loppylugs1

This all has its funny sides and downsides. Here daily life goes on. The government functions where it has to, vast amounts of food are made and eaten; the river appears still full of fish in spite of the dams; there are crowds of Thai tourists. My wife says: What if the drug trade dries up or moves away? What if there is a China water problem? What if there is colour shirted turmoil\? Do you think what happened in Cambodia could not happen here? I know it sounds alarmist; but we have young children. I would probably take the risk having lived here for so long. It may all blow over or it may all blow up. I am not prepared to put them at risk. If it all works out they can come back; and who's to say where in the world might be "safer", whatever that means. We are not rich but they do have to be educated and make their lives. I don't think France is ideal nor the UK. And I would go no-where near the US. There is a lot of tosh on a Microsoft website about "education" changing the world. What changes the world for one person is having the skills to perform in an occupation and earn a living. Education may contribute to that. But you only have to watch Thai TV to see how those much valued transferable skills/communication skills/team working expertises etc.etc are singularly lacking in the Thai so called elite. Add to that being a luk kreung and your only route to success really is a foreign education and self employment..

Agree but channel 7 soaps are far better than channel 3 soaps. So you are saying Thailand is buggered?,could just about go along with that statement...why here? cinco perros (something like that anyway) otherwise Spain or Portugal

The OP is in an unfortunate situation, due mostly to the unethical actions of others.

He is looking for a "workaround" where none exists.

Yes there are but not on here

Never been asked for money from Thais as now,coming out of the woodwork asking,and these are people Ive known for years. initially gave a little,but as always leads to more until I refused,then massive lip curl and watch your back attitude adopted

If Trump does get presidency and does as he states with China,this place will be as barren as the Sahara. As for Thai kids doing well in UK after re-location,maybe just maybe formative years,but later on ,no chance

holding injured dog driving bike,told farang did not want drenching,he did, but for that dog Id have stopped and beaten that guy to a pulp and I mean a pulp

Christ,you have been posting for a million years,you should know by now. Either one or the other,or a mix

Old Git is absolutely correct and believe me it doesn't take a lot to convince them especially if you are elderly.

If you are vulnerable in any way,Age UK, Shelter, CAB and any doctor you register with will give you advice.

One council I know of tried it on with an old guy who wanted housing. They put him on the housing list as he

was sleeping on his sons sofa. They said that they weren't convinced that he had given up living in Thailand

and even said he owned a house until he pointed out the land laws for foreigners. The housing dept banded

him at D, but he appealed asking who would rent to a 75 year old on a pension, who definitely would be claiming

HB. No estate agent will touch you neither will an owner, so you're left in a catch22. Most won't entertain HB no

matter how nice you would keep a place, they don't want to declare income to the revenue bods. After a visit from

Age UK Advoacy and a very strongly worded letter to the council, his housing needs were increased to Band A

because of 'multiple housing needs' and he now has a very nice one bedroom flat.

It's all there and available for you if you are a returning BC, especially if you are elderly and are ill. You just need to have the balls to stand up to these people, regardless what is 'written' and stop taking in daily doses of scare mongering

from people who probably couldn't go back anyway without being arrested!!

And don't forget, you an have 10,000 pounds in savings and still claim HB, Council Tax benefit, winter fuel allowance, free prescriptions, free bus pass. If you are in need and want to go back, take Nike's advice 'JUST DO IT'.

Its nothing but an <deleted> nuisance getting old,comes the day I have to go back,infirm, older than old,or ill, Ill wrap myself in a blanket outside.....thinking here ...Christchurch seems a nice place...council offices one dark night and hope I survive the night,let them do the rest

We can go round and round on this one for ever and nothing will change.

Most seem to agree that there should be a level of some kind. The discussion seems to be what that level should be and who it should apply to.

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown opened the floodgates to this country to anybody in the hope that those same people would vote for Labour. Happy to see that it didn’t work too well. Most people saw dramatic changes to their village, towns and cities. We weren't asked if we wanted it but we got it any way.

