Visit to UK with child.

[Jip99]

If your wife got the same information from an agency and from VFS, then she would no doubt believe what she was told. I still don't think that the information was correct. I have submitted a complaint on behalf of the applicants I know, and I have asked UKVI to give me the proper guidance in this matter. When I receive a response, I will post it here.

Thanks Tony that would be most helpful. Been told by email today that a decision on visa, all 3, has been made. Very quick. I fear we will fail this time.

Unlikely.

If you meet, and have evidenced, the 3 key criteria she will be approved (the child is a given).

My missus visited Vfs on Thursday 28th January, the decision was made on the following Tuesday (2nd) and we collected the visa from our local post office on Thursday 4th.

They are obviously not too busy at the moment so quick is quite normal.

[dessieandjohn]

Hope so Jip99.

[dessieandjohn]

Nearly forgot. Just spoke to the wife. She says the woman who looked at her visa and told her to go downstairs to get it changed was the receptionist behind counter.

[dessieandjohn]

Am I seeing 18k baht for filling in a couple of forms? That's a months pay for a bank employee at supervisor level. I think this is a scam on multiple levels. I'd be tempted to make formal complaints of corruption to the Thai and UK authorities now. If your visas are refused you would have excellent grounds for appeal with your pre recorded complaint.

It would be interesting to find out who sewed the seed of scam by suggesting to your wife that the original forms submitted were wrong.

Hi bill. 10000 bht for 2 new visa applications then 8000 for filling them out and printing etc. Still a huge rip off.

[7by7]

Nearly forgot. Just spoke to the wife. She says the woman who looked at her visa and told her to go downstairs to get it changed was the receptionist behind counter.

In which case you must definitely complain; using the link posted previously.

As said before, VFS are merely a handling agent and are not supposed to give advice of this nature.

They definitely should not be sending people to a visa agent!

[Jip99]

Nearly forgot. Just spoke to the wife. She says the woman who looked at her visa and told her to go downstairs to get it changed was the receptionist behind counter.

That nails them really......... although they could still argue that (in the circumstances) it was best advice.

What other options did your wife have?

Frankly, all the detail that was required was already held in the online submission and the paper application is simply a copy of that with the applicants signature on.

I think Vfs could have done better, and certainly saved your wife most of that 18,000 Baht.

[dessieandjohn]

And the saga continues.....

My wife just called me. Bearing in mind we are applying for UK visit visa for 1 adult and 2 children. They have sent back 2 passports and some of the paperwork. My wife's passport and her daughters. They have granted the visas, great news. But still no passport for the son. Ok, maybe still at post office. Will have to wait now until Monday. My wife worried now because unbeknownst to me, vfs kept her original blue book for the house, book for the car and book for bike, not only that but her savings bank book. Evan though she copied everything and they never do before. What the he'll is going on with that place? Why did they keep the originals. And the bank book for gods sake. I'm pulling my hair out.

[Jip99]

Calm down.......

... and well done in getting the visas.

Objective number one.... ACHIEVED.

The other stuff is peripheral and will get sorted.

YOU have got to deal with the fact that you are xxx miles away and - in all reality - your wife is out of her depth and, at best, will struggle to communicate all this. There is a tracking number for each of the applications - what does the one for your son show? My missus and 2 friends submitted their applications together - 2 came back on a Thursday, the 3rd arrived at the local PO on Friday........ but we knew that because of the EMS tracking.

Vfs know what they are doing. UKVI know what they are doing - they have granted your visas.

The other bits can be sorted out next week.

[dessieandjohn]

Thanks Jip99, will pass this on to the wife. Hopefully she will sleep now.

[dessieandjohn]

Still missing a passport. Wife went to post office and say it's out for delivery. At delivery address there is someone Rhee all day because it's a shop. No post today. EMS tracking say all out for delivery on Friday.

[Jip99]

Still missing a passport. Wife went to post office and say it's out for delivery. At delivery address there is someone Rhee all day because it's a shop. No post today. EMS tracking say all out for delivery on Friday.

"Delivered" is the final step.

[dessieandjohn]

Hi jip99. Just checked online again. Checked all 3 tracking codes and all 3 say Re Delivery. Yet they have delivered 2 of them.

[7by7]

Once the embassy have returned package containing the passport to VFS it is out of their hands.

Once VFS have passed it on to your chosen delivery method, in this case the post office, it is out of their hands.

I think that you need to chase up the post office.

We had similar problems with my sister in law's last application. The post office said that they tried deliver it but there was no one at home, even though she swears she was home all day. They eventually delivered it a couple of days later.

Is there, like in the UK, the option of collecting it from the post office?

