7 uni degrees, she should be in Parliment !! must be getting on in years then, my daughter took 5 years to get a masters degree in Pharmacy [with letters after her name] , so with only 1 degree, perhaps she will be kicked out of UK soon, although she is UK born & bred to make way for your mrs? Yeah right! let them show the money like we have to in Thailand,

7 uni degrees in thailand different to 1 in UK ,you super member ?

My daughter has reliably informed me that if your mrs wants to make use of her 7 degrees in the UK she will have to go to an english uni, to get the UK equivalant, and if her english isnt up to scratch, she will have to take a lanuage course first, which of course will help her with the Life in UK test, have a look at this site, http://offices.exeter.ac.uk/international/.../Thailand.shtml and there are many others to choose from..

Would be interesting for you to post what degrees she has, then other members can help you evaluate them in regards of what use they are in UK.

Daughter with her one [dismal] masters degree in pharmacy is only on 55k UKP a year for a 37 hour week, she has to freelance at weekends at 35quid an hour to make ends meet,

When you meet your GF in thai, wasnt she working as a primary school teacher? and couldnt remember certain things that happened 8 years ago?

Yep, Super Member with a very good memory!

7 uni degrees, she should be in Parliment !! must be getting on in years then, my daughter took 5 years to get a masters degree in Pharmacy [with letters after her name] , so with only 1 degree, perhaps she will be kicked out of UK soon, although she is UK born & bred to make way for your mrs? Yeah right! let them show the money like we have to in Thailand,

7 uni degrees in thailand different to 1 in UK ,you super member ?

My daughter has reliably informed me that if your mrs wants to make use of her 7 degrees in the UK she will have to go to an english uni, to get the UK equivalant, and if her english isnt up to scratch, she will have to take a lanuage course first, which of course will help her with the Life in UK test, have a look at this site, http://offices.exeter.ac.uk/international/.../Thailand.shtml and there are many others to choose from..

Would be interesting for you to post what degrees she has, then other members can help you evaluate them in regards of what use they are in UK.

Daughter with her one [dismal] masters degree in pharmacy is only on 55k UKP a year for a 37 hour week, she has to freelance at weekends at 35quid an hour to make ends meet,

When you meet your GF in thai, wasnt she working as a primary school teacher? and couldnt remember certain things that happened 8 years ago?

Yep, Super Member with a very good memory!

Thanks but no thanks for Chang beer fuelled posts made at 1.30am in the morning ,,,,,,, I dont know what your problem is but your replies are of no relevance or help or interest to us thanks,,,,,,the only relevance made to being an educated person from someone that has made her living by >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> no Ive got better things to do than sitting on here bitching away at other people, I have no axe to grind I have never been happier in my life ,,,,,,,,,,as usual you have completely missed the point of the post.

And the point of your post is that you want to slip somebody a few quid to sign a document that your school teacher is good enough to live in the UK?

Hope this is of help to you all who have partners in the UK.

Life in the UK Test - Free Online Practice Questions - Test 1 - www.hiren.info

Edited January 4, 200917 yr by mariner29

may I ask 'where do I get the info on ESOL with citizenship from'?

Knowledge of language and life in the United Kingdom

For details of course in your area contact your local education authority.

note to self: must type faster!

Edited January 4, 200917 yr by 7by7

may I ask 'where do I get the info on ESOL with citizenship from'?

Knowledge of language and life in the United Kingdom

For details of course in your area contact your local education authority.

note to self: must type faster!

LOL much quicker please

you have completely missed the point of the post.

I must have too, 'cos it appeared to me that you were complaining that your super educated wife had to take the same test as us proles, and surely someone as important as you should be able to slip someone a few quid to do it for her.

Either that or you are saying she's too stupid to even manage completion of a simple ESOL entry level 1 course!

She only has to move up from level 1 to level 2 everyone has to go through the system legally.

Quite.

And on the off chance that she has some sort of mental disability that prevents her from learning a new language (unlikely considering her 7 degrees) then she can apply for a disability exemption from the KOL requirement.

Not all of the girls had access to education we must respect this also, a degree in Thailand carries no real weight in the UK i agree on that.

I think the OP has the answer he requires.

Good luck.

C'mon guys, although I feel myself like going in with mortar fire, I think it is time for a truce.

Wadda think?

Moss

Agreed, Mossfinn.

