Why Are There So Few Thais In Britain?

[GucciLittlePiggy]

Have you actually read all of the report? If you had you would have seen this bit

Immigration minister Phil Woolas said the government regretted the Law Lords' ruling and was looking again at the law. But he added: "Just because someone is married does not mean at all that their immigration status is granted.

"The registrars have a system of reporting where they think a marriage is not genuine. Those reports are then used by the immigration officials. The issue of marriage is different to immigration status. A visa will not be issued if there is reason to think the marriage is not genuine."

(My emphasis)

As for your other points:-

1) You have accused me of lying and contradicting myself. Justify those accusations or withdraw them.

2) My 'defence' of the system is based upon the immigration rules. Maybe you should read them.

3) As there are fewer applications in Thailand than there are from Pakistan, then the only way to compare success rates is to use the percentages.

Points are not awarded in spouse applications for family ties in the UK; Read the rules. Even if they were, as an indigenous British male surely you have family ties in the UK?

4) I have no idea why your friends wife lends him money, nor where she gets it from. What I do know is that she cannot claim public funds. Read the rules.

If she is claiming public funds to which she is not entitled, then she is breaking the law. As you feel so strongly about it, will you report her?

5) Any application for indefinite leave to remain in the UK would be rejected if the applicant did not provide the required proof of their English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic ability; unless the applicant is under 18, over 65, has a mental or physical disability which prevents them from learning another language or meets one of the other exemptions (see here). Read the rules.

Any immigrant to the UK can apply to have their parents or other family member join them. The requirements are pretty strict (read the rules) but if met then the visa will be issued. This is as true for Thais as it is for any other nationality.

6) You do have the same rights as your mate does. Read the rules.

Your comments about my 'fellow boys and girls in red' (presumably meaning 'pinko lefties'), that you want more rights than a non white and your assumption that because someone is not white he wants to destroy our way of life give a clear indication of your political allegiance.

Wrong!

Er, RIGHT!, actually. Had you seen the full report, which was refreshingly unbeeb-like in its impartiality, you'd have seen an undercover expose of the criminal gangs that arrange these marriages. The gangs exist, the marriages happen. Fact. The HRA has again undermined the UK government's ability to manage its borders, again making a mockery of the parliament in the process. It was deemed to be against the human rights of those marrying for the state to deny them the ability to do so in this country. They are both foreigners, who have never met each other! Unbelievable!

1. I haven't accused you of lying - half-truths, maybe. Spin definitely. You contradicted yourself several times. You lot tie yourself in knots trying to justify the unjustifiable - the weasley words you use in the name of bland, anodyne, political expediency is a fantastic spectator sport. PC bullshit bingo-spotting is a thoroughly enjoyable pastime. All is well...all is well... all is well...

2. You mean the immigration rules that are widely regarded as a joke and a source of national shame? And those of us who've actually worked for this socialist utopia know dam_n well there are 'rules' and there are 'rules'. Rules can be interpreted in any way you want. There were rules over MP's expenses, you know. Hard to believe, but it's true. It's all about how they are implemented by the government of the day.

3. Lies, dam_n lies and yadda yadda. Are you SERIOUSLY telling me a thai who applies for a visa will get one 90% of the time? Get real. And you totally misunderstand my point on relatives - I wasn't talking about me and my relatives!

4. Of course I won't report her - he's my mate. I wouldn't report a white person for it either. That's because I'm neither a racist nor someone who hates my fellow countrymen. I wonder what you would do? I wonder who you would report, if you had to? I've a pretty good idea... And I don't "feel strongly about it" - I merely used it to illustrate how your beloved 'rules' can be used and abused, how the system can be played. All is well...all is well... all is well...

5. Over 65? That explains why elderly relatives can still be in the country despite not being able to speak a word of English. Obviously that raises further ethical and moral questions, but I think you're probably too, er, 'fragile' for that discussion. All is well...all is well... all is well...

6. Maybe, but, and this comes back to the central point, why is he able to marry his first cousin who he's never met and immediately bring her over, when I don't have a cat in hel_l's chance of doing the same with a thai person? It's discimination.