[dessieandjohn]

Hello 7by7. On Saturday, the postman delivered 2 of the envelopes but still one missing. When I looked online it says Re Delivery on all 3. That's not correct for a start. Wife has today been to the post office and they say it's out for delivery and probably nobody home. It's a shop and always has someone there. I have told the wife to go back tomorrow and request that she can pick it up from the post office the following day. We will just have to wait. In the meantime, flight prices keep going up for the dates I want and I can't risk booking if a passport doesn't turn up. Being Thailand, I can't see that replacing a passport and getting his replacement visa being a quick process.

[dessieandjohn]

"Don't panic, don't panic", as Corporal Jones would say. Passport number 3 and visa stamped inside has been found alive and well at Aranyaprathet Post Office. I would like to thank all the hard working and competent staff for making the last 2 days unbearable.

Thank you everyone that posted with your advice and help. Keep up the good work.

[Jip99]

Once the embassy have returned package containing the passport to VFS it is out of their hands.

Once VFS have passed it on to your chosen delivery method, in this case the post office, it is out of their hands.

I think that you need to chase up the post office.

We had similar problems with my sister in law's last application. The post office said that they tried deliver it but there was no one at home, even though she swears she was home all day. They eventually delivered it a couple of days later.

Is there, like in the UK, the option of collecting it from the post office?

Yes.

I have always collected mine from the post office because it is quicker - and with EMS tracking you know when it is there.

Another factor is that I live in the middle of fields some 24km from the local post office and the postman drops all our post off at a cousins internet shop some 4km away!

[Tony M]

Well done. Don't forget to complain. The complaint I am dealing with was sent to UKVI. They have passed in on to VFS. VFS replied yesterday :

Feedback on UK Visa in Thailand <[email protected]>

10:31 (23 hours ago)

to tony.m

Dear Mr M.......,

Good Morning !

Thank you very much for your feedback.

Kindly allow us to investigate the matter and we will get in touch with you at the earliest.

Many thanks.

Best regards,

Rahul

----------

Rahul Bachhav

VFS Customer Service team – UK Visa application center

----------

VFS GLOBAL

EST. 2001 | Partnering Governments. Providing Solutions.

The Trendy Office Building, 28th Floor, Sukhumvit Soi - 13, Klongtoey-Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

[email protected] | www.vfsglobal.com

[7by7]

Just seen the following on the VFS FAQ page

What documents do I submit for a visa application?

VFS Global or its staffs are not authorised to advise/suggest the category or comment on the documents and duration of Visa issued.

[Tony M]

Further to my complaint, I have now heard from VFS. Their reply of today says :

Dear Mr M,

Greetings from VFS !

Thank you for your patience. Kindly note, we have done a thorough investigation with our staff who had handled the application of Khun xxxxxxxx, when she had come to apply at our application center. Our staff remembered of having spoken to Khun xxxxxxx and advising her that the category for a child applicant is different and that if she would want to get it corrected (Pls see 2 attachments for you reference of the adult and the child category which has to reflect on the form). Our staff, at no point of time had informed Khun xxxxx that getting the form changed was a mandatory requirement and that she needs to get the form changed immediately with the travel agents in Trendy Building - We do agree that there is nothing such as a “Right Form” or a “Wrong Form”. Please note, we at VFS always look at certain mandatory requirements on the form (i.e, signatures, categories etc..) and then check with the applicants if they still want to go ahead and do the submission, if some particulars are amiss – Then, only on the request of the applicants we go ahead and accept such applications.

Kindly note, we also spoke to Khun xxxxxx over the phone in the afternoon today, and she has also confirmed that, the VFS staff did not force her to get the form changed from any travel agent in the Trendy Building. Khun xxxxxx informed us that, she told the VFS staff the same day, that she will be going out of the VAC and check with your travel agency messenger, who had accompanied her from Pattaya to do the visa application submission at our office. It seems that your messenger then checked with your agency with regards to the feedback from VFS and on your behest, they applied with the same form which you said was correct – We understand that your agency is in Pattaya and Khun xxxxx had taken your services to apply for the UK visa.

You will be happy to know that we adhere to the UKVI policies very strictly. VFS ‘s scope of work is to only accept applications and forward them to the Embassy. VFS staff at no point of time give judgmental information to the applicants or misguide them. We only follow what has been asked of us by UKVI. Please see the attached pic’s of a standee in our application center provided by UKVI where it has been clearly mentioned of the same. The standee is displayed both in English and Thai language’s for the convenience of all applicants.

Mr M, I take pride in informing yourself that at VFS, we train and brief all our staff regularly to give prompt, correct and delightful services to all applicants and that we follow zero tolerance policy with regards to the integrity of all staff.

We hope that you will not let this circumstance or the internet visa forum have adverse affect on your views for VFS.

Many thanks again.

Best regards,

Rahul

Rahul Bachhav

VFS Customer Service team – UK Visa application center

There are several points to note :

1.The "travel agency messenger" that VFS refer to was in fact the principal applicant's husband.

