@Gr**

sure, if she was malingering and didn't have an actual disability. But from her description, it's pretty clear she does have one, and what happened to her was terrible.

Who said anything about galivanting in the tropics? She's going abroad for medical treatment. If she can get better medical treatment in Thailand, at a lower overall cost to the UK taxpayer, I don't see the drawback here, for either her or the UK taxpayer.

It's part of a warped mindset, which the redtops do indeed have, that anyone in receipt of disability benefits must be made to suffer as much as possible in order to receive benefits.

There are A LOT of veterans in Thailand living off military disability. Why does no one ever complain about them?

@Gr**

I'm wondering what your thought process is here, that disabled people shouldn't be able to have a life if receiving benefits for their disability? What if she had too much fun in the UK? Should that be allowed?

@Gr**

she's disabled and seeking treatment in Thailand. It's not like her disability is made up, it sounds quite serious and not something I'd wish on anyone. Would you like to be in her situation if you were getting £1,000 a month for it?

How does it negatively affect anyone if she comes to Thailand rather than staying in the UK? Who benefits from her staying in the UK? She doesn't. Neither does the UK taxpayer.

@Gr**

she's actually costing the UK taxpayer less by being here, her benefit is reduced from not being in the UK and she's not using NHS services she otherwise would be. It makes financial sense for the UK to allow people on medical benefits to get treatment abroad at their own cost, it's better for everyone.

CaptivatingPeapod7461 if you say "I will be okay with 5 months." do you mean you'll be OK if the consulate only gives you a visa for 5 (or 6) months? As that's the risk if you submit a treatment plan under 6 months.

It might work, but it's an unnecessary risk. People have been given a shorter visa if they submit a plan under 6 months.

CaptivatingPeapod7461 the point is you need a plan over 6 months to satisfy the requirements for the DTV visa. I understand you need to go back to the UK in 5 months to get your surgery and to keep your entitlements but this is not a problem, the DTV does not require you to spend longer in Thailand.

You just need the over 6 month treatment plan to be sure you'll get it. If the plan is under 6 months there is a high chance they'll just give you a METV which is a six month tourist visa, as that would be all your would need in that case.

You can have a 1 year treatment plan in Thailand and go back to the UK in the middle of it for your surgery, that is no problem, in fact it's even the expected use of the DTV, to come and go.

You can change your treatment plan after you get it, you are not tied into it. If you do need longer in the UK that's not a problem either. But if you want a visa over six months, you have a better chance of getting that if you present a need to be in Thailand for over six months.

What you need for the DTV is one thing.

What you need for the NHS and your UK benefits is another thing.

Keep these separate. Your getting an over 6 month treatment plan in Thailand doesn't stop you going home for your surgery, they are unrelated.

@J**

there's no explicit minimum salary, people have been approved with very little. The 500k deposit is the only bit that is non-negotiable.

@J**

you are in luck, London has no seasoning requirement. They want three months bank statements to show income but require £11,000 (500k THB) only at the end, not for the duration. I got my DTV there and only had the full amount at the end of the period I sent them.

@J**

some consulates have no seasoning requirement, so you can move it into a bank account just before applying.

@Ste****

in this case his son is in the house, that's where the human right aspect comes in. Many countries do recognize the right of child to live with their parents as a human right. Thailand has a visa for it as well, but there's a court process to certify his parentage as he's not married to the mother.