Pi Sek

I've just seen that SCB have updated their app... unfortunately my device only has Android 7.1.1, which is no longer supported. And I'm in the UK with my wife at the moment, don't expect to back in Thailand for a few months. So I tried setting it up on my wife's iPhone (with a version of iOS that meets their requirements)... the app installed, I was able to remotely register it, and can login *sometimes*... when I try to log in, I either get the message in Thai "cannot process" and can't login, or I can log in but clicking on the bit I want to access (e.g. Account Summary, Transfer Money) opens a box telling me what that section does - but it doesn't open that section! SCB's advice via their customer service email... "your device is not compatible, we recommend getting a new device". And their advice via their LINE support line... "fly back to Thailand".

OK, so the Premium Lounge service includes them scanning and uploading it for you... seems unnecessary in my case as I've already done all the scanning myself. Still yet to see a clear list of what the benefits of this premium service are. For 3,490 Baht (that's what it says on VFS's Website), I'd like to know! Good luck for your application!

Thank you, that covers my question #4 (I hope!). I also stated during the application process (prior to the VFS appointment-booking) that we'll not be staying with my relatives, we don't have an address, and that we intend to stay at hotels throughout our stay over 5 locations. My sponsor letter specifically states a dedicated hotel budget for this. For the benefit of others... I understand from a couple of friends who did stay with their relatives that they needed a letter of invitation. (No evidence of "adequacy" was required for the tourist visa, but I think it's different for longer visas.)

I also saw the specific mention to not "book travel", but 1) I was told by someone in the village that we should; and 2) now I can't find it! I *assumed* that a dedicated budget for hotels would be sufficient, as we are not planning on staying with the family and would prefer to plan our travel around different parts of the country based on how we're feeling at the time. Is this dedicated hotel budget an insufficient "proof of accommodation"?

17 days even? Great! Also, if you can help out with question #4 in the post above, about flight/accommodation booking, great ???? I saw when making the application on the UK Govt site that it wasn't necessary, but I'd like extra informed opinions.

Thank you very much. 1. Sorry, didn't make myself clear - I meant about uploading supporting documentation, not the biometrics. 2. So, what exactly is the difference between standard and premium? I'm curious either way! Is it just having someone to hold your hand and give you a cup of coffee? What about passport return - is it the same? 3. If it's three weeks - good, gives me a few weeks between visa approval and planned travel date. ... and ... 4. I have another question, after speaking to someone that did this before - they told me that you should have a return ticket and accommodation booked, and have the booking confirmation with the rest of the documents. Is this the case?

My Thai wife has applied for a UK visitor visa to come with me on holiday for a few weeks... neither of us have ever done this before, so we're hoping to benefit from the collective wisdom here ???? We're now on the VFS appointment bit, which we'll be doing at their Sukhumvit 13 office. Three questions: 1) The appointment is for biometrics and submission of documents. Is the biometrics just having a photo and fingerprints taken? Can scans be submitted on the VFS website (we haven't got to that bit yet) in advance of handing over the file of paper she's got (I've already scanned it all for her)? 2) What are the differences between VFS's standard appointment and the Premium Lounge appointment? As far as I can tell, the standard one is free (but I saw something about a 500ish Baht service charge), and the premium one is 3,400 Baht (and I'm not sure whether she still has to pay the 'service charge' from the standard one). As far as I can tell, the premium one comes with a more comfortable waiting area, "personalised service", free use of a printer, free refreshments (water? coffee?? beer???)... do VFS post the passport back with the visa when it's done for both the standard and premium services? 3) I understand this whole process takes about 3 weeks... has anyone here experienced (preferably recently) this? Thanks in advance for any insight krub.

The plot thickens... still at Suratthani Immigration. In short, it looks like I will have to get a 7-day extension on Friday and do a border run next week. Apparently I have been illegal ever since the first Covid extension in May 2020, and the Labour Department should have rejected my last 3 work permit renewals because the Covid extensions invalidated my 3-year non-B. I will be "legal" again the moment I come back in on an entry stamp! A "TIT" moment, evidently.

Samui Immigration have just flat out told me that Suratthani (and Krabi, as I saw above) are incorrect. They advised me to leave the country.

OK - I decided to drop by Suratthani Immigration as I am close by and spoke with a police-uniformed Immigration Officer named Khun "Don" (his surname was "Hiemnan" or similar). He had a look at my passport, my visa, all the extensions so far, and he told me that it is no problem to get another 60-day extension. He was surprised that I knew of the July issue, as it was only confirmed this morning. He told me that Samui probably hadn't got the news yet, but that they will issue the extension. As so many are stamped in until 24 May (tomorrow), I expect there to be a few people sweating at Samui Immigration today and tomorrow. Fortunately I have until 27th. Samui Immigration told me on the phone that there is no good reason to extend the Covid visas as the Hat Yai border is open.

Suratthani Immigration have just told me that Samui have got it wrong and they've extended the Covid extensions until 25 July. They said that Samui Immigration probably haven't got the news yet. I asked if I should go to them because Samui just told me "no". They told me it's better to stick with the Samui office, and they need an appointment anyway. I told them that I might get back in touch in a couple of days!

I've just phoned Samui Immigration - they told me that the only extension they can do is a 7-day (so I presume the "7-day get out" one). For a non-B multiple valid until this July with a Work Permit valid until February (next year). I'm in Suratthani now, I'll give them the same question.

I have not had to leave the country since Covid started, so am unaware of the ins-and-outs of ThaiPass, Test&Go, or any other of the seemingly fluid Covid-prevention measures that I have heard mentioned. However, as the announcements from official sources are (as usual) as clear as mud and because I expect I will have to make my first visa run since Feb 2020 in a month's time, maybe it's time I asked for some advice here. If it matters, I have a Covid-extension stamp until end-May and an existing non-B multiple valid for another few months.

Update: Koh Samui Immigration were only issuing 7-day you-must-leave extensions yesterday until the mid-afternoon; when they started advising people to overstay illegally ???? until Monday. On Monday, these overstayers can come in and get their 60-day extensions (regular 1,900 Baht fee + 1,500 Baht for 3 days' overstay). There is another form to fill in, you have to submit a GoogleMap screenshot, and two sets of documents instead of one.

Koh Samui Immigration NOT issuing these extensions, even though they acknowledge the reversal of the decision to stop renewing non-immigrant visas by central Immigration Office (they have had no problems extending tourist visas). The Chief Immigration Officer told me Chiang Mai can issue them because they are a "Head Office", but Koh Samui must wait on a letter of authorisation from Songkhla - which they have not received yet. She told me that they expect it to arrive to be able to made the CEs as of tomorrow (which means Monday) - but then, she told me yesterday that they expected it to arrive this morning! So, they suggested two choices: 1) overstay illegally on Monday and *maybe* they can extend for 60 days then. 2) get a 7-day extension (which means you sign away your right to get the CE, even if it's available, and must leave the country) and go to Malaysia when their border opens on 1 April. There was another option - to get a letter requesting a 30-day extension from my embassy - but my embassy is no longer making these letters. The Chief Immigration Officer asked that I contact my embassy and tell them to complain to Thailand about this poorly-though-out series of events. My embassy told me they have no ability to do this. Not impressed, all-round.