gprit

Choosing Pearson - I assumed BULATS was more Business orientated, TOEIC if I remember wasn't being offered in timescales. Main reason though was (and this is one of my gripes with the test taken) is that the sample/training papers provided BY PEARSON, were very simplistic, and my wife had no problem in attaining 70-80% in our practice sessions. Not sure if I am allowed too upload them here. My comment to Pearson:

Prior to the test we downloaded from your website practice papers 1/2/3 in Speaking and Written exercises, dated July 2011, for the A1 Level examination.

Whilst the papers do state that the actual test may differ, the test undertaken on 7th February in Bangkok bore NO RELATION whatsoever to those sample papers. The test was clearly aimed at a higher audience, with no repeated audio, and included such examples as a description about the recession during the 1990's complete with economic graphs, which then required an opinion formed from the graph and commentary. This FAR exceeds what is required for A1 level requirements.

The test itself was also entirely computer-based, and some of the spoken words were in American and Australian accents - why??? They also spoke exceedingly rapidly. I am sure you will agree that effective communication is best achieved in a face-to-face situation, not impersonalised by computer generated speech. With regard to Spoken responses, the computer ends the question if the applicant has not spoken within THREE SECONDS!

In addition there were questions that required written answers input to the screen of 200-300 words in a twenty minute period, something that would be beyond most people. KEYBOARD / TYPING SKILLS are NOT supposed to form any part of the A1 Test.

I would also add that the people supervising the test were extremely offhand. Not a 'good morning and welcome' or even a smile and the Personal Recording at the start..... - not enough time to say much.

Let me enlighten you.

All my previous quoted are from Pearsons website content.

This is the problem - they say scores 10-29 meet A1 Level (and defines it as post #43), but they also say elsewhere "Spouse visa applicants require a minimum PTE Academic score of 24 in Listening and Speaking only". They give an overall score for the test (Listening/Speaking/Writing/Reading). However, as we know Writing and Reading scores are irrelevant for UKBA purposes.

Pearson howver do not clarify whether 29 and 22 combined (making an overall score of 25.5) meets the requirement of 24. The UKBA statement does seem to indicate 24 in each of the four components, despite Writing and Reading not being required). This is why I then went on to explore the error of measurement.

'Complicated mathematical calculations' have a very definite bearing on the score in my opinion. Again - to quote from the Pearson 'understanding your score' they say:

The TRUE score of a test taker is within a range of scores around the reported score. (my bold/underline/larger text)

The size of that range is defined by the error of measurement.

then go on to show examples I have quoted above...with the results I have shown above.

This error of measurement calculation is EXTREMELY pertinent to the score given - the difference between definitely meeting UKBA requirements or not.

I have emailed them but as yet have had no response. I will expand on the test itself when I have gathered replies from various places.

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Yes I saw tyhat - and yes I have contacted them by email...but.....have not yet had a reply.

I just wondered if anyone else had had a similar situation.

"don't think that any combining of scores makes any difference as far as the visa is concerned"

What does that mean??? She scored 29 in Listening and 22 in Speaking.

I have seen now on the UKBA website that Pearson PTE Academic A1 level scores are Listening 24 ..Speaking 24.....Reading...24 ...Writing 24.

The only comment the Test centre have is that scores of 10-29 meet A1 level, which they describe as:

Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

Now then...her overall score over the four areas was 22.

BUT...seeing that only Listening/Speaking is required her overall score on these two was 25.5

In addition Pearson score explanation states that A1 Reading has a 3.6 error measurement.

For example, if the reported score is 60 and the error of measurement is 3, then the true score, with 68% certainty, is within one measurement error from the reported score; that is within the range of 57 (60-3) and 63 (60+3). The true score, with 95% certainty, is within twice the measurement error; that is within the range of 54 (60-2x3) to 66 (60+2x3).

So...with a Speaking score of 22....

This means that the true score - with 68% certainty is 18.4 (22-3.6) to 25.6 (22+3.6)

This means that the true score - with 95% certainty is 14.8 (22-2x3.6) to 29.2 (22+2x3.6)

Any experts here like to say whether that is sufficient grounds for persuading UKBA she is proficient???

Anyone confirm??

My wife took the Cambridge level test in BKK today (Pearson soi 21) - she was not impressed (more later).

We have received the score report but have no idea whether the results are acceptable to UKBA for Spouse visa application.

Reading the sumary it seems to indicate that anything between 10-29 reaches the A1 level needed. is that correct..

Secondly, if the overall score was low but the individual Listenign and Speaking parts were higher can they be treated as a higher score?

thanks

#4 - I can understand they might be needed in the UK, but would not a certified translation be enough? Also, who would do the authenticating...Thai Ministry of Foreign Affiars or British Embassy (as the original is in Thai).

#5 - went to Min of Foreign affairs around 5/6th January before current escalation.

