10 minutes ago, mokwit said:

If they crossed multiple countries to get to one country you have to ask if the are really asylum seekers rather than country shoppers. If they are making false claims in an attempt to be granted asylum, then they are making false declarations and are criminals and benefits cheats.

 

e.g. I fail to understand how any Ukrainian who is not eligible for military service is in any way a legitimate asylum seeker - Ukraine is a vast country, those who are genuinely fleeing war can be resettled in areas where the war is "right over the other side of the country" as one Ukrainian told me.

 

Well while you entertain yourself with that, it’s not what the law says.

5 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Which makes the point you were making below somewhat silly, no?

 

He's talking bollux, as usual.

The Thai government refers to me as a non-immigrant and requires me to apply to extend my non- immigrant visa on an annual basis. In my opinion the UK should have applied a similar system many years ago. 

11 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If anyone wants to immigrate to a country, and not just live there as most farangs in Thailand do, they should be prepared to become part of the community they join. The community should not have to accept their culture, whatever it is.

If they ain't prepared to do that, they should not be allowed to become citizens.

 

Cannot agree as I think you are too strident. Having some cross cultural experience and a study of history, I observe it is not like flicking a light switch. It takes time to adjectival to “culture shock”. That includes not only trying to learn a new language, adjusting to diet and acceptable eating expectations. Some will live together in enclaves like some foreign locations with Americans huddled together … As an American, I observe we still maintain “little” … Italy, Hungary, Russia (Brighten Beach in NYC comes immediately to mind). The new cultures also change the native culture … I recall the condemnation of Germans coming to the USA bringing their pagan Christmas customs … we would not have an American Christmas without that imported Christmas Tree tradition. Sorry,  I spent a good amount of time talking to my American students of American History about immigration movements into the USA. Not the policies under various administrations but more about the influence of the incoming groups and the reaction to them.

49 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

The Thai government refers to me as a non-immigrant and requires me to apply to extend my non- immigrant visa on an annual basis. In my opinion the UK should have applied a similar system many years ago. 

There is a system just like that in UK, other than it's every 2.5 years and not annually.

1 hour ago, youreavinalaff said:

There is a system just like that in UK, other than it's every 2.5 years and not annually.

Yes but if you can make yourself eligible for two you are on track for near automatic citizenship.

2 hours ago, mokwit said:

Yes but if you can make yourself eligible for two you are on track for near automatic citizenship.

Not near automatic. There are criteria to be met.

 

Anyway, there is an option to gain citizenship  in Thailand. That was the comparison, wasn't it? Thailand v UK?

9 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

Cannot agree as I think you are too strident. Having some cross cultural experience and a study of history, I observe it is not like flicking a light switch. It takes time to adjectival to “culture shock”. That includes not only trying to learn a new language, adjusting to diet and acceptable eating expectations.

Not half as strident as in actuality. Up to me any immigrant has a time limit to adjust to their new culture, and if they fail or refuse would be deported. The actual time limit would be decided by people more knowledgeable than I, so it could be 6 months or 6 years.

Definitely, a son or daughter succeeding in becoming a citizen would in no way entitle them to bring in their aged parents to live off social security they never paid into. That attrocity happened all the time in the UK when I was there with parents getting free NHS operations, and couldn't even speak English.

 

Any children would have to go to a normal local school ( can be private, but not of a different culture ), not a Madrassa or such like.

 

I'd also be like the French and ban any wearing of religious apparel in public, or at the least in a public institution or as a government employee.

 

Far as I'm concerned if someone wants to be a citizen, their new culture takes precedence over their original one, and if that's not acceptable they can go back and live in their original culture.

10 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

The Thai government refers to me as a non-immigrant and requires me to apply to extend my non- immigrant visa on an annual basis. In my opinion the UK should have applied a similar system many years ago. 

IMO the Thais have it right.

where is the time that immigrants came to work...

10 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Not half as strident as in actuality. Up to me any immigrant has a time limit to adjust to their new culture, and if they fail or refuse would be deported. The actual time limit would be decided by people more knowledgeable than I, so it could be 6 months or 6 years.

Definitely, a son or daughter succeeding in becoming a citizen would in no way entitle them to bring in their aged parents to live off social security they never paid into. That attrocity happened all the time in the UK when I was there with parents getting free NHS operations, and couldn't even speak English.

 

Any children would have to go to a normal local school ( can be private, but not of a different culture ), not a Madrassa or such like.

 

I'd also be like the French and ban any wearing of religious apparel in public, or at the least in a public institution or as a government employee.

 

Far as I'm concerned if someone wants to be a citizen, their new culture takes precedence over their original one, and if that's not acceptable they can go back and live in their original culture.

We could probably find some common ground. Six years would include the time needed to become an American citizen currently. Bringing aged parents? Hmm, like Melania’s parents … OK, I’m opens to saying there is room for discussion. Religious schools would get touchy in the USA as we have a strong Catholic School System and, under law, all religions are supposed to be treated alike. I am open to banning religious garb which hides facial features for recognition. If it is not acceptable in doing business at an ATM/entering a bank … passing through Passport control … Again, we have a bit of difference being separated by our common language … and customs some of which evolved from rejecting the English customs of the times. And we deal with a good portion of the USA founding European culture being influenced by Spain, in addition to being a nation of immigrants.

On 9/30/2024 at 11:28 AM, Chomper Higgot said:

Thanks for letting me know my absence in that thread bothers you..

 

He meant preferable.

On 9/30/2024 at 5:42 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

If anyone wants to immigrate to a country, and not just live there as most farangs in Thailand do, they should be prepared to become part of the community they join. The community should not have to accept their culture, whatever it is.

If they ain't prepared to do that, they should not be allowed to become citizens.

 

Australia/Original Brits?