farangmal

Hi all 2 questions if possible;

My fiancé is now in the UK with me we are aiming on getting married and in turn submitting for the next part (the two year visa), could some one please tell me which form and point me towards where I would find it please.

We are also expecting a child in the next 8 weeks and I was just wondering if any one new or had any experience with clamming child support, I know she can not for 6 months but can I? If any one knows the process any advice would be fantastic

Thanks BREAD

You can claim the child benefit in your name.

You can also claim child tax credits and I think it depends where you are in the Uk if the claim is a joint, or a single claim.

We are in Scotland and in Scottish Law it has to be a joint claim, although the money is paid to me not Her. I was advised we could claim by the people in immigration P.E.O. (public enquiry office) and I checked it with revanue and customs.

Your Wife cannot claim any support until the 2 year visa expires and She gets the ILR (indefinite leave to remain)

Remember and get Her a Collage place. They wont give Her ILR unless She has passed an ESOL with Citizenship or passed life in the Uk test.

Do it now. This pisses me off as they never even informed us about the changes to the Law last year. I struggled to find a place at a Collage for my Wife.

Charge the Thais the same entrance fee as the Ferrangs - That'll keep the numbers (and trash) under control.

Took the family to vist to Kao Yai National Park last week. Drove 2 hours from Korat. Upon arrival at the entrance to the park there's a large sign displaying the entrance fees for visitors. I couldn't believe my eyes upon seeing the following:

Thais - Bht. 40

Foreigners - Bht. 400.

We were so disgusted with this. Even my Thai wife couldn't understand the reasoning behind the above rates!

Needless to say, we went elsewhere! So much for 'Welcoming Thailand'

They welcome your 400 baht. Sounds about right.

After all the helpful info I have gathered from this forum, I thought I'd let you know my story and hopefully it will be of help to others. My wife finally got her 2 year UK Spouse Visa on 25th June and is now back in Blighty with me!

I met the Mrs while travelling, I travelled for 2 years, so needless to say on my return home my bank balance was not looking too healthy. Basically when I applied it had nothing in it and my past bank history for the last 6 months did not show much activity, as I had been using my Australian Account. I also had a bit of credit card debt, but we did not submit this. Obviously if they had asked I we would have told them, lying to them will only work against you I'm sure.

I'm 27 and my wife is 29, she also has a 9 year old daughter. We got married after only knowing each other for 4 months! As I only started working in the UK again on my return I did not have any wage slips to provide. I was working in Australia, but had been travelling towards the end and had not worked for about 5 months.

So after that your probably wondering how on earth we got the visa! Well I think the deciding factor is that we are living with my parents for a while until we get sorted ourselves financially. My parents have no mortgage, so we showed a statement to that affect and also their council tax bill, plus a phone bill.

I provided my offer of employment letter, plus my contract. I got a job quickly, so we could get the application moving, so I'm only on £16,000 at the moment, but most of my income is free thanks to living with my parents rent free.

We provided the usual photo's, emails, cards, phone cards/bills. We both have pre-pay mobiles so couldn't submit mobile bills, but we spoke a lot on our house phone, using an access number. I wrote a letter and so did my parents.

Now a big question was; do we use an agent? We spoke to a few in Thailand and I just didn't trust them, way too slippery and didn't always seem to know what they were talking about. I spoke to one agent on my return to the UK who advised we had to have 3 wage slips, so if I had taken their advice we wouldn't even be applying for another month! Thankfully, after looking on this forum I realised the Scouser was very knowledgeable and well respected. So I contacted him and for a very reasonable fee he helped us with our application. He is a top man, very friendly, very knowledgeable and a real calming influence, which is just what you need. He co-ordinated everything well and we got a result first time, under lets be honest, circumstances they could easily have said no to, so he obviously did it all right! He cuts out the bullshit and we are both very grateful for his help and advice and would definitely use him again if needed. So many thanks Scouser.