The comment about 'fellow boys and girls in red' actually related to your 'role' on this board. It would be an interesting question to ask your 'colleagues' what their political persausions are - I think members have a right to know who the police are, don't they? So, you agree to stick up a poll on the political allegiances of your chappies and I'll find your contradictions. Deal?

My political allegiances are clear - neutral, unbiased, to my country and my way of life. My friend's aren't. My friend's allegiances are to the country of his forefathers, his belief system, his way of life and his god. Especially his god. This will be unpalatable to dreamers like you, but it is true. The quicker you realise this the better for all concerned. The days of sticking your dreamy head in the sand are long gone. You 'pinko lefties' really, really need to get with the times.

Ultimately, I don't want anyone who doesn't have the best interests of the country at heart to have the same rights of me, wherever they are from. I suspect this view applies to 99.99% of the world's population - 100% of thailand's - and rightly so.

[but all is well...all is well... all is well...]

Edited January 8, 2010 by GucciLittlePiggy

[7by7]

Have you actually read all of the report? If you had you would have seen this bit

Immigration minister Phil Woolas said the government regretted the Law Lords' ruling and was looking again at the law. But he added: "Just because someone is married does not mean at all that their immigration status is granted.

"The registrars have a system of reporting where they think a marriage is not genuine. Those reports are then used by the immigration officials. The issue of marriage is different to immigration status. A visa will not be issued if there is reason to think the marriage is not genuine."

(My emphasis)

Wrong!

Er, RIGHT!, actually. Had you seen the full report, which was refreshingly unbeeb-like in its impartiality, you'd have seen an undercover expose of the criminal gangs that arrange these marriages. The gangs exist, the marriages happen. Fact. The HRA has again undermined the UK government's ability to manage its borders, again making a mockery of the parliament in the process. It was deemed to be against the human rights of those marrying for the state to deny them the ability to do so in this country. They are both foreigners, who have never met each other! Unbelievable!

As you say; criminal gangs.

Any one, from any country, may marry in the UK provided they have the appropriate paperwork. However, as Phil Woolas said, this does not mean that they can remain in the UK after the marriage. They would need to apply for the appropriate settlement visa to do so, and this would be refused if there was reason to believe that the marriage was not genuine.

What do you find so hard to understand about that?

1) As you have again refused to justify your accusations against me, on can only conclude that you cannot.

2) The immigration rules are widely regarded as a joke by whom? Even if they were as ineffective as you seem to think, as they are applied to all those seeking entry to the UK (except EEA nationals and their families who are dealt with by EEA regulations) then the same 'joke' would make it just as easy for a Thai to enter the UK as anyone else.

3) I am seriously telling you that anyone, of any nationality, who applies for entry to the UK will be granted that entry provided they show that they meet the relevant criteria.

4) What then was you point about 'family ties?'

6) You claim that you brought up the issue of public funds to show how the system can be played; yet you don't want to do something about it. Your choice. However, you cannot escape the fact that if she is claiming benefits to which she is not entitled then she is breaking the conditions of her visa and the law.

6) I did say that the rules for family members are strict; for a start they would have to prove that they are totally dependant upon the family member in the UK and have no other relatives in their home country to turn to. Not easy, not a formality.

7) Your friend must have met his wife, or she would not have got a visa as his wife. You do have exactly the same right. I have already said this, that you choose to ignore it doesn't stop it from being true.

8) The political allegiance of this boards moderators, admin and members is no business of anyone except themselves. No deal, see 1).

9) Having said that, if anyone uses this board to expound extreme political viewpoints, then they are in contravention of the forum rules. You keep on stressing that Pakistanis, i.e. non whites, have more rights than whites. Wrong, of course, but Nick Griffin would certainly agree with you.

This is the last time I'm going to respond to one of your posts. You are obviously choosing to ignore the facts, and there is little point in my arguing with a closed mind.

One final word.

I repeat, whatever the reason for the relatively small number of Thais in the UK, the immigration rules have nothing to do with it.

[GucciLittlePiggy]

This is the last time I'm going to respond to one of your posts. You are obviously choosing to ignore the facts, and there is little point in my arguing with a closed mind.

Well quite. The penny will drop one day. Some are slower than others.

The political allegiance of this boards moderators, admin and members is no business of anyone except themselves. No deal, see 1).

