Q&A session with the British Embassy Consular Team - ask your questions here!

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thaivisa will shortly be meeting with members of the British Embassy’s Consular Team. 

 

If you have any questions you would like us to ask on your behalf please post below. 

 

Thanks!

[evadgib]

1. Why is it not possible to renew British passports online in Thailand when it is perfectly possible to do so from all surrounding countries? A Thai driving licence is more than adequate photo ID to satisfy the 'must-carry-ID-at-all-times' assumption which has been constantly 'body-swerved' by UK authorities whenever legal clarification has been sought (via FoI etc). Strictly speaking this isn't entirely a consular affair (Passports being primarily a HO responsibility) but anything that streamlines HMG's workload is surely better than 2x 12 hr expensive and completely unnecessary round trips to Bkk; especially if elderly or disabled?

 

2. What can be done for Brits currently separated from their families as a result of the virus or for any that will join them if they have to return to UK for any reason and cannot get back? What can HMG do for any rendered homeless by such action ('Right to family life' plus the additional hardship inflicted upon any dual national dependents left behind)?

 

Note: Not all Brits in Thailand have homes or relatives in UK & I shudder to think how much this has cost any that might have been stuck there since March.

 

You DID ask! ????

Edited August 3, 2020 by evadgib

[Kabuta]

The currents 'hoops' we are required to jump through to gain entry into Thailand are totally unachievable, tested negative within 72 hours, letter from Doctor etc..Within the UK there are extremely long times before you can see a GP normally 2-3 weeks in normal circumstances but longer now in the current climate, are these 'hoops' being addressed ? 

[shaemus]

Passports for Children born in Thailand (dual national)

 

Is this service still available in Bangkok?

[PeeraponW]

We were unable to use 3 visit visas for the UK due to the Virus situation.  As they will expire before the next opportunity to travel, will there be any compensation 

[potless]

What is the reason for Thailand being excluded from the UK list of "travellers returning from certain countries will not have to quarantine/self isolate" ?

Edited August 3, 2020 by potless

[MAJORUS]

I have two pensions,The British State Pension and A British Army Pension Both are British Government pension but the British"Embassy"refuses to provide any letter for Thai Immigration certifying it's own government pensions WHY?? perhaps you should drop the word Embassy and call it a trade mission as that is what it is.

[jingjing99]

Like many others with a current valid Thai Visa...I have become locked out of Thailand, and my property and my life there ......where I have been a resident 15 years....all flights now cancelled....luckily i have a work permit....

 my Visa runs out on 28 August ...flights are scheduled to restart 29th August....Can I get an extension of 1 week ?

[soi3eddie]

37 minutes ago, PeeraponW said:

We were unable to use 3 visit visas for the UK due to the Virus situation.  As they will expire before the next opportunity to travel, will there be any compensation 

Or can visit visas be "redated" with future validty if they are unable to be used due to travel restrictions?

 

My GF was issued a UK visit visa in June however due to CV I'm still here in Thailand and we may not go to UK before her visa expires. If she went to UK now she may not be able to return to Thailand easily at end of her visit. I guess I should probably ask VFS anyway but would be good to hear direct from British Embassy.  

[sirwilly]

WHY are our British Old age State Pensions Frozen the date we leave the UK??. While they are updated in Countries like the Philippines, USA, and others ??.

[csmith]

I am British my wife is Thai, we were married in Hong Kong in 1986 (under British Law) where I worked and lived for 24 years. She has a Thai passport.

We moved to Chiangmai Thailand in 2002 and hope to stay here in Chiangmai for the long haul.

I am collecting the minimum 'Old Age' pension monthly from the UK, I paid full  pension contributions to the UK during all my years out of the UK.

The UK government only gives me the pension of a single person and do not acknowledge my married status. (over 30 years now).

I should be grateful to be given a strategy on how to have my pension acknowledged as a married person and also to how to have a pension available to my wife after my death.