You reap what you sow and it was necessary to restore the balance a little. I don't like the system because it discriminates against me but it is marginally better than it was. Merely my opinion but I think this thread has pretty much run its course. Same stuff, said in a slightly different way each time.

Rubbish The earlier poster complaining his bride cannot access the UK because lack of funds needs to re-adjust his thinking.

Go back,get a job, McDonalds shift or two there,back to back shifts ,Tesco ,window cleaning,anything,the £18600 will easily be achieved

No relying on charity,benefits etc,will make you proud and happy

It is not about money, more about principle and human rights. It is a basic right that legitimate married couples be entitled to live together as man and wife. The right of access to public funds is a separate issue entirely and should be treated as such.

Under these absurd regulations the denial of this basic right is not based on any reasoned decision but some all inclusive statement.

It is a sad state of affairs that so many on this forum are prepared to support the UK government on this abuse of human rights.

This is a load of rubbish

Anyone,anyone at all could marry (in fact multiple times) taking any poverty stricken Mick ,Mary, Joe Bloggs, Josephine Bloggs to a place that clearly does not want them.

Why import poverty into the UK when there is enough of it to be seen,everyone screaming out for more more more when a guaranteed less less less is manifesting itself

Not got the money? TUFF not enough to live on period,only abuse here is self abuse,you knew the rules of the game,stop complaing,it will never change and fact is it will get far worse

I believe 7by7 to be a very reasonable, helpful and knowledgeable person

I believe 7by7 to be a very narcissistic person

Well whatever.

But if 7x7 thinks taking not just wives,but anyone with no money back to the UK is asking for major problems. The public pot of money is shrinking,more so in a few more days. The "no access to public funds" is just a temporary barrier,thoughts of how to breech it paramount.

The UK govt. will be making access to the UK by foreign nationals even more difficult,and if BREXIT comes about,which as things stand will happen,watch the departure gates fill

As with my question to cjw121, if a British citizen and their foreign partner can live on half a banana for a month or so, why should they be prevented from doing so in the UK?

Eh! well for starters there ain't no banana trees to climb in UK,secondly there ain't no money to buy any at Tesco,so what you are saying is bring them over to starve

I believe that the choice to live together in the UK should be open to all British/foreign families who can support themselves without state aid; you believe it should only be an option for the rich.

Meaning half of the Indian sub continent,most of Africa,Pakistan Bangladesh will all be joining the bandwagon,no Calais there,straight in,most of them could and can live on half a banana for a month or so

Chancellor about to make further welfare/public spending cuts,the cupboard is really going to get bare

Hell in pattaya immigration,just outside the main door on the side I was offered a bank statement for 5 thousand showing 800,000 baht,that's cheap,but no need for it,income is OK

Showing a fake statement and risking a jail? Well, I would not do it.

Missing the point it WAS the authorities,they print the letter

Hell in pattaya immigration,just outside the main door on the side I was offered a bank statement for 5 thousand showing 800,000 baht,that's cheap,but no need for it,income is OK

I see reading from the previous posts that the Depth Perception Test is not mentioned as part of the test, only color and reaction are listed as being required. Does anyone have any further confirmation that the Depth Perception Test is no longer required.

I can confirm the depth perception test is not required,

Few months ago same -same...arrived at 10 told to come back at 2,went to sauna up the road Belrano or whatever its called,having so much fun,never went back ,but at 3 30 i did to return ticket but they hurried me through procedure and few mins later walked out with 2 licences

i reckon you could submit your papers at the desk top of stairs (is it 11) ,clear off come back at 3.30 ish pays your money,photo taken ,collect licenses ,that's it....I did today no TV,eye sight test,nothing...nobody interested

American, but its the same newish e-Visa program for both the UK and USA.

Is there some reason you think the Brits would have an especially hard time getting the e-visa compared to all the other countries eligible?

