iancnx

 

Of course, you will have to meet the financial requirements again in 2.5 years when your wife applies for Further Leave to Remain and again 2.5 years after that when she applies for Indefinite Leave to Remain. But for both those applications her income, if any, can be used as well as yours.

 

So for the second and third periods, you say our joint income can be used. Would that then be £18,600 each? Without savings = £37,200 as a joint income.  This is a really confusing document......

 

thanks for for your further guidance. 

7by7. This is incredibly useful.  Have to admit my initial reading of the regs got nowhere near to your solution. I am indebted to you.

 

Now I know we qualify, and you say all can be done here prior to departure, so we can remain together as a family.  I see the application is online.  Is there a fast track system at all to cut through the 'filter' and get a face to face with the Embassy Staff or is that a thing of the past? 

This link works.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/525708/Appendix_FM_1_7_Financial_Requirement.pdf

 

Now need to decipher it...... I want to find the simplest solution. I can put £18,600 in an account for my wife. Is that enough for the first 30 months? 

The financial links don't appear to be working? Certainly not on my IPad so I wanted to confirm my outline plan is feasible if the experts here might assist?

 

The Family.

 

I am a Brit, no property in UK.  Plan to buy on return

 

Wife. Thai.  Married 7 years at Amphur. Have English translations. Has been to UK and Europe on tourist visas.

 

Son aged 4. British Passport. Mother is my wife.

 

 

Financials.

 

I have UK annual armed forces pension £16,000 paid to UK bank

 

Wife is a teacher in Thai, earns equivalent £5,000

 

I can access £50k savings, but ideally need that for house purchase.

 

 

What are our options?  What are the requirements now?

 

I can easily double my earnings on minimum wage + pension = £32,000

 

My wife will work once settled but not immediately.  She will need to be in Thai to apply to join me and my son, who will start primary school in UK without her.

 

So to begin with wife will have NO income for the purposes of British Embassy.

 

Thanks if you can help.

 

 

51 minutes ago, wildewillie89 said:

I think it is only 3% of Thai teachers who can speak fluent English. And from memory about 40% who are of an acceptable standard to teach English (rules etc). So what's that? 57% who have absolutely no idea what they're doing. No wonder the university entrance exams for the English part is an average of 28%. His point is relevant, but he does seem like a big knob. Make the point and actually make it useful/get the message across, rather than being a dick. They learn grammar mainly to pass a test. Tests like entrance exams, police, army, government official etc etc, are all stupid. Multiple choice questions with 3 correct answers or 0 correct answers. But the way the kids are taught is based off the tests. Conversation is only relevant for the super rich who can throw money around to have their children tutored purely in conversation. The one or two hours per week teaching at school or language centres doesnt mean anything in terms of conversation. 

fair comment ww89, as I mentioned his juvenile approach would divert the less than avid viewer.  You are absolutely right about entrance exams and the woeful level set.  And I know of at least five English (Thai's) teacher who cannot speak a single word of English; they teach grammar out of a book.  I also happen to know they were not tested in English during recruitment.  They jumped through the multiple choice 'hoop' so why on earth would an HR department consider more is needed.  Non English speaking HR I might add!  Its a complete joke.

The crux of the message is to understand WHAT the Thai student think about their English tuition.  We all know it's not fit for purpose. Surprisingly they realise it's not fit for purpose.  They understand they learn and commit to memory what they need to pass the examinations.  

 

So  I think  he is pretty smart to get that message across.  There is a large cohort of Thai English teachers (those who can actually speak, read and be able to converse in English) who understand very well it is the curriculum at fault, as well as a dozen other issues...... Too many to go into here.  My missus is a Thai English teacher! 

Clearly missed the point x3

In summary they say they learn by committing to memory (rote).

 

There is no conversation. Grammar, grammar, grammar.

 

Additionally Thai's feel the class divide. Talking English in public is considered by a vast majority to be HiSo.

 

Filmed outside a language school.

 

IMO the whole thing spoilt by unnecessary reference to menturation, kids of today eh?  

 

Hope he doesn't get pulled up for this.

Must MUST watch.  It has gone viral on Thai social media according to my missus.

 

 

That's not what I said and you presumptions are bang out of order and troll like at best! 

23 hours ago, Pat in Pattaya said:

 

Will be a very big move with no guarantees that it will work out. Will you be looking to rent or buy? assume you are well past the mortgage stage now! As for your investment, I hope it's not with one of these so called 'financial advisors' over here..

I manage my own stock market investment with some success.  If I don't hit the jackpot next year, then my return to UK in 2018 will most likely be rented in the first instance. Mortgages can still easily be obtained at my age if the deposit is big enough.  Fortunately I have a reasonable pension.  Long term aim is the Grandpa flat or annex so we can take care of the grandkids and their uncle at the same time....lol.  Another aspect to consider is my grown up kids are progressing quickly up their respective professional ladders so the financial risks of returning are mitigated to a degree.