Many thanks.
Chris

 

[DPKANKAN]

Why do you refuse to notarize British pension income? Other countries do it!!

You say you are unable to confirm the income is correct? Surely, if we get it notarized by a legal representative before submission to you it takes away that argument and would allow you to do it for us UK citizens who have paid our Taxes all our working lives and still are paying taxes as non residents without any benefits!!

Edited August 4, 2020 by DPKANKAN
Spelling

[madmac1]

Due to the current Covid 19 restrictions we are unable to use the UK visa we got earlier this year for my wife. The visa expires in September due to it being issued/started 3 months earlier than our requested travel dates.

Will the end date be extended to all ow us to make the trip or will there be compensation/refund??

[brucefarang]

My 10 year old sons English passport has expired (he has dual Thai/English citizenship) I emailed the Consulate back in March concerning renewal but have had no reply. Am I able to renew his passport still or must we apply for a new one?

[southcoast]

I have a 6 month visa for my Thai wife to visit the UK again but it has not been used due to the Virus problems, its due to expire on the 1st October 2020. Will it be transferable to be used at a later date when travel restrictions are lifted, and, if so where do we do it! (VFS, UK Embassy) or is now null and void and if so do we get a refund??. Thanks for any answers.

[Silverlight]

I am a UK citizen and live in the Philippines and have no home in the UK. Can the Embassy issue me a letter confirming this to meet the requirements of Immigration to allow me to extend my tourist visa from September 27, the Philippines, like all other countries in S. E. Asia, being closed?

[hotandsticky]

56 minutes ago, brucefarang said:

My 10 year old sons English passport has expired (he has dual Thai/English citizenship) I emailed the Consulate back in March concerning renewal but have had no reply. Am I able to renew his passport still or must we apply for a new one?

 

 

Passport applications are nothing to do with the embassy, they are the domain of HM Passport Office.

 

Applications are handled by VfS Global as agents for HMPO..

 

 

https://www.richardbarrow.com/2019/06/a-quick-guide-to-renewing-your-british-passport-in-bangkok/#:~:text=To renew your British passport,Friday except for public holidays.

 

 

[Dice Man]

16 hours ago, sirwilly said:

WHY are our British Old age State Pensions Frozen the date we leave the UK??. While they are updated in Countries like the Philippines, USA, and others ??.

Totally agree.I have taken this to the Pensions Tribunal and LOST as the judge said " it is to expensive to fix"   as its gone on for over 20 years! This case was taken the the European Justice Court about 10 years ago and the lady nattowly lost! Time to do it again I think??

[stereolab]

17 hours ago, MAJORUS said:

I have two pensions,The British State Pension and A British Army Pension Both are British Government pension but the British"Embassy"refuses to provide any letter for Thai Immigration certifying it's own government pensions WHY?? perhaps you should drop the word Embassy and call it a trade mission as that is what it is.

In the same position, I fully agree. The Embassy should be able to provide a letter of confirmation based upon the P60. Then there can be no doubts about the validity of UK income.

[Hotrats]

My question is whether the Home Office are intending to issue replacement visas for those Thai citizens who are already holding 6 month UK visit visas, but have been unable to use them due to covid travel restrictions. As In my case for example, I am British but we are holding valid  6 month visas for my wife and 2 children which we have been unable to use, and they will have expired before the current travel restrictions are likely to be lifted. I understand the Home Office are already issuing replacement visas (through VFS) for those holding 30 day visas, but surely there are far more people needing replacement visas who are holding 6 month visas. If they gave the go ahead it would simply be a matter of issuing a replacement vignette (through VFS) for a new extended validity of a further 6 months, which is how the 30 day visas are extended currently. Could the British Embassy please push the Home Office on this request.

[sandyf]

16 hours ago, sirwilly said:

WHY are our British Old age State Pensions Frozen the date we leave the UK??. While they are updated in Countries like the Philippines, USA, and others ??.

