Info For British Nationals

[laura1c]

Just got this email - thought some on here might be interested:

MESSAGE FROM BRITISH AMBASSADOR, MARK KENT, TO BRITISH NATIONALS IN THAILAND

I took up my job as British Ambassador at the end of August. Starting any job is a busy period, as there are lots of people to meet and new subjects to become familiar with. Having been in Thailand for some time learning the language has meant that I am not starting completely from scratch, but I still haven't managed to do as much as I would have liked nor to meet as many people as I might. But as Clint Eastwood once famously said, a man's got to know his limitations.

So while I have met representatives from a number of organisations and attended a number of events, I still have yet to meet many people in the British community. We are lucky to be served by a number of community organisations in Thailand, ranging from the Royal British Legion, the British club in Bangkok, the British women's group and the societies of St Andrew, St David, St George and St Patrick.

If you're new to Thailand and interested in taking part in any of these activities, please get in touch at the email addresses below.

• Royal British Legion http://rblthailand.com/ http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/chonburi-thailand
  
• the British Club http://www.britishclubbangkok.org/http://www.britishclubbangkok.org/
  
• the British women’s group http://www.bwgbangkok.org/ [email protected]
  
• Bangkok St Andrew’s Society - http://www.bangkokscot.com/ To contact the Chieftain please email [email protected]
  
• St Patrick’s Society in Bangkok - http://www.stpatricks.in.th/
  
• Bangkok St George’s Society - http://www.bangkokstgeorgesoc.org/Welcome.html -
  
• St David’s Society of Bangkok http://www.stdavidsinbangkok.com/ [email protected]
  

Two events in November which I would like to highlight are the Remembrance Sunday commemorations in Bangkok and Kanchanaburi. If you would like to attend one of the ceremonies on 11 November please get in touch with us at [email protected], or with the Royal British Legion. This year the occasion will be particularly poignant as it marks the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the building of the death railway.

Another important event for charity will be held on Saturday 24 November at Bangkok Patana School. This is the Ploenchit Fair. If you are able to offer support please get in touch with the organisers at [email protected] or http://www.bctfn.com/. And please come along on the day to support a good cause too!

November will also be busy as we are expecting Prime Minister Yingluck to visit the UK and Foreign Secretary William Hague to come to Bangkok during the course of the month. While we will of course be discussing issues of politics, trade and international cooperation during these visits, we will also be discussing issues of direct concern to British tourists and residents such as consular and visa issues.

My predecessor and I have been in discussions with the Thai authorities to see what can be done to make life easier and safer for British tourists and residents in Thailand. We are exploring issues such as the bureaucratic demands on residents and tightening up on the policing of scams such as those involving taxis, gems and jet skis.

As far as the Embassy services to British nationals are concerned, we aim to ensure that they are as modern and user-friendly as possible. We are of course operating in an economic climate where we also need to make savings in the public service. So we will be looking to provide a high quality service in the most efficient and cost-effective way. Part of this may involve delivering some of our services in a different way, such as online. And we will centralise certain non-emergency services in Bangkok. That will allow us to focus our efforts more directly on helping those British nationals who most need it - those who are the most vulnerable and in difficulty.

With these goals in mind, we are about to change the way we work in Pattaya. British nationals in difficulty in Pattaya will in future receive consular assistance directly from the experienced team at the Embassy in Bangkok, supported by a new Honorary Consul in Pattaya. Notarial and documentary services will be provided in Bangkok. The current, small Consulate office will close. For those travelling to Bangkok from Pattaya we will aim to provide a same day service. Embassy staff will continue to visit Pattaya regularly to maintain contact with British residents and, when needed, to help people in difficulty. We are confident that these new arrangements – further details to be announced on our web site shortly - should result in a more consistent and reliable level of service for both those in need of urgent help, and those needing routine notarial services. They reflect what we have implemented in other countries across the world. We will be monitoring the new arrangements carefully, and welcome your feedback on this and the other services we offer.