So we applied after 6 weeks of me returning home and hoped to be one of the approx 80% who get a yes or no in a week. We weren't! They scheduled an interview for 6 weeks later, 2 days after my wife handed in her application. I headed out to BKK to support her for the interview and hopefully sway the result by showing how committed I was to the relationship. Although they do not let you into the compound, so it's an agonising wait outside.

The 6 week wait gave me the opportunity to provide further evidence. So I put more stuff in a folder which the Mrs gave to them. A wage slip, another months phone bill, another bank statement, more emails, another card and letter my parents had sent my wife. Plus my flight details and my British and Australian passports.

The interview took about 30 minutes, there was an English woman and a Thai interpreter. My wifes English is a decent standard, but she was more comfortable having the interview in English. She said the English woman was hard faced and gave her a bit of a grilling (although she did say she wasn't a bad person, just making sure she protects her country!), the Thai woman was quite friendly and calmed her a little.

Now we met in Phuket at the Salon my wife worked at, she's been a hairdresser for 8 years now. Obviously us meeting Phuket there is the obvious presumtion over my wifes profession!

So one of the first questions was, tell us the story of how you met and everything that has happened since....

They asked if we met on my first day in Thailand (my 2nd visit), why would I get my hair cut? She replied she didn't know why? She could have easily made something up under pressure, so it's good she stuck to the truth.

They then tried to trick her by saying in my letter I did not say we met in the salon. She asked what I had put and they wouldn't say. But she stuck her story and again didn't panic.

They asked if I have so little money how will I support her? Now she said my parents will help, which they will. She then said to the Thai woman, nota question to my wife, why do we not have any bank statements from his parents then? Now 3rd party support is no longer valid, so we didn't submit it.

The other questions my wife remebers are:

How long have you known your husband?

What is his full name?

What is his date of birth?

How many times has he been to Thailand?

What do you love about your husband?

How old is your daughter?

Who does she live with? (her fathers parents)

Do you want her to join you? (She said yes, hopefully in a few years once she speaks more English, but it is her decision)

What date did your husband come to Thailand?

When did he ask you to marry him?

Has he been married before?

What company does he work for?

How long has he been working for them?

What is his parents names?

Does he have any brothers/sisters?

At the end she said ok, we'll give you the visa! She waited outside for 30 mins and they gave her a stamped passport. She returned with me and we got back on Monday afternoon. I went ot work on Tuesday and my Mom took her shopping in a local Chinese Supermarket. She met a 41 year old Thai woman who lives 10 minutes down the road and went round to her house that day! I came home and she was no-where to be seen!! She's been taken by her friend today to meet 2 other Thai women today and tomorrow they are going out for the day! So she's wasting no time getting settled!

Amusingly she mowed the lawn today while I was at work and ran over the cable! She tried to fix it and ended up short circuiting the electric for the whole house!! Thankfully we got an emergency electrician in and it only cost £65! So the fun has started and I couldn't be happier.

Thanks to the helpful advice on this site, I know to register her with the doctors, get her national insurance number from the job centre, get her name on some bills asap so we have plenty to privide in 2 years. Plus start learning early on the life in uk test. So thanks all for more helpful advice I've picked up.

I hope this is helpful/informative to people, sorry it went on for so long!!

Good luck to those in the process of applying and thanks again to The Scouser.

Well done.

Now the hard work's just started trying to keep Her in the Uk what with the life in the UK test or the ESOL at college to get Her the ILR.

Start it now, places are like Gold dust. Well..in my neck of the woods anyway!

However, it would allow the parks' ecosystem to recover and help screen "good quality" visitors. Other national parks would start limiting visitors later on.

How does this allow them to screen "good quality" visitors? And just what is a "good quality" visitor anyway?

A farang paying 400 baht is good quality.

A Thai paying 40 baht isn't.

I wonder if they'll hold up all the Thais in case there's a bus load of farangs coming down the road?

No chance of that.

Anywhere charging a Thai and a Farang fee should be boycotted. Don't encourage RACISM.