Chicken. And why shouldn't the members know that? What are you afraid of? But, as ever, expediency rules the day (and leads to nice fat profits).

I repeat, whatever the reason for the relatively small number of Thais in the UK, the immigration rules have nothing to do with it.

[wolf5370]

I lived in the UK with my Thai wife and kids for about 10 years. We knew dozens of Thais closely (I even went to school with one!). I lived in Kent, and knew many locally - also many from London and further out in Kent and some other surrounding areas. I also went to a Thai fund raiser in Glasgow a few years back - to raise cash for a Buddhist Temple there. I know some in Southend and Cambridge and Birmingham too. There are sevral Thai festivals in England (and probably Scotland too?) - Batersea Park being the main one (though not the largest) and the two-yearly one that is on a fram in Guilford (I think). Other than the Wimbledon Temple there are a few others around London too (Wat Buddharam for example in the East End). There used to be a Thai Nightclub in the Westend too (Fulham I think????). I went once, it was boring, which is why it probably shut - this was about 12 years ago or more.

There are many Thais in the UK, more than most Eurpoean countries I would guess. They are just not as overt and obvious as some other minority groups. Often they get lumped in with the Chinese too.

In fact I was involved in a request to have the medical pamphlets bin hospitals put into Thai - they are in about a dozen languages including some that have a tiny representation in the UK - like Vietnamese - compared.

[GucciLittlePiggy]

There are many Thais in the UK, more than most Eurpoean countries I would guess. They are just not as overt and obvious as some other minority groups. Often they get lumped in with the Chinese too.

In fact I was involved in a request to have the medical pamphlets bin hospitals put into Thai - they are in about a dozen languages including some that have a tiny representation in the UK - like Vietnamese - compared.

Hardly surprising given London alone has 50+ immigrant populations totalling 10,000 or more. Our immigration service is the envy of the world, apparently.

[loser1]

I also find them to be very arrogant people. Met many of them in Birmingham area, all along the a38 corridor upto Burton on Trent.

I visited a temple north of there (actually, stayed 4 days at the temple, giving merit). One actually told me that the temple is for thais only.

Giving merit ?? Wot a plonker . They must have thought you were a right idiot.

Their here for one reason $$$$$.

[GucciLittlePiggy]

I also find them to be very arrogant people. Met many of them in Birmingham area, all along the a38 corridor upto Burton on Trent.

I visited a temple north of there (actually, stayed 4 days at the temple, giving merit). One actually told me that the temple is for thais only.

Giving merit ?? Wot a plonker . They must have thought you were a right idiot.

Their here for one reason $$$.

Correct. Which is why, perhaps, there are so few of them - there's little point in opening your borders to people who don't see themselves as settling long term and having a stake in society. The real mystery is why the vile PC apologist thugs don't just admit this.

[Briggsy]

I am from a small Northern town, pop around 10,00. There are at least 5 Thai wives.

Thais are not "visible" or "vocal" in the UK. They are not concentrated in one area. Many are on tourist and student visas. They are coming individually as students or spouses/fiancees of UK nationals. In contrast to Indians, Jamaicans, Somalis, Bosnians they are not coming en masse as a collection of family groups, all living in the same area. These people, Indians, etc, are here to stay in the UK, soon get a political voice, are very visible and they will not integrate until much later as they are coming as a community and thus retaining their culture and language.

You would be amazed at how many Thais there actually are in the UK.

[peecee]

Interesting report on BBC news tonight.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8444360.stm

One foreign national marries another foreign nation. Neither have ever met each other before. Result? Both allowed to stay in the country.

Wrong!

Have you actually read all of the report? If you had you would have seen this bit

Immigration minister Phil Woolas said the government regretted the Law Lords' ruling and was looking again at the law. But he added: "Just because someone is married does not mean at all that their immigration status is granted.

"The registrars have a system of reporting where they think a marriage is not genuine. Those reports are then used by the immigration officials. The issue of marriage is different to immigration status. A visa will not be issued if there is reason to think the marriage is not genuine."

(My emphasis)

As for your other points:-

1) You have accused me of lying and contradicting myself. Justify those accusations or withdraw them.

