8 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

You do not understand how multiple entry visas work. There is the VISA, and there is the permission to stay. The VISA is like the ticket to enter Thailand. It's valid for 6 months from the date the embassy issues it. During the 6 months of the visa, you will receive a 60- wereday tourist entry stamp EVERY time you enter Thailand. If you enter 20 times, you will receive 20 60-day tourist entry stamps. If you enter 1 time, you will receive 1 60-day entry stamp. Even if you enter on the very last day of that 6 months, you will receive a 60-day tourist entry stamp.

Yep and this is what would have been perfect for me and what I intended to get back in mid July but their fiscal rules for METV were black and white with no deviation allowed

Have actually put their £5000 requirement in separate account now so at least Autumn/Winter 2027 I'll be able to meet that requirement over several months statements. Instead am left messing around with this SETV at the last moment. Hopefully I get a response from Evisa section today (or actually better still I dont because that will mean latest photo has been accepted as they have been quick to decline to date if it isnt)

10 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

Don't you have to include a copy of your flights? What is the point of starting your visa before the date of your first flight? So the 6 months starts the day they approve it not from the date that you use it. So it is not a 6 month visa or have I missed something?

Quite the opposite.

You are advised NOT to purchase flights until the visa has been granted (unlike Schengen visa applications where you submit evidence of confirmed flights - and accommodation).

The 6 months starts from date of entry - and that is dictated by the 'valid from' and 'valid to' dates on the visa. UKVI has been known to overlook requested entry dates. That is not a problem for most people who probably go for, say, a month or two holiday) as the 'valid to' date easily covers these trips. It becomes important when you are applying 3 months in advance and have a specific travel end date.

11 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

So the 6 months starts the day they approve it not from the date that you use it. So it is not a 6 month visa or have I missed something

I see your point.

I go (previously) to Vietnam often and need to obtain Tourist eVisa

Unlike eVisa for Thailand you enter a date you want eVisa validity to start.

My M.O is to book my flight and enter flight date on the eVisa application.

Better than the way Thai application works. IMO

1 hour ago, hotandsticky said:

The 6 months starts from date of entry - and that is dictated by the 'valid from' and 'valid to' dates on the visa. UKVI has been known to overlook requested entry dates. That is not a problem for most people who probably go for, say, a month or two holiday) as the 'valid to' date easily covers these trips. It becomes important when you are applying 3 months in advance and have a specific travel end date.

The validity of the visa and the permitted period of stay are the same for UK visitor visas, unlike Thailand where the visa validity and the period of stay are seperate.

Each UK entry allows a stay of 180 days, but only within the validity of the visa.

1 hour ago, Liquorice said:

The validity of the visa and the permitted period of stay are the same for UK visitor visas, unlike Thailand where the visa validity and the period of stay are separate.

Each UK entry allows a stay of 180 days, but only within the validity of the visa.

A good point..................the visa shows exactly 6 months validity.

In my wife's case it was 12th January to 12th July 2026, which equates to 181 days. Had it been 12th March to 12th September that would have been 184 days......................in both cases the permitted maximum stay is 180 days.

Pleased to say SETV was approved this morning

Couple points

It took 5 photos....original style passport photo that I had on file plus 2 new sets produced all rejected. The Passport official booth in the Royal Post Office that wont even print them if you're out of position.... all rejected

1 selfie rejected

2nd selfie accepted

I had no onward flight on original application. I did actually have a proper onward flight after 59 days but because it was on a different airline I wasnt able to upload it (without removing the outbound sector to Bangkok)

To be fair if the 1st original photo had been accepted the application would have only been 1-2 days to complete