So many stories of woe on here almost everyday, regarding getting ripped off by a Thai lady, you begin to question everything in your own relationship. So what is the ways to uncover these fraudulent relationships before they cost you a house, children or much more. What are the signs?? Whats the advise??

I.M.O. you have to know if you have somebody who cares or you have a user.

Get the password of your Ladies e-mail account and check her mail. It's not too hard to get the password if you know the net cafe where she signed up to her account. They keep the passwords and usernames and 500-1000 baht they will slip it to you.

Private Detectives are another option.

Have her set up and test her.

The list is endless.

Don't have a long distance relationship either, they don't work. If you live together and she 'goes home' quite often then I would question that.

Question everything.

Now i do love Mrs John2 but tempatation is so high here i always end up straying and regretting it afterwards.

So,is it possible to stay faithful?

From meeting many expats id say 9 out of 10 have been unfaithful, with a lot of these unfaithful on a regular basis.

Where are you meeting these expats? Maybe location has something to do with their straying tendencies.

LOCATION is everything to a Mans straying. I used to work for an oil services company and we were all a normal bunch of guys, working together day by day. Then they started sending us a Month here and a Month there. Every Married guy in our group cheated with hookers and available girls . Only one held back and He got blind drunk every night and ended up an alcoholic.

It ruined my first Marriage.

Location, location, location.

Now i do love Mrs John2 but tempatation is so high here i always end up straying and regretting it afterwards.

So,is it possible to stay faithful?

Almost impossible. That's why I moved back to the UK. I want to keep my Wife and kids.

I am not sure but I think that this only applies to people who are NOT members of the European Union.

I believe that peoples from the EU are allowed into any other EU country without let or hindrance.

However if your wife is Thai then it is very difficult for her to get into the UK.

Exactly. I cannot go anywhere without Rumanian beggars selling the big issue and chasing me for money. A nice addition to our economy that, isn't it.

The Country's finished. They are blaming Asians for the breakdown in our society.

The Irish are smart enough to know who the real culprits are. When will we get a vote about Europe?

I'm curious to know whether anyone has encountered a similar problem, or if you know what I can do about it. The other day the official checking my passport at the Nong Khai Friendship Bridge must have been in a bad mood. He tore up my arrival card claiming it was improperly filled out (which it wasn't) and made me go do another one. When I got back he scolded me in both Thai and English and then said I have bad manners a dog wouldn't eat (a really bad curse word in Thai). This accusation was completely untrue, and I was shocked that he would say such a thing. I responded by asking if it was me or him that had bad manners, to which he responded by callng me a cock, another very bad Thai curse word.

I can't believe that Thai immigration is happy with this guy being the first person someone meets when they enter Thailand. I love Thailand and consider it my home, but if that were not the case I wouldn't come back after meeting this official. I'm both personally offended as well as offended on behalf of my host country to think that this guy treats people that way. I've had my passport checked hundreds of times in dozens of countries and never encountered anything like this. I wrote down his name and badge number, and I'd would like to make an official complaint, but can't find a name or phone number anywhere for whom to contact. Does anyone know what I can do about this?

Sometimes in a circus even trained animals who jump through hoops all day can misbehave sometimes!

Remember when they told us we had to have white helmets for foreigners and the other colours for the Thai's. Never seen that enforced. I seen a maximum of 5 on one motorbike plus the shopping and the dog in the front basket. Wonder if the dog has to wear a helmet yet!

A dog in the basket!

I seen two Thai boys, no helmet, sharing a bottle of beer and sitting in the basket at the front was a new born baby.

Jomtien 2006. And they drove past the Dongtan Police box.

Goto immigration and then get back to us ....

Its not a over stay, I'm legal

simply lost a passport trying to get back on track to leave.

Believe me I had copies of my first passport was in a bag and it got stolen with all my id's

the old number was like 11 digits new one post-9/11 is 9 new number.

Maybe my story can help others, i will report back from China what happened.

I know its no big deal, just a painful process.

I have a plane ticket to Shanghai...plus visa to China

I remeber the date I entered

I wont get deported like u may think.