I have a feeling this thread has provided all the useful info it is going to. Maybe a mod can close it?

Yes as i said the OP has the relevant information required.

As members point out there are easier ways than trying the multiple guess route. Mauds just done a one week - 4 day study and 1 day exam in Manchester (and there are more around the country) to get the ESOL with citizenship certificate for full set.

Try visiting WWW.cohesionlegal.co.uk for ideas

..............

Has anyone on here had their wife deported from the UK back to Thailand because she has failed the NEW UK citizenship test ?? I am not on about the first test which was prior to April 2007 to this new nie on impossible test they have to take now.. My wife is struggling after many hours of study to get much more than 30% in the test results ,,,,when the minimum pass mark is 75% ,,its not as if she is some thicko as she has 7 university degrees and is a schoolteacher,,,,,,,,how the hel_l they can expect anyone to memorise over 3000 non sensicle obsolete facts about percentages of things that went on in world war 1,,I will never know or understand what use to our wives lives in the UK this serves.. I dont know anyone in the UK that has lived here all their lives that can pass it ,, let alone anyone from the other side of the world..

If anyone knows anyowhere we can go to pay a few quid under the counter to get one of these poxy bits of toilet paper to allow our UK legally married wives to live with us , please let us know as I am sure many people on here are gonna come up to this problem very soon,,,,,,,,,cheers all

I also failed twice [/b][/color]

But did you read the relevant chapters of the LinUK Book?

Moss

Mossfinn

I'm one of those guys that never read instructions on anything, sorry.

I know I should have but too conceited I suppose.

When my wife passed, that put her one up on me

She still reminds me of that, so I continue to pay. Arn't women wonderfull

sample questions for those wishing to know: by the way, my education is 8 O'levels, 3 A levels, a Diploma in Business Studies, an honours degree in Economics ( minor politics ) and a Master's Degree in I.T ... a fairly well rounded education and I read regularly, follow news / political programmes and have an interest in history but, looking through the questions below, I'd certainly feel unsure of MANY and where some might be "easy" for locals, other questions could quite easily perplex well educated British born and bred subjects. I've answered the last one for you...

Where are Geordie, Cockney and Scouse dialects spoken ?

What and when are the Patron Saints' Days of the four countries of the UK? What are bank holidays?

What is the House of Lords and who are its members?

What are the powers of the devolved administrations? Which areas of policy remain under the control of the UK government?

What are quangos and non-departmental public bodies?

What are the roles and powers of the main institutions of Europe? How is European law organised?

What is the role of a school governing body (or a school board in Scotland)?

How many people belong to an ethnic minority and which are the largest minority groups? Where are there large ethnic communities? ( Heathrow Airport !! it's teaming, absolutely teaming, with people from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. 90% + must be from those countries...either milling around, entering the airport or working in the shops and restaurants. )

And all of those quesitons are multple choice & all have the answers in the study book.

Sorry but don't you think your rant against immigration is funny when you consider your wives are just that, immigrants like any other. My husband had to study & pass the test, so will your partners as well, so will all those Pakistanis, Indians & Bangladeshi poeple too if you wish to gain ILR & eventually citizenship.

Tango7, it is like any other exam, if you study the relative materials properly then you will be able to pass. Just as you did when you gained all those qualifications you listed.

Although being educated in one subject does not make one any less ignorant in other areas, as you comment in red shows.

Why would one complain about their significant other having to meet minimum requirements in order to become a citizen of their country? I know, its about the money but that's why they charge so much, so it is taken seriously. If it were only 50 Brit Pounds there wouldn't be any complaining. In the long run it is in the best interest of the applicant to understand the culture, laws and more importantly...the language. That's the whole point.

In the USA we have the same types of requirements. My Thai wife and I practiced her English for almost 8 years and then I spent hours and hours studying with her for the citizenship test...which she passed and is now an American citizen. Most Americans probably couldn't pass their citizenship test without studying either. Obviously more language work and pre-test study is needed instead of complaining.

If only Thailand had the same (more easily achievable) opportunity for us......think about it and then realize how lucky your wife is to have the opportunity that you and I do not in return.

I think your glass is half full but you see it as half empty.

Good Luck!

Martian

Hold on Martian, the US Citizenship test is so bloody easy an idiot could pass it.

I did, which proves the point!

