Thanks for the feedback.

2 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

Been there, done it, nuff said!

 

The UK Gov website is incorrect then.

I don't want this to turn into a tit-for-tat. I was just asking the question.

However, I'm sure it's 5 years. fron your link:

Eligibility and fees

On 1/12/2021 at 2:36 PM, bigyin said:

I just did all this myself in July for my wife. You might want to do one more application after this if your wife wants to become a British citizen. Anyway I can confirm that you are doing the correct application set (M). The application itself is much less detailed than that for FLR (M) so don’t worry about that. If you have got to the checklist just provide exactly what they ask for in that checklist and everything will be fine. After you submit the application and pay you will be directed to the UKVCAS website to book a biometric appointment. I would just warn you that it is quite difficult to get an appointment at the moment and people are finding that around midnight is the best time to book. The appointments are generally one month in the future. There are very few free appointments and the costs can be anything up to £200. Good luck.

Hi,

We're going to be starting this process shortly - so looking forward to reading all those docs again.

How long did the I.L.R. visa take from submitting it ?

If you got the I.L.R. have you applied for the British passport yet ?

Cheers

Cheers

36 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

If married to a British citizen she can apply after 3 years as long as she can pass the requirements.

I don't see where it says you can apply after 3 years if married to a British Citizen. Was this the old process that May changed?

From what we’ve been told and on the gov’ website it’s five years.

My wife entered on a Spouse/Partner Leave to Enter visa.

After two and half years she got her Spouse/Partner Leave to remain visa.

On five years she can apply for her I.L.R. visa & then apply for British passport.

Yes, I know the fees keep rising, especially HIS (health cover ones). That’s why I thought worth doing now instead of delaying and redoing everything at a higher cost at a later date.

I’m British.

My wife is a Thai Doctor – her English test scores are higher than required.

She has already passed the “Life in the UK” test

Has police checks

Earns more than the requirements

However, we still have to wait for 5 years.

Which I personally think is a disgrace if married to a British national, however they are the current government rules.

29 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

If married to a British citizen she can apply after 3 years as long as she can pass the requirements.

I don't see where it says you can apply after 3 years if married to a British Citizen. Was this the old process that May changed?

From what we’ve been told and on the gov’ website it’s five years.

My wife entered on a Spouse/Partner Leave to Enter visa.

After two and half years she got her Spouse/Partner Leave to remain visa.

On five years she can apply for her I.L.R. visa & then apply for British passport.

Yes, I know the fees, they  keep rising,  especially HIS (health insurance cover ones). That’s why I thought worth doing now instead of delaying and redoing everything at a higher cost at a later date.

I’m British.

My wife is a Thai Doctor – her English test scores are higher than required.

She has already passed the “Life in the UK” test

Has police checks

Earns more than the requirements

However, we still have to wait for 5 years.

Which I personally think is a disgrace if married to a British national, however they are the current government rules.

Yes, I’m aware of that, from what I understand you can apply for a British passport as soon as you get the I.L.R.

We’re in that situation at the moment, we’ve been back to London for just over 4 years (obv’ trips back and forth). Once possible we’ll apply for the British passport and myself a Thai Spouse visa. This should enable us to move between the two countries easier as we have places in both.

Hi

If your wife has been in the UK with you for 4+ years, isn’t it worth waiting until the 5^th year and getting an indefinite leave to remain visa & British passport for her. May be useful in future years without having to do the whole (changing process) again.

Both my wife (Thai) and I tested positive in London.

I had no symptoms and felt fine, I wouldn’t have even got a test if my wife hadn’t tested positive first.

My wife tested positive after having a loss of taste and smell – the number of meals my wife/Thai eat the obvious first indicator ????

If I was there I suggest you go with that, as it is a recognised symptom and very hard to prove otherwise to satisfy the insurers.

Address for Natwest Stockton on Tees
123 High Street
Stockton-on-tees
County Durham
TS18 1NW
Telephone: 03457 888444 (Central Customer Services)
So from Thailand +44  3457 888444 

--

48 minutes ago, Bangyai said:

Go to Bang Rak registry office in Bangkok. Providing you have the correct documents they will marry anyone and provide witnesses. At least, they did for us.

Its a big business for them there and they are famous for marrying people who have had issues elseware.

I go along with this, we got married there with no witnesses - the officers were the witnesses.

Gibraltar has a Thai consulate on the main shopping road – a few mins over the border from La Linea.

Very easy to get a visa there from a very nice guy called Mark, I’ve had several from there. He has an office in his own house downstairs. Take in docs, walk out 5 mins later all stamped.

Was much easier when I was flying into Gib’ and over the border to Spain than going from Richmond to West Ken' & having to return 2 days later for the passport.

We have a few condos in BKK which we rent out.

I believe my biggest mistake was furnishing them to a high standard.