The consular services we offer follow our global standards, and are explained in our publication Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide. So, for example, we have no discretion in Bangkok over the fees we charge for various Embassy services. Fees are calculated based on the cost of our global consular operation so that every British national pays the same fee for the service they use, no matter where they are in the world. Nor can we vary the pension amounts paid to British pensioners here, which are set out by UK government policy. I know that there is dissatisfaction among some residents about these issues and we take opportunities to bring this to the attention of relevant Government departments where appropriate.

Please keep in regular touch with the Embassy so that we can inform you of news and updates, especially in the event of an emergency. You can do this in a number of ways, by following our travel advice, or the Embassy’s website or Twitter or Facebook accounts [links]. If you want to keep in touch with my activities, you will find me on Twitter at @KentBKK.

6 November 2012

[melsnet]

When will the closure of the British Consult Office Pattaya come into effective?

[JoePai]

Seems he needs to get off his arse and visit the provinces.

[transam]

Seems he needs to get off his arse and visit the provinces.

Give the guy a chance eh.

You can send your suggestion to him personally via email.

[MrRed]

Hopefully some of the issues Mr Kent talks about can be improved after all it's not easy doing his job in Bangkok

Good luck to you and a rather appropriate song to help you on your way......up up and away!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0urFuQDoSE

[Rimmer]

See the topic about the Pattaya consulate closure HERE

[PattayaPhom]

"Global standards, consistent and reliable service'...absolute rubbish, its to save money, 12 Billion squandered in foreign aid and cant spare a few grand for Expats in Pattaya......thats why many have left that sorry place so you can stick the government and its offices where the sun dosnt care to shine.

Edited November 6, 2012 by PattayaPhom

[thenervoussurgeon]

"I know there is disatisfaction amongs some residents" no, not at all ,i would say there is disatisfaction amongs most residents.

[KarenBravo]

"Global standards, consistent and reliable service'...absolute rubbish, its to save money, 12 Billion squandered in foreign aid and cant spare a few grand for Expats in Pattaya......thats why many have left that sorry place so you can stick the government and its offices where the sun dosnt care to shine.

You don't seem to understand what the purpose of foreign aid is.

It wins contracts, thereby creating demand for British goods and services and safe-guarding British jobs.

[Spalpeen]

"I know there is disatisfaction amongs some residents" no, not at all ,i would say there is disatisfaction amongs most residents.

All residents, if his job is to close down vital services that have been in place for years.

[DD13]

"Global standards, consistent and reliable service'...absolute rubbish, its to save money, 12 Billion squandered in foreign aid and cant spare a few grand for Expats in Pattaya......thats why many have left that sorry place so you can stick the government and its offices where the sun dosnt care to shine.

You don't seem to understand what the purpose of foreign aid is.

It wins contracts, thereby creating demand for British goods and services and safe-guarding British jobs.

That may be the theory,......sadly some nations abuse it.....they take the "hand-out" then catch the next "charity bus" that comes along......for a lot of people, the word loyalty has no meaning

[hm1973]

As one of the former British Honorary Consuls in Pattaya I am really upset about their decision to close the Pattaya Consulate. The decision, in my opinion, is wrong. Myself and Barry Kenyon know exactly how much consular work is generated by British Ex-pats and tourists in Pattaya and surrounding areas. We also know how much money was taken by the Pattaya Consulate in notarial fees alone. As a standalone business it was very profitable but unfortunately they don't see it that way.

It is good they are appointing a new Honorary Consul but whoever it is will be on their own, with no base to work from and it appears it will be mostly a ceremonial role which is of no use to local Brits. I could be wrong about this, and I hope I am, but they have made a big mistake in my opinion and local Brits WILL suffer.

It would be interesting to hear from Barry Kenyon who has far more experience in the role than I had.

