sonicdragon

Agree with the other posters. Be very wary of any situation that allows her to take the boy back to Thailand (does the boy also have a Thai passport ?). Get advice from an expert regarding legal custody in Australia ASAP. Good luck.

Just want to say to the OP, having read this thread from the beginning, that I think you are handling this awful situation fantastically, and I wish you and your daughter the very best of luck. Your 'gf' is changing her tune of late. Obviously she thought you were bluffing. Be wary. and keep your resolve. This may seem somewhat extreme and controversial, but from what you have said, I think your daughter will have a much more secure future without her mother in her life, and if I were in your shoes (which I hope I never am, having 3 year old twins) I would be planning on taking her to the UK at the first possible opportunity, after the custody is resolved.

This is an update the the situation described above.

Summary:

We reside in Hong Kong, and my wife will apply for a settlement visa for the UK. I am British. My wife is Thai. We have 2 children. I will return to the UK and continue to be employed by my current employer in HK, initially on a 1 year contract.

To aid the process I have purchased a house (without mortgage) in the UK.

When my wife makes the application, I will still be resident in HK, and my payslips will show my HK address. Is there any problem with this ? Do I need a letter from my HK employer stating the salary I will be paid while in the UK ?

Since I will be in HK at the time of application, will she need a sponsor in the UK ? If so, then, presumably, if I were to go to the UK just before she makes the application, I could be the sole sponsor.... ?

Thanks in advance

SD

I've always maintained a middle road position on climate change. It's not something that can be proven one way or the other. I think RickBradford's post #840 above sums it up quite well. It will be very interesting to see how this Hadley CRU Email leak scanal unfolds.

Definitely not the only one. My wife even argued with the official at the Amphur and had the "fee" reduced

I have an APEC Business Travel Card. It allows fast-track entry to all the APEC countries (which includes most of ASEAN) without a visa. It also allows longer stays in many countries (eg 90 days in Thailand) than would be allowed otherwise. Obviously it's not designed for tourists, and you have to be a citizen (or in some cases just a resident) of an APEC country (which includes USA, Canada and Australia).

On the other hand I speak reasonable Cantonese, but more often than not HK people can't understand me at all.

Then your cantonese may in fact be rather poor. You can still recognize the words but totally butcher the tones. I find that most westerners who learn asian languages are oblivious when it comes to tones. There are some exceptions but this is typically true.

It may be rather poor, but people in Zhuhai and Shantou, where I travel quite often, can understand me as well as Thais . My point is that in my experience Thais are very forgiving for mistakes but HK people for some reason are not.

Making absolutely no effort to "bridge the language gap" when a foreigner attempts to speak their language. For example, a foreigner may attempt to say "I want to buy". They may say "Yak sue" rather than "Yaak sue" and the Thai will remain utterly clueless [pardon the attempt to illustrate using romanized phonetics]. The point being that an ever so slight difference in intonation, pronunciation, or word choice completely baffles them. I have never encountered such utter cluelessness in any other country.

Personally I find Thais to be very accommodating when it comes to mistakes made by foreigners with their language. My spoken Thai is very poor but I never have much trouble making myself understood. On the other hand I speak reasonable Cantonese, but more often than not HK people can't understand me at all.

I've come accross this kind of thing many times, and not just in Thailand. Luckily my wife always does the buying in Thailand, and she's ultra-careful about these things, as are most Thais in my experience. Not only does she shop around endlessly to get the cheapest price, but before making the actual purchase I've known her go as far as calling the manufacturer, distributor or agent to check the serial numbers and/or warranty. Even when she buys a light bulb she makes the shop check that it works first (saw her do this in HomePro more than once) !! Shopping with her is not much fun ! Anyway, if you are careful enough and you know what you want (this latter point is important too), you should be OK. Not much point getting mad though.

I once got ripped off by a camera shop in HK, but I just had to admire their technique. It wasn't the same kind of rip-off though - I went in wanting to buy a particualar model for which I knew the right price, and came out with a completely different brand and several accessories all of which turned out to have cost significatly more than the right price for those items. I had to be careful to make sure the wife didn't find out about that one !

Its funny that farang who are not fluent in Thai are always so willing to make criticisms on Thai language based subjects such as literature or sarcasm. Their opinions are about as useful as a blind man's thoughts on The Last Supper.

I'm certainly not making any criticisms of Thai language. I thought we were discussing the concept of sarcasm in Thai culture.

Here is another situational example of classic sarcasm that I don't most Thais would understand. You are a restaurant and you order a pad Thai. They bring you a huge platter with a huge portion (way more than you can eat). So you say you could feed a village with this pad Thai! , I don't think the typical Thai would think you were being sarcastic and MOCKING the size of the portion. I think if they understand the language, they would take you LITERALLY. But you weren't being literal, you were being SARCASTIC.