2) My 'defence' of the system is based upon the immigration rules. Maybe you should read them.

3) As there are fewer applications in Thailand than there are from Pakistan, then the only way to compare success rates is to use the percentages.

Points are not awarded in spouse applications for family ties in the UK; Read the rules. Even if they were, as an indigenous British male surely you have family ties in the UK?

4) I have no idea why your friends wife lends him money, nor where she gets it from. What I do know is that she cannot claim public funds. Read the rules.

If she is claiming public funds to which she is not entitled, then she is breaking the law. As you feel so strongly about it, will you report her?

5) Any application for indefinite leave to remain in the UK would be rejected if the applicant did not provide the required proof of their English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic ability; unless the applicant is under 18, over 65, has a mental or physical disability which prevents them from learning another language or meets one of the other exemptions (see here). Read the rules.

Any immigrant to the UK can apply to have their parents or other family member join them. The requirements are pretty strict (read the rules) but if met then the visa will be issued. This is as true for Thais as it is for any other nationality.

6) You do have the same rights as your mate does. Read the rules.

Your comments about my 'fellow boys and girls in red' (presumably meaning 'pinko lefties'), that you want more rights than a non white and your assumption that because someone is not white he wants to destroy our way of life give a clear indication of your political allegiance.

Stop knocking you 'ed, you're right & he's winding you up! Public fund's are not available on marrage visa's until permiment leave to remain after two year's.

[bellste]

Why would anybody want to live in Britain at all? I am Scandinavian, and lived and worked there as a seaman for nine years. I didn't like it at all. I was very happy when I left for good, and I will never visit again. Dirty everywhere, and only talking about football. No thanks!

Why should any Thai be so silly that they move to the UK?

Edited January 10, 2010 by bellste

[bud69er]

in London you will find them everywhere, in the grocery, in the park. Thai restaurant is 50 metres from my home, hairdresser 100 metres. I know 6 families within 10 minutes walk, but it's many more.

it's closer to the airports - you see

Is that so they can clear off more quickly?

I've spoken to a couple recently - one working in a pub that serves thai food, the other a restaurant owner. Both miserable as sin. Both clearly counting down the hours until they can go home.

Britain's not THAT bad, is it?

well i thought England was a crap place to live, wow how WRONG i was. ive been living in Thailand 2yrs+, 1yr in BKK & now im in phuket-town. i own a little 6-table restaurant/cafe & its mainly Thai customers i get, & il tell you how rude & f---king ever so dirty they are, there like animals when they eat. never do i get a PLEASE or THANK-YOU. theres about 30 shops in my little bit of the road & only 2 shop keepers say hello & give me a smile, the rest just give me a look that can kill like im dirt to them. i cant take no more of this place ive been trying to sell my restaurant for 2-months now so i can go back home to east-London, plus i find its getting more & more dangerous every day in this country, i dont even wear a watch when i go out now, no chains nothing, as they no see goddies they no intrested in me. i feel safer in Brixton=UK/bronze=USA than i do in Phuket, the only thing thats holding me up is my Beautiful G-F i no want to leave her, i cant let her run the place on her own as in october she got robbed in the shop while i was at the 7/11 getting a phone card, wow i felt so sry for her, we close now 8pm while the other shops are still open, i never leave her alone no more, we cant really afford to hire staff as this is a thai restaurant & the food cost for 30 to 50 baht a bowl, so we not really have a lot of spear money just enougth to pay all bills & a few baht for our selfs, but i was happy as to live here for free, free rent / food / drinks ect. ive booked my flight home already in april, i said to my G-F il be back in about 6 to 8 months time il stay for a month or two, i will try next time im back to see if i can take her back with me, but so much paper work so hard for these thais to leave there own country, its going to be harder for me as i no want the English gov to know my business (if you know what i mean) I FIND THAILAND IS GT FOR A HOLIDAY BUT TO LIVE HERE IS COMPLETY DIFFERENT NOT FOR ME. THESE THAI PEOPLE HAVE NO VALUE FOR LIFE SO THEY NO CARE IF THEY TAKE THE LIFE OF OTHERS. but as i all ways say each to there own, i hate this place so much now. all i say to all is B-SAFE OUT THERE.