Howard

[jimmybkk]

What a strange email... He starts by informing us that he hasn't met many people in the British community yet (which he appears to have regrets about), and then, just when I thought he would offer information on what he is doing to address this and telling the recipient how he planned to remedy the situation and make himself more accessible.... instead he basically offers advice to other Brits who may be in the same boat, carefully avoiding any mention of the fact that he won't actually be at any of the events he mentioned. Nicely done Mr. Ambassador... (I'm kinda warming to this guy )

[marstons]

"For those travelling to Bangkok from Pattaya we will aim to provide a same day service" seeing will be beleiving in this same day service to Pattaya redidants. Cannot see them pulling the stops out for us or anybody else.

[fasteddie]

OMG! he's quoting a hollywood actor.

just another numpty in Thailand.

[fasteddie]

"Global standards, consistent and reliable service'...absolute rubbish, its to save money, 12 Billion squandered in foreign aid and cant spare a few grand for Expats in Pattaya......thats why many have left that sorry place so you can stick the government and its offices where the sun dosnt care to shine.

You don't seem to understand what the purpose of foreign aid is.

It wins contracts, thereby creating demand for British goods and services and safe-guarding British jobs.

Or to put it another way, corruption!

[evadgib]

It is good they are appointing a new Honorary Consul but whoever it is will be on their own, with no base to work from and it appears it will be mostly a ceremonial role which is of no use to local Brits. I could be wrong about this, and I hope I am, but they have made a big mistake in my opinion and local Brits WILL suffer

Cutting ribbons at supermarkets has never been on the agenda. It's more likely that whoever gets the role will be donning running spikes & sprinting between the Hospitals, Police stations & Prison away from the gaze of the general public.

Edited November 7, 2012 by evadgib

[yogi100]

"Global standards, consistent and reliable service'...absolute rubbish, its to save money, 12 Billion squandered in foreign aid and cant spare a few grand for Expats in Pattaya......thats why many have left that sorry place so you can stick the government and its offices where the sun dosnt care to shine.

You don't seem to understand what the purpose of foreign aid is.

It wins contracts, thereby creating demand for British goods and services and safe-guarding British jobs.

What jobs. We got record levels of unemployment and people living off the benefit system!

[hm1973]

It is good they are appointing a new Honorary Consul but whoever it is will be on their own, with no base to work from and it appears it will be mostly a ceremonial role which is of no use to local Brits. I could be wrong about this, and I hope I am, but they have made a big mistake in my opinion and local Brits WILL suffer

Cutting ribbons at supermarkets has never been on the agenda. It's more likely that whoever gets the role will be donning running spikes & sprinting between the Hospitals, Police stations & Prison away from the gaze of the general public.

As I understand it from my sources in the Embassy the Honorary Consul role will revert back to it's traditional role whereby he or she will work no more than 4 to 5 hours a week and will be called upon only in an emergency. It appears that prison visits (which is one of the more interesting and challenging aspects of the role) will be led by Bangkok and consular officers will travel down to Pattaya to visit prisoners.

In a way it is how it should be according to FCO guidelines but Pattaya is used to a Consulate and used to its Honorary Consul's getting stuck in and doing their best to serve the local British Community.

If this is to be the case, it's a real shame.

[PattayaPhom]

"Global standards, consistent and reliable service'...absolute rubbish, its to save money, 12 Billion squandered in foreign aid and cant spare a few grand for Expats in Pattaya......thats why many have left that sorry place so you can stick the government and its offices where the sun dosnt care to shine.

You don't seem to understand what the purpose of foreign aid is.

It wins contracts, thereby creating demand for British goods and services and safe-guarding British jobs.

Thats right and there were WMD in Iraq...............what jobs are created by some African despot receiving millions in aid???. Its a shame that consecutive UK governments are a penny wise and a pound foolish. The service in Thailand has been shrinking and in years to come will barely exsist......Just makes me laugh/cringe at the way they try to smooth it over with the usual dribble like its a positive point.

[LeCharivari]

In a way it is how it should be according to FCO guidelines but Pattaya is used to a Consulate and used to its Honorary Consul's getting stuck in and doing their best to serve the local British Community.

If this is to be the case, it's a real shame.

You're being too modest - and too polite.