Historically the UK gave Indian Nationals an incredibly hard time with visas and passports which might explain why the UK was added to the list after all other nations.

Historically more Indians went to the UK and got "lost" did not return,so UK tripled the visa fee likewise India did the same but found to its usual self it was cutting its own throat.

Think one month visa fee has come down with a bump too in last week or so. Go for a 12 month medical visa easy enough.

I'm off soon there to get medical check ups done

Strange, I'm having exactly the same thoughts after 29 years in Thailand. The idea of settling in Spain only came up about a month ago. Spain is great, good climate all year round, good food, excellent wine and some of the land prices are very affordable, cheaper than Thailand. We're planning for a trip to Spain, next year or in 2017, my Thai wife and daughter both speak fluent English and the little one would learn Spanish in no time.

All those things and more. Just trying for the area I would more than probably choose to live. just been to algarve,love it there but prices for houses are a third up from Spain,but food drink etc a third down Good luck(you will not need it once there) this place gets more weary by the day

Not a question of waking up one morning and realising you do not want to be in Thailand any more,..its many mornings now and getting worse. Got long time Thai GF, am a UK national,not married,but that can be sorted pretty quickly( no family)

I could get her into the UK quite easily , I tick all the boxes on entry there ,so does she,but I want Spain or Portugal,Portugal preferably but rental especially in the east of Algarve is slim and want to rent initially,Spain far easier and a couple of villages just north of Benidorm fits the bill.

Need Spanish visa,and reading the thread applicable seems difficulty arising from marriage translations ....anybody been through this process Thanks?

Your life is worth nothing in Thailand, using public transportation or your own you risk your life daily. Good medical care is expensive as are imported drugs administered by Thai hospitals.

I can't argue against people who think like you any more, there's so many people that seem not to get it right here in Thailand and end up being bitter and blaming the country and its people instead of themselves.

Well perhaps,just perhaps they are right LOL

Personally I've always been more attracted to Portugal than to Spain though like many people I do tend to consider the two as being one as far as retirement destination discussions go.

It's not for nothing that the Algarve has been hugely popular with sedately retired Brits for decades.

The weather in Spain will be better,the Atlantic coast does generate lot of rain,and Portugal is in for a major tax grab,Spain have had theirs.

going to Portugal in next two weeks to look around ,then couple of areas in Spain early new year,need to get out of this bloody place as quick as I can

Looking at tax rates in Spain they are coming down for anybody on less than 67000euros a year and reducing further next year,tax adviser states it is possible to pay less tax there than the UK ,guess they get marriage allowance too

WWW. Expatica .com...ask the experts

The only problem with Spain is taxes , especially if you want to retire there and own a house , on a 500,000 euro house you have to add 14% registration and various other charges , that is around 70,000 Euro. In Thailand you only pay 2% to register a condo in your name.

In Spain you have to pay real estate tax of at least 7,000 euro yearly on a 570,000 euro house , in Thailand there is no yearly tax on condos .

In addition to income tax , and other types of taxes that are not available in Thailand .

So if taxes are not an issue of course living in Barcelona and watching Messi and co play every week is the better option.

How does that saying go" if after 60 never buy anything"....rents are way down pound for pound in most areas in Spain over Thailand's

Anybody searching this thread will be seriously considering a move there (Spain) The days of retired expat languishing in Thailand are rapidly coming to a close with early retirements,slashed pensions coming to a rapid end ,and the coming Chinese hoard ,making it feel more and more uncomfortable.

Am making a couple or three journeys over there in the next 6 months,sound various regions out,think I may have isolated a couple of locations using that other web site expatforum.com

Del Sol too expensive for me,Torreveja bit like glorified Blackpool,but those houses up for rent/buying etc good first base to rent 6 to 12 months while a search is under way. Got three mutts too,one in all in I guess

More of a structured life,clean,your own kith and kin,clubs and social activities,plus no worries about health care

The cultural centres that most small towns villages boast,where the locals congregate in the afternoons are excellent,good wine and food (tapas)