rio666uk

for those that have been before - where/whats the parking situation for this event....

1. good/near?

2. get there early..youll be alright!

3. far..?

4. you're kidding, right?

Im affraid that me n mrs rio666uk wont be there "again" this year...

We're getting the keys to our new house this Thursday so will be busy moving etc... not to mention that our driver for the day (Daleyboy) isnt gonna be able to make it.

Yours eagerly awaiting our new house - but p*ssed off its the same weekend as the TFF

666

(maybe next year eh )

the trouble is that very few people will bother to post how happy they are and how successful the relationship is, after all its boring reading whereas the total holocaust and the seedy side etc make compelling reading for the majority of people.

Here's some boring reading! ....I'm happy and have a successful relationship

ditto

#edit

My sympathies go out to him and his family.

But does anybody on here not find it insulting, to use the words "Thai Bride"? After all they had been married 9 years. Would they still call 2 english people married for that long a "Bride". NO, it seems like they want to label anybody with a Thai Wife, with the stigma that they got them off the internet. To me, it is just as "Racist" as calling someone a "Paki" etc. and yet you could be taken to court (in the UK) for saying such a thing. Makes my blood boil

You are completely overreacting."Thai bride" is used as a term in the West because so many farang-thai marriages are correctly perceived as strangely mismatched whether as to age education,wealth or social class (often a weird combination of all four categories).

In this sad case the victim was a wealthy ex-public school boy, his wife of the lowest social class.Some of these relationships are contracted, as you suggest, over the internet.Many more are with bargirls or ex-bargirls.It is the extreme oddness of many of these relationships that generates terms like "Thai Brides", and attracts comedy programmes like Little Britain to make fun of them.

I stress that this is just a stereotype, and that there are many farang-Thai marriages which don't fall into this category.

Sorry Arsenal, but your talking absolute garbage and i don't feel i am over reacting at all.

It is a demeaning term that generalises all Thai women to that of internet brides. In my view the term "Thai Bride" is more racist than calling someone a "Paki". Don't get me wrong, i'm not one of these PC namby pamby types but it is about the way in which it is meant, when it is said, that annoys me.

I wish to stand up and be counted - I completely agree with you here BoJ - both posts

myself and wife have been invited to a wedding in Belfast in October

stoopid question - but does she need a visit visa???

she does not yet have ILR status in the UK... although we will make the application in September... does having ILR for UK make any difference?

its just a dos window flashing up - its either a program or service starting on windows loggon - you can check to see if theres anything in your startup folder:

C:\Docs & Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Start Up

If nothing in there then i would back track to what programs and drivers you have installed since rebuilding your PC

Have to admit that my favorite is Battlefield 2. Can be played single player or multi-player. I spend WAY too much time playing it though.

Also "Quake 4" and "Unreal Tournament 2004" are pretty good shooter games. "Far Cry" not bad either.

same same here - Im currently playing Battlefield 2 on a nightly basis with 4 other guys from work, using headsets for VoIP TeamSpeak whilst we're playing adds so much more to the game...

other games im playing if time permits include

Halo - FEAR - DOOM III - Sniper Elite - Quake 4

first off - the climate will have an impact on your weight, and you will almost certainly feel less hungry in hot weather despite what anyone says.

secondly - sourcing your food shouldnt be a big problem, do you know of any chinese or thai food stores near you... obviously not otherwise you would have already been to them. the supermarkets are getting better but you'll need to find a proper store... try looking around in the areas that have a moderate to high asian community - not so much indian, as they dont seem to stock everything youll need for thai cooking - but its a good start.

so once youve found something to cook, youll need a recipe obviously, any thai cookery book or website will be the answer to this... although im a little lost why you say you dont have the "confidence".. youre not on masterchef!! just get on and have a go - its the best way to learn!

i taught myself thai cookery after returning from thailand for a year before my, now, wife came to UK... i really enjoyed it - i cant get a look-in nowadays

we also cheat a little - my wifes mum sends us food parcels of "dried things" every other month... shrimp, squid, chilies, lemon grass, kafir lime leaves etc etc...

