Lucky to have got out in time or not?

[Cypress Hill]

Choosing the needs of children's education over parents desire to be in Thailand is almost always the right decision.

Even the very best international schools in Thailand barely hold up against the better state schools in the UK, not simply on the grounds of educational standards, but also on a range of social and personal development issues too.

That's OK for now, but the way the UK is going, and by the time the children are adults, the country will be well on the way to being under the control of people of a certain faith.

If Thailand can just sort a few things out with the help of the general, the country can get better. At least the Thais look after their own first, something the UK have never done.

It's just a pity that the education is so poor here. I think that is about the only thing the UK have ahead of Thailand. also, the corruption is even worse from the UK government than it was in Thailand.

For phugz sake why does any discussion of the UK always seem to come back to immigrants or religion-based paranoia with you?

You can sit here and fight the Thais' corner all you bloody well like but until such time as you jump through the hoops that Thai immigration lay out for you for PR or citizenship, you will never - I repeat, NEVER - have the right of abode here and, as such, you're just as vulnerable as everyone else to the whims of the immigration officer or clerk on duty on the day you wanna re-enter the kingdom or renew whatever visa/extension you're here on.

Yes, the UK has its problems but guess what, if and when Thai immigration decides to piss on your cornflakes, Mother England will be there with open arms to clutch you to her bosom

Stop being such an ingrate

[NoshowJones]

Choosing the needs of children's education over parents desire to be in Thailand is almost always the right decision.

Even the very best international schools in Thailand barely hold up against the better state schools in the UK, not simply on the grounds of educational standards, but also on a range of social and personal development issues too.

That's OK for now, but the way the UK is going, and by the time the children are adults, the country will be well on the way to being under the control of people of a certain faith.

If Thailand can just sort a few things out with the help of the general, the country can get better. At least the Thais look after their own first, something the UK have never done.

It's just a pity that the education is so poor here. I think that is about the only thing the UK have ahead of Thailand. also, the corruption is even worse from the UK government than it was in Thailand.

For phugz sake why does any discussion of the UK always seem to come back to immigrants or religion-based paranoia with you?

You can sit here and fight the Thais' corner all you bloody well like but until such time as you jump through the hoops that Thai immigration lay out for you for PR or citizenship, you will never - I repeat, NEVER - have the right of abode here and, as such, you're just as vulnerable as everyone else to the whims of the immigration officer or clerk on duty on the day you wanna re-enter the kingdom or renew whatever visa/extension you're here on.

Yes, the UK has its problems but guess what, if and when Thai immigration decides to piss on your cornflakes, Mother England will be there with open arms to clutch you to her bosom

Stop being such an ingrate

I stand by everything I say, for all Thailands faults, the UK could learn a lot from them. We won't have to worry about being run over with emigrants here.

[GuestHouse]

I hope you declared all your overseas assets to the UK Government in exchange for your free education and other benefits.

Overseas assets or indeed any assets are not a consideration in access to state education.

Someone is teaching in Thailand then moves to the UK with two kids. Can't afford to send them to an International school here but can just up roots and live in the UK without benefits? I don't think so.

What have the OP's life style and life choices got to do with the entitlement of his children to free state education in the UK.

Once he has moved his family to the UK his children will be enrolled in state schools regardless of any factor other than their age and immigration status - The OP and his wife may own as many assets in Thailand, the UK or anywhere - their assets are absolutely nothing to do with their children receiving free state education.

Wriggle as you will.

[Munger]

Choosing the needs of children's education over parents desire to be in Thailand is almost always the right decision.

Even the very best international schools in Thailand barely hold up against the better state schools in the UK, not simply on the grounds of educational standards, but also on a range of social and personal development issues too.

That's OK for now, but the way the UK is going, and by the time the children are adults, the country will be well on the way to being under the control of people of a certain faith.

If Thailand can just sort a few things out with the help of the general, the country can get better. At least the Thais look after their own first, something the UK have never done.

It's just a pity that the education is so poor here. I think that is about the only thing the UK have ahead of Thailand. also, the corruption is even worse from the UK government than it was in Thailand.

For phugz sake why does any discussion of the UK always seem to come back to immigrants or religion-based paranoia with you?

You can sit here and fight the Thais' corner all you bloody well like but until such time as you jump through the hoops that Thai immigration lay out for you for PR or citizenship, you will never - I repeat, NEVER - have the right of abode here and, as such, you're just as vulnerable as everyone else to the whims of the immigration officer or clerk on duty on the day you wanna re-enter the kingdom or renew whatever visa/extension you're here on.