Prior to yourself and Barry Kenyon, Brits in Pattaya only knew who previous British Honorary Consuls were when they died and it was mentioned in their Memoriam as if they had done something constructive.

As said elsewhere, the whole thing stinks - "upgrading" one year due to the extra workload, with neither the Honorary Consul nor the full-time Consular Officer being kept on, then less than a year later both the new full-time staff (including a Vice Consul who knew nothing of Pattaya before being appointed) leaving after only doing the job for 6 months, for undisclosed reasons, and now a new Honorary Consul to be appointed, with no open advertising or selection process.

Its not a "shame" - its a farce.

edit: I'd suggest e-mailing comments, etc, to the ambassador at [email protected]

Edited November 7, 2012 by LeCharivari

[Pdavies99]

FROM British Embasssy site Bangkok

During the first three weeks of November the British Consulate in Pattaya will open to the public for enquiries and notarial services on Wednesday and Thursday from 09:00 – 11:30. Dates of opening will be 7/8 Nov, 14/15 Nov and 21/22 Nov. After this the Consulate will close.

If you need emergency assistance please telephone the British Embassy in Bangkok on 02 305 8333 and follow the instructions to be put in touch with a staff member who will assist you. If you are in the UK, please call the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 020 7008 1500.

[thenervoussurgeon]

Anyone who is connected with the British govt here in Thailand is a paper shuffler 3rd class and about as much use as a chocolate spoon.

[zoolander]

A typical bureaucratic statement, proving old information, half truths and good intentions. New and meaningful information is non-existent.

The last time i had dealings with the British Embassy was the reporting of a death of a British national. They screen the helpline calls and just as i was explaining about the death they picked up the phone. All they wanted was to make sure they got his passport back to the embassy.

Nice to on this gravy train.............

[LeCharivari]

Just to save me a trip to Immigration to check, does anyone know how long in advance you can apply for an Extension of Stay (Retirement) at Immigration, and how long the Proof of Pension letter from the Consulate is valid for?

The last time I renewed my passport at the Bangkok Embassy they sent me back my old passport and someone else's new passport, so I'd prefer not to send them anything less important such as bank statements, etc, that I might need and they may take less care with.

[evadgib]

Given the frequency by which the previous poster has a pop at them why doesn't he offer to fill the vacancy & show them what to do?

Edited November 8, 2012 by evadgib

[LeCharivari]

Given the frequency by which the previous poster has a pop at them why doesn't he offer to fill the vacancy & show them what to do?

The two previous Honorary Consuls did exactly that - filled the vacancy & showed them what to do. As the job is now that will no longer be possible for anyone doing the job: ...The jobholder will work closely with a busy team in Bangkok ... This is a voluntary position with no salary attached and should be a maximum of 4 hours work per week. ... The successful jobholder will be supervised by the British Embassy in Bangkok ... etc.

[MAJIC]

"Global standards, consistent and reliable service'...absolute rubbish, its to save money, 12 Billion squandered in foreign aid and cant spare a few grand for Expats in Pattaya......thats why many have left that sorry place so you can stick the government and its offices where the sun dosnt care to shine.

You don't seem to understand what the purpose of foreign aid is.

It wins contracts, thereby creating demand for British goods and services and safe-guarding British jobs.

So what are you saying? the Foreign Aid gift pays for the Contracts? or is it a Bribe to get the Contracts?

[chris2004]

"For those travelling to Bangkok from Pattaya we will aim to provide a same day service" seeing will be beleiving in this same day service to Pattaya redidants. Cannot see them pulling the stops out for us or anybody else.

So they will "aim" for a one day service. What if they can't that means an overnight stay in Bangkok just to get a income statement. Even if they could turn around in a day i guess you have to hand the document into the Bangkok office before 10.30 am so it means a very early start to get there on time.

[smedly]

I'm not sure that working out of a shed in soi 5 was an ideal representation of the British Embassey and although I've never been to see either of the guys there I suspect it wasn't viewed favourably perhaps a little adhoc - no insult intended.

If Howard is inclined to helping people here in Pattaya perhaps he will continue the role on his own