Settlement In The Uk For A Family Based In Thailand

[davos09]

Hi guys,

First of all, my apologies for such a long post. I've been racking my mind to give as much information as possible, and this is how it's turned out!

I visit this forum regularly and think it's great! It was very helpful when I wanted information and advice with regards to a UK family visit visa for my wife and daughter in October 2009. More recently, I've been reading into stories about settlement in the UK, as it is our next plan.

The three of us live together in Thailand. I work as an English teacher - surprise! I enjoy the job, but it's at a bit of a dead end, not having much capacity to progress financially. Don't get me wrong, we aren't struggling, it's just I've been doing it for two years and could see myself still doing it in five years and won't have progressed any further. Also, we're now expecting our second child, due in July. So the time has come where we've had to think what is best for our future and our children.

Following our visit to the UK in October 2009, we decided there would be better opportunities for us all back in the UK. My wife really enjoyed herself too! When we we're leaving to comeback to Thailand, neither of us wanted to go! She got along with my family very well.

My advantage is that I'm still young - 25 years old, and finding a job/career back in the UK shouldn't be a problem. I've kept good relations with my last employer in the UK throughout the duration of me living in Thailand - just over two years.

Before we discovered my wife was expecting our second child, we had been planning to file her settlement application later this year. We're still optimistic that this could be possible, but in order to avoid disappointment, we aren't setting ourselves a specific timescale. When we're ready to go, we'll be ready to go! I still have many things to sort out - such as British passports for both our children. I wasn't able to arrange my daughters British passport for our last trip as I didn't have my full birth certificate. Whilst we were in the UK I got it and now have it ready. Now, it's a case of waiting for our second child to be born so I can process them both at the same time.

What I'm finding hard is finding similar stories. I have read many success stories of Husbands based in the UK making settlement for their wives, but haven't seen success stories from husbands based in Thailand with their families who intend to bring the whole clan over! I have some queries and would be grateful for any advice.....

I've made the main question of each section bold. Hopefully it makes it clearer?!

1) After our second child is born, I will apply for both of my children's British passports. Is it necessary to register their births at the UK embassy in Bangkok when applying for their passports, or can I do this at a later stage back in the UK? Cost wise, it makes quite a difference. (I've read to register birth + first passport = about 12,000 baht, whereas first passport, no birth certificate= 4,000 baht).

2) We stayed for three weeks with my parents when we visited in October 2009. My father was acting sponsor of the trip, and so provided all his bank details, mortgage statements, etc. My parents own a three bedroom house. Would we be able to stay with them again or does overcrowding become an issue? There would be my parents, me and my wife and our two children living at the house, but of course, only for a limited period, e.g 2-3 months whilst we set up our own place. If we were to apply later this year, our first child would be a year and a half old, counting as half a person. Our second child would be 6 months old counting as nothing. My parents, me and my wife would count as four totaling 4.5 people. From what I've read on the maintenance/accommodation guidelines this would suffice. As I said it would only be temporary, but would it really be acceptable to the E.C.O?

3) Would my parents be able to provide financial assistance as they did for the family visit?

4) This is probably the most important question, and I know people have asked before. What would be a recommended/realistic/acceptable figure for us as a family to show in savings? I'm particularly interested in answers from people who have been working in Thailand but had success with settlement when bringing their wife and children to the UK (that's if there has been such a thing!).

5) How much would I need to be earning in the UK to satisfy spouse and dependent requirements?

6) How would I show I have employment waiting for me back in the UK? Is it just a case of providing a job offer letter specifying salary, start date etc?

Above all, I'm aware the main part is for my wife to demonstrate no recourse to public funds, but with so much to consider, it's hard to know what's acceptable for earnings, savings etc and to satisfy them that she won't use public funds!

It's ironic how the visa fee is non-refundable, especially if they refuse on grounds of not being able to maintain yourselves.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post. All I want is to get things clear in my mind so I would know where to start when the time comes, hopefully it's sooner rather than later!

Davos

[sumrit]

Hi Davos,

I moved back to the UK with my family about seven months ago after living in Thailand for about four years and it wasn't a big problem getting visas.I know of a few people who did the same thing last year as well. As for your questions:

1. I believe you can get the birth certificate once your back in the UK but somebody will say if I'm wrong.

2. As long as you and your wife have got your own bedroom and your children also have a bedroom your not overcrowded. Your parents would have to supply similar housing details to last time again. (we stayed with my son for the first few weeks and that wasn't a problem for the ECO)

3. Yes, third party financial support is now acceptable. Your parents would have to detail what finance is available.

4. There's no minimum figure but ECO will use the UK income support level for a family of your size as his guideline for income/savings minimum requirement that you would need to have available.

5. Same as Q.4.

6. Yes, a letter with a secure job offer showing start date, salary, etc.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

You should have no real issues as long as you meet the maintenance and accommodation requirements you should be OK.

Insert pictures of the family home just to satisfy the ECO concerns if he/she has any.

Third party support is acceptable if required.

If you require professional help feel free to contact me.

[davos09]

Many thanks to you Sumrit for taking the time to answer my questions, and to Thai Visa Express for backing it up. I'm hoping we can go for it later in the year, and your input has reassured me that we may stand a chance!

Is there anyone out there who could clarify whether or not the British birth certificates for my children can be obtained in the UK? And if so, what costs would be involved? If it can be done in the UK, I may as well only process the British passports in Thailand....right?

I'm also trying to find more information about the guidelines/figures the E.C.O will use to determine we have adequate funds available and earnings to support my family without recourse to public funds. If anyone can provide relevant information regarding that, I'd most appreciate it.

Cheers

[sumrit]

Is there anyone out there who could clarify whether or not the Brier these tish birth certificates for my children can be obtained in the UK?

I believe you can get the birth certificate once your back in the UK but somebody will say if I'm wrong. The reason I said this was because a friend of mine is in the process of getting his daughter her first passport in the Phillipines. He was told to register her birth with the British Embassy using her Phillipine birth certificate then he could get her passport. Then, because her birth is registered at the embassy he could get a UK birth certificate at anytime in the UK.

I'm also trying to find more information about the guidelines/figures the E.C.O will use to determine we have adequate funds available and earnings to support my family without recourse to public funds. If anyone can provide relevant information regarding that, I'd most appreciate it.

Have a look on this web page http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/fs_isr.pdf

The only thing it doesn't say is whether child benefit is included in the figures. I forgot to say in my earlier post the income support rates are available income.........that is after housing costs have been accounted for. Of course if you're initially staying with your parents you won't have any housing costs . But remember these are only guideline figures.

[7by7]

See also Maintenance and accommodation.

[Thongkorn]

Off topic a little, Just read in the news papers,The UK expects about 4 million Ex pats to Move back to the UK In the next few years, Because of the falling Value of the pound. The retirement pensions are not enough to sustain living in Europe or else were, So I think What ever you chose You will have to get a move on, The Price of visas will be going sky high and so will the waiting lists,

[davos09]

thanks for your input guys, much appreciated

[DavidOxon]

HI

the cost of getting the birth certificate in the UK is £161

for births of citizens outside the UK ... so basically the same cost as applying at the embassy/consulate here.

info page here

click

David

Edited March 31, 2010 by DavidOxon