Brilliant thread. I am hoping to make the move back in 2018 (will be 57 with 5yo son), so do hope that this thread stays alive.  Finding somewhere to live will be the biggest challenge if my investments don't come up trumps........ 

My wife is a government teacher. She has been told black/white.  A combination of the two appears to be ok...........

Good info here.  Many thanks.

Thanks chaps. Much appreciated.

It is that horrible time of the year again where immigration gets to intrude on my privacy as I apply for another year extension "supporting Thai Wife"! . We have been married over 5 yrs now and have a son from the marriage. Any changes to the documents required - we did call immigration and were told same as last year. Just want to double check with the wise and experienced in here. I have the 400k in the bank fully seasoned.

Poor buggah. All on his own. Heartbreaking for the family and the poor chap finding the body.

That 75 Baht solution will break your neck.

Utter rubbish.

Correct. And you do not need to be a lawyer to understand that such utter rubbish for 75 Baht will not solve any real estate problem. If you get a usufruct for free, that means that the Thai land owner held already the land on your behalf. Whenever the crackdown police comes in your town they will collect all these free-usufructed Chanotes to put them on public auction. You have been warned.

So you are suggesting my wife as the land owner can have her chanot taken by the police and put on public auction? Pray tell!

Condo prices has run up a lot over the past few years in Chiang Mai. Quite hard to find anything halfway decent under 1.5M and then only if you're willing to settle for very small units

You can check out the following condos (newish or constructing now):

1) Casa Condo (on Route 107 between Superhighway and Makro)

Location-wise may be most ideal for you(?). You can get it for abt 1M at launch in late 2011 (http://www.prakard.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=492888). Worth trying to see whether there are resale units for under 1.5M. Or balance unsold units.

2) Oneplus Kamthieng

3) Oneplus Chetyod. Completed but they have a few balance unsold units, size 27sm, for about 1.2M.

4) Trams (Superhighway). No idea on pricing

5) Diamant (Superhighway). No idea on pricing.

6) Punna Oasis (by Superhighway opp. CM Business Park).

They are quoting 44K psm for a 54sm unit. They also have 35sm units, which (assuming its the same price psm), would work out to be 1.54M. You may want to check it out as it's not that far from 1001 anyway. I think its good value relatively speaking.

7) Sansiri Santitham D'Vieng. Just completed but I've been told sales are suspended but will start again in 1-2months. No idea of pricing, but all small 30sm units.

Good post. But OP with research will soon find 35sqm to be a rabbit hutch in a low standard building.

My 46 sqm unit was put on the market for 2.3m eighteen moths ago. Totally overpriced and unrealistic at 50baht psqm. I have now reduced the price again to 1.9m. 46sqm in a premium superbly managed building now looks like a bargain at only 41 baht psqm. But we digress.

OP will wish to ask the following questions during his search

Reason for selling?

Name of the building? What reputation? Does it feel right?

How much annual charges?

Are the condo accounts audited? I

s the building management / JP effectively supervised and directed by an elected co owners committee?

Is the sinking fund intact?

How was the property constructed using which materials?

Is it Earthquake proof

What building amenities are there?

Sufficient parking

Foreign ownership.

Yes, 700K-1300K you're looking at somewhat older buildings. And probably small sized too.

Comment on Traffic: You might actually be a single case where it makes sense to be on the Canal Road North of town.. Because going North along the Canal road and then linking up with the Mae Rim road, it's an easy left turn after the road turns to meet the Mae Rim Road.

And that's an area with plenty condominiums of any age and price.

Only trouble of course is getting into town; then you're stuck in Nimmanhell. (Or extended Nimmanhell, also including Huay Kaew/Rincome, etc.)

If you are meaning stuck with access into the old city yes. But generally I disagree. From the canal road if you head across to the government complex, take the underpass and ring road out to the MaeJo road and beyond you can be in Central festival in no time, with little traffic. I actually think Changpuak is the best place in the city to live, talking from a good few years of experience in other areas of the city. But each to his own.

One of my studios is for sale in the LowRise building Baan Suan Greenery Hill. It is a 5* building with superb management. Sinking fund is in tact and the building extremely well managed; the accounts are fully audited. Complete with pool, sauna fitness, internet and cable and security. It is on the NW edge of the city, but nevertheless close to the university and Nimmenheiman. Easy access to Mae Rim and Mae Jo with no traffic.

The only sticking point is your budget. You will be very lucky to find what you are looking for at 1.3m. I have just reduced the cost of my 46m studio down to 1.9m as I need to free up some capital for my next project. PM me if interested.

My Beagle was doing this. Very itchy and red sore. Blood test revealed a skin fungal infection and was treatable over a period of weeks. A vet will confirm and give you the right drug.