Tip of the hat to the VFS Application Centre Bangkok for their quick and efficient service

 

 

Over the past +20 years I’ve applied successfully many times for UK standard 6-month visas for the wife, first at the old British Embassy (Ploenchit) and then at the various VFS centres.

 

As my parents are in their 90s and in ill-health, I decided to apply for a UK standard 2-year visa for the wife this time. The application we submitted did make mention of my parent’s situation and this being reason for applying for a visa ‘just in case’ we need to visit.

 

My wife works (own company) so was able to show funds, reason to return to Thailand and support / guarantors in the UK from my family members.

 

Not sure why but I thought it would take up to 3 weeks for the application.

 

We didn’t pay for any additional services except for the passport to be couriered back to our home (we live in neighbouring province to BKK and we didn’t want to have to drive in and out of BKK to collect the passport).

 

The *new VFS centre is way better than the previous one in Trendy Building, which was over-busy, difficult to find some where to sit (or park), long queues for the lift up to the VFS office, etc. At the new place, the UK has a separate office to the VFS office for Australia, Canada and others. The building is spacious and quiet, and the VFS service was very quick – the wife took no more that 10 minutes in the VFS office to do her biometrics, and the appointment was on time.

 

*VFS (Thailand) Ltd. The Shoppes Grand Rama 9 @ Belle, 2nd floor 131/1,141/1 Rama 9,Huai Khwang, Bangkok

 

The timeline of the service shocked us how quick it was:

UK visa application made and paid for = Monday 12.12.2025

Uploaded the visa application support details = Sunday 18.12.2025

Wife attended UK’s VFS centre BKK = Monday 19.12.2025

Wife’s passport arrived with the visa = Saturday 20.12.2025

I just used them for my UK passport, very efficient, and yes, better than the Trendy building

 

Got the MRT to Rama 9 exit 3, motorbike taxi from there B30 , there is a shuttle also

3 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Tip of the hat to the VFS Application Centre Bangkok for their quick and efficient service

 

 

Over the past +20 years I’ve applied successfully many times for UK standard 6-month visas for the wife, first at the old British Embassy (Ploenchit) and then at the various VFS centres.

 

As my parents are in their 90s and in ill-health, I decided to apply for a UK standard 2-year visa for the wife this time. The application we submitted did make mention of my parent’s situation and this being reason for applying for a visa ‘just in case’ we need to visit.

 

My wife works (own company) so was able to show funds, reason to return to Thailand and support / guarantors in the UK from my family members.

 

Not sure why but I thought it would take up to 3 weeks for the application.

 

We didn’t pay for any additional services except for the passport to be couriered back to our home (we live in neighbouring province to BKK and we didn’t want to have to drive in and out of BKK to collect the passport).

 

The *new VFS centre is way better than the previous one in Trendy Building, which was over-busy, difficult to find some where to sit (or park), long queues for the lift up to the VFS office, etc. At the new place, the UK has a separate office to the VFS office for Australia, Canada and others. The building is spacious and quiet, and the VFS service was very quick – the wife took no more that 10 minutes in the VFS office to do her biometrics, and the appointment was on time.

 

*VFS (Thailand) Ltd. The Shoppes Grand Rama 9 @ Belle, 2nd floor 131/1,141/1 Rama 9,Huai Khwang, Bangkok

 

The timeline of the service shocked us how quick it was:

UK visa application made and paid for = Monday 12.12.2025

Uploaded the visa application support details = Sunday 18.12.2025

Wife attended UK’s VFS centre BKK = Monday 19.12.2025

Wife’s passport arrived with the visa = Saturday 20.12.2025

 

 

UK visa application made and paid for = Monday 12.12.2025

Uploaded the visa application support details = Sunday 14.12.2025

Wife attended UK’s VFS centre BKK = Monday 15.12.2025

Wife’s passport arrived with the visa = Saturday 20.12.2025

(Dates corrected)

We were there Wednesday the 17th, waiting for word now 🤞. Always found VFS good but the website to book an appointment was poor. Don't like the new location as much as the Trendy, too out of the way, stayed at the Best Western Hotel 10 minutes walk away.

Got a message yesterday, passport ready for collection, it took 10 days. Very fast.

 

Edit: was a renewal

Tip:

Right outside UK office entrance is a coffee shop. B120 a coffee! On the level below lots of restaurants,  coffee, big Tops.