[Lancashirelad]

LittlePiggy: what exactly was the reason stated for your Thai Lady's visa refusal?

[GucciLittlePiggy]

LittlePiggy: what exactly was the reason stated for your Thai Lady's visa refusal?

I don't have a Thai lady. I was merely using a hypothetical example to query why it is easier for other non EU nationalities to gain visas than it is for Thais. According to 'da man' it isn't, whereas those residing in a world not entirely consisting of our own sphincter's know otherwise...

[GucciLittlePiggy]

Why would anybody want to live in Britain at all? I am Scandinavian, and lived and worked there as a seaman for nine years. I didn't like it at all. I was very happy when I left for good, and I will never visit again. Dirty everywhere, and only talking about football. No thanks!

Why should any Thai be so silly that they move to the UK?

To see the architects of the modern world, dear boy. They, like all, should come to pay homage, and say thank you.

And the football. Especially the football.

[Dustybin]

All the south east towns and cities are full of thais working in the brothels and massage parlours.

Check out the crawley, brighton, southampton classifieds.

They work one place for a while then move on somewhere else.

Whats your moll up to when your at work?

[tigerfish]

my wife is thai,

married for 8 years. she first came to the u.k. 6 years ago. shortly after we married, we went to apply for her 2 year u.k. resident visa which she was entitled to do, being married to someone from the u.k. we collected all the paper work, got all the certificates and translations done and went home to fill out all the documentation. i sat her and the rather large family down and said if there is anything i need to know tell me now(no bullshit) because if you do they will find out. after sweaty my nuts off all day filling out several different forms i was satisfied that we where ready to submit the application.

the next day we went off to the british embassy in bangkok. when called, handed over all the paper work, along with the fee and all the correspondents we had kept in the two years prior to getting married.(i met my wife in a barbers shop the first time i came to thailand on holiday. the first thai girl i ever talked to, needed a shave, fell for her instantly and asked her out) anyway back to the story. we had kept copies of emails, phone records, flight tickets and hotel receipts of holidays we had spent together, from the 5 trips i had made back to thailand to see her, photos, wedding photos you name it. you should have seen the guys face behind the counter. the stack must have been at least a foot and a half high. they asked her a few questions on her own and said o.k. we will give you a call.

6 days later got the call to say would we come into the embassy and bobs your uncle no problem, 2 year visa stamp on behalf of her majestys muppet show.

we stayed 5 years in london, england working all hours two jobs weekends you name it saving up to come back to thailand. initially the u.k. was a shock to the system for my wife, like it would be for anyone. all the usual things, the cold , food ,culture etc.. it helps though and stands you in good sted if your coming from an animal of a place like bangkok to a beast of a city like london.

i got her a national insurance number and a thai friend of mine gave her a job as a cook in his restaurant( made sure she paid her taxes. in time she started to take on her own indentity and find her feet. a good thing for anyone when they staying in a foreign country. small things at first like buying a bus pass and catching the wright number bus to go to work. it also helped that she had a small piece of home with her all the time whislt being at work. she could talk to her friends at work in her own tongue, and eat the food she was use to eating back home in thailand.

i also tried to install into her that work and money isnt everything( not an easy thing to do with a thai, when shes was earning more in a week in england than she would do in a month of work in thailand.

we went out at weekends and bank holidays, showed her all the places i love about my own city, smithfield meat market at 4a.m. on a friday morning, china town and eating dim sum, the arsenal football club, camden market, the view from ally pally. plus i took her to thai day outs at battersea park, loy khratong festival at the thai temple in wimbledon, and to see all my friends in the pubs around london that do thai food.

she had and still has a large amount of friends back in london. i think its important for anyone when settling in a foreign land to feel comfortable and not alienated. she made a big impression on my family and got on so well, my mother will always regard her as the daughter she never had. bit of a bumer at christmas though, gets bigger and better presents than me now. god shes like a five year old kid as soon as december kicks in.