The embassy is incapable of answering that question, it would be better if you sent email to the inquiry.

http://frozenbritishpensions.org/appg-for-frozen-british-pensions-launches-inquiry/

[sandyf]

10 minutes ago, Dice Man said:

Totally agree.I have taken this to the Pensions Tribunal and LOST as the judge said " it is to expensive to fix"   as its gone on for over 20 years! This case was taken the the European Justice Court about 10 years ago and the lady nattowly lost! Time to do it again I think??

See post No 21

[jungle johnny]

What is to be done on the death of a Briton in Thailand? There is some info. on this matter on the Consular part of the Embassy website but it is dated 2013, surely out of date now. Where can I find relevant info,? Links please.

Aye, J.J.

[hotandsticky]

4 minutes ago, jungle johnny said:

What is to be done on the death of a Briton in Thailand? There is some info. on this matter on the Consular part of the Embassy website but it is dated 2013, surely out of date now. Where can I find relevant info,? Links please.

Aye, J.J.

 

Not sure what official response you will get but there is no need to get involved with the embassy at all following the death of a Brit...... they do nothing to help - it is not their function. Registering a death with them is possible - but pointless and expensive.

 

The British embassy are automatically advised of the death of a Brit and their consent is required to remove the deceased from hospital for cremation.

[JustinCredible]

17 hours ago, MAJORUS said:

I have two pensions,The British State Pension and A British Army Pension Both are British Government pension but the British"Embassy"refuses to provide any letter for Thai Immigration certifying it's own government pensions WHY?? perhaps you should drop the word Embassy and call it a trade mission as that is what it is.

On the same topic as above, I also have two UK Pensions  - both paid directly into my Thai Bank account. The Annual Statement that I take to Immigration cleary states that the income items are "Pensions" whether it be my State Pension or my Private Pension.

The lack of embassy letter has caused me nothing but problems for my last two Extensions. Why can you not verify a Thai Bank Statement the same way that Immigration does?

[SKrist]

I am heading to Bangkok next week to renew my passport. 
 

Please can they confirm what exactly is required for address proof? Does it need to be notarised? There is a lot of misinformation on forums. Is a letter from my employer with their address enough, especially due to the fact that the passports are not even sent to a home address which is what the proof is usually required for. 

[bikerbri]

Why are British pensioners discriminated against when demanding pension parity with Pensioners living in the Uk?  For seventy years British pensioners living in frozen countries have been denied an uprated State pension. Why? Boiler plate Answers like " We only uprate pensions where we have a legal requirement or a a reciprocal agreement" are totally unjustified. We, along with pensioners living in the the likes of the Philippines have contribute into the system through National Insurance contributions and denying us the same is unadulterated  discrimination and should be stopped. Do you agree?

[PaDavid]

17 hours ago, MAJORUS said:

I have two pensions,The British State Pension and A British Army Pension Both are British Government pension but the British"Embassy"refuses to provide any letter for Thai Immigration certifying it's own government pensions WHY?? perhaps you should drop the word Embassy and call it a trade mission as that is what it is.

I’m in the same boat. State + RAF pensions. When recently renewing my non O visa (retirement) I was asked to prove receipt of the military pension. Impossible when my annual statement comes from Equiniti (government agency) and monthly payments into the bank have some meaningless code. On the third visit, I took along copies of old photos of me in uniform, which seemed to serve, as I did eventually get my visa. So much simpler if the Embassy would continue to endorse income for those receiving pensions from government sources - which they should easily be able to validate. 

[pixelaoffy]

UK consulate needs to confirm that if a British citizen in Thailand registers it's details. Phone number address etc in Thailand  for safety reasons, that information can and is available to other UK gov dept/agencies in the UK ! I know this is a fact Mr Davison! Shouldn't you tell British passport holders if this if they are so naive to register ?

 

Edited August 4, 2020 by pixelaoffy

[Foghorn]

Why do you not help the British people ?