Last week in the Consular team #3

[British Consular Team]

Here is a snapshot of what the team did last week. Firstly, some of our numbers: we provided urgent support to 15 British Nationals; this included financial help for four who needed to get back to the UK; we had 34 notarial appointments; we issued one emergency travel document. We also launched an additional online service for applications for affirmations for marriage so customers can now complete most of the process online (the first UK Consular operation to offer this). We started planning our new prevention projects for this year, which include more support for people with mental health issues, more on safe motorbike rentals and the next stages of the training we have provided Thai authorities on supporting rape and sexual assault victims. I’ll close with another compliment, as many people on this forum ask about these: this is from one of the Brits we helped to return home last week: ‘Thank you so much for everything you did I'll never forget it’.

 

[theoldgit]

An intersting update, thanks, it was good to see somebody you helped taking the time to thank you, I suspect most people just take you for granted.

[shackleton]

Well its good to read the British Embassy is helping Brits get flights back to the UK

According to some on here it was not happening 

Well  done to the British Embassy  staff 

Keep up the good work it is appreciated by some of us here 

 

[Kadilo]

Excellent news re getting the Brits back home to the UK. 
 

Can you tell us what is going on to help get the Brits back “home” to Thailand., particularly those who own properties and have Long term Visas?
 

All the rumours and plans seem to be targeted at Tourists. 

[jayboy]

Under Entry Requirement on the FCO website there's the following statement:

 

"Residents currently outside Thailand

If you have a Thai resident visa and normally reside in Thailand but are now overseas and cannot return to Thailand within the required year of departure, you will be granted an extension to your compulsory return deadline. However, you are required to return to Thailand as soon as the situation improves."

 

Those with PR will know this refers to and what this means but it well might confuse others.The reference to "resident visa" is incorrect and the passage should either refer specifically to "Permanent Residence" though for this purpose "Residence Permit" would be equally appropriate.

 

 

[British Consular Team]

16 hours ago, jayboy said:

Under Entry Requirement on the FCO website there's the following statement:

 

"Residents currently outside Thailand

If you have a Thai resident visa and normally reside in Thailand but are now overseas and cannot return to Thailand within the required year of departure, you will be granted an extension to your compulsory return deadline. However, you are required to return to Thailand as soon as the situation improves."

 

Those with PR will know this refers to and what this means but it well might confuse others.The reference to "resident visa" is incorrect and the passage should either refer specifically to "Permanent Residence" though for this purpose "Residence Permit" would be equally appropriate.

 

 

This is useful feedback - thank you. We'll take a look at the language.

[DaveCW]

As others have said, its good to see the tangible benefits of the embassy's day to day work - Would be good to get some insights on the more broader work that you may be doing in the background - Where are we with any trade initiatives, are you highlighting to Thai officials where there are inefficiencies, inconsistences in areas such as Immigration and working with others to try ease processes. Are you putting forward any initiatives or providing any useful input to the myriad of current/future Tourism plans, from a UK perspective - Even if the authorities have not asked - it may be useful to provide these insight so as to help with this planning and we don't start from a negative place from the outset - just a thought.