altough different in lots of ways i have never had any problems with her trying out foods that she is not accustomed to. loves a good fry up, roast beef and yorkshire puds, lamb, turkey, sausage rolls, scotch eggs, mussels in white wine, steak and kidney pies, an indian on a friday night after she finished work. you name it she will give it a try. the only thing she is not keen on is dairy and cheeses. thats because of her upbringing. when she was young they didnt have to many things like that in thailand. it was a diet of fresh foods and vegetables and fruit. not alot of chocolates and sweets, not like the kids of today who seem to eat alot more falang foods.

all in all i think she is a credit to herself, her family, her people, her country and i am a very lucky man to have her as my wife.

as for the question about why are there so few thai in the u.k. i think it a concoxtion of alot of things all rolled into one.

firstly: as in any country when you want to visit or stay in it, you play by their rules. dont like it tuff! no lying, telling fibbs, be honest. theirs no way around the system. they will find you out in the end.( the amount of thais i have known to work in the u.k. mostly in the restaurants business and not pay tax) one day the premises get a call from the inland revenue. employees are asked to show proof of employment and wage slips THEIR SCREWED!

secondly: like most countrys their always going to be some bad apples. english people have the reputation of being lager louts and football holigans when they go abroad. sorry to say this but alot of people s perceptions of thai women in the u.k. is that they are money grabbers, only marry a guy for 2 years and then run with the money. told you so i bet i know what she did when she was back in thailand, kind of view. unfortunately there are a few who live up to that reputation and spoil it for all the good ones out there.

thirdly and finally: when you do go to another country, you owe it to yourself most of all to give it a go. yes its hard, nobody said it would be easy. you miss home, your family, the foods different, why cant i get fresh papaya, why are rambutans 3 quid for half a kilo. because they are, the same way i cant get a decent packet of bacon. DEAL WITH IT! think of what a waste and what you could have done with the 25 odd thousand baht you paid on the airline ticket.

so there you go. doubtless to say there will be those of you out there senior members with over 500 posts, older guys who think they know it all, jokers,whatever, i really dont care i am just trying to answer the question asked the best i can, from my own experiences, in my own way.

[hammered]

Trying to get back to the OP question. The thai people I know in the UK are scattered around the country rather than concentrated in an area. Of course not every town will have them but even those that do may have few. And Im not talking about any in illicit industries.

Edited January 12, 2010 by hammered

[MSingh]

There's thousands in Scandanavia so that rules out the Climate debate..

Weird though, 90% are Females, aged between 20 - 35...

[tb86]

plenty of thai students in boarding schools and uni

[wolf5370]

Why would anybody want to live in Britain at all? I am Scandinavian, and lived and worked there as a seaman for nine years. I didn't like it at all. I was very happy when I left for good, and I will never visit again. Dirty everywhere, and only talking about football. No thanks!

Why should any Thai be so silly that they move to the UK?

Lived and worked as a seaman? So, you were in a coastal town then? In those nine years how much of Britain did you see? Dirty everywhere? I lived in Britain for a lot longer than 9 years and I can honestly say Thaialnd is far dirtier! Soi dog mess everywhere, no piece of green not littered with plastic bags full of rubbish some passing Thai motorist lobbed there rather than dropping in the bin at the next gas station. When I lived in the UK the roads were swept both by men in dayglow and by roadsweeping machines. Bins on most lamp posts and both recycle and rubbish bins everywhere (except tube stations due to terrorist fears) in the capital. Most people have a real pride in their houses and cars and both are usually kept in good repair (at least visually). As I said, where did you live for 9 years?

Of course your home country is so wonderful you can justify attacking others (I notice you didn't name it!) - wonder why you are in Thailand?

[The Philosopher]

Because of the climate?

It might concern all European countries (except for the Mediterranean region).

God they must all be in Leicester then, I had 11 in my house on Sunday Sum Tam and cards day. I went to the Pub

Edited January 15, 2010 by The Philosopher

[MAJIC]

Because of the climate?

It might concern all European countries (except for the Mediterranean region).

Official figures are 30,000 Thais live in the UK,divided around the Counties that makes 2,000 per county,but probably

most will live in the Cities,where work is more plentiful. But look up the Thai restaurants in your area and you will see

them.