if youre unable to find any shops you can buy online and have it mailed to you - a quick google will find these mailorder places... i know theyre there cos ive used em before

all the best - happy cooking

http://www.easy-thaifood.com/

http://www.templeofthai.com/recipes/

http://importfood.com/recipes.html

PS - now youre back in UK dont forget the thai food festival - august 13th battersea park

its far safer not to swear in thai to a thai unless youre comfortable with exactly what it is that you're saying, and you fully understand the consequences..

so why not just swear in your native tongue - this lowers the chances of being understood, you will know exactly just how offensive you're being and if you end up getting smacked in the mouth - well there wont be any suprises....

you can get all of your application forms and advice from these sites - youll need form VAF2 for settlement

you will have to do some searching around regarding fasttracking your wifes visa process - it may be worth getting your wife to call the embassy to explain the situation, they will be able to point you in the right direction, i dont know, but dont count on any specialist treatment... it may be that your wife joins you in the UK at a later date.

all the best either way

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taken from ukvisa.gov.uk

Q: How long does it take to get a UK visa?

A: We aim to operate a fast and effective entry clearance service. Last year, 91% of straightforward, non-settlement applications were resolved within 24 hours, with most applicants receiving a same day service. If an in-depth interview is required, we aim to process non-settlement applications within 10 working days, but please be aware that during peak periods, dealing with increased volumes of visa applications, it can take longer.

If you are applying to settle in the UK, in most cases we are able to process your application within 13 weeks, however this may vary depending on where you are applying.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.ukvac-th.com/

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/thailand

The next 12 months we will be hopefully living in our own house, do you think it will be okay that the address changes?

There will not be a problem. Simply supply letters covering the time at both addresses.

rio666uk,

You are correct in what you say about the use of FLR(M), however the OP was about applying for ILR, for which one uses SET(M).

I should have said "one of the uses of FLR(M) is.........."

Apols for any confusion.

no worries mate

Rj - if you go take a look at GU22's link to the form - towards the back of the application you will find guidance on documentary evidence that suggests what you should send, different addresses are not a problem as long as you can prove that both you and your wife were at those addresses together.

We live at my Mums house at the moment and probably will do for the next 12 months. Will this affect our documentation with regard as to getting hold of 10 letters in our/my wife's name?

The next 12 months we will be hopefully living in our own house, do you think it will be okay that the address changes?

Rj 81 - you think youve got problems

when my wife arrived in UK we lived with my parents for 3 months then moved into my flat for about 15 months, we have been back at my parents for the past 3 months whilst waiting for our new house to complete before moving there...

so ive got all manner of post etc with our names on at different addresses... i wouldnt worry about it - im sure being stationery at one address for 24 months when in the UK is not considered criteria when applying for ILR... and if it is then it truely is a sorry state of affairs.

you will need form FLR(M) if your wife requires an extension to stay to her current visa.

Form FLR(M) is for a two year further leave to remain following marriage when the applicant entered with a fiance visa.

The form for indefinite leave to remain is SET(M) and can be downloaded here.

GU22 - if you read my post again you will see that i said FLR(M) should be used if the OP's wife requires an extension to her current visa before being eligable for applying for ILR... also it is not just for applicatants on fiance visa only - see below taken from IND website.

Please explain if you disagree - as I am advised by the IND to first apply for FLR and then ILR as I have 7 days adrift

********************************************************************************

*

Use Form FLR(M) to apply for an extension of stay in the United Kingdom as the spouse (husband or wife) or unmarried partner of a person present and settled here.

my wife is Issan - she pronounces farrang as fa-lang... as do her thai friends, one of which is southern...

as much as i would like to pronounce R's as my old thong-lor language teacher wished... i just cannot roll my R'sssss, no matter how hard i try - just end up spitting everywhere and looking a tw@t

so if R = L for the wife, then its good enough for me too

PS: Kananga take no notice of it

check here for all the rules:

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/

you will need form FLR(M) if your wife requires an extension to stay to her current visa. see below

1. you apply before your wifes current visa expires but not more than 28 days before her 2nd anniversary in the UK. If, like me, there are any days in between the visa expiry and the 28 days prior to the 2nd anniversary you will need to apply for an extension visa (form FLR(M)) to cover that period and then apply for the ILR (form Set(M)) after that.

