subjecting us Brits to even more hassle and inconvenience at passport renewal time for the foreseeable future, HMPO should IMHO instead be taking steps to minimise the risk of our exposure to the coronavirus by making it possible for us to renew our passports by snail mail to/from the UK direct or, even better, their online system which they have made available for use of from practically every country on this great planet of ours, with the notable exception of Thailand for some absurd reason!

"the extra 20 flights of stairs they'll now have to climb for the time being whenever main lift (not elevator, we're British, thanks!) #10 is out of order or With-It Tower is affected by a power cut!"

This is what you worry about? An eventual power cut? 

[OJAS]

32 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

"the extra 20 flights of stairs they'll now have to climb for the time being whenever main lift (not elevator, we're British, thanks!) #10 is out of order or With-It Tower is affected by a power cut!"

This is what you worry about? An eventual power cut? 

While power cuts in LOS are no doubt a pure figment of your imagination they most certainly aren't of mine. And, bearing in mind an experience I had several years ago when an attempt to print off an online flight boarding pass was rudely interrupted by a power cut which subsequently led to problems at baggage drop at BKK, I think that I have every right to be mindful of one, thank you very much (FYI the power was still down at the time I needed to set off for the airport).

Edited March 24, 2020 by OJAS

[OJAS]

4 hours ago, Gandtee said:

While on holiday in NZ I renewed my passport by post to UK. Application was done on line and confirmed as correct and I received my new passport in a couple of weeks. I was very impressed.

If only the impressive online facility were available from Thailand. Unfortunately it isn't.

[OJAS]

6 hours ago, OffshoreMig said:

VFS Global Bio Metric Data Collection centres should be closed down.  Moving floor does not reduce the risk to public safety.  There is no need for it.  Most Thai citizens hold an e-passport where biometric data is already recorded.

 

The risk of transmitting the COVID-19 virus is serious  NOT just the overcrowding Lifts, air-conditioning. waiting rooms, Document handling and the Bios Metric data recording equipment  but also the travel to and from the trendy building and if required accommodation.  There are better cheaper and safer alternatives.

We are advising our clients who are required to attend these centres to seek a waiver and exemption.  It is irresponsible for foreign governments (UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, THE USA AND A HOST OF EU COUNTRIES) to continue to require applicants to attend these centres (Even more so if they can not travel - They are closing office in their home state but leaving Thailand/Bangkok at risk)

The system is outdated and needs urgent review.  We are closing down schools, bars. etc. Which are a far less risk then the VFS Global Data Collection centres. CLOSE THEM DOWN. ALL documents can be submitted on line'

Anyone attending these centres should take note of their public liability insurance policy.

Governments could be liable should anyone contract the virus whilst attending these centers or from someone who did.
We have written to WHO and the Australian Government expressing our serious concern about the safety of these centres.

Points which are equally applicable to the current UK passport renewal process in these COVID-19 pandemic times.

Edited March 24, 2020 by OJAS

[theoldgit]

VFS also operate a visa application centres for Nordic countries on the eighth floor, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Norway, and maybe others like Greenland.
Denmark has stopped processing visas and have stated they will refuse any in the pipline.
We were there on Thursday to submit my wifes application for a visa for Iceland, which is now being processed, as they're not automatically refused she was required to sign an undertaking that she was aware that she might be refused admission at the border if restrictions were still in place, she'd already included such a disclaimer with her application, but stll had to write another in longhand.
Denmark closed the Visa Apllication Centre the following day, as they did worldwide. 

[Gandtee]

1 hour ago, OJAS said:

If only the impressive online facility were available from Thailand. Unfortunately it isn't.

Why not I wonder?