Globaleyes

Regarding the English Test and payslips / employment proof of income.

My wife rang a company in BKK about taking the English test and despite there being only two companies that offer the test, the lady on the phone wasn't sure which particular test should be taken. Is there a specific test that we should ask for? ( I was very surprised by this!)

Also, regarding calculating income, the immigration guidance says six months payslips, which will be pro-rated to 12 months. Can I use more months and pro-rata them accordingly?

Thanks,

G.

Thanks for the replies everyone. It sounds like I'm on roughly the right lines, with a few tweeks to make.

Dear Forum,

I'm trying to find out if there is a sample application available for the UK visa to live with a married partner. My partner is Thai, I'm British, living in Britain, and she intends to live here with me.

Is there also, perhaps, a complete list of things we need to do / arrange / compile? This is what I think I need, as far as I can gather:

Proof of relationship and marriage (relationship history (phone calls, photos throughout, early communications, skype logs, marriage certs and photos)

Proof of our nationalities

Proof of my income (payslips, employer's letter, contract of employment) - I think I can prove about 20k.

Proof of my savings and investments (bank statements, share account statements)

Proof of her investments and savings (bank books etc)

Proof of Accommodation (photos of my house, proof of mortgage, council tax etc)

TB certificate for her

English test cert for her (A1 level at least, taken at IDP or the British Council)

Completed online application, application fee and NHS surcharge.

Almost certain to need the entirely un-justifiable 'replacement vignette' charge!

Anything else anyone would care to add? Any and all advice welcome.

I did a successful application in 2009 (with the helpful advice of 7by7) but this time it seems so much more difficult.

Kind Regards,

G.

I was in Hua Hin in January. Whilst 'dead' would be an exaggeration, it was in no way busy anywhere we went. Also, my friend is a tour guide there, and she said business was very slow for that time of year.

Although this may have some truth to it for people of independent means, many travelers are just about to start, or have just finished, university. I can't imagine many parents paying for their darlings to visit this place. There are also a myriad of other pressures parents might bring to bear to dissuade their children.

I don't consider myself typical, but I have never, nor never will, set foot on Phuket for reason of all the terrible stories I keep hearing.

This won't slow down tourism there.

How many check for sinister news stories when booking a ticket?

To say the OP did anything is a BIG assumption - and not really warranted without more information.

I heard one story was because I had not given a written lesson plan. Like I said, they just told me to be ready to give a demo and I had no idea what age group or who I was going to teach,

No lesson plan showed that you were not ready to give a demo lesson.

they had called a previous school I had worked at 4 yrs ago had spoken bad about me. Now, I kind of know who this individual at the school would be but I can not prove it 100% at the moment.

You kind of know who it was, so you know what you did. Care to share what you did?

A bit out of date now, but I was on Koh Chang in June and it was DEAD! 50% down would be an underestimation in my experience of the place. To add insult to injury, somehow my TGF and I managed to get slightly scammed on the way there, not a great amount, but it didn't cheer us up any.

The prices overall were noticeably higher than last year and the service was variable. Sometimes it was very good (like getting us a new bungalo within 15 minutes when a branch fell on ours) but also sometimes very bad: at another place, a poorly cooked breakfast from MISERABLE staff, and also our place refusing to serve even coffee at 8:30 in the morning, despite there being several staff around!

Even the 'Suit, Sir?' touts weren't trying. All the bars were empty, as were most of the hotels along the main street in White sands. It was sad to see my favorite place in this state.

Hi all,

Just to keep you updated, yesterday (8th Sep) we received another email saying that they have made a decision and that the documents will be available for collection after 2 working days.

Actually, this pretty much adheres to the original timescale anyway. It seems they really do mean anytime 'within the next ten working days'. Although we dont yet know the decision...

Thanks,

G

Working in a Thai Government school really should be the last resort.

The general level of incompetence by the management is truly shocking, with far too much reliance on the excuse of 'cultural differences' to excuse bad decisions or outright lies and deceit.

Of course, there are also good schools out there, but still they usually only hire foreign teachers for commercial reasons.

And whilst there is a constant influx of willing victims, the situation will not improve.