Watch I wont I'm American tehy cant touch me.

Tommorrow am on plane to Shanghai

not USA

I bet you 50,000 baht i wont be kick out.

Quite the contrary my good man...oh yes they can.

Please quit making silly statements like these as they make the rest of us American's here look as foolish as you.

People here are trying to help you.

I think it's obvious he's on the wind up (making it up) and playing silly little boys from His computer.

Worse things in this world could happen to you than being "Black Listed" from Thailand. There is nothing so special about Thailand.

Pretty women and good beer can be found all over asia. This ain't the only show in town.

Prettier Women and better beer can be found in Cambo, P.I. Jakarta just to name a few.

Scared to say too much on here my posts keep being deleted and I'm just telling the truth.

I hope the torch passed peacefully!

//Edit: Deleted off-topic comment about women and beer in neighbouring countries. - Maestro

If Thai Society was in any way supportive the bars wouldn't keep filling up with young girls.

I did work that out a while ago and so have a few others.

I guess the millions slaving away in the factories to support their families just can't find a good bar to work in.

No. They just haven't decided or have been pushed into one yet by their Family or Thai Boyfriend.

Sick for a number of reasons. I hope the Korean press finds out about this.

It must be these pesky Foreign fishermen again.

Ruining Thailand's good rep so they are.

Poll: Adultery main cause of family break-ups in Thai society; politicos poor role models

BANGKOK: -- Adultery is the major cause for family break-ups and divorce in Thai society, according to a new survey conducted by Assumption University's ABAC Poll.

Noppadol Kannikar, director of the respected poll, said the survey, conducted among 3,088 people in 18 provinces nationwide between March 25 and April 12, found that over three out of four families -- almost 77 per cent -- and 69 per cent divorced persons agreed that adultery was the number one cause which led to broken families.

Physical attacks, drug addiction, gambling, a lack of responsible attitudes toward the family, and alcoholism are other factors which also bring about family breakups, according to the poll.

Six out of 10 -- or about 60 per cent of the respondents -- said that joining in activities among family members during leisure time, meeting relatives and displaying love to one another would strengthen the family.

The poll was announced on the eve of Thailand's 'Family Day' which takes place on Monday.

Near two-thirds -- about 64 per cent of respondents said that Thai society was no longer generally supportive because today's political leaders are fighting with one another, causing divisiveness in society.

--TNA 2008-04-13

If Thai Society was in any way supportive the bars wouldn't keep filling up with young girls.

I did work that out a while ago and so have a few others.

Only thing I would disagree with there is the use of the words 'no longer' I would use the words 'ever been'

Just my opinion of course.

But you would expect to get the same total package and don't tell me that you'd chuck say 40% of your package away because you now considered Thailand your home ! That is nonsense.

PR is not a declaration of where your home is, it is just that you are, for the moment, a permanent resident of this country. You retain the right to be a permanent resident of your home country and if European, of any one of 25 countries.

So are you saying that when your PR is approved you will tell your bosss to put you on a local package ? Didn't think so.

All those wannabee Thais that will never be

In theory he should be able to do anything that a Thai can do. But theory and practice don't make good bed mates.

I know a Thai Gentleman who lived in London since he was 15 years old. Grew up aquiring an English accent and even forgetting how to speak and write and read Thai.

At the age of 48 (two years ago) he sold up his Thai restaurant in London and moved to Jomtien, hoping to start a business and have a life.

He met a wall of stone, trying to buy boats and even a seaplane to set up a fishing business. The local Thai operators didn't consider Him a Thai and had him quickly removed from the area (at gunpoint from his hotel)

He's now back in London, he gave up.

Sounds good having all these property rights and stuff but will he ever be accepted if he tries to do something in Thailand, other than just spend his money?

Big snake and ronthompson, That's because the powers that be, the ones who own almost everything and make all the rules (the chinese elite etc.) don't really want you here. They just want you to bring all your money to Thailand and bugger off, but if you insist on staying by say, marrying a local lady (a bar girl as they would see it, that's their stereotype of the situation) then they are going to make you jump through lots of hoops just so you remember who's boss. If you intend to stay then you have to put up with it. Keep your head down, love your lady, get on with life or leave, even though leaving for some, because of financial reasons ,for example, is not an option they'd prefer to take.