Yes, the UK has its problems but guess what, if and when Thai immigration decides to piss on your cornflakes, Mother England will be there with open arms to clutch you to her bosom

Stop being such an ingrate

YUP, and his previous post said " corruption is even worse in the Uk government than Thailand. The Thai apologists just dont know when to stop.

[GuestHouse]

For phugz sake why does any discussion of the UK always seem to come back to immigrants or religion-based paranoia with you?

You can sit here and fight the Thais' corner all you bloody well like but until such time as you jump through the hoops that Thai immigration lay out for you for PR or citizenship, you will never - I repeat, NEVER - have the right of abode here and, as such, you're just as vulnerable as everyone else to the whims of the immigration officer or clerk on duty on the day you wanna re-enter the kingdom or renew whatever visa/extension you're here on.

Yes, the UK has its problems but guess what, if and when Thai immigration decides to piss on your cornflakes, Mother England will be there with open arms to clutch you to her bosom

Stop being such an ingrate

I stand by everything I say, for all Thailands faults, the UK could learn a lot from them. We won't have to worry about being run over with emigrants here.

An immigrant to Thailand moaning about immigrants overrunning his own country - Your 'avin a larf are't you!

[Cypress Hill]

That's OK for now, but the way the UK is going, and by the time the children are adults, the country will be well on the way to being under the control of people of a certain faith.

If Thailand can just sort a few things out with the help of the general, the country can get better. At least the Thais look after their own first, something the UK have never done.

It's just a pity that the education is so poor here. I think that is about the only thing the UK have ahead of Thailand. also, the corruption is even worse from the UK government than it was in Thailand.

For phugz sake why does any discussion of the UK always seem to come back to immigrants or religion-based paranoia with you?

You can sit here and fight the Thais' corner all you bloody well like but until such time as you jump through the hoops that Thai immigration lay out for you for PR or citizenship, you will never - I repeat, NEVER - have the right of abode here and, as such, you're just as vulnerable as everyone else to the whims of the immigration officer or clerk on duty on the day you wanna re-enter the kingdom or renew whatever visa/extension you're here on.

Yes, the UK has its problems but guess what, if and when Thai immigration decides to piss on your cornflakes, Mother England will be there with open arms to clutch you to her bosom

Stop being such an ingrate

I stand by everything I say, for all Thailands faults, the UK could learn a lot from them. We won't have to worry about being run over with emigrants here.

What do you mean "WE won't have to worry about being run over with emigrants here"??

Are you Thai in your little self-constructed Matrix, then?

[cmsally]

Choosing the needs of children's education over parents desire to be in Thailand is almost always the right decision.

Even the very best international schools in Thailand barely hold up against the better state schools in the UK, not simply on the grounds of educational standards, but also on a range of social and personal development issues too.

That's OK for now, but the way the UK is going, and by the time the children are adults, the country will be well on the way to being under the control of people of a certain faith.

If Thailand can just sort a few things out with the help of the general, the country can get better. At least the Thais look after their own first, something the UK have never done.

It's just a pity that the education is so poor here. I think that is about the only thing the UK have ahead of Thailand. also, the corruption is even worse from the UK government than it was in Thailand.

For phugz sake why does any discussion of the UK always seem to come back to immigrants or religion-based paranoia with you?

You can sit here and fight the Thais' corner all you bloody well like but until such time as you jump through the hoops that Thai immigration lay out for you for PR or citizenship, you will never - I repeat, NEVER - have the right of abode here and, as such, you're just as vulnerable as everyone else to the whims of the immigration officer or clerk on duty on the day you wanna re-enter the kingdom or renew whatever visa/extension you're here on.

Yes, the UK has its problems but guess what, if and when Thai immigration decides to piss on your cornflakes, Mother England will be there with open arms to clutch you to her bosom

Stop being such an ingrate

I stand by everything I say, for all Thailands faults, the UK could learn a lot from them. We won't have to worry about being run over with emigrants here.

According to the laws of logic, that would include you as an immigrant (apologies if you are a Thai citizen).

Whether you are citizen, resident or visa holder it never pays to miss the reality check. If you are smart you can turn the situation to your advantage. However there will be times when even the smartest need a back up plan and I would say the near future will be one of those times.

[Pomthai]

Someone is teaching in Thailand then moves to the UK with two kids. Can't afford to send them to an International school here but can just up roots and live in the UK without benefits? I don't think so.

