Video Interview with the British Embassy Consular Team in Thailand - August 2020

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Interview with the British Embassy Consular Team in Thailand - August 2020

 

 

 

Firstly, thank you to everyone who submitted questions on the forum and via the Thaivisa Facebook page. 

 

Here is the first in what we hope to be many similar interviews with the British Consular team in Thailand, where we hope to ask them your questions and raise different issues with them on behalf of British expats in Thailand. 

 

The interview is part of an exciting partnership between Thaivisa and the the British Consular team in Thailand, which will see a dedicated forum section on Thaivisa to share timely and frequent updates, Q&A’s and more information on the activities and work carried out by the team from month to month. 

 

In this first update, the Consular team, headed up HM Consul Paul Kaye, answer questions on a variety of topics including visa amnesty, pensions, income letters, what to do regarding the death of a British national in Thailand, and how British nationals can access mental health support. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-08-11

 

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[jayboy]

11 minutes ago, colinneil said:

British embassy consular team,???? in name only.

just an over paid crowd of useless sods.

When asked to help, the only thing they can say is...... Not our problem.

They are not particularly well paid.They are mid to junior level bureaucrats doing their best.You are never going to find the most dynamic people doing this kind of job.Overall however I think you and others are being unfair and my impression is they are acquitting themselves quite well. But the fact remains Foreign Office or Home Office high flyers don't do this kind of consular work.Perhaps they should in countries like Thailand but I doubt that will ever happen.

 

Where I would partially agree with you is that for this kind of discussion it's not really good enough to say this or that subject is not within our remit (even if that is true). It would be best to say this or that is not our job but our understanding is such and such.As the contact point between the Embassy and the British expat community they know what are the common concerns and should prepare themselves even if these matters are not strictly their responsibility.To be fair the team being interviewed made some effort to do this.

 

 

[Dogmatix]

It’s positive that the consular team is willing to to do this.

 

It’s a surprisingly small team with only only two accredited British diplomats. The Americans have loads of accredited US diplomats in their consular section.

 

They have given Nokkie a ridiculous title, “Head of Prevention and Engagement”. What is that supposed to mean?

The statement about the pension letters is absurd. Thai Immigration knew perfectly well that foreign consulates were only witnessing affidavits on the basis that it is a criminal offence in British law to someone to ask them to witness a false statement. When Immigration tried to tell them they felt they should be verifying the pensions, which is absurd, they should have stood their ground and told them they would continue to do what is possible and practical under UK law. Then it would have been up to Immigration to decide whether they would continue to accept the letters or not. They seem to still accept letters done in the same basis by other consulates. In line with FCO policy the British consulate merely seized an opportunity to reduce the services they provide to British nationals closer to zero.

 

[colinneil]

Just now, jayboy said:

They are not particularly well paid.They are mid to junior level bureaucrats doing their best.You are never going to find the most dynamic people doing this kind of job.Overall however I think you and others are being unfair and my impression is they are acquitting themselves quite well. But the fact remains Foreign Office or Home Office high flyers don't do this kind of consular work.Perhaps they should in countries like Thailand but I doubt that will ever happen.

 

Where I would partially agree with you is that for this kind of discussion it's not really good enough to say this or that subject is not within our remit (even if that is true). It would be best to say this or that is not our job but our understanding is such and such.As the contact point between the Embassy and the British expat community they know what are the common concerns and should prepare themselves even if these matters are not strictly their responsibility.To be fair the team being interviewed made some effort to do this.

 

 

You think i am being unfair !!! Clearly you have never been in a situation requiring help, or you would not say i was being unfair.

Me just out of a month long coma, immigration telling my wife, they will come to the hospital to deport me.

My wife at her wits end not knowing what to do, or who to turn to.

A friend suggested to call the British embassy see if they could help/ advice.Only thing them useless sods said.... Not our problem.

So you think i am being unfair, you aint got a clue what you are talking about.

[Foghorn]

What’s the point we know the answers , can’t do ,won’t do ,don’t do

[SomchaiCNX]

Please don't start about other European embassies, we had good teams in the past but most of the time they are useless ????  So yes British people in THailand I feel your pain. Embassies nowadays are just an extension of the incompetent politicians of your home country.

 

[Dogmatix]

I have never understood the justification of freezing pensions because there is no reciprocal agreement. The government has received exactly the same contributions from the pensioners and should pay the same to all. My brother lives in the US and gets his UK pension index linked because there is reciprocal agreement but the US government doesn’t contribute to it. It costs the UK government the same as it would if he were living anywhere else.

 

Thailand doesn’t have a comparable state pension. So there will obviously never be a reciprocal agreement. What a criminal excuse for cheating retirees out of their fully paid up pensions. Utterly disgusting!

[Gilltom]

9 minutes ago, colinneil said:

You think i am being unfair !!! Clearly you have never been in a situation requiring help, or you would not say i was being unfair.

Me just out of a month long coma, immigration telling my wife, they will come to the hospital to deport me.