There is underground parking.

Place is way better than Trendy.

VfS have really upped their game and FAR more helpful, and professional, than at the previous locations.

OK, they are only messenger boys but they do seem to show more empathy these days.

They always advise the standard response time of 15 working days and the Asian section of UKVI are turning decisions around much quicker...5 days in one case.

On 1/2/2026 at 7:12 PM, hotandsticky said:

VfS have really upped their game and FAR more helpful, and professional, than at the previous locations.

OK, they are only messenger boys but they do seem to show more empathy these days.

They always advise the standard response time of 15 working days and the Asian section of UKVI are turning decisions around much quicker...5 days in one case.

I agree. There has been a vast improvement with all aspects of the service from VFS since they moved to the new location. The previous location at Trendy was always far too busy, chaotic and unfriendly. The new location, however, wasn't busy at all and the service was very friendly and efficient. I was there recently for a UK passport renewal and was amazed how quickly the whole process, from submitting my passport up to collection about a week later, was completed

The main problem I always had before for visa applications was navigating the online process for booking an appointment, but this time for my passport renewal the online booking was straightforward and completed with no problems.

Or course, no decisions are made by VFS, so there must have been an improvement with the process at HMPO back in the UK as well. I hope the process for visa applications is similarly improved too.

On 12/21/2025 at 1:24 PM, Seppius said:

I just used them for my UK passport, very efficient, and yes, better than the Trendy building

 

Got the MRT to Rama 9 exit 3, motorbike taxi from there B30 , there is a shuttle also

If you exit MRT into the mall and exit the mall at the rear, there is a free shuttle to Shoppes, but if you drive, there is ample free underground parking.

Can anyone recommend an agency to the work of getting a renewal for UK passport? I know it should be easy, but I have got to the age when I cannot be bothered with the combination of Thai and UK officialdom

On 1/6/2026 at 9:19 AM, Hotrats said:

I agree. There has been a vast improvement with all aspects of the service from VFS since they moved to the new location. The previous location at Trendy was always far too busy, chaotic and unfriendly. The new location, however, wasn't busy at all and the service was very friendly and efficient. I was there recently for a UK passport renewal and was amazed how quickly the whole process, from submitting my passport up to collection about a week later, was completed

The main problem I always had before for visa applications was navigating the online process for booking an appointment, but this time for my passport renewal the online booking was straightforward and completed with no problems.

Or course, no decisions are made by VFS, so there must have been an improvement with the process at HMPO back in the UK as well. I hope the process for visa applications is similarly improved too.

I believe they no longer have to courier the applicationa to the UK the info is now scanned at VFS and sent directly to UK, when you applied did you get a DHL tracking number if you did then my info is wrong

11 minutes ago, Robin said:

Can anyone recommend an agency to the work of getting a renewal for UK passport? I know it should be easy, but I have got to the age when I cannot be bothered with the combination of Thai and UK officialdom

Here's one, there are more, but I've seen them recommended on here;

https://thaivisa-express.com/

19 hours ago, Robin said:

Can anyone recommend an agency to the work of getting a renewal for UK passport? I know it should be easy, but I have got to the age when I cannot be bothered with the combination of Thai and UK officialdom

Where are you based?

So am thinking of applying for UK visa for my Thai wife, the VFS sounds the way to go.

What is the first step in the process?

1 minute ago, hackjam said:

What is the first step in the process?

Trying to navigate their online application website.. I gave up trying to submit the needed documents and just took them to the interview paid extra to have them scan on the day

they only allow the applicant into the interview center to take all the biometric stuff and submit documents.

OK, will try starting with their website, any links?

https://www.vfsglobal.com/united-kingdom/

21 hours ago, hackjam said:

So am thinking of applying for UK visa for my Thai wife, the VFS sounds the way to go.

What is the first step in the process?

It is the ONLY way to go.

You need to evidence compliance with 3 key criteria....Genuine relationship/reason to visit, financial adequacy and reasons to return to Thailand.

Start here:- https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/apply-standard-visitor-visa

On 2/26/2026 at 8:45 AM, hackjam said:

OK, will try starting with their website, any links?

As @hotandsticky has pointed out VFS has to be used, but only for the Biometric Capture procedure, your wife first needs to apply for her visa online via the .gov link he has supplied. She can upload her supporting evidence herself, or pay VFS to do so when she attends to have her biometrics captured.