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7by7

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Posts posted by 7by7

  1. As said in another topic, the UK government via the ambassador has made representations to the Thai government; which seem to have had some effect.

     

    Though other sources would indicate that the Thai government are ambivalent on the matter.

     

    But the UK government cannot force the Thai government to it's will; the days of gunboat diplomacy are long gone.

  2. 2 hours ago, overherebc said:

    Gives the impression that money comes first, hard to believe that, isn't it. ????

     

    1 hour ago, overherebc said:

    Very true. Life was never meant to be fair.

     

    UKVI have always argued that the visa fee covers the cost of processing the application; which is the same whether the application is successful or not and also if an issued visa is unused.

     

    Whilst limited, there have been flights from Thailand to the UK throughout the last year and there still are. Whilst you have what can be considered good reasons for not using her visa, at the end of the day it was your and her  choice.

     

    Refunds are usually only issued if an application is withdrawn before being processed. Cancel your visa, immigration or citizenship application

    Quote

    You will not get a refund of the application fee if:.....

    you have a visa and do not use it to travel to the UK

     

    I can see nothing in Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents to suggest that the above has been temporarily suspended during the pandemic.

     

    You can, of course, always ask UKVI directly.

     

    If you do so, please let us know how you get on.

  3. 5 hours ago, EricTh said:

     

     

    B1 is low intermediate English. The same as primary school Thai.

     

     

    As can be seen from the table you, yourself, posted earlier; yes, B1 is the lowest intermediate level.

     

    However, as can be seen from this table, it is higher than primary school level.

     

    Having said that, B1 should be easily achievable for someone living in the UK provided they have help and use English whenever possible; even when talking to their British partner. From my and others' experience, I would say that professional lessons are often not necessary. Especially as the candidate will have some English ability otherwise they would not have been granted their initial visa, which requires A1, nor their FLR, which requires A2. 

     

    Different for the LitUK test as English reading is required for the study materials and the test itself. Not too difficult if you come from a country which uses the Latin alphabet; but for those who don't, such as Thais, learning a new alphabet obviously makes it more difficult.

     

    There are many courses available which teach the skills and knowledge required for the LitUK test, ranging from in a classroom with others to online at home. But fees for these are usually £200 plus.

  4. 16 hours ago, EricTh said:

    What is the min level for English proficiency in order to get a citizenship in UK?

     

    The minimum requirement for citizenships is the same as that for ILR.

     

    That is at least B1 in speaking and listening from an approved provider or a recognised degree taught or researched in English. Unless exempt through age, disability or being a national of one of the listed Anglophone countries.

     

    All applicants except those exempt through age or disability must also pass the LitUK test

     

    The qualifications used for ILR can be used again for citizenship; even if the pass certificate has expired or the provider is no longer on the approved list.

    • Thanks 1
  5. On 4/11/2021 at 1:17 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

    Due to things invented during WW2 life began to change quite quickly after it was over. The first operational electrically operated computer was invented to break Enigma, and that started probably the largest change in human behavior ever. Also major advances in aircraft eg the jet engine.

    It's got to the stage where it seems new inventions are obsolete even before they are taken up in significant numbers. IMO hydrogen is going to replace battery cars even before they become universal, no doubt to Elon's disappointment.

     

    No argument from me over any of that.

     

    But it doesn't have much to do with your comment

    On 4/11/2021 at 12:49 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

    Many of the changes that have been made since WW2 have been disastrous for the environment, and the primary motivation of business now seems to be making a profit rather than serving humanity.

    and my response

    On 4/11/2021 at 1:00 PM, 7by7 said:

    Since WWII? No. 'Twas ever thus; even before the Industrial Revolution, but more so since.

     

    Even less to do with the topic of this thread!

  6. 11 hours ago, meechai said:

     

    Yes normally I would think that is the case but...........