A qualified teacher in the UK can easily get a wage of 25k/year.

His wife can also work in the UK the day they get off the plane, even as a cleaner she would earn 10-14k/year

Easily done for a family with two adults of working age.

25K minus 30% tax = 1458 GBP pm or $2500 pm try living off that in the UK. Not having a go at you but it's peanuts.

Utter rot about UK taxation. The first 10,000 is tax free for starters and that doesn't take into account children etc or any other reductions.

Edited July 17, 2014 by Pomthai

[AnotherOneAmerican]

That's OK for now, but the way the UK is going, and by the time the children are adults, the country will be well on the way to being under the control of people of a certain faith.

If Thailand can just sort a few things out with the help of the general, the country can get better. At least the Thais look after their own first, something the UK have never done.

It's just a pity that the education is so poor here. I think that is about the only thing the UK have ahead of Thailand. also, the corruption is even worse from the UK government than it was in Thailand.

For phugz sake why does any discussion of the UK always seem to come back to immigrants or religion-based paranoia with you?

You can sit here and fight the Thais' corner all you bloody well like but until such time as you jump through the hoops that Thai immigration lay out for you for PR or citizenship, you will never - I repeat, NEVER - have the right of abode here and, as such, you're just as vulnerable as everyone else to the whims of the immigration officer or clerk on duty on the day you wanna re-enter the kingdom or renew whatever visa/extension you're here on.

Yes, the UK has its problems but guess what, if and when Thai immigration decides to piss on your cornflakes, Mother England will be there with open arms to clutch you to her bosom

Stop being such an ingrate

I stand by everything I say, for all Thailands faults, the UK could learn a lot from them. We won't have to worry about being run over with emigrants here.

What do you mean "WE won't have to worry about being run over with emigrants here"??

Are you Thai in your little self-constructed Matrix, then?

Just to point out

Emigrant is someone leaving their country forever.

Immigrant is someone coming to a country forever.

Neither word is applicable to foreigners in Thailand, and I believe all your passports get stamped "non-immigrant" to point that fact out to you.

In the UK all the people of foreign origin would be immigrants (not emigrants, if they were emigrants you wouldn't see them there)

[AnotherOneAmerican]

There is nothing wrong with emigrants in any country as long as they are contributing to it as I and other expats are doing, how many of the emigrants in the UK are contributing to it? most of them are only there for the benefits they are picking up, and for a country with a similar population to Thailand, and much smaller, there is no room for them.

I am really surprised to have to explain this to you, you are obviously not from the UK, and if you are, your way of thinking is very much in the minority.

IMMIGRANTS!

Edited July 17, 2014 by AnotherOneAmerican

[ATF]

Anyway if anyone doesn't like the Thai Immigration laws you are more than welcome to find spiritual and financial nirvana in the UK or any country of your choosing. Along with all the incidental responsibilities that such country forces upon you.

Thailand has been very good to me and I don't see any reason for that to change.

[NoshowJones]

An immigrant to Thailand moaning about immigrants overrunning his own country - Your 'avin a larf are't you!

There is nothing wrong with emigrants in any country as long as they are contributing to it as I and other expats are doing, how many of the emigrants in the UK are contributing to it? most of them are only there for the benefits they are picking up, and for a country with a similar population to Thailand, and much smaller, there is no room for them.

I am really surprised to have to explain this to you, you are obviously not from the UK, and if you are, your way of thinking is very much in the minority.

Listen to yourself.

What do you mean MOST of them are only there for the benefits??

How do you know?

Oh sorry, what's that?

Ah, UKIP told you so, right??

Well that's proof then, innit?

The locals cane 100 times as much in the way of benefits than any immigrant group in the UK.

White, born-and-bred, English-speaking scroungers are at the centre of numerous well documented cases where people who've never worked a day in their lives have managed to bear families of 15+ children . . .all paid for by the state and here you sit saying it's all down to the immigrants.

Whenever I head back to London, I see armies of immigrants going to work at daft o'clock doing the jobs the afore-mentioned indigenous scum consider to be beneath them.

Many work 2 or 3 different low-paid jobs to make ends meet but they still can't catch a break from the bigots over at UKIP.

Yes, and the last time I was in the UK about three years ago, I was walking down a busy main road at 11pm minding my own business when three Eastern Europeans chased after me shouting in a foreign language, good job I was able to run, or who knows what may have happened to me. The place is full of those people all day, they are obviously not working.

