TomThailand

Also don't forget the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) in addition to the visa fees for initial entry on the 5 year settlement route and the subsequent FLR(M).  The IHS fee is charged at £400 per year or part of any year exceeding six months and is paid in full as part of the visa application process.  The IHS is refunded if the visa application fails, unlike the visa application fee.

A Secure English Language Test (SELT) at a minimum of CEFR level A1 is required for initial entry clearance.  A SELT at a minimum of CEFR level A2 is required for FLR(M).   A SELT at a minimum of CEFR level B1 is needed for ILR as well as a pass in the Life in the UK test.

Your Thai wife can apply for ILR once she has lived in the UK for 60 months under the 5 year settlement route and has the B1 SELT and LITUK pass. 

Islamo-fascism knows no borders.

Almost completely worthless outside of Thailand. Basically not worth the parchment they are written on owing to low standards and inherent cheating that is endemic within the Thai education system.

That said the people I know here and overseas consider that the true level of achievement for a Thai BA, assuming no cheating, would be around the equivalent of a UK good A level pass, so there is some merit in them.

nonsense. i know thais with bachelor degrees who have done very well in western masters programs

Proves that you are talking completely rot as you would know any Thai wanting to undertake a higher main line degree in a traditional UK university are required to take 1 year transitional study.

As I said they (BA) are mostly worthless. That is not to say that there are a few exceptional Thais who indeed go on to earn a good higher degree, but only once they reach an acceptable standard to commence those studies. even then the majority are those fortunate ones with a well to do family who can afford to send their children to an overseas establishment for higher education and/or university to study for their first degree.

In any event this thread is regarding the "worth" of a masters degree awarded in Thailand. I really thing the OP, having attained his/her first degree in the UK should have had a little more common sense or be more worldly wise to have even needed to ask that question in the first place. Don't uni students have access to google in the UK ?

Quite right.

Indeed, a Russell Group UK university would not regard a Thai undergraduate degree as satisfying the entry requirements for study for a postgraduate degree. UK NARIC, the body which benchmarks overseas qualifications against UK qualifications and degrees, does not regard a Thai undergraduate degree as being of the same standard as a UK undergraduate degree. Hence the need for a year of "top up" study first.

I note that Thai students who have successfully completed PhD studies in the UK, for example at the University of Nottingham and at King's College London, have completed a "top up" year first followed by UK master's degree.

I would agree that he OP should consider a British master's degree rather than a Thai one, given its higher standing and academic credibility. An acquaintance of mine who has lived in Cambodia for 10 years is currently undertaking a London master's degree by online learning.

It is worth bearing in mind that the rapid expansion of higher education in the UK has led to some unintended consequences, including many graduates now working in what were previously non-graduate jobs (flipping burgers in McDonald's and working as bar staff in pubs comes to mind). Employers in the UK are often more interested in where a graduate took his/her degree, and many HR departments will sift out graduate applicants from non-Russell Group universities - I know that this happens in several investment banks and law firms.

Airlines like Etihad, Qatar, Emirates have been offering 30Kgs in economy and 40 in business class for years now. Finair and maybe some others even allow 3x32kgs bags flying business.

Airlines allow their frequent flyers also additional weight based on status (silver, gold, platinum like +10, +15, +20 kgs.

Spot on.

TG are way behind the curve.

I fly alternate months between LHR and BKK with Emirates on economy - typically £500 return.

I have Emirates "silver" card status so I get an additional 12kg on top of the normal 30kg economy luggage allowance. I get access to the Business Lounge at DXB which gives me the chance for a shower, shave, pretty decent meal and a few beers for the couple of hours between the 6.5 hour legs LHR/DXB and DXB/LHR. I have also had unexpected upgrades to Business class on the wonderful A380 to BKK. Beats 13 hours in economy on a non-stop TG, BR or BA flight. I'll not be going back to TG.

That reminds me.