    Same as you said bold underlined above....The US airline of choice may also require the same to fly you to the destination

    of that expired passport with no further visa etc

     

    Again...it is just these trying days that one would not want to find out at departure you will be denied

    Especially afaik Visa On Arrival is dead for now? So we would be safer to just each get a 3 month visa before hand if her PP is not

    sorted by the time we fly

     

    That will satisfy all & would not be a US citizen overstay as our trips are 90 days or less & she would renew Thai PP while in Thailand

     

    But lastly... Unless this whole C19 deal clears up we are remaining stationary in our safe rural residence here. Just too many hoops & rules/risk etc

     

     

    Carriers have a duty to check that, to the best of their knowledge, passengers have the necessary paperwork to enter their destination; and can be heavily fined if they knowingly carry a passenger who does not.

     

    However, all airlines' international check in staff know, or should know, that many (most?) countries allow their citizens to enter with an expired passport; and that Thailand is one such country.

     

    As I said, neither my wife nor my daughter had a problem; but I do know of one instance where someone did. A request to speak to the check in supervisor soon fixed it.

     

    However, if you want to get a visa for her in her US passport; up to you and her. But remember, if she uses her US passport to enter Thailand then for all immigration purposes she will be treated as a US citizen and she must also use it to leave.

     

    Whether or not she could renew her Thai passport in Thailand when there is no record of it and it's holder entering the Kingdom, I don't know. 

     

    I think you are overcomplicating things. If she's unable to renew her Thai passport in the US before you travel, then I suggest she uses her expired one to enter Thailand and renew it whilst there. If worried about her being allowed to check in with an expired Thai passport, contact your airline and ask. 

     

     

    • Like 1
  7. 18 hours ago, bigyin said:

    Regarding the vaccine, just discovered that the government website confirms that visitors to the UK can receive the vaccine free of charge. It does not say anything about following the age criteria so I don’t know how it will work.  I must say I am very surprised but I suppose the view is to have as few unvaccinated people as possible.

     

    As far as i can ascertain,

    On 4/2/2021 at 11:56 AM, 7by7 said:

    Whilst visitors can have the vaccine for free in the UK, they must meet the same eligibility requirements as UK residents.

    is correct.

     

    One of the requirements is being registered with a GP. Whether or not the OP and his girlfriend can find a GP to register them I can't say. 

     

    There is also their ages to consider. Her exceptional circumstance runs out on 30th June. They may not be eligible for even the first dose by then.

      Priority group list

    (Source)

     

    Then the second dose could be up to 12 weeks later.

    • Thanks 1
  8. 11 hours ago, 2530Ubon said:

     

    I think it's because then TVF could be sued for sharing news stories and not paying for the content. There's no such thing as 'free' content. Journalists & news publishers work for money, and no-one is going to let you copy and paste their work for free. 

     

    Scoop.me 

    Quote

    Republish for free

    Scoop.me offers media and authors all over the world the opportunity to republish the content shared on Scoop.me free of charge – both for print and online. The articles can either be translated or republished in the original language.

    (I have no connection to them, I am merely using them as an example. Other sites offering the same or a similar service exist.)

  9.  

    20 minutes ago, Chill27 said:

    The Visa states "Duration 180 days"

    My apologies, I got that bit wrong.

     

    However

    16 hours ago, Chill27 said:

    My Gf's visa has an Issue date and an Expiry Date.

    I would genuinely like to know when this wording on the vignette changed.

     

    23 minutes ago, Chill27 said:

    Anyway, this morning I have an update.

    She has been granted an "exceptional assurance" until 30th June. 

    She can now stay without any adverse consequences for future applications.

    Good news and a huge weight off my mind !

    Congratulations, though I am surprised due to the reasons I've already stated. 

     

    32 minutes ago, Chill27 said:

    Now we will try to both get vaccinated and hopefully enter Phuket or Koh Samui on 1st July without needing to quarantine.

    Whilst visitors can have the vaccine for free in the UK, they must meet the same eligibility requirements as UK residents.

    Quote

    If you are not eligible yet

    Wait to be contacted. The NHS will let you know when it's your turn to have the vaccine. It's important not to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then.

    So the NHS need to know you exist! This is usually because you are registered with a GP.

     

    If eligible but have not been contacted you can book online, but you must be registered with a GP to do so.

     

    Note the above is for England.