That's a great post. At last somebody who knows the real score

I know that two tier/double pricing topic has been discussed many times before on Thai Visa forums, but, I would like to know if any actions, such as a class action lawsuit could be brought upon establishments who are doing this. I feel that the two tier/double pricing policy is racist by those who are initiating it. This does not include having reduced prices for children or seniors. It is the policy of charging more just because you are not Thai.

Would it be possible for an Expats Club, for instance, to make a case of this on behalf of non-Thai resisidents of the Kingdom to make a point?

On a recent holiday I noticed a number of places charging much more for farang, than for Thais. Included are Chiang Mai Night Siffari--250 baht for a Thai, and 500 for the Farang partner. Tiffany's Cabaret (Pattaya) 250+baht for the Thai and 500+baht for the Farang. They even have the nerver to put the Thai price in Thai script so the Farang won't know. We all know the national parks more than double the prices for Farang. It even went as far as hotel reservations and a membership card at the Royal Twins Palace in Pattaya. A loyalty (discount) card for a Thai is 300 baht, and 350 if in the Farangs name. When my Thai partner called for a room rate with the loyalty card, the quote was 1290 baht. When I called with the loyalty card number, the quote for the same room type was 1790 baht.

My whole arguement is not just the money differential--it is the principle of the way Thai businesses and institutions discriminate and charge Farang more because we lack "colour".

If a class action suit is not a possibility against the establishments and institutions who do this, I was wondering if we could establish a list of every place in every City and Town that has this policy, and as residents, we could decide beforehand if we wish to patronize places that do have this practice of two tier double pricing.

I realize that many of us foreigners are alot wealthier than most Thais, but their are many Thais that are wealthy, too--and why are they not penalized as well with higher prices, so I would appreciate posts be left out stressing that we have more money than they do--so we should be expected to pay more--be more directed to the topic that it is "unfair" and "racist" to charge more to people of different colour.

Wasting your time. You are of course right but some things will NEVER change in Thailand.

Thai rak Thai. Thai charge farang double for everything.

Nobody said it was a fair Country but it sure has it's perks

Soon peasants in China will be driving brand new shiny black Fortuners, with chrome spinner wheels....

All us Yanks will be living on a commune somewhere, growing veggies and getting back in touch with Mother Earth

That's happening already. If the $$ gets any lower there will be no 'Yanks' leaving the US of A.

Approx 92,000 per Month I used to spend but in reality it was more like 120,000+

And it was 70+ baht to the £1. Only 62 baht now.

I couldn't be stuck up Country living with the locals. I couldn't think of a worse existance for anybody.

To live really well would take twice the above budget.

Completely fanciful budget, 120,000+ is what a family of 4 live on in Switzerland with a car, a rented appartment, insurances and holidays etc. You could as well live and party in Ibiza.

You're living a sexpat life on a sexpat budget, nothing else.

Well yes...what other reason would I have of wanting to live in Thailand?

Maybe the great infrastructure or the lack of corruption or the complete equality a Farang encounters day to day

And that goes for everybody I know.

A man can have his cake and eat many others.

If I wanted the sunshine I surely would have been happy in Spain! No

All those people who pretend they are going for the golf and the temples...dear oh dear.

Hi all,

Looking for abit of advise from you guys whos wifes have passed the life in uk test or succesfully completed/passed the ESOL course.

The reason im asking is, we have the test book what is required for my mrs to study, but I can get my wife onto a ESOL course starting in september.

What would you guys recomend? ESOL or the life in uk test?

Also, is it true with the ESOL course, you just need to attend, and then you will meet the requirements the home office require.

Many thanks

Scotty & Kannika

Nope..She has to pass the exams.

My Wife did her ESOL with Citizenship in Scotland and that requires 2 Units. She did four tests in total. One for reading, one writing, one speaking and one for comprehension.