OP, get out of a Government school at your earliest chance. And if a career is important, getting out of Thailand will be a good move.

Ok, thanks for your replies.

Hi all,

The GF and I got an unwelcome email today, stating that her visit visa will take 10 extra working days to process. I was wondering if we can upgrade to the fast-track process at this stage? And if so, how much would it cost?

She is Thai, has a very good background, and is understandeably very upset and mystified as to why the UK offers such a poor quality service.

G.

Hello OP, I hope that you are not now an 'Angry Parent' ....

I would very my like to know exactly what you did and how it worked out.

Many thanks.

Whilst the Dictatorship are perfectly entitled (and sensible) to express the wish that only suitable people are licensed to teach, is this initiative likely to achieve that?

iancx, have you been involved in the teaching 'industry' here?  I think you might find that many of the 'dross teflers' are actually doing exactly what their employer is instructing, with the wrong materials, in an education system that is really just 'going through the motions' AT BEST!

Nothing is going to improve the AWFUL education system here until the whole educational culture changes. And that is not going to be changed by any sort of licensing.

If this means more properly qualified teachers in place, and the dross Tefl pretenders being evicted then this is a good thing. Unfortunately there are a good proportion of ENGLISH speaking retirees and long term married guys who will be affected in the clear out, and that will be a shame. Thailand has got to learn how best to gainfully employ this group whose life experience can only add value to the system. For example tag them as 'English Conversationalists' and make it legal for them to be able to contribute to the education system at all levels. Get rid of the Tefl dross as the kids cannot understand what the hell they are on about half of the time.

falkan, you really are talking such utter rubbish.

Since when did someone spending money in a country (and let's assume, doing no other harm) NOT contribute to that country?

Someone spending all their time in a bar also needs a room (hotel, most likely) and transport. Plus staff at the bar. These are all jobs supported by such 'Non-Contributers'. And of course, there are other 'pursuits' that may well be paid for by the 'non-contributers'...

Actually, I've changed my mind. At a time when Thailand is clearly in recession, when tourism in many of the most famous resorts is in COLLAPSE, let's get rid of these 'non-contributers'.

if you don't contribute they don't want you here, sitting in a bar all day doesn't count, get a proper visa it ain't that difficult...

So falkan what would the proper visa be? I am married but only by monks and no papers signed. Usually come in visa exempt as only here 26 days then back out 6 times a year. What visa applies? Visa on arrival? Cost of such visa?

seems like you don't qualify to stay here, get your papyrus in correct order or move on..

I think you might be somewhere along the right lines here, but anyone who has actually done a CELTA, with a couple of years experience, can do FAR more than teach conversation. They CAN teach grammar. They CAN teach the more technical apsects of writing and sentence formation, not just identify that "something is wrong, say it like this..." (although that is sometimes exactly what the customer wants).

And again, unless this suggestion is accompanied by a much higher salary, it's not going to be possible.

Personally, I have never heard anyone say: "I'm going to study for a degree, incur THOUSANDS of $$ in expenses to go and work in Thailand as an English Teacher'. Clearly a degree in English, a CELTA and 2 years experience is maybe the best possible circumstance, but this is Thailand - show me the money that would enable that.

If someone really wishes to accept no less, then I suggest they ensure their Thai is fluent, because the level of English in most Government Departments is not too high.

Again, there should be three work permits for teachers.

 

1. International Schools. Class One (or whatever). QTS/US equivalent. Can teach GCSE/US curriculum. BA (Education for Primary/Elementary) or subject degree for High school. Master's in Ed or PGCE required plus experience of teaching in own country. Police checks required.

 

2. English teachers in non International Schools. Requirements. B.Ed/ BA in English Language/Linguistics or BA in TESOL (or a combination of those).Those teachers can only teach English as a second language. If you think that a degree in English Language or TESOL isn't enough to teach..ermm...TESOL/English to speakers of other languages then I must be missing something. Can work in Primary/High Schools/other after police checks.