PS sorry about posting in wrong forum...!

Just a few words on practical experience of this.

Got married a few days ago(!!). Had been to the British Embassy in BKK, presented all documents including first marriage certificate and the death certificate of my first wife. All ok and was issued with an Affirmation to Marry. Got this translated via a certified translator and then had this all authenticated at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Great I thought - all done. When we went to the Registrar in Loei he spend absolutely ages going through the document - and looked at all old applications. He insisted that he wanted to see and have a copy of my late wife's death certificate - fortunately I had an original issue of that for him to keep keep in his files. Same in that he wanted copy of my passport and Visa stamps.

Didn't expect he would need all that as it had all been checked and authorised in the Affirmation to Marry. Just a word of caution to take all documents you can, with copies.

After about an hour we got certificate issue! Now I will get that translated/certified. I have read that I should also get that authenticated by Ministry of Foreign affirs in BKK. is this necessary? and why?

thanks

Thanks - can I double check this? I have at last also had a reply to an old email I sent to VFS (one which finally did not bounce back...).

They state:

"Sponsor will require to complete a Sponsorship undertaking form (SU07) as advised in online system. Please note that a sponsorship form can be signed by both you and your sponsor."

With all the problems in BKK I am not sure whether to book TB/English test etc and then Visa appointment or not, in case they are not accessible/shut (as the passport office seems to be).

SO... another of my options would simply be to apply for a UK Family Visitor visa for my Thai wife. It is only really to see how she likes it there compared to France, or indeed staying in Thailand. My questions are:

1) If we get a Family Visitor Visa for six month from say start August and go to the UK, can we apply for a Schengen Visa at a French Consulate in the UK to visit France mid September (after current Schengen Visa expires). We would use the EU ruling to get a free Schengen visa.

2) Can Family Visitor Visa be extended whilst in the UK....

3) Can Spouse settlement Visa be applied for whilst in the UK under a Family Visitor Visa?

Have tried getting these answers from oficial sources but cannot get answers! Thanks.

Thanks for that...like you I have been putting everthing in a folder, neatly indexed and separated! Makes you wonder....

Actually I have been trying to find ouit whether they are affected by the Bangkok protests/accessability, but they haven't answered emails - they keep bouncing back as spurious email....

Ditto about going to register/hospital back to registry for TB test.

Question on the documents - there are many orginal documents required to be produced, but I don't see any reference to copies.

COmmon sense says I copy everything, but do they keep all the originals or just copies after checking agaianst the originals?.

Just in the process of starting UK Settlement Visa for my (soon-to-be) wife. The forms all seems to have changed in December and I am unsure whether I also need to complete a Sponsorship form SU07 (in addition to the Financial Requirements Appendix).

Also, one of the questions on the new form is how much do I spend on living expenses each month out of my income/savings. I can find no definition of what should be included in 'living expenses'.

Anyone have any definite information?

Interestingly they also now want to know (in the small guidance print) WHERE any savings came from......!

Thanks for the pointer. Unfortunately it seems they only hold the Speaking test in Bangkok!

Thanks for all the replies, some good some off the point(!)

Anyway, going back to my No.1 post.....about passports. We went to the Passport Office in udon Thani and explained the situation and simply asked whether we could keep the two passports.

They said yes, that they would simply stamp the new and the old to basically state they were the same person. SO solved....

Re staying in Thailand., having considered all replies,my preferred option will be to a) go across to Laos before current Visa ends 15th February....that will get another 90-day stamp.

When I come back from France in mid June I will get normal 30 day visa on entry. In light of the change of rules that G7 countries get a 30 day entry visa overland still, I will simply cross the border into Laos (45 minute drive to border) and re-enter on a 30 day 'free' visa (though $35 in practice...)....mid August, which will hopefully be all I need until we go to the UK hopefully or back to France.

Thanks to all.

Sorry to re-open this one - I am trying to avoid going to Bangkok for the A1 Level English Test. One of the previous posts stated there was one centre in Chiange Mai that was approved, but I have been unable to find details of it.

Is there one? where?

thanks

Thanks all

re Post 30 ...before my non-imm O visa runs out I will go across the Friendship bridge to Laos and back in ($35) - upon re-entry that will give me a further 90 days, taking me beyond mid March.

Thanks ...re Post 26...seems like my best bet.

My wife's house book - does that mean her 'blue book' at her parents' address? We only rent a place in UT.

Is the marriage certificate sufficient in Thai and English?

Lao visa/entry page - is that what is stamped when I cross the Friendship bridge?

Any idea on the cost of the Visa there and is it issued straight away?

Presuambly this can be done when I get back from France, before normal 30 day visa expires? or does non-imm O visa have to be in date?

thanks.

I am also confused!!