My wife at her wits end not knowing what to do, or who to turn to.

A friend suggested to call the British embassy see if they could help/ advice.Only thing them useless sods said.... Not our problem.

So you think i am being unfair, you aint got a clue what you are talking about.

You are right..my friend 's husband died and she had to go to embassy they said she should have made an appointment.she said i would havr a week ago if i knew he was going to die.plus they never answered the phone the day we tried to call.then they had the brass neck to say hsve a nice day as we were leaving to go to the bloody mortuary.but soon apologised when i ripped into him

[graemeaylward]

Thank you, very interesting ????

 

[Dice Man]

19 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

It’s positive that the consular team is willing to to do this.

 

It’s a surprisingly small team with only only two accredited British diplomats. The Americans have loads of accredited US diplomats in their consular section.

 

They have given Nokkie a ridiculous title, “Head of Prevention and Engagement”. What is that supposed to mean?

The statement about the pension letters is absurd. Thai Immigration knew perfectly well that foreign consulates were only witnessing affidavits on the basis that it is a criminal offence in British law to someone to ask them to witness a false statement. When Immigration tried to tell them they felt they should be verifying the pensions, which is absurd, they should have stood their ground and told them they would continue to do what is possible and practical under UK law. Then it would have been up to Immigration to decide whether they would continue to accept the letters or not. They seem to still accept letters done in the same basis by other consulates. In line with FCO policy the British consulate merely seized an opportunity to reduce the services they provide to British nationals closer to zero.

 

Totally agree again!

[SteveK]

So the key point here is, don't rely on the UK embassy for anything, ever.

[soi3eddie]

At first it seemed good they they are willing to stick their heads up and be seen. Now it just appears to be some kind of PR stunt.

Hiding behind "data ptotection" as usual and it's a pathetic excuse. If I give them my explicit permission to access data held about me from my pension provider, bank or any other body/organisation in order to verify it, how difficult is that? How about these clowns actually start saying to expats "we hear your difficulties and we will look into resolving the situation and being of service to our citizens"? No. They can't be a@sed!

They dodged or deliberately misunderstood the question about lobbying Thai authorities regarding those stuck outside Thailand with visas/extension nearing expiry. "We won't be lobbying Thai governemnt" Tosh!

 

[brucefarang]

A good start -where do I access the responses?

[Stocky]

22 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

The Americans have loads of accredited US diplomats in their consular section.

Those are spies.

[Dice Man]

6 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

I have never understood the justification of freezing pensions because there is no reciprocal agreement. The government has received exactly the same contributions from the pensioners and should pay the same to all. My brother lives in the US and gets his UK pension index linked because there is reciprocal agreement but the US government doesn’t contribute to it. It costs the UK government the same as it would if he were living anywhere else.

 

Thailand doesn’t have a comparable state pension. So there will obviously never be a reciprocal agreement. What a criminal excuse for cheating retirees out of their fully paid up pensions. Utterly disgusting!

In my opinion a criminal act by DWP ...but then you are dealing with utter skumbags

[soi3eddie]

I've got another 14 years to go until I get my UK full state pension. And that's if they don't change the age again-quite likely. I've already made enough contributions to qualify but still have to pay NICs! One thing for sure is that if I live long enough to "retire" here in Thailand, I will maintain connections with the UK by keeping an address (friend or family), bank account, doctor registration and electoral registration just to be sure of receiving services that have been paid for over many years. Advise anyone else retiring to do same.

 

 

[Dogmatix]

14 minutes ago, colinneil said:

You think i am being unfair !!! Clearly you have never been in a situation requiring help, or you would not say i was being unfair.

Me just out of a month long coma, immigration telling my wife, they will come to the hospital to deport me.

My wife at her wits end not knowing what to do, or who to turn to.

A friend suggested to call the British embassy see if they could help/ advice.Only thing them useless sods said.... Not our problem.

So you think i am being unfair, you aint got a clue what you are talking about.

They no longer have anything to do with visas or passports and London now issues a very short list to the notarial section of what they can notarise. If you are incapacitated, they can give a list of hospitals. If you are in trouble, they can give a list of law firms with a disclaimer saying they have no idea, if they are any good or not. If you are murdered by a Thai with influential connections, they will assist the Thai police in their frame up operation and the FCO in London will convince your relatives in the UK that the scapegoats really murdered your loved ones for the sake of good relations with a corrupt government in the hope of lucrative weapons deals.

 

I have talked to former US consular officials about cases where British nationals In Thailand have been abandoned to their fate by the British Consulate as you were and they are utterly astounded. It is not the fault of the low level officials sent out here. It is the fault of the morally bankrupt government at home that limits what they are allowed to do to the bare minimum and allows them no initiative whatsoever.

[bluesofa]

Interestingly the Consul said in the space of a couple of minutes that there used to be a database of British expats who had registered with them, but it fell in disrepair.