The UK needs UKIP, you call them all you like, they can not be as bad as the thieving scum of UK governments who have been there all my adult life robbing the working class at every turn to make their rich friends richer.

You have your opinion and I have mine, so we will agree to differ.

[GuestHouse]

Anyway if anyone doesn't like the Thai Immigration laws you are more than welcome to find spiritual and financial nirvana in the UK or any country of your choosing. Along with all the incidental responsibilities that such country forces upon you.

Thailand has been very good to me and I don't see any reason for that to change.

Thailand has been very good to me too.

But I have no expectation that that could not change.

The OP has children, the needs of his family have changed and he has made what he believes to be the best decision of his family.

Where anyone finds the need to rant against immigration to the UK, or any of the other diatribe in this thread on the basis of parents making what they clearly believe to be the right decisions for their children is beyond me.

[krisb]

Yep good for you guys I say.

Like a good parent does, makes sure the kids come first.

[ATF]

My baby is almost 3 and deciding on where to get the best schooling is a tough one. In the US public schools vary from district to district. A private school is still the best. Or, relocate within Thailand to the area of good international schools.

I would suggest to send the child to a good private Thai school until 10 years old and then to an International school.

Worked well for me and then the child is truly dual cultural.

[HooHaa]

i dont see a question in the op. you made your choice, why bring it up here a year later?

[Thighlander]

I grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia. The public schools there are better than the private schools. The top high school in America is in that school district. Median home price is 460,000, which ain't cheap; but it's a lot less than private school tuition. UVA and William and Mary are both public universities, and also cheaper, and better than their private counterparts. In many parts of the US; the good K-12 schools are needles in haystacks. A home in a good school district in California will likely cost 7 figures......States like Florida and Michigan simply don't have any, along with quite a few others. www.fcps.edu

Edited July 17, 2014 by Thighlander

[JockPieandBeans]

Anyway if anyone doesn't like the Thai Immigration laws you are more than welcome to find spiritual and financial nirvana in the UK or any country of your choosing. Along with all the incidental responsibilities that such country forces upon you.

Thailand has been very good to me and I don't see any reason for that to change.

Thailand has been very good to me too.

But I have no expectation that that could not change.

The OP has children, the needs of his family have changed and he has made what he believes to be the best decision of his family.

Where anyone finds the need to rant against immigration to the UK, or any of the other diatribe in this thread on the basis of parents making what they clearly believe to be the right decisions for their children is beyond me.

Ditto.

I will always be an alien here, and I could be asked to leave at anytime. I understand and accept that.

But to decry people for making a decision that puts their children's needs before their own. is seriously wrong IMO.

[HooHaa]

got to say the overall hysteria on this board has become tiresome.

Worse, if its not hysteria over the reinterpretation of long standing regulations and imposition of more severe penalties where once there was a simple fine, it is smugness and a reveling in the misfortune of others from the nearly dead set.

i have lived here through an overstay, 10 years of work permits and non B extensions and most recently non immigrant O visas to support my child. I have soothed over bumps in the road with one visa run in 18 years and a couple trips out of the country by air only to return with a tourist visa. I am not eligible for a retirement visa for a good few years yet.

I have always worked within what the system considered acceptable, often leaving thailand for a couple of months at a time to top up the coffers. I have a rented home i have lived in for 13 years and where my child and nanny live. I am not married and my child is not legitimized, though that will be easy to fix.

I do not live in fear, but the ground has shifted under my feet and i am concerned mostly about which hoops i will need to jump through to maintain what, for me is a very enjoyable lifestyle.

I also do not judge others for their situations, i simply don't care, but i am disgusted by those who rant and rail against people who have "abused" the system, when in fact they were simply working within the confines of what was acceptable.

i suspect those same people have also always willingly paid the highest tax rate possible rather than finding intelligent strategies and write offs to minimize their exposure. sad miserable bastards they are.

Edited July 17, 2014 by HooHaa

[thehelmsman]

My baby is almost 3 and deciding on where to get the best schooling is a tough one. In the US public schools vary from district to district. A private school is still the best. Or, relocate within Thailand to the area of good international schools.

I would suggest to send the child to a good private Thai school until 10 years old and then to an International school.

Worked well for me and then the child is truly dual cultural.

Staying in thailand is the preferred path I think, the tuition for international is doable but at the same time hard to swallow. St. Joseph's will be the school she starts in.