My situation: Age 66, cK PAssport, Currently in Thailand on a non-O Visa that expires 15th February, renting a house (with fiancee) in Udon Thani. Getting married at the end of January.

Our travel plans: Fly to France on Schengen Visa 18 March, return to Thailand 15th June.

Stay in Thailand until mid August when hopefully will have a UK Settlement Visa (if I can sort out passport issues). If Granted we will fly to the UK (and also go back to France mid

September until start of November). Then, if UK Settlement Visa granted, go back to UK.

If UK Visa not granted will apply for new schengen visa (free under EEU rules(!) to go to France in mid Sept and fly back to Thailand start of November.

Thai Visa for me: My two thoughts were

1) to simply come back to Thailand mid June and just use normal 30 days entry visa and go across BY LAND to Laos and renew until we go to France mid September. I know the

rules changed from 30-day overland visa to 15 days but I thought I had read somewhere that if you were from UK (and some other countries) then it was re-instated to 30 days?

2) Apply for marriage visa at immigration office in Thailand.

Few questions here....

a) again I think I have read something where you have to apply 21 days before expiry of non-O visa? This would not be possible as we won't be married until after that stipulation.

while I can meet the income qualification(s) (both) - the funds are all held in UK bank - is this ok?

c) if marriage visa is granted my understanding is that it is for 90 days and then has to be extended? If this is the case I could not do that as we will be in France!

Hopefully I have tried to be be clear in my situation. Any advice on the best way forward?

Tahnks as always for the comprehensive reply - appreciated.

Don't think (1) or (3) is an option really. Option (2) may be as if not going to the UK we would apply for another Schengen Visa (the free route this time....) after 10th September (>180 days).

As you mentioned, we could then go straight from France to Uk all being well.

Easy enought o get a new passport in her married name. Do you knwo if they can trace that she has an 'old' passport that has to be handed in? Or could she have both old and new, which would solve the problem?

Have recently had advice on here regarding Schengen Visa for France visit under EEU rules - thanks all.

Anyway, the good news is that following the Visa application (normal /paid route) it was approved the following day, so must have done something right!

The application and Visa was in my fiancee's maiden name.

We plan to get married at the end of the month but am unsure about name changes.

My understanding is that her ID card can be changed to married name immediately (or if not then within 60 days) - no problem there, will do immediately.

So she can register to take an A1 Level English test in her married name and it will match up with her ID Card.

My question is - before we go to France for 90 days from mid March, we want to also apply for a UK Settlement Visa, so that when we get back in mid June (with UK Visa hopefully approved) we can start to prepare to go to UK.

.......but to do this presumably they need to have her passport in her married name(?). BUT the Visa is in her maiden name passport, and I am assuming that if we applied for a new passport in her married name they would want the old one (with the Visa) back. Not sure I want to complicate things with trying to get it transferred.

Any thoughts?

Thanks - yes one would assume that about documents.

Trouble is that when you register on TLS for Family visit it generates a list of the documents required - and doesn't seem to make provision if entry is being sought via this method.

Not sure they would process if several things were missing.

"The application form has various questions marked *."

I didn't see any asterisks in teh lists of documents required, as issued by TLS Agent for French Embassy (Family and Friends Visa)

AM I missing a different application type?

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Thanks - just making a backup plan...as we are to be married before the end of January (trip is planned mid March), so if 'normal/full' visa refused I know all the facts!!

We would only be there 90 days anyway...just wanted to make sure it wasn't 30 days!

I think I am correct in stating the certification by Thai MFA can be done via third party, as it would be a pain to have to go from Udon Thani to Bangkok for this (and btw it is WAY out of town....)

but the process was quick and straightforward yesterday when submitting Affirmation to Marry for authentication..

Referring back to Post #16 can I ask three supplementary questions.

1) The marriage certificate will be in Thai. I can get this translated into English by a certified translator BUT I have read somewhere that it also has to be certified as a true copy by the Thai Consulate (in the same way as the Affirmation to Marry was), Is this correct?

2) If using this method of entry into France is there a maximum stay time?

3) To use this method who does one apply to? The French Agency TLS site does not seem to cover this and they do not seem aware of it / how to apply.

Applied for normal Schengen Visa yesterday (as it had all been aranged before I knew the above!) so may not need to go down this route, but am making a backup plan if refused.

thanks

Thanks for the practicalities of the test - good feedback. I am Welsh(!) but don't really have a Welsh accent.

At the moment I am taking all counsel, and my fiancee is going through all the sample tests that are available on sevaral websites.

We live in Udon Thani, and also have a young baby, so it is not easy to spend 3 days prep in Bangkok (for which of course we have to pay for hotels/air fares)...unless of course they can do this online - I'll check.

What is this EEA Visa called as I didn't see it on TLS (Agens for French Embassy). Is there a list of documents somewhere (from Thailand to France)?

thanks