Without the passes they don't get the certificate.

And even with the certificate they now need a letter from the Collage stating that the student did enough to progress to a higher level if the level wasn't three I believe.

Didn't you run away from Thailand because you couldn't hack it here no matter what your budget was?

I 'ran away' as you call it for the sake of my Family to give them a decent life, education and chances for their future.

If I was alone I would be living there, preferably near some beer bar complex!

US$1,000/month - Poor lifestyle

US$2,000/month - Basic lifestyle

US$3,000/month - Reasonable lifestyle

US$4,000/month - Comfortable lifestyle

This is based on my opinion and the lifestyle that I prefer to live. I do not go cheap.

Do you know that in Europe most singles live with the equivalent of about US$ 2000 - 2500 max ?!

And they have a "Reasonable lifestyle", in Europe, not in a third-world country !

I do not see how I could spend here US $3000 a month, every month

I am living in Pattaya and spend less than US$ 2000 in average.

I do rent a nice condo, and Pattaya is NOT cheap...

PS: In Pattaya, rent a house is cheaper than a condo.

The secret (well not really) if you want to live cheaply is first of all, buy a Condo. A condo with a bit of space and furnish it nicely.

This takes away the rental costs. All you have is water, electric and maintenance. If you get the right unit you could live inside with a fan, rather than aircon.

If you shop at the local markets and buy your meat and veg it doesn't cost so much as a supermarket. But...wash it very well.

Get yourself a bycicle. Cycling is great exercise and it doesn't cost anything to insure or run.

If you have to go out and drink, do it outside a 7/11 or Familymart store. You pay their prices.

To work out how much you will need to live do a checklist.

When I lived in Jomtein this was my budget and how I spent it.

Rent 15,000

Elec Water 2000

Food 20,000

Mobile phones 4000

House phone 500

Broadband 1000

Cable 1000

Gym fees 1500

Clothes 4000

Motorbike 600

Health ins 2000

Nights out 40,000

Visa run 2400

=====================

Approx 92,000 per Month I used to spend but in reality it was more like 120,000+

And it was 70+ baht to the £1. Only 62 baht now.

I couldn't be stuck up Country living with the locals. I couldn't think of a worse existance for anybody.

To live really well would take twice the above budget.

You could live almost anywhere on a $1000 a Month. Even here in the UK if you put a caravan in your Mothers back garden.

I need to ask myself WHY anybody would want to live a 'cheap' lifestyle in a developing Country that really isn't that cheap.

You could probably rent somewhere for 5000-10,000 baht a Month. Then you have electric and water. This can be expensive if like me you need air conditioners turned on to sleep in a cool room.

Add another 2000 baht for that.

If you can eat like a Thai you could live on say 200 baht a day for Thai food. But this gets really boring after a while. Foreign imported groceries are expensive, they are taxed to the hilt.

You need a mobile phone that requires topping up all the time. You might want Internet and a cable company. That's another 2000 baht.

And are you REALLY going to live a celibate life, watching all the old pensioners walking around with their little honeys young enough to be their Daughters. Grand daughters even!

As soon as the female factor comes into your life your costs spiral out of control. Or the male factor depending on your sexual preference. It's not for free, they don't really love you.

Yes it can be done but what a boring existence. Sitting in the house all day waiting for what?

Better to be Home in your own Country where you have access to free medical help and care.

As a friend of mine says...if you can't afford to play you can't afford to stay. Simple as.

$1000 or a measly £500 is only 1000 baht a day. Forget it.

I'm thinking about retiring soon in Chiang Mai. Is US$1000 per month enough to live off? I have no dependents and in good health. I don't need much but enough to enjoy simple things in life.

I needed $2000-$3000 a Month when I lived there. There are ALWAYS unexpected things to pay for. As some people round about me found out, like 1.5 Million baht for emergency medical help.

With that budget you will be struggling to get a 'live in Lady' and being alone in Thailand wouldn't be an option for me. Boring.