In this example you seem to be using a western idiom to attempt sarcasm. Unless they understand the idiom, they have not much choice other than to take the comment literally.

i would understand the whole story if it would be about a very tiny and extreme small portion. if i would comment it: hey that will fill up my stomach for the rest of the week i guess the thai person who share table and meal with my would understand my intention and don't take it for literally.

but where is the reason to become sarcastic when i get a super big sized portion of Pad Thai?

methinks some people adore themselves to much and overestimate their wit and sense of humour. and more than sometimes i observe that Westerners taking quotes and words from Thais to literal and don't get the joke.

I agree (as far as the example quoted is concerned)

Yes. The "Beer" episode. Classic. However, to appreciate it I'd recommend watching it in its entirety. Same applies to the other episodes. My personal favourite from that series is "Money".

i know Fawlty Towers and a couple of other British comedy shows and can laugh about them and think they are funny.

i didn't knew Blackadder. the selected clip was just the first hit, the one that came up on a quick internet search. it doesn't look so convincing that there is some more sophisticated humour behind, but a comedy with a very basic approach. but i believe that there are 'better' episodes, that proves the point that it is different from benny hill or mr. bean.

the Thai humour isn't only that slapstick shows with the ding dong and boing sounds, and that form is also not equally loved by all Thais. the thai cinema productions have a wide range of different fineness of humour.

I love Fawlty Towers, and a multitude of other British comedies, but we are talking here about sarcasm, and Fawlty Towers is not that kind of humour. Unfortunately you didn't choose a great example for a 4 minute sample from that particular episode of Blackadder 2.

you are praising that show from the clip below or are you trying to be sarcastic?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG9kqmhWMbk

Yes. The "Beer" episode. Classic. However, to appreciate it I'd recommend watching it in its entirety. Same applies to the other episodes. My personal favourite from that series is "Money".

Show an educated Thai, fluent in English language an episode of Blackadder goes forth and they will be completly puzzled.

Show an educated Thai, fluent in English language an episode of Mr Bean and he or she will be rolling around the floor in stiches of laughter.

Same actor. Different brand of humour. I know which one I prefer and I know which one the Thais prefer.

It's nice to have our own western style of humour. It would be boring if everyone liked the same thing.

Interesting thread and I think this post highlights that sarcasm comes in more than one flavour. I have American and Australian friends who are puzzled by Blackadder 2,3, and 4. They also don't like shows such as Have I Got News for You which I enjoy. Personally, Blackadder 2 is one of my favourite shows of all time. I must have been around 16 when it first aired. Unbeknownst to me, two of my wife's cousins were living in the UK at that time. One arrived aged around 10 and left aged 24. He has a younger brother who was born in the UK and left aged 12. Nowadays, I often watch old Blackadder episodes with the elder brother. The younger, who speaks perfect English, has no interest whatsoever. Talking to both of them about this, they told me most Thais would find "English" sarcasm somewhat offensive, and the "Thai version" probably wouldn't be considered as sarcasm by many Brits.

Edit: typos

Thanks for the replies

It's good that you're not concerned with salary; but if true, why worry about the full UK training?

Because, according to my wife, I'm more likely to find a better position. And I mean better in the non-financial sense such as the school itself or the location.

If money is not the goal, why spend the extra time getting the official licensing and experience?

Primarily for the same reason just mentioned.

The only way to cash in on that extra level of qualification is to go to work for one of the relatively few 'true-blue' international high schools

That's exactly what my wife has in mind :-) However, I have an open mind about it. Another reason for wanting some UK or HK teaching experience is that it would give me a better idea of which kind of school I'd be happiest working at.

You might also really improve your chances/choice of available jobs if you could add "Science" (General or individual subects) to your Maths PGCE

That's not possible as far as I know. I'd be interested in teaching physics, but I'm more interested in maths and since my degree is in maths and stats I couldn't easily get on a science PGCE anyway.

Edit:typo

Thank you both ! !

Thanks for the replies.

Perhaps I have some wires crossed. I was under the impression that a settlement visa was for a spouse to *join* her other half in the UK - that is, I would need to be present in the UK when the application was made ?

As for her going back to Thailand, it may be just misinformation. I was told that by a supposedly-knowledgeable acquaintance. She has a visa for HK that is valid until 2012.

As for accommodation in the UK, my employer will pay for a hotel for us for up to 2 months., while I find a place to live. I certainly won't have a rental agreement in place before we move. I have family in the UK, but I'll be working in London and they live in Yorkshire.

Thanks again

Greetings all.

