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**ace_rimmer** · 4 May 2018, 09:01

There are many ways of doing this, all of them nerve racking! My wife posted her documents to me in the UK via Thailand Post. I then put together the application and sent to Sheffield special delivery with return postage included via special delivery. You are supposed to provide this. It clearly says this on the website.

I received the documents back within two weeks, in loose form (no folders). Inside was the standard letter saying that they had scanned the documents etc We had no other communication until the visa was issued.

My wife was issued her visa just inside the magic 12 weeks. So be patient and plan accordingly. You can book flights once it has been issued.

It may be worth contacting Sheffield about the return postage. You could send it to them at a later date. You don't want them sat on the shelf gathering dust, or heaven forbid lost!

**PEL2112UK** · 4 May 2018, 11:19

Originally posted by ace_rimmer View Post

You are supposed to provide this. It clearly says this on the website.

Yes I know, I read it too. But the staff at DHL said they send applications like this all the time and advise people to contact Sheffiled re the return of documents. By the time we got to the courier to be honest we were worn out - so many conflicting directions as to what to do. I honestly felt we'd been had over by VFS Global, and now DHL were trying it on. I just wanted the documents to be on their way. I intend sending a letter quoting quoting her GWF number to explain and supply a reply paid label. I posted this to make others aware.

Originally posted by ace_rimmer View Post

You can book flights once it has been issued.

I think that's what I said - "they recommended that we didn't pre-book flights (which we haven't) until we heard from the Entry Clearing Officer." if I remember correctly.

The reason for this post was not to indulge myself but to forewarn others who will be starting out on this process. I thought that was what a forum was for. I wish I had a found the post on this forum that said "Hey folks, if you use DHL as suggested by the application centre staff , this is what you can expect. There is a post office over the road which will send it for £70, with a pre-paid return label". But I didn't find it, and we didn't know what to expect.

We are not unique in that it took countless hours over several months to put the application together, if like me others get to a point worn down by it all and just head for 1st option offered to them at least now they know what to expect from DHL in Bangkok. Hopefully others who've been through it might suggest better alternatives.

When you've just paid £70 for what turns out to be 'just for the sake of maybe a 15 to 30 minutes wait', are wandering in the city heat, at a low point of resistance, and jsut want the application sent safely on it's way your going to be an easy target for for the likes of DHL. They see farang, they know what's going on. As I said in the post, they immediately quoted me for the express service, which again was not worth the extra.

Incidentally there is a post office just down the road from Nana, but we were unsure, we were too hot to cross the street to investigate, we thought DHL are specialists in this, and once we were in the DHL office, the post office seemed a long way down the road.

**ace_rimmer** · 4 May 2018, 11:36

I shared a similar post in January. They moved the goalposts in January and stopped the scanning at VFS. We only found this out on the day and my wife had a similar experience. I think she used the post office you mention at Nana. My experience of Thailand Post has always been good. They track well and link up with Royal Mail and Parcelforce. There will always be a risk though. Parcels do go astray from time to time and it would be a disaster to loose all that documentation.

If you are in the country and returning home I would always suggest hand luggage as the safest option.

**PEL2112UK** · 4 May 2018, 14:20

Originally posted by ace_rimmer View Post

It may be worth contacting Sheffield about the return postage. You could send it to them at a later date. You don't want them sat on the shelf gathering dust, or heaven forbid lost!

Letter sent today - tracking number, ETA, etc. - told them we were directed by VFS Global Staff, but I doubt they care too much if someone at the Thailand end of the process is giving out bad advice.

**PEL2112UK** · 5 May 2018, 08:39

Cost of Premium Service appointment - £80.69 charged to my MasterCard.

**Darren** · 21 May 2018, 11:13

What documents exactly that are needed at the vfs visit stage need to go to Sheffield, surely it is only her Passport?

As I was understanding it my wife only needs to take the printed appointment receipt, her ID card and her Passport, and from them only the passport needs to go to Sheffield?

am I wrong?

**Tobias** · 21 May 2018, 11:36

Darren, it's not clear what you are asking about. What type of visa is it that is being applied for and in which country is the applicant currently residing?

**Darren** · 21 May 2018, 14:56

sorry, its a UK settlement - spouse visa for my Thai wife applying in Bangkok. From what I could gather after the online application is done and paid for then my wife needs to go to vfs in Bangkok for Biometrics and to hand in the printed and signed application and her passport. Therefore it should only be her passport that is then needed in sheffield (assuming I already have all the other documents in England to post.)

**Carl** · 27 May 2018, 17:35

Hi

I have a friend who is just at this stage of applying for a settlement/wife Visa. He is also unclear about the new process regarding supporting information. We understand that we need to get supporting documents to Sheffield under our own steam. What we are unsure about is the journey my friends wife's passport will take?

Does that also need to be posted to Sheffield with supporting information or do VFS take it of her when she does biometrics? Or does she return with it to receive the outcome of the process at VFS when a decision has been made?

Thanks

Carl.

**PEL2112UK** · 2 Jun 2018, 11:05

Originally posted by Carl View Post

Hi

I have a friend who is just at this stage of applying for a settlement/wife Visa. He is also unclear about the new process regarding supporting information. We understand that we need to get supporting documents to Sheffield under our own steam. What we are unsure about is the journey my friends wife's passport will take?

Does that also need to be posted to Sheffield with supporting information or do VFS take it of her when she does biometrics? Or does she return with it to receive the outcome of the process at VFS when a decision has been made?

Thanks

Carl.

Your friend's wife's passport will be retained by the Application centre when she goes for the interview at Trendy Tower. She will be given the option of collecting it in person at the Application centre, or having it posted to her home address in Thailand when the visa (biometric card) is issued. We were advised that applications are currently taking three to four months, due to a high volume of visa applications

**Carl** · 2 Jun 2018, 19:56

Thanks

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Heads up on VFS Global Premium Lounge service, and DHL Courier costs from Thailand

Heads up on VFS Global Premium Lounge service, and DHL Courier costs from Thailand

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