2. There is no "right" or "wrong form" when a child applies for a "family" visit visa with a parent.

3. You will, no doubt, be pleased to hear that VFS say "Our staff, at no point of time had informed Khun xxxxx that getting the form changed was a mandatory requirement and that she needs to get the form changed immediately ". So that surely means that they couldn't have informed your wife that she needed a new form for the child, could they ? Hmmmmmm. Also, VFS say: "VFS ‘s scope of work is to only accept applications and forward them to the Embassy. VFS staff at no point of time give judgmental information to the applicants or misguide them." Hmmmm again.

We now have it in writing from VFS that they cannot refuse to accept any application, and they cannot advise an applicant to get a new form printed. Feel free to print out this post to show to VFS at Trndy if needed. Also, we now have in writing that there is no right or wrong form for child applicants who are accompanying a parent to the UK for a visit. I'm hoping that UKVI will also reply, as the complaint originally went to them.

Edited February 17, 2016 by Tony M

[dessieandjohn]

Wow! That's quite a lot of B S from Rahul. Talk about covering ones own arse. Is it worth me complaining still?

[7by7]

Definitely!

To both UKVI and VFS.

Copy the above, as Tony suggests, and also point them to the FAQ I quoted above.

[Tony M]

Wow! That's quite a lot of B S from Rahul. Talk about covering ones own arse. Is it worth me complaining still?

Yes, it is. Your wife was advised by a different VFS counter clerk to go away and get new applications done. It was a different situation to the one I complained about, and our lady insisted that VFS accepted the forms, and no further cost to her was involved. Your wife paid out an extra 18,000 THB (although some is recoverable). I would complain (the complaint goes to UKVI initially, as you cannot complain direct to VFS), and you should request a refund of the extra fees that you had to pay for new applications. You can quote my complaint, with pleasure, to show that your's was not an isolated incident. Perhaps, if enough people complain about how VFS operate, then something will be done (high hopes, I know). By not complaining you are, in effect, condoning VFS's actions.

Edited February 17, 2016 by Tony M

[Tony M]

And, of course, if there is no right form or wrong form, then why are VFS even "advising" applicants that they might want to think about doing a new application ? Rahul says, in his reply :

"Our staff remembered of having spoken to Khun xxxxxxx and advising her that the category for a child applicant is different and that if she would want to get it corrected"

and

"Then, only on the request of the applicants we go ahead and accept such applications."

If the application is acceptable on either "form" as Rahul says, then why even bring the subject up with an applicant ? Rahul's response is illogical, and it seems fairly obvious that the VFS staff told the applicants that the child application was on the wrong form.

[dessieandjohn]

What's your next step Tony?

[Tony M]

What's your next step Tony?

We wanted to get a "ruling" on whether there is a right form or wrong form in these applications, because there is no UKVI guidance on the subject. We now have it in writing that either form can be used, and that VFS cannot advise an applicant to change the form, as there is no need to do so. Your situation is very different. You were required (even though Rahul denies it) to pay for new applications, etc. You should follow that up, and request an ex-gratia payment from UKVI for the 8,000 THB ( less the cost of a translation) in recompense, as you were badly advised by VFS ( Rahul's email can be ripped to pieces, as it is nonsense). You probably won't get a refund, as UKVI will say that VFS have explained what happened, blah, blah, blah, but the point is to make UKVI aware of what VFS are doing.

It's not easy to do complaints to UKVI as you have to use an online form which restricts you to 400 words. So you have to word it carefully. As I said in an earlier post, I'm happy to assist you if you want. No problem.

[dessieandjohn]

That's good of you Tony. Yes please. I am a carer for my disabled son and find it difficult to get time to sit at the old laptop. Doing the visas etc was very difficult because of this.

[huawei]

That's good of you Tony. Yes please. I am a carer for my disabled son and find it difficult to get time to sit at the old laptop. Doing the visas etc was very difficult because of this.

You sound like a fantastic father.

[dessieandjohn]

That's good of you Tony. Yes please. I am a carer for my disabled son and find it difficult to get time to sit at the old laptop. Doing the visas etc was very difficult because of this.

You sound like a fantastic father.

It's just life. You do what you can with it while you are here. Life's short.

[dessieandjohn]

Hi again Tony. Tried to get refund for the 2 unused visa applications but it won't let me submit it.

Just read the wording at the tip of the page.

Your visa application fee will only be fefunded if your application is withdrawn using this format, prior to submission of your biometric data, or before any processing of your application has taken place if the submission of biometric data is not required for your application.

[Tony M]

Hi again Tony. Tried to get refund for the 2 unused visa applications but it won't let me submit it.

Just read the wording at the tip of the page.

Your visa application fee will only be fefunded if your application is withdrawn using this format, prior to submission of your biometric data, or before any processing of your application has taken place if the submission of biometric data is not required for your application.

Have sent you a PM