My Korat in-laws have asked me to bring back some marshall (sic) mallows and chocolate covered Brazil nuts when I come back from a 4 week UK break in September. These are in addition to the usual Yorkshire tea bags and Harry Ramsden mushy peas! Finger lickin' good!

"Harry Ramsden mushy peas! Finger lickin' good!"

I don't think you're supposed to eat mushy peas with your fingers. Learn to use chopsticks.

1.chopsticks, 2. peas, 3. waiting for mushification

The chopsticks are great for the Marshall mallows too. But not so good with the Yorkshire teabags

As Thailand is in a state of Martial law, most insurance for tourists is invalid

Not true.

Most insurances will have a provision that any damages due to the martial law are not covered.

Marshall Law, Thailand is not under Marshall Law any more.

Marshall was US secretary of State and initiated the Marshall plan to help the European nations after 2nd world war. I really don't think he had anything to do with travel insurance to Thailand or Thai law.

@ the OP: there have been rumours or travel insurance plans for a long time already. As far as I know there are no set plans though.

That reminds me.

My Korat in-laws have asked me to bring back some marshall (sic) mallows and chocolate covered Brazil nuts when I come back from a 4 week UK break in September. These are in addition to the usual Yorkshire tea bags and Harry Ramsden mushy peas! Finger lickin' good!

I was here in BKK when Martial Law and then the Coup took place in May.

I specifically checked with my UK travel insurance broker regarding cover for Thailand - I have an annual worldwide policy with Tokio Marine which covers me for stays of up to 60 days at a time.

My very efficient broker contacted Tokio Marine (UK) who confirmed to me by email that cover is only withdrawn if the FCO (UK government Foreign & Commonwealth Office) issues an advisory against travel. As the UK has not advised against travel to Thailand (except to the far south and the border dispute areas), there's no issue as far as Tokio Marine (UK) is concerned with the current situation in Bangkok or Korat where my lovely wife is from. As I say, I have this in writing in the form of an email.

My policy was an expensive "5 star" type policy so maybe the position is different for those with cheaper or "no-frills" insurance? I can only comment on my own case. But maybe people who are unsure can contact their own insurers and at least get something in writing?

Qualified English teachers??? Because a bachelors degree in zoology or computer science makes you a qualified English teacher....... What a joke.

 

If you have a TELF certificate, you are already a more qualified English teacher than some one with a degree in, say, astro-physics. 

Not in my view if you also hold a teaching qualification and a TEFL qualification in addition to your astro-physics or other science degree.

I actually did my BSc in Zoology in the UK many years ago (I loved David Attenborough's TV programmes)!  Then a PGCE (UK), then an MA in Science Education (UK) , then a one year part-time Advanced Certificate in TEFL at a leading established UK uni which was a brilliant conversion course designed for qualified teachers in other disciplines.   This very well thought through course included an assessed teaching placement in Spain, so it wasn't just theory, and included Teaching English for Specific Purposes too.   Teaching ESP (English for Specific Purposes) is big in the Middle East for example, and if you hold numerate/science degrees AND a teaching and TEFL qualification then you're always going to be in great demand, especially with the defence and oil businesses.

 

 

Quantas uses these in Australia, they are not bad, pretty quiet on the inside, quieter then the back half of a B717, they initially accelerate much harder during the takeoff run too, also better at gliding if both engines go out

 

Though i dont mind noise when it comes to jets, id rather sit at the back of a 747 during takeoff and landing then a boring a380

 

Agree re: Q400s.  Great planes.  Saw these flying regularly between Port Moresby (POM) in PNG and Cairns in northern Queensland with Qantas Regional.

 

Not sure about the 747/A380 comparison. I was very unexpectedly upgraded to Business Class from riff-raff class on an A380 on my current trip from London to be in BKK with my lovely (Thai) wife earlier this month.  Now that wasn't boring!

 

 

Well that's good news, I AM out of date.  I thought that the A380 was Frankfurt to BKK.   and 747-400 were on the LHR-BKK.