He went on to say that it wasn't necessary to register with them...but keep checking their website and if it told you register, with them, then register.

A long way round saying nothing.

 

I had no idea the Consul was so good at sign language.

[DPKANKAN]

He had them answer exactly about income letter notarization and they admitted and stated it was because they could not authenticate the information provided.

Why did he not then ask my easy question I put forward, that if we get them notarized as legitimate, by UK or Thai lawyers etc., it takes away not only their risk, but their argument too???!!!????????????????????????????????

 

 

[PaDavid]

2 hours ago, bkkdawg said:

Useless bunch of overpaid idiots. How about just write the letters we need to get our visas extended. That'd be a start!

Have you considered how much time it would take to actually VERIFY every farang’s income? You’d need a full time team working on it. 

[baansgr]

2 hours ago, bkkdawg said:

Useless bunch of overpaid idiots. How about just write the letters we need to get our visas extended. That'd be a start!

The letter confirming income being stopped has of course directed anger at them....if you were rotting in a prison or seriously ill in hospital you would surely change your views...of course they can't offer financial assistance but they help many that are in need.

[Keesters]

49 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

I have never understood the justification of freezing pensions because there is no reciprocal agreement. The government has received exactly the same contributions from the pensioners and should pay the same to all. My brother lives in the US and gets his UK pension index linked because there is reciprocal agreement but the US government doesn’t contribute to it. It costs the UK government the same as it would if he were living anywhere else.

 

Thailand doesn’t have a comparable state pension. So there will obviously never be a reciprocal agreement. What a criminal excuse for cheating retirees out of their fully paid up pensions. Utterly disgusting!

Thailand may not have a comparable state pension but that should not stop them from having a reciprocal agreement. At least UK should go through the motions of trying to get one and not be seen as using it as an excuse. We British pensioners already save the UK a lot of expense by choosing to live here but they, the UK, by doing nothing add insult to injury over this matter. 

[NanLaew]

55 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

I have never understood the justification of freezing pensions because there is no reciprocal agreement. The government has received exactly the same contributions from the pensioners and should pay the same to all. My brother lives in the US and gets his UK pension index linked because there is reciprocal agreement but the US government doesn’t contribute to it. It costs the UK government the same as it would if he were living anywhere else.

 

Thailand doesn’t have a comparable state pension. So there will obviously never be a reciprocal agreement. What a criminal excuse for cheating retirees out of their fully paid up pensions. Utterly disgusting!

And also absolutely NOTHING to do with the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office, British Embassy or consular services.

[shackleton]

Well its a  postive start having a discussion with the British Embassy staff face to face

Some people will disagree with some of the answers given

I look at  it as you have to start somewhere  on a open discussion  will see how things progress  in the coming months ect

[NanLaew]

31 minutes ago, PaDavid said:

Have you considered how much time it would take to actually VERIFY every farang’s income? You’d need a full time team working on it. 

With the wonders of high speed internet, the "full time team" can work on that from home, no?

 

Mind you, maybe far too many recalcitrant and cranky old Brits here still running Windows XP on a dialup connection.

 

Yeah... that will take ages.

[Skallywag]

This forum can give you better assistance than any Embassy ever will  ???? 

[NanLaew]

3 minutes ago, shackleton said:

Well its a  postive start having a discussion with the British Embassy staff face to face

Some people will disagree with some of the answers given

I look at  it as you have to start somewhere  on a open discussion  will see how things progress  in the coming months ect

Yes, once the noisome  'I told you so' clique lose interest here, maybe practical and salient issues will be raised, discussed, clarified and acted upon.

[Neeranam]

It's not their fault that the government have slashed consular services, they are just doing their job. 

 

When getting a letter of intent to renounce my citizenship, the lady was very helpful. 

 

My complaint is the Thai staff working at the gate. When on British soil, I resent being shouted at "you you telephone". 

 

 

[jayboy]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

You think i am being unfair !!! Clearly you have never been in a situation requiring help, or you would not say i was being unfair.

Me just out of a month long coma, immigration telling my wife, they will come to the hospital to deport me.

My wife at her wits end not knowing what to do, or who to turn to.

A friend suggested to call the British embassy see if they could help/ advice.Only thing them useless sods said.... Not our problem.

So you think i am being unfair, you aint got a clue what you are talking about.

Not only are you unfair but apparently also uninformed.You have had an unfortunate personal experience (though the details are extremely hazy) but that does not entitle you to make inaccurate generalisations.

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

You think i am being unfair !!! Clearly you have never been in a situation requiring help, or you would not say i was being unfair.

Me just out of a month long coma, immigration telling my wife, they will come to the hospital to deport me.

My wife at her wits end not knowing what to do, or who to turn to.

A friend suggested to call the British embassy see if they could help/ advice.Only thing them useless sods said.... Not our problem.

So you think i am being unfair, you aint got a clue what you are talking about.

To be fair, it's not their job to assist you with visa issues. Should be in my opinion, but not.