Why would one complain about their significant other having to meet minimum requirements in order to become a citizen of their country? I know, its about the money but that's why they charge so much, so it is taken seriously. If it were only 50 Brit Pounds there wouldn't be any complaining. In the long run it is in the best interest of the applicant to understand the culture, laws and more importantly...the language. That's the whole point.

In the USA we have the same types of requirements. My Thai wife and I practiced her English for almost 8 years and then I spent hours and hours studying with her for the citizenship test...which she passed and is now an American citizen. Most Americans probably couldn't pass their citizenship test without studying either. Obviously more language work and pre-test study is needed instead of complaining.

If only Thailand had the same (more easily achievable) opportunity for us......think about it and then realize how lucky your wife is to have the opportunity that you and I do not in return.

I think your glass is half full but you see it as half empty.

Good Luck!

Martian

Hold on Martian, the US Citizenship test is so bloody easy an idiot could pass it.

I did, which proves the point!

Hold on, I just checked the UK test and it is easy too (yes, even I know most of the answers and I have not lived there for 25 years). I dunno what kind of degrees the OP's wife has told him she's got, but if she has a struggle passing that test she truly is an educated idiot. Or just an idiot.

I agree with earlier posters.....these are pretty basic questions anyone wanting to become a citizen should know (most) answers too. I strongly suspect that the biggest hindrance is that their language skills are so poor they can't understand the question. Language skills are tested by the Yanks too, as they should be.

I passed that, but only after putting on my best Michael Caine American accent, innit, dude.

And all of those quesitons are multple choice & all have the answers in the study book.

Sorry but don't you think your rant against immigration is funny when you consider your wives are just that, immigrants like any other. My husband had to study & pass the test, so will your partners as well, so will all those Pakistanis, Indians & Bangladeshi poeple too if you wish to gain ILR & eventually citizenship.

My rant wasn't meant to be funny..and it wasn't a rant. I was just answering the question. If it's the wrong answer, then I'll have to resort to stating Leicester or Birmingham. Same situation..different location.

Please also note, that although my wife will be an immigrant, her entire family et al will not join her and she will either get a job or raise the children at home whilst I support her rather than her living off state benefits.

I simply do not understand why any one would object to immigrants having to learn the language of the country they are living in. It is also, I feel, important to learn something of the history, culture and traditions of the host country, and of course one's rights and responsibilities.

I concur. However, i believe there was nothing wrong with the original method of having to pass the test when wishing to apply for citizenship. This gave a longer period to learn English, for non-native speakers. I bet not many on here could learn Thai to a level of passing such a test in 2 years. Whilst holding down a job or bringing up a child or having a life etc.

As for my circumstance. The rules changed for my mrs 5 months before we had to apply for ILR. They invoked the changes instantly, giving her no time to learn and also all the colleges were full. Fortunately i am from Irish descent and therefore got her a Family permit (gratis) on the basis of being married to an EU Citizen working in the UK. Shame that i had served in the forces for this country but had to resort to my dual nationality to get round the system.

As there is no compulsion for any immigrant to the UK to seek naturalisation as a British citizen then many immigrants had obtained their ILR and not gone on to naturalisation. This meant that potentially there were many immigrants living long term in the UK with little or no English ability. Hence the introduction of the KOL requirement for ILR.

I do agree that it could have been introduced much more fairly. As you say, many people would have been approaching the date of their ILR application only to find they suddenly needed this requirement. Phasing it in or giving far more advance notice, and publicity, would have been much fairer.

Another ruse by this supposedly socialist government to screw more money out of immigrants! (When my wife came to the UK in 2001 the whole process from initial visa to ILR cost £260. Thanks to Labour it’s now well over £1000! More if you come on a fiancé visa and need a FLR application as well.)

I am totally in favour of the KOL requirement for ILR, just not the way it was suddenly introduced.

Remember, as well, the standard required is only entry level 3, which is very basic. A lot lower, for example, than GCSE level. It should be attainable for most people in 2 years. If not, then there is the ESOL with citizenship course route where all that is required is to pass from one level to the next, and that could be from no English at all to entry level 1. Not very difficult.

Tango7, those brown faces you see working at Heathrow or other places are legitimate immigrants to the UK the same as your wife, many of them are not immigrants but were born here as the children or grand children of immigrants. How would you feel if your wife was refused employment because she was an immigrant?

