Last week in the Consular Team #17

[British Consular Team]

Despite the new Covid-19 spike and stricter safety measures being implemented in Bangkok, the Consular team has been providing urgent help and notarial services as usual.

 

In the past two weeks, we provided 47 notarial services and dealt with 30 urgent cases including death, welfare, hospitalisations and arrests of British nationals. Amongst these were a British man whose passport had been retained by a local gym and a very vulnerable British woman receiving medical treatment for Covid-19.

 

Concerns about vaccines for British nationals here in Thailand have kept us busy too. As well as the team dealing with individual enquiries, the Ambassador has spoken to the Thai Prime Minister about this issue, and the Prime Minister has re-confirmed Thailand’s commitment to equal access to vaccines for all living in Thailand, including British Nationals. Discussions on the details continue. Please stay tuned for updates on this as we get more information and sign up for Thailand Travel Advice to receive email alerts.

 

And to end this update on a happy note, our IDC team successfully managed to get a long running IDC detainee returned to the UK last week after he tested positive for COVID-19. He is now on the way home to his grandmother, who has complimented us on our help. A happy Gran means a lot to us!

[blackcab]

On 5/13/2021 at 9:29 AM, British Consular Team said:

...a British man whose passport had been retained by a local gym

 

Who does an ordinary British passport belong to? Her Majesty's Government or the individual named in the passport?

[British Consular Team]

7 hours ago, blackcab said:

 

Who does an ordinary British passport belong to? Her Majesty's Government or the individual named in the passport?

 

Passports belong to the UK government (and can be cancelled or withdrawn at any time). You can find more info on gov.uk.

[foreverlomsak]

On 5/13/2021 at 9:29 AM, British Consular Team said:

In the past two weeks, we provided 47 notarial services

I am aware that I should (or possibly even do know the answer) is certification of original documents to enable a UK pension provider to move payments to my new bank, included.

[Robin]

"Prime Minister has re-confirmed Thailand’s commitment to equal access to vaccines for all living in Thailand, including British Nationals."

When the local clinic was registering my wife for vaccine yesterday, she tried to register me, a 10yr resident in the area, and was told that there was no plan to vaccinate any Farangs, but I was to wait for a letter from my embassy.  Does PM Prayuth know what is going on or is this his normal saying anything that he hopes will sound good to the media.

I have registered with my local private hospital and hope that they will have some vaccine soon.

[nong38]

I went to the Embassy this May for Affirmation to marry and found the staff to be excellent and a pleasure to deal with so well done to all.

[Rimmer]

A couple of troll posts have been removed

[Moonlover]

On 5/17/2021 at 1:16 PM, foreverlomsak said:

I am aware that I should (or possibly even do know the answer) is certification of original documents to enable a UK pension provider to move payments to my new bank, included.

Do you need to have such documents certified? I've moved my pension payments, both state and private, around quite a bit in the last few years and I've never had to call upon the the British embassy for their assistance.

 

A letter or phone call is all that is required.

[Moonlover]

On 5/18/2021 at 2:44 PM, Robin said:

"Prime Minister has re-confirmed Thailand’s commitment to equal access to vaccines for all living in Thailand, including British Nationals."

When the local clinic was registering my wife for vaccine yesterday, she tried to register me, a 10yr resident in the area, and was told that there was no plan to vaccinate any Farangs, but I was to wait for a letter from my embassy.  Does PM Prayuth know what is going on or is this his normal saying anything that he hopes will sound good to the media.

I have registered with my local private hospital and hope that they will have some vaccine soon.

I've had no such problem. In fact they came to our house to collect our details.

[CharlieH]

28 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

I've had no such problem. In fact they came to our house to collect our details.

Similarly, we had a visit, took the wifes details, werent sure about me, but took the info anyway and said they would let us know.

[nong38]

I have an appointment for the AstraZeneca vaccine confirmed for 4th August at 1100.