I just applied for a UK tourist visa for my wife so that we can spend Christmas with my family. I was not aware of the new visa application centre as i only apply once a year and it opened in April this year.

The UK Visa Application Centre

2nd Floor, Regent House

183 Rajdamri Road

Lumpini, Pathumwan

Bangkok 10330

Website: www.ukvac-th.com

Email [email protected]

Telephone 022541098/99

The office is situated within 5 minutes walk of BTS Rajdamri.

Opening Hours:

Submission of applications 0830 hrs – 1500 hrs.

Collection of passports 1500 hrs – 1630 hrs.

I have to say that i found the new centre to be well orgainised and the staff very helpful and polite. There is plenty of seating available and they work on a ticket system as they did at the British Embassy. They have the facilities for photographs and photocopying just in case you forgot something. In our case this was useful because my wife had a photo with a light background which was unacceptable as it has to be against a white background, so we simply shot another one. I also had to take photocopies of all the pages in my passport which again was something that i was not aware of.

After completing and handing over the application we were told that we could track the progress of the application on the internet.

I tracked the application and returned to pick up the visa 3 days later. The whole thing went like clockwork, so a big well done to the British Embassy for arranging this facilty.

my wife went there yesterday and she wasn't happy with the service - she had to que 3 times and talk to 4 different people which weren't helpful nor competent and she felt they wanted a backhand to change their attitude. She ended up asking for help some english-thai couple which were there waiting to fill up again her visa application.

they charge 250 baht for 4 pictures - at least 3x more than the street price.

looks like they failed to give her a reference number to track the application - she has to call within 3 - 5 days.

a positive challenge - on top of the Visa Centre fees (some 450 baht) she did not have to pay for a visa (joining a husband from EU)

my wife went there yesterday and she wasn't happy with the service - she had to que 3 times and talk to 4 different people which weren't helpful nor competent and she felt they wanted a backhand to change their attitude. She ended up asking for help some english-thai couple which were there waiting to fill up again her visa application.

they charge 250 baht for 4 pictures - at least 3x more than the street price.

looks like they failed to give her a reference number to track the application - she has to call within 3 - 5 days.

a positive challenge - on top of the Visa Centre fees (some 450 baht) she did not have to pay for a visa (joining a husband from EU)

I am sorry to hear about your wifes problem. As i said before i was very happy with the service, but maybe its just the luck of the draw?

I am a UK citizen and recently went with my wife to get a tourist visa. Certainly, the new centre is extremely well organised and a vast improvement on the old system at the embassy.

But the person we spoke with was fussy to the point of being obstructive - for a four day visit by someone with 1 million plus in her bank account and a house in her name. We had to return home so I could print out a statement from my own bank in the UK showing what funds I had. A bloody nuisance.

We also had to pay the fee - I believe over 4000 baht but don't remember for sure.

Contrast that to a visit later to the German embassy. You phone first to get an appointment, which for them serves to control the length of the queues there. The interview was quick, with just some health insurance to arrange (and they have a lucky company there on hand to do it ). The visa was free, and it is valid for most European countries, which was helpful because we are also going to Italy.

The UK visa is a rip-off. My wife has always had to pay for a UK visa, but never a German one as she is married to an EU citizen.

The UK visa is a rip-off. My wife has always had to pay for a UK visa, but never a German one as she is married to an EU citizen.

If you were a German citizen then she would have to pay for a German visa, but a UK one would be free!

Isn't the EU wonderful!