As

@Martyn **********

said but not worth the costs. That items are used is irrelevant here. Expect to pay import duty + VAT. That is simply crazy. And they assess the value, what you declare irrelevant. Choose an airline that is cheaper on excess baggage (that is very variable) and, hopefully choose an airline where you can pre-book excess baggage (that is even more variable).

Sounds like one of the areas where GPS Legal in Bangkok may be good. Lawrence Chaney and David Tice are also nice guys and charge sensibly. Well embedded and connected in Thailand and used to Thai Law, but internationally affiliated too. But watch this to understand GPS's positioning so why it may well (together with specific expertise) be a good one for your issues:

@Dianne ****

Point sort of taken. However, whereas we were told about the Thai authorities acting in that way how truthful was it in that other embassies are still offering an affadavit approach. I am suspicious. Further, then why not embassy verification, duly charged to us and probably outsourced. Would still be better for us than the current mess. I am not aware of any of the embassies mentioned having investigated ways forward other than abandonment.

Nik Dadd Too True.

@Todd ********

Yep. The position for Americans, Brits and Australians is absolutely apalling and all thanks to their own embassies. A disgrace.

@Peter ******************

Take care of yourself and your family too. Never be afraid of proportionality, even seeming trite. The cheapest toy really does cheer up a two year old. A cheap meal out, friends, family where all can be together, have fun or tears as they wish is good. An expensive, threatening, meal out, distinctly not so good. In fact, impromptu arrangement works best. No grand event. They terrify me too, never mind a poor or relatively poor Thai family. They don't want or need another problem.

@Glenn ********

Agreed. But transfer to private hospital is a no. As David Butler said this is really to do with supporting Mum, making her life as comfortable as possible and not just at the hospital. Has she family at home and what are their needs? Specifically their needs with Mum not around? It's trying to make sure that one terrible situation doesn't create dozens more. Crudely, damage limitation.

Brandon was bang-on. Shop around. Funny how everybody always thinks of the biggies. I opened a new ICBC account a few months back easily and the interest rates can be slightly elevated. I get 1%. As Tesco say "Every Little Helps".

Good advice on STV. Very little width of applicability,either the visa itself or it's conditions. And it's about to end. Now, I notice you are in UK. Does that mean by any chance that you are a UK passport holder? If so why not come in visa exempt? And next is that you can extend the exemption by a further 30 Days.

@Astrid *******

I understand that, but what were you doing on the e-visa site? But, if there, you can immediately see that, without going into details it is for what I'll call specialist visa applications. That aside the difficulty is that you are talking now just after Thailand Pass has been removed but dated information is still in the ether and probably will be forever. In terms of visa exemption, indeed visas, everything is as it always was with Thailand Pass gone. The differences as against the past relate to immunisation proof or PCR that, of course never existing pre COVID. That's it. Unless you come in by land crossing, then watch that I think it was one of you would have shorter exemption than the other, but even short exemption is 15 Days so more than adequate for a visa run. Whatever you need to concentrate on your visa exemption length, not on visas.