 

3. Conversation teachers. Evening/Weekend Language schools: Requirements: Non relevant degrees (Textiles etc unless teaching Textiles in English) And/or CELTA/DELTA/Trinity TESOL plus A Levels/US High School Diploma with excellent grades. Tutors must be fully enrolled either within Thailand or Distance Learning for a degree/Master's in either English/Education or TESOL.Police checks required. Teachers in the final year of a degree can progress to level two after successful official observations (if on target to obtain degree).

 

 

 

 

Thanks 7by7 and SantiSuk.

Coincidentally, I already sold some shares and am waiting for the money to land. I also seem to have wangled a job, not a good one, but a start...

Regarding jobs, it is clear that she is financially better off in Thailand with her job. Therefore would me having a job actually be slightly detrimental to an application (when thinking about if she will return to Thailand) ? If I were an ECO I would be thinking "Why would she leave her job to be with someone unemployed? How would they eat?" (because I'm returning to the UK, I am not eligible for JSA for three months anyway).

Thanks for the other advice, too, guys.

Does anyone know what the penalty for a Thai is, for not carrying their ID card? Is it also B20 000 and / or 2 years in jail?

Greetings All,

I plan to have my Thai partner visit me for three weeks later this year. Because my house is rented out, I will have to rent a room from a friend who has a large house nearby.

I have an email from my friend confirming that this is ok, detailing price and availablity.  Do I need to provide proof that she actually owns the house and is able to make such an offer?

Regarding proof of income, because I've only just got back to Britain, I have no job yet (I'm looking, hard, I can assure you!).  After buying a car, I reckon I'll have about £11k left, and she will have at least £2k, probably more like £3k.  I'm sure this is enough for three weeks, but most of my money will be in shares, which , if sold, would take four days for the cash to hit my account.  Do I really need to proove every step of the sale process, showing how the shares are sold and the cash returned to me, to the ECO?

I'm fairly confident we have enough proof of relationship and her income in Thailand, which far surpasses minimum wage in the UK! She is undoubtedly, financially better off in Thailand than she would herself be in Britain....

Generally, I successfully got a Spouse visa for my now ex-wife several years ago, and it feels that just for a visit visa it's a similar level of work, is that normal?

Any other advice of rhte application would be most welcome.

Indeed, if they balance the 'stick' of expulsion with the carrot of greater remuneration, things will get better.  The situation as it now is (and will be) means that it will not even be worthwhile paying for a TEFL to teach in Thailand with all the restrictions and hoops.

Thailand is, in all honesty (no pun intended), merely normalising it's border policies. But part of the reason we put up with an awful lot of crap here, was that they were easy going in other ways. Now that has changed, what is on the table for us?

I've just chosed to do a DELTA elsewhere because of the situation here - I'm not spending > $3000 in Thailand and worrying about getting back in the country! Someone else can have my money.

And if I were to decide to come back with my DELTA, I'd get what?
 

Of course it would help. How could it not help.

 

The thing that would happen is they will have to start raising their salaries. Qualified people will not work for 6 dollars an hour no matter how many ill informed people come out of the woodwork to defend that rate. Once they do that, standards will go up, a little. 

I can honestly say, this post mirrors exactly what I experienced when I returned to the UK with my wife in 2009.  Admittedly, the worst time since WW2 to do so!

I'd like to add, having worked for the Public Sector previously, and during the 2 miserable years I was in the UK, I found the most galling problem was facing  'positive discrimination' (aka - DISCRIMINATION)

Also, the way that men are being treated by the law is just unfair. My brother was co-erced by the police into leaving his house after an argument with his GF. Her allegations, as easily shown on his recording, were simply lies.  The police were not interested in the fact that she HAD committed a crime, but were still taking action against him even though he evidently hadn't.  The police clearly (on tape) admitted that because it was a woman's complaint against a man, they had to act this way! Despite the evidence.

My friend split up with his Mrs,sent her two texts asking to get some of his stuff.  She just called the police, screamed 'harrassment', he got arrested and either had to accept guilt and a police caution, or they'd keep his phone until after a trial (evidence!) Apparently you just need to send any unwanted text, even one, and it's harrassment now. And she doesn't even need to tell you it's unwanted.

However, I think you may have chosen a good economic time to return.  Sure there have been better times, but I still keep abreast of UK matters, and I see very encouraging ECONOMIC signs for the future. Things will 'get back to normal' within a couple of years.