You also can't have it both ways. You seem to be complaining that immigrants have jobs, and then complaining that they claim benefits! Although, as with your wife, all immigrants to the UK are banned from receiving most public funds.

If any immigrant wishes to have their family join them the procedure and requirements are, except for their children under 18, very rigid and difficult to meet. For starters the family member concerned has to prove that they are totally reliant on their relative in the UK, with absolutely no other means of support or other close family in their home country. See Chapter 15 - Entry for settlement: parents, grandparents, other dependent relatives.

Are you against all immigrants, or only those with brown skins? Except your wife, of course.

God what a lot of moaning ! The test is quite simple and the answers are all in the book. It's obvious the OP wife does not speak english well enough to understand the questions, or read the book. That is the point of the test, frankly there is no point trying to guess the answers, and no there is no one to slip a few quid to for a qickie pass, thank goodness.

If the OPs wife has 7 degrees then getting an ESOL level 3 should be a breeze. Takes a year or so depending on how much practice in English there is at home, talking Thai all the time will not help. I know many couples who have done this. ALL have passed eventually and thats without the high education of 7 Degrees.

I have never met anyone with more than 5 degrees, unless they were purchased in kaosan Road I rather think the Degrees are certificates and there is a communication problem.

I humbly suggest there is very little effort going into leaning English and probably far too much complaining. Just get on with it, frustrating it is but we've all been there.

As to the fees..... well it depends on how much you think British Residency is worth...... People would pay £10,000 + and do, just to get to the UK. I think it's a steal at the present cost and the benefits are the best you could hope for. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to take a hard look at the cost and option of residency in LOS and the benefits, of which there are very few !!!!

To answer the deportation question it is NO they won't deport, but you would have to keep paying for an extension until success, £395

Edited January 8, 200917 yr by englishoak

To answer the deportation question it is NO they won't deport, but you would have to keep paying for an extension until success, £395

But for how much longer? Legislation is currently being prepared which will, if passed into law, restrict the number of times a person can apply for FLR before they have to either obtain ILR (which of course means meeting the KOL requirement) or leave the UK.

The test is the test, is the test.

It is what it is. If your partner has sufficient English to take the test, then read and learn the 50 odd pages, that's all it takes.

If the English is not good enough, then enrol them in the less than taxing college course - which I'd hope you'd want to do anyway, to help them improve their English language skills. The criteria to move one level here is even less taxing. Bottom line is you have a couple of options neither of which are difficult if you and your partner want to work at it, so get on and do it.

If you don't like the test or the qualification process, then avail of your rights and vote for change, write to your local MP or The Home Office, or even stand for Parliament yourself if you choose and campaign for change.

Back to the original question though, if you are really struggling to get through it, as things stand at the moment you can apply for another 2 year FLR visa.

I've got several friends who have done this, but being honest, without exception, each of them has the intelligence and ability to pass the test and the reason they haven't done so is down to lack of application - i.e. they can't be bothered to work at it.

The more i find about the visa applications and after it the more stupid it comes. How stupid is it that these tests exist. i mean i see African and Pakistani families coming to my country and claiming of the state whilst we working class get shit on basically whilst we go through all the stress of getting our wifes here and then find out about this stupid test. Do other nations need to take this test? argh it makes me soo angry

i know the feeling mate..

my wife became a usa citizen....

the process from start to finish took over 10 years...$250 usd up front non-refundable...

yes she took a test not that difficult....she did study hard....and passed with flying colors

but my friends all took the test for fun an !/2 of them failed it...

good luck

enrol them in the less than taxing college course - which I'd hope you'd want to do anyway, to help them improve their English language skills.

Quite. My wife got her ILR and then British citizenship before the KOL requirement was introduced for either.

However, one of the first things we did when she first arrived in the UK back in 2001 was enrol her on an ESOL course.

I can think of no reason why anyone would not want their wife (or husband or partner) to learn English and so be able to communicate effectively with people in the UK.

Actually, I can think one reason, and it's not a pleasant one!

I would think its all to do with money,because she owes him now, he possibly found her on the web, came here, meet her, and went out of his way to import her to UK, Perhaps she is 25 years younger than him, Ive no idea?

Also he will find her a job quickly, so she can pay for herself the courses needed to stay in UK or fuel his corruption money to help her with 7 degrees to try to bribe UKIA .

You dont "buy" a thai bride then expect them to pay you back.

Ive no idea

Evidently!