I don’t believe you ever recoup the cost over a reduction in rent.

The other issue is that others may have different tastes and ask for stuff to be removed - which you then have to store.

I’d go very basic or no furniture in my experience.

All cities are dangerous to a point, you just have to be street smart. Your background helps.

I've worked in most of the major financial cities in the western world ( all European ones, BKK, Singapore, Joburg, Cape Town, Sydney, New York and many more)

In Dublin I had 2 people working for me mugged in separate incidents, one was robbed by threats with a HIV needle, one robbed of her purse walking down the street next to the Princess hotel in one day.

In Joburg I had an Irish guy phone me up to get him out of there as somebody had shot at his car 

In Rome a 6 foot 5 guy mugged.

In both Turin & Zurich again muggings after a few beers

I, myself in New York if I hadn't noticed what was going on and planned my escape.

Happens everywhere, you just have to keep your wits about you - even when drunk.

BKk is certainly no worse in my experience than the others cities I've lived/worked.

19 minutes ago, Slain said:

Every business  in the world is going to suffer for a long time

Many, many good funds in the U.S. and China are rocketing in price....

I lived in Silom/Sathorn and never saw any trouble over many years. Travelled around quite a bit, again no trouble. I also live in London and I'm sure it's the same as every other city in the world, if you want to find it you can....

My wife bought a Singer sewing machine(not that expensive) when she came over, Allowed her to make/alter clothes/material she buys that maybe a bit too big for her. It also gives her something to do as a hobby when she wants a bit of alone time.

You should be entitled to a full refund - if not I'd pursue credit card option - I certainly wouldn't accept Avios points/voucher. The UK companies have not been great in honoring these and you won't know the future price.

I'd go for the bird in the hand approach and get my cash back so I can book on my terms and not on BA's. 

I'm assuming we pretend not to know the answer to all these questions, because if not why does the maid start outside my rooms at 7 instead of the other floor!

Not been able to get a drink on a "religious" holiday.

Or how the Irish bar apparently linked to the Hilton/Central with no walkway can still open, only a few yards away from the main police station in Pattaya when the rest of town is closed.

That’s bad news, B.A. has gone horribly downhill since their hay-day.  

However, I still use them for simplicity and proximity – their luggage allowance was always good - that’s obv’ changed too in the last few years. They were still cheaper than alternative if you were flexible on dates whenever we look.

Our return trip seems to be getting further, than closer.

A good Christmas/New Year itinerary, we’ve done it for many, many years

+Start – we live in Silom (but now back In London for a year). Chatrium(our old home)/Sukhumvit Soi 4-11.

+Areca Lodge Pattaya (Corona wing with a view of the big pool – obv soon to be renamed ) Room has a small but decent balcony to have a beer and get the sun, great pools good restaurant, close to LK Metro, Buakhao, Central 

+Koh Samed. Samed Villa is my recommendation. Transfer via speedboat. Walk up and down the beaches - can take a full day & gorgeous beaches. The north one is busy in the evenings, but for the last few years much quieter.

+Pattaya – Royal Cliff Beach terrace Honeymoon suite (there are many, a superb bathroom, bedroom,living room,plus a private terrace overlooking the sea - LUXURY at a good price

+Areca Lodge Pattaya  for shopping - Central/ terminal 21 & North Pattaya beaches.

+Back to BKK – Sukhumvit Soi 23+.

          Hotels my choice over many, many years & my usual xmas/New Year schedule

P.S. The reason for Soi Diana /11 in Pattaya is the missus likes it due to accessibility to shopping.

I've been going to Samed for over 25 years.

It's a great little island & has changed a great deal in that period, from backpackers to mainly decent hotels.
It was the place that in the end I decided I could live in Thailand - flight from LHR, taxi from the airport, speedboat straight to Samet, before Jeps ( yes, that old backpackers place in the day). I went straight to their beach, ordered a Thai red curry & a Singha beer & after several hrs checked in.
Couple of young western guys having lunch/fun with their Thai Gfs from BKK. I decided then I'd get a job in BKK at one of the banks.

My wife and I still go 2 to 3 times a year, usually just for long weekends or festive periods.

We've spent several Songkran, Christmas, New year hols there. 

I'd recommend Samed Villa(Ao Phai Beach), been going there for years. Lovely villas at the front overlooking the sea. Good beach, good restaurant.
You can get dropped off by Speedboat to most beaches along there - last year was 600 baht for two, return trip. Get the early ones and the Park rangers aren't usually around.

It's a nice stretch of beaches where you can walk into town one way or down south the other - there are footpaths/beach that you can walk along for a nice 6-8 hr incl lunch( my missus's limit ).
With the new road, most is now accessible via cycles,m/c, ATVs.

Ten days is a lot there, if I was going for that length of time I'd have to split my time over different hotels/beaches.