Hi Everyone,

Wow! what an interesting response. I should have posted this before I left, might have saved me from myself if I had lol. In response to one comment about retirement; yes we do have family inherited land up nr Mahasarakham which we intend to build on and retire to later in life. We will start sending money back to our respective Thai accounts over the next X amount of years to achieve this. Only problem is that if the kind of salary we are now on is going to be the norm for the foreseeable future, then it will be an uphill (almost vertical) climb to get there.

Some really good comments from forum readers and I thank you for all of them. I blew off so many comments from expats I knew in Bangkok about it being a bad bad move to come back here, I admit to thinking that some of them were just embittered and therefore ignored many of their comments. I was wrong and wish I had listened more carefully. Even my own Brother who is a successful London Radio DJ says that he wants to leave the UK desperately and thought me an idiot for coming back!

In between typing this post I am searching multiple jobs websites, it is a depressing and soul destroying endeavour. Aside from the obvious groans about taxes and the ever inventive ways the UK Government have devised for extracting money from it's citizens, now applying for even the most low level positions has become annoyingly lengthy and overly complex, not to mention the hundreds of other applicants you will be up against. I am a fighter and will not give up trying but have to admit to feeling a sense of hopelessness creeping up on me.

Ref to pgthompson; oh yeh I feel you on your post 100%. I too said "alright mate" to a guy I walked past on the high street in High Wycombe and he looked at me and said "I dont F***ing know you! I was so shocked I just said guess not and walked on, 10 years ago I would have smacked him right in the mouth! but not now, I just felt sick in my stomach that I almost got in a punch up for saying hi. Something is really wrong here. People are unfriendly unhelpful, aggressive and seem to be just plain angry.

I am sorry to bash my own country like this, I was once so proud of being British it used to impress people and still does in some places, but it is a shadow of its former self, the EU have contributed in no small way to our demise and as already pointed out by others the UK economy is in dire straits with little chance of improving anytime soon.

One thing to remember; coming back to the UK will not be a crappy experience for everybody, we all have different circumstances that affect our situations both finacially and otherwise. It saddens me that so many Thai citizens think that the UK is a country that will greatly enrich and improve their lives, unless they are from a HiSo family this is unlikely to be the case.

Did you write your visa number on the arrival card. Not doing it is the primary reason for officers stamping the wrong dates.

Yes indeed, and I also presented the passport with the visa page clearly showing. Basically I did my best without insulting their inteligence. Although I would like to re-iterate that in both occasions, the Immigration officers were both very good about rectifying the error.

I've just done another visa / border run and everything went smoothly except that the immigration lady made a small mistake in only issuing a one month duration of stay. I have a tourist visa so it should have been 2 months. She corrected her mistake without fuss or argument so I trust that everything is hunkydory.

Now, this is the second time in a row that this has happened, so it serves as a good reminder to carefully check these things. I'd gone 7 years without checking and having no problem, so I guess I've learnt the easy way....

My friends and I have all changed from Singha to Leo, TIger or Heineken, purely because we are not happy about the price increase/bottle size decrease. The shop at our Condo reports that they are now selling less than a quarter of the amount of Singha than before the change, and much more Leo.

Our local 7/11 now has 3 of 4 racks earmarked for Leo, with Singha down to 1 rack, rather than Singha having 2. However, I notice that Leo has also risen in price.

We have also started getting boxes of Tiger in from Teso Lotus, thus saving a wee bit of cash, whilst getting our petty revenge on the Beer Singha Company. I myself also see this as the right time to cut down on the beer, and lose a bit of weight,

Why do companies try to change a formula that has made them successful??

I've also used Oneworld Travel (and other's too) and they were spot on. In fact, all of them have been, so far.

However, I have not heard about anyone getting a double entry from any Cambodian agent, only a single entry. All the agents I've used have also advised me the same thing.

I'm in PP now getting tourist visa. Mario2008 is absolutely correct -- knock off a day for only $5.00. I used an agency called OneWorld travel (recommended by another poster) and she's very helpful. Best to get to her when she opens at 08:00.