Thats It ....were Off! Easy Uk Entry For My Wife? Or....

[glasshock]

So,

We have decided to head back to the UK for the sake of our two children's education and health..........

Please, I know the arguments for and against and have slept little considering the pro's and con's!

What I would like from you guys if possible, is just a little advice regarding my Wife's status and allowed time in the UK.

Our family status is as follows:

Married 6 years

2 children

Both kids have UK and Thai Passport - 1 child was born in UK.

I am UK national - My wife Thai national.

My wife is a degree holder (Real ) - English Master.

She has had previous visa for UK and did not over-stay..... I cant remember there being any hastle last application, but so much has changed!

Is this as simple as it apears it may be? Or should she purchase Eastern Europeian documents and claim asylum from lithuania for an easy entry into the UK??? sorry ... couldnt resist marking one of the downsides of our return.

Anyway....

Any thoughts guys?

Edited June 3, 2009 by glasshock

[jubby]

Should be a 'Walk in the park' I would think.

[Boo]

moved to visa section & check out this link about your wife qualifying for ILE (Indefinate leave to enter) rather than SV (settlement visa).

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Uk-Visa-Stra...lr-t123182.html

[CharlieB]

I would think you'll have no problem on the relationship side of things. As you are moving back to the UK you will have to prove that you have the finances to support your wife without resorting to government help + show where you intend to live. Do you have a job to come back to or savings to cover the financial support side of things? Do you have property in the UK, or family that can put you up in their house and prove that it's big enough for the family + them?

[jackdanielsesq]

I'll bet $100 you will be back inside 2 years.

The UK went in the toilet a while back.

Jack

[Richb2004v2]

I'll bet $100 you will be back inside 2 years.

The UK went in the toilet a while back.

Jack

If that makes you feel better keep telling yourself that. In reality the Uk would have to go far further into the toilet to be the equivalent of Thailand in almost anyway.

I think the OP is doing the right thing. I hope to follow in a while, and for the same reasons.

[paully]

moved to visa section & check out this link about your wife qualifying for ILE (Indefinate leave to enter) rather than SV (settlement visa).

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Uk-Visa-Stra...lr-t123182.html

To lift a quote from the great Scouse on that thread:

"although your friend can still go for the straight-to-ILE visa, he would have to show that he's sat either an ESOL with Citizenship course, or passed the Life in the UK test. To the best of my knowledge, there is nowhere in Thailand where these can be taken".

Yes, the OP's wife may be able to apply for ILE - but only if she has passed the test or completed the course already. Otherwise, it's an SV.

Edited June 3, 2009 by paully

[Boo]

Quite, we have been here 5 years & have acheived alot, the most recent being my husbands right to a British passport. We have no immidiate plans to move back to thailand & even when given the choice to move back this year my (thai) husband said "for what, too many problems there & more opportunity here whilst we are young".

I have found that the worst kind of naysayers are usually the ones on the first plane back to the UK when the shit hits the fan.

[Boo]

oh good point there paully, yes without the Life in UK test she wont be able to apply. But I think in that case from reading further down in that thread, once she arrived in the UK she could take the test & apply for ILR as soon as she lands.

But I'm sure one of the experts will be along to clarify

[glasshock]

Thank you all for the information provided. I feel that Thailand is now changing rapidly and into a beast that im really not sure I want my kids to grow up knowing and calling "home".

I had to decide whilst both children are still young enough to not figure where home really is. As a kid I travelled a lot and would like them to banefit from some stability.

UK down the toilet?...... yes I agree, its not the place I remember as a kid but then..... as a child everything is painted with a blinkered brush!

I expect my children to at least have some support from the country they call home and a government they will pay taxes to. Want me to list the reasons to leave? too many.... reasons to stay? too many!

I personally love Thailand but for the sake of my family, I think its time to move on!