 

Lots of carriers fly A380 from LHR and even LGW via hubs.  I have only used TG once from LHR - once was enough for me and that was a very long time ago...  Gulf state carriers don't take much longer than direct flights and offer a far superior service to TG - I do this return trip every other month between LHR and BKK so I've got to know what's good for me - plus mucho air miles :)... and free upgrades to business class .. way to go!
 

Quantas uses these in Australia, they are not bad, pretty quiet on the inside, quieter then the back half of a B717, they initially accelerate much harder during the takeoff run too, also better at gliding if both engines go out

 

Though i dont mind noise when it comes to jets, id rather sit at the back of a 747 during takeoff and landing then a boring a380

Agree re: Q400s.  Great planes.  Saw these flying regularly between Port Moresby (POM) in PNG and Cairns in northern Queensland with Qantas Regional.

Not sure about the 747/A380 comparison. I was very unexpectedly upgraded to Business Class from riff-raff class on an A380 on my current trip from London to be in BKK with my lovely (Thai) wife earlier this month.  Now that wasn't boring!

Nothing clear at present. No guarantees. The answer does not exist.

It depends on the border and Immigration Officer.

I sure would not do back to back anything, anywhere. If you have overstayed or done back to backs previously, it may be wise to fly in on a tourist visa... That should do the trick.

I could also use the two passports to my advantage. One then the other on trips to split it up. They have different numbers.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Be careful about thinking that you can use two passports to get round this.

I travel to/from BKK and London every other month to be with my lovely (Thai) wife. Until the start of this year I always used my Irish passport, not my British passport (I was born in Northern Ireland so have the right to hold both passports). Anyway, I started using my British passport at the start of this year as I'm in the process of sorting out spouse settlement in London with me for my Thai wife.

When I exited BKK to fly back to London in February, using my British passport for the first time, the Immigration officer who stamped me out said, "You seem to have two different passports". I explained that I do indeed and that I was using the British one because I'm sorting out for my Thai wife to get entry clearance to join me in London.

The message seems to be that the IT system at immigration can match different passports held by the same individual.

That said, I am now here in BKK again but on my first entry using a triple entry tourist visa issued by the Royal Thai Embassy in London as I'm not risking the 30 day visa exempt route,

Anyway, that's my experience with using two passports thus far.

I'm not sure about this but I know that there are very many knowledgeable people on this forum, and I do hope that I'm posting in the right place - if not, mea culpa.

What is the situation in Thailand regarding informal unpaid voluntary English language teaching?

I'm living in a condo in Bangkok with my (Thai) wife. I spend one month here and then one month back in London as I have things there that also keep me busy. Anyway, I was approached last night by a Thai lady who lives here at the condo to ask if I'd be willing to help her sister's kids with English lessons. I'd be interested in doing this as it would fit between Thai language lessons that I'm taking.

However, my understanding is that to teach in Thailand even as a volunteer requires a work permit, so I would not be allowed to provide even informal English sessions?

My background? I took early retirement as headteacher of a school in south London a couple of years ago, I hold UK qualified teacher status (QTS), and I'm also TEFL qualified at postgrad level, so do I need authorisation such as a work permit to work with these kids, even on an unpaid basis? I hasten to add that I still have appropriate UK Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) clearance and I'd most certainly not allow anyone near any kids anywhere without taking appropriate safeguarding measures. Would I need a Thai teacher's licence or the equivalent of UK QTS - I also hold a UK MA degree in Education?

In short, would it be permissible in the eyes of the Thai authorities for me to be able to undertake such regular informal and unpaid teaching work here in Bangkok?

Thanks for your advice in advance.

Definitely worth having a look at Jim Thompson's House. The Thai Red Cross snake farm is not far away either and is a very interesting place to visit at feeding time and for the show when the technicians demonstrate how they "milk" venomous cobras.

I'd very much like to be there so please put me on the list. Thanks!