I am quite keen on a radical career change. I retired early in my mid 30s but was lured back to work by a combination of boredom and the inability to find a job in my profession in Thailand. My reasons for wanting to get out of my profession are now at the forefront of my mind again. I'll work for another year and a half and then take a PGCE in secondary level maths, either in the UK or Hong Kong (I'm British BTW) and then teach for a year or two there; and then look for a maths teaching job in Thailand. By then I'll be in my late 40s. Can anyone comment on my prospects for finding such a job ? Would there be much difference depending on whether I do my PGCE and inital teaching in the UK or HK (my Thai wife is adamant that UK-trained teachers have better prospects). I'm not concerned with salary, but I would like to find a position in Bangkok or Samut Prakan. I don't speak much Thai.

Any other comments or advice also appreciated.

SD

Hey, you never know what the future holds!

You can go for any of the visitor visas on offer, but try and get the Settlement one done. Once that's done, it'll cover you for any future need. Regards.

I thought the maximum length of time one can stay on a visitor visa is 6 months and it can't be extended ?

As mentioned, we'll be there for 1 year.

Hi again

I have been told that our best option is a settlement visa, but in order to apply for it I would have to travel to the UK first, and apply there, and my wife would have to go back to Thailand (the British Consulate in HK would apparently not accept her application !)

As mentioned, we have 3 year old twins. This idea is a non-starter.

Surely there must be a better alternative ?

Advice or information much appreciated.

Thanks

Rob

A settlement visa is your best option.

Thanks. I read here

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ukreside...plicationtypes/

that SET(M) is the form needed, but I then read here

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ukreside...tionformset(m)/

that my wife must

"already have temporary permission to stay in the United Kingdom (limited leave to remain) as the husband, wife, civil partner, or unmarried or same-sex partner of a permanent resident"

and

"have lived here for two years in this category"

.....neither of which apply.

Also, it seems that settlement is intended for people who want to live permanently in the UK, which is definitely not the case for us.

Have I misunderstood something ?

Thanks

SD

Greetings, it's been quite a while since my last post on TV !

We're now living in Hong Kong but I may be posted back to the UK on a 1 year contract.

If anyone could let me know what the visa options are, I would be grateful.

FYI we have 3 year old twins (they have British passports). My wife has had a family visit visa twice, once in 2007 and once in 2008, both approved within a couple of days of application with no interview or other drama, but I understand that a 1 year stay is not possible for that kind of visa. I have heard that for some kinds of longer stay visa it's necessary to have a certain level of English language skill and to take a test about life in the UK. I'm absolutely sure this will not be possible for my wife as she speaks only Thai and various Chinese dialects; hardly any English at all.

Also, it would be preferable to obtain a visa which had the ability to renew/extend, since my contract may be extended.

Thanks in advance

SD

Hi Sonic - welcome back sorely missed.

I wonder if you could help me with a question I am confused about - GH (whose posts I also appreciate) gave this perspective (SIPP UK term Self Invested Personal Pension)

Do you have a view as to why cash, (in a SIPP) which is in such short supply, is not performing particularly well in terms of interest rates?

It's a curious point.

I was looking at the bonds various banks/building societies where offering a few weeks back - It is possible to get reasonable interest rates (not sky high) and oddly the interest rates for 9 month bonds were better than those for 12 months.

My conclusion on this is that the banks are playing a bet that money supplies will increase in the next 9 months. I also think they are playing something of a balancing act trying to get sufficient funds through the door without committing to the longer term liabilities that longer term bonds entail.

The conclusion I draw from that is perhaps the cash crisis is not as bad as it is made out to be.

--

Sorry I didn't respond to this until now. I'm not checking TV very often these days.

I don't think it's true that cash is in short supply and/or there is an excess demand for cash. Central banks are making ample liquidity avaialble. What has been happening is a contraction in credit - as a result both of banks being less willing to lend but ALSO because borrowers are less willing to borrow. This is one reason why traditional monetary policy instruments are not very effective at the moment. Bank have been less willing to lend in order to repair their balance sheets, as a short term measure, but ultimately the repairs will be effected by making profits - that is, borrowing at a low rate and lending at a higher rate and using leverage (albeit less than before) to enhance the process. So, while you might find some banks offering very attrative rates for deposit in periods of crisis (either general or specific to them), that won't be the the general case.

SD

http://www.bloomberg.com/avp/avp.htm?N=av&...IQvD7yNni2I.asf

One point of view.

Senator Bunting tried ripping Ben Bernanke as new ask.

Bunning did a good job on Sec Paulson too:

Paulson really looks uncomfortable and gives the impression of being less than competent.

Nice to see this thread still alive !

Pretty good interview IMO.

http://www.investmentpostcards.com/wp-cont.../06/montier.pdf

Edwards is my boss ! Well, they both are, really. Great guys to work for.

Hah! What a small world it is sometimes. Good to see you back.

Your boss is pretty bearish, not unlike myself, but sometimes I have to fade myself.

Not really back, just on vacation for a few days.

Yeah, they are very bearish. I recommend Nouriel Roubini's blog for further doses of bearish opinion His latest interviews on cnbc and bloomberg are quite good.