     

    Vaccination in other parts of the UK

  10. 3 minutes ago, nkg said:

     

     

    I was referring to the number of people participating in any given discussion. A topic with 1000 posts but only 15-20 contributors isn't making Thaivisa much money. This topic has one poster with 149 posts and another with 111 posts:

     

    https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1205401-uk-had-one-or-two-brexit-teething-issues-on-fishing-minister-says/

    N.B. I edited my post with an addendum while you were typing.

     

    260 posts out of  1000. Yes, many of those other posts were by the same people, too. But the topic had over 20,000 views! All of which generated advertising income.

    • Like 1
  11. 15 hours ago, Chill27 said:

    My Gf's visa has an Issue date and an Expiry Date.

     

    As the example I posted earlier shows, and others have confirmed, until 2019 at least a UK visit visa said "Valid for United Kingdom, from (date) until (date)." 

     

    I'd be very interested to discover when this changed to "issue date" and "expiry date."

     

    9 hours ago, theoldgit said:

    Yes, of course the visa vingette still has a valid from and an until to date, and most of us know that means that the holder must leave the UK on or before the valid until date

    Again, unless it's recently changed, nowhere on the vignette does it say that the visa is valid for a maximum of 6 months stay.

     

    Coupled with the applicant being asked for their date of travel during the application process, I feel it should be obvious that they must leave the UK on or before the valid until date.

     

    But if the OP insists that it was not so to he and his girlfriend, I'll believe him; but will UKVI?

     

    Furthermore, at the start of the process applicants are asked to complete a short questionnaire to ensure that they apply for the correct visa. Having answered the questions thus

    Quote

    Question/Answer

    What’s your nationality as shown on your passport or travel document?/Thailand

    What are you coming to the UK to do?/Tourism

    Will you be travelling with or visiting either your partner or a family member in the UK?/Yes

    one is told to apply for a Standard Visit Visa and there's a link to the guidance for applicants; included in which is Visit the UK on a Standard Visitor visa.

     

    Which contains

    Quote

    7 After you arrive in the UK,

    Check your visa to find out when you must leave the UK. If you break the conditions of your visa you may not be able to return to the UK again.

    Not "The latest you can enter by" but "when you must leave."

     

    OK it does say "After you arrive in the UK" which is a bit late for such a check. But it does make it clear that the visa says when you must leave, not the latest date you can enter and still stay for 6 months.

     

    Again, if the OP says that neither he nor his girlfriend read any of this before she applied, then I'll believe him; but will UKVI?

  12. 26 minutes ago, treetops said:

     

    You used to be able to request for it to be post dated to start on the applicant's expected date of arrival, thus making the 180 days all available.  Is that no longer the case?

     

    When I first became interested, 20 plus years ago, UK visit visas were valid from the date of issue; unless a specified date was requested, which could be up to 90 days ahead.

     

    Can't say exactly when, but more recently, certainly since the application process went online, applicants have been asked as part of the application to provide an intended date of travel; which can be up to 90 days ahead.

     

    As far as I am aware, this is still the case. However, I await answers to the questions asked above to confirm or deny if this has changed.

    • Like 1
  13. 22 hours ago, theoldgit said:

    I do have some sympathy with the OP, whilst the vignette does state that there is an expiry date,

     

    On 3/31/2021 at 10:55 AM, 7by7 said:

    The last time I looked, UK visit visas also had two dates; valid from and valid until.

    Is this no longer the case?

     

    I did ask @Chill27

    On 3/31/2021 at 11:57 AM, 7by7 said:

    Does your girlfriend's visa just have one, expiry date on it or does it have two dates, from and until, as per the example I posted?

    but he has not answered.

     

    22 hours ago, theoldgit said:

    many of us are aware that expiry date means that the visa holder must leave the UK on or before that date, the UKBA website no longer makes it clear.

    What I have been told by applicants is that a lot of the guidance which used to be on the website is now part of the online process. The last application I was personally involved in was my stepson's in 2017, and I'm sure in his application he was asked the date he wished to travel to the UK.

     

    I cannot find out without making an actual application; can anyone whose done so recently say if this is still the case?

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