I will let you in on one of my reasons for deciding to throw in the towel. I speak Thai. Not perfect, but enough to get by and understand what people are saying and when im being spoken to. I have found recently that the comments I, my Wife, and my children get are a very mixed bag. Many people will tell my children how cute they are and how lucky we are WHEN MY WIFE IS WITH US. However, on my own with the children (both have blond hair and blue eyes) the remarks that are hurled in our direction make me sick to even imagine that I thought that this was the place for my kids to have a better life! Falang Falang Falang.......... they expect you not to speak Thai and even when you respond, as I have taken to doing ....... water off a ducks back..... somebody once told me that Thai people generally show their real personality whilst driving and that this is the one time you will see many Thai's true colours...... hmmmmmmm maybe.

Please dont get me wrong.......not all Thai people are this way and I am still humbled by much I find in this country. However its becoming few and far between and I feel a good grounding with both cultures and some kind of support and safety is whats required. I will miss this country .... but for sure I will sleep at night!!

Thanks again guys!

Edited June 3, 2009 by glasshock

[Richb2004v2]

Thank you all for the information provided. I feel that Thailand is now changing rapidly and into a beast that im really not sure I want my kids to grow up knowing and calling "home".

I had to decide whilst both children are still young enough to not figure where home really is. As a kid I travelled a lot and would like them to banefit from some stability.

UK down the toilet?...... yes I agree, its not the place I remember as a kid but then..... as a child everything is painted with a blinkered brush!

I expect my children to at least have some support from the country they call home and a government they will pay taxes to. Want me to list the reasons to leave? too many.... reasons to stay? too many!

I personally love Thailand but for the sake of my family, I think its time to move on!

I will let you in on one of my reasons for deciding to throw in the towel. I speak Thai. Not perfect, but enough to get by and understand what people are saying and when im being spoken to. I have found recently that the comments I, my Wife, and my children get are a very mixed bag. Many people will tell my children how cute they are and how lucky we are WHEN MY WIFE IS WITH US. However, on my own with the children (both have blond hair and blue eyes) the remarks that are hurled in our direction make me sick to even imagine that I thought that this was the place for my kids to have a better life! Falang Falang Falang.......... they expect you not to speak Thai and even when you respond, as I have taken to doing ....... water off a ducks back..... somebody once told me that Thai people generally show their real personality whilst driving and that this is the one time you will see many Thai's true colours...... hmmmmmmm maybe.

Please dont get me wrong.......not all Thai people are this way and I am still humbled by much I find in this country. However its becoming few and far between and I feel a good grounding with both cultures and some kind of support and safety is whats required. I will miss this country .... but for sure I will sleep at night!!

Thanks again guys!

I'm really interested to know what kind of things? I have two kids too and would like to know what to expect. If you don't want to tell on here please PM me.

Thanks

[Eff1n2ret]

oh good point there paully, yes without the Life in UK test she wont be able to apply. But I think in that case from reading further down in that thread, once she arrived in the UK she could take the test & apply for ILR as soon as she lands.

But I'm sure one of the experts will be along to clarify

Correct. The Entry Clearance Guidance on the UK Visas website actually says this:

"Where an applicant has satisfied all of the requirements for ILE except the KOL requirement, they should be granted 27 months LTE. During this time they can, at any point, satisfy the KOL requirement in the UK and apply for ILR."

So they'll still sting you for the cost of a further application, but you don't have to wait 2 years.

[dougieboy]

My wife (Thai) and I did everything by the book and it took a while and alot of paperwork and will have cost around £2000 in payments to HO, plus £500 for advise and help, now I know that the procedures involved must be paid for (nobody works for free) but I was the one that did most of the work and I am furious whenever I see on the news how easy it is for illegal immigrants to get access to the UK. My wife has been here in the UK for almost 2 years now and she has worked and paid taxes and NI for the whole period, why oh why should it cost another £900 (roughly) when we apply for her ILR. Tough I guess. Good luck with the Life in UK test its fairly easy to pass but most of it is SO SO bloody irrelevant.