2. you should include all relevent evidence that can support claims that you and your wife have been living together as husband and wife etc at the same address since her entering the UK... the link at the top should give you some ideas.

3. £335 by post - £500 in person

can i provisionally book the last beer for next songkhran sort of time in patters too please - i would very much like to have the last beer and word - courtesy of raro and kerryd

TLW

TLB

666

that's just plain

PM it to Kerryd

Thanks to everyone for their comments... its been very helpfull.

i asked the same question at thailand-uk and got the same advice really...

ill decide on the day whether or not to include a covering letter, essentially i wont have any serious problems nor jepordise her visa decission - as long as the application is made in time....

whether i get stung for the extra money or they let it ride is, a pain in the ass yes, but a disaster no!

downloaded and watched up till the finale Season 2 Ep 24....

it is a damned fine story... and even at the end of Season2 theres alot to be answered for

i did hear that they could be as many as 5 or so Series of it

ok so all in favour of a covering letter say "aye"...

and those against say "nay"

cmon guys i see both your points - and dont wish to lecture you on your specialist subject - but i want to get as many opinions as i can.

Scouse, GU22 - If the date of application begins from the date it was posted, and not the date it arrives, my understanding is that my wife can continue to stay and work in UK until a decision has been reached - would you agree with this???? (this is what i understand from the IND site blurb)

If so, even if the clerk decides that the days in between visa expiry and the 28 later rule for earliest application is picked up - the worst that will happen is that they will grant an FLR for those days, pocket my money, and send me a letter saying that my wife now needs to reapply for an ILR and pay another £335?

If this is correct - and i believe that it is - sending a covering letter could either get me off paying another £335 or lead me to having to pay another £335... and thats down to the clerk on the day!

however - as long as I have a special delivery postal record that shows that i posted the application before the date on which my wifes visa expires... we have done nothing wrong and shouldnt risk not being granted either an FLR or ILR visa

am i right?

ok thanks for your help

ill post it so that it should arrive a day before it expires and try to explain the situation for not applying for an FLR by means of an accompanying letter.

at worst ill have to pay the 335 - ill have no choice

Thanks Scouse - can you confirm

taken from the IND site

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When to apply

You should make your application before your existing permission to stay in the UK runs out. In categories where you have to complete a certain period to qualify for further or indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you shouldn't apply more than 28 days before you complete the relevant period. The date of application is that on which you post it or have it accepted in person at a PEO.

Your immigration status while your application is being decided

If you make a valid application before your permission to stay ends, your existing immigration status will continue until your application is decided, even if the decision is not made until after the end of your permitted stay. If your existing visa or other permission to stay here allows you to work, you can continue to do so until your case is decided.

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so according to this - as long as the application is post a day before it expires, my wife wont technically overstay her visa... as the day before happens to be on a friday and assuming that it arrives Monday earliest, we would be 6 days adrift - of which they may overlook if i explain the situation in a covering letter - sending the application recorded but 2nd class will ensure a couple of more days are taken up too..

Just been on the phone to the lovely chaps at the IND

My wife was granted settlement - 16/09/04

Entered UK - 20/10/04

as her visa runs out on 16/09/06 and i cant apply for ILR more than 28 days prior to her 2nd anniversary of entering the UK...

I am told that for the sake of the 7 day gap i need to fork out another £335 for an extension to the settlement visa.

I was advised by someone to post my ILR application on the 15/09/06 to Durham in order to slow the whole process down.. hoping that by the time the application arrived at the right office there would only be a few days left - which may be overlooked!

Is this a safe practice - or simply not worth the risk - I dont know what to do now... advice welcome.

Thanks!

Next question of course... whats the web sites of some good dive clubs?

I have no idea where I will be staying when in Phuket... rather just choose a place when I get there or is that a bad move?

Phuket is a big place - its not desperately important to figure out where youre gonna stay as that time of year wont be high season anyway... an idea of what resort is always usefull though... most will head for patong but there are plenty of other resorts.

see map of island

http://www.golforient.com/images/phuketmap.jpg

this link is one of many from a quick google -

http://www.diving.phuket.com/

but it shows you the popular dive sites - ones that youre most likely going to be going on... you would have to check with a few dive outfits where there boats leave from if you wanted to save a bit of time..