I believe Germany has a similar figure of Thais living in the their Country. Its not easy getting a Settlement Visa for the

UK,which would probably account for the relatively low figure,and the stamp in their Settlement Visas "No Recourse to Public Funds"

[MAJIC]

Why would anybody want to live in Britain at all? I am Scandinavian, and lived and worked there as a seaman for nine years. I didn't like it at all. I was very happy when I left for good, and I will never visit again. Dirty everywhere, and only talking about football. No thanks!

Why should any Thai be so silly that they move to the UK?

Lived and worked as a seaman? So, you were in a coastal town then? In those nine years how much of Britain did you see? Dirty everywhere? I lived in Britain for a lot longer than 9 years and I can honestly say Thaialnd is far dirtier! Soi dog mess everywhere, no piece of green not littered with plastic bags full of rubbish some passing Thai motorist lobbed there rather than dropping in the bin at the next gas station. When I lived in the UK the roads were swept both by men in dayglow and by roadsweeping machines. Bins on most lamp posts and both recycle and rubbish bins everywhere (except tube stations due to terrorist fears) in the capital. Most people have a real pride in their houses and cars and both are usually kept in good repair (at least visually). As I said, where did you live for 9 years?

Of course your home country is so wonderful you can justify attacking others (I notice you didn't name it!) - wonder why you are in Thailand?

Well said I have many friends in Thailand from Norway Denmark and Sweden and to a man all of them agree couldnt

wait to get out and live permanently in Thailand,only reason they go back now is a recall/check in, to their Pension department.

Incidently when my Thai wife first came to the UK,she couldnt believe how clean it was,sounds like you stayed on

board ship in Port during your 9 years in England

[MAJIC]

I also find them to be very arrogant people. Met many of them in Birmingham area, all along the a38 corridor upto Burton on Trent.

I visited a temple north of there (actually, stayed 4 days at the temple, giving merit). One actually told me that the temple is for thais only.

You see, it's catching, Thais who go to UK soon go the same way as the rest of Brits.

Your not from OZ are you?

[Brigante7]

There's about 700 living in Edinburgh and I think my wife knows 699 of them.

Brigante7.

[Nignoy]

never had a problem finding thai,s in either UK or germany, my history with thailand goes back a bit further than most, we even ran a thai social club in surrey in the late 80,s early 90,s,getting visas for UK today is a piece of piss,walk a mile in my shoes legally married in thailand both in the wat and by a methodist army padre in Ubon in april 1965, all approved by the embassy,uk visas for thai wife and 2 children approved in bkk , august 66 wife and children refused entry to UK, refused boarding permission in singapore, I was informed by authorities in UK my marriage was illegal supposedly insufficient background checks had been done on my wifes family, I was posted to BAOR both passport and ID card confiscated and I was confined to camp my marriage was deemed invalid and consequently annulled by the govt in september 1966, at least today there is an appeals process and a clear playing field to apply for visas

[Forethat]

Britain's not THAT bad, is it?

I lived in London for 10 years. It was my home. I loved the place. Still do. But there's a flip side of every coin. To sum it up: Britain can be VERY bad. Especially England.

[GucciLittlePiggy]

Britain's not THAT bad, is it?

I lived in London for 10 years. It was my home. I loved the place. Still do. But there's a flip side of every coin. To sum it up: Britain can be VERY bad. Especially England.

What do you mean? Have you lived for 10 years in Wales and Scotland too?

And what do you mean 'Britain can be VERY bad'? In what way?

[GucciLittlePiggy]

Because of the climate?

It might concern all European countries (except for the Mediterranean region).

Official figures are 30,000 Thais live in the UK,divided around the Counties that makes 2,000 per county,but probably

most will live in the Cities,where work is more plentiful. But look up the Thai restaurants in your area and you will see

them.

I believe Germany has a similar figure of Thais living in the their Country. Its not easy getting a Settlement Visa for the

UK,which would probably account for the relatively low figure,and the stamp in their Settlement Visas "No Recourse to Public Funds"

Quite. This rather proves my point that it's easier for British males to marry and resettle women from colonial countries than places such as thailand, despite what the squealers tell us. This is clearly discriminatory and wrong IMO.

[choppertony]

I live N.E. England ( goerdie land ) , Our lass been ere nearly 7 yrs now , There was,nt many around when she 1st came but now there,s loads of em , think i set a new trend away