[kevozman1]

Education and employment, certainly two aspects back in the UK that is undeniably superior to what Thailand offers. Thing is life is two-dimensional and grey compared to being somewhere like Thailand. Always wise not to burn all bridges back to UK though. You may need to return to employment or better paid employment at least, or like the OP return with children for educational purposes. I just wonder when (or if) I have a family will I be as selfless to move back to somewhere I would in all honesty be less happy for the sake of my children having a better education and options into early adult life.

[thehelmsman]

I grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia. The public schools there are better than the private schools. The top high school in America is in that school district. Median home price is 460,000, which ain't cheap; but it's a lot less than private school tuition. UVA and William and Mary are both public universities, and also cheaper, and better than their private counterparts. In many parts of the US; the good K-12 schools are needles in haystacks. A home in a good school district in California will likely cost 7 figures......States like Florida and Michigan simply don't have any, along with quite a few others. www.fcps.edu

I'm sure the facts are correct but would not live in Virginia. I'm raised in Calif. but have been to Norfolk a few times for work, couldn't live there.

I think too much.............

[MJP]

Education and employment, certainly two aspects back in the UK that is undeniably superior to what Thailand offers. Thing is life is two-dimensional and grey compared to being somewhere like Thailand. Always wise not to burn all bridges back to UK though. You may need to return to employment or better paid employment at least, or like the OP return with children for educational purposes. I just wonder when (or if) I have a family will I be as selfless to move back to somewhere I would in all honesty be less happy for the sake of my children having a better education and options into early adult life.

I've been desperate to get the kids out of there, but their mother couldn't stand Blighty and the UK visa required the mother to go too.

[Loptr]

vunerable

maybe speeling would as wood might make you feel vunerable hahahahah

sorry i jest and digress

My future is brilliant as an expat ,dont need to work, dont need a beer bar, and staying her for 11 years legaly, what more could a man want

It would be funny if the OP had not stated that he was a teacher...

[Robroona]

I hope you declared all your overseas assets to the UK Government in exchange for your free education and other benefits.

There is always one!!! What an idiotic thing to post.

"I hope". Who the hell do you think you are?

[thailiketoo]

I grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia. The public schools there are better than the private schools. The top high school in America is in that school district. Median home price is 460,000, which ain't cheap; but it's a lot less than private school tuition. UVA and William and Mary are both public universities, and also cheaper, and better than their private counterparts. In many parts of the US; the good K-12 schools are needles in haystacks. A home in a good school district in California will likely cost 7 figures......States like Florida and Michigan simply don't have any, along with quite a few others. www.fcps.edu

I'm sure the facts are correct but would not live in Virginia. I'm raised in Calif. but have been to Norfolk a few times for work, couldn't live there.

I think too much.............

Don't most of the people who run the US work in Washington DC and live in Virginia? I guess that's what you mean eh?

[ATF]

I hope you declared all your overseas assets to the UK Government in exchange for your free education and other benefits.

There is always one!!! What an idiotic thing to post.

"I hope". Who the hell do you think you are?

It's a requirement of the UK Government for tax/benefits/pension purposes. Including child support allowance.

[GuestHouse]

I hope you declared all your overseas assets to the UK Government in exchange for your free education and other benefits.

There is always one!!! What an idiotic thing to post.

"I hope". Who the hell do you think you are?

It's a requirement of the UK Government for tax/benefits/pension purposes. Including child support allowance.

Its not a requirement for access to state education.

Wriggle as you will.

[rgs2001uk]

An immigrant to Thailand moaning about immigrants overrunning his own country - Your 'avin a larf are't you!

There is nothing wrong with emigrants in any country as long as they are contributing to it as I and other expats are doing, how many of the emigrants in the UK are contributing to it? most of them are only there for the benefits they are picking up, and for a country with a similar population to Thailand, and much smaller, there is no room for them.

I am really surprised to have to explain this to you, you are obviously not from the UK, and if you are, your way of thinking is very much in the minority.

Listen to yourself.

What do you mean MOST of them are only there for the benefits??

How do you know?

Oh sorry, what's that?

Ah, UKIP told you so, right??

Well that's proof then, innit?

The locals cane 100 times as much in the way of benefits than any immigrant group in the UK.

White, born-and-bred, English-speaking scroungers are at the centre of numerous well documented cases where people who've never worked a day in their lives have managed to bear families of 15+ children . . .all paid for by the state and here you sit saying it's all down to the immigrants.

Whenever I head back to London, I see armies of immigrants going to work at daft o'clock doing the jobs the afore-mentioned indigenous scum consider to be beneath them.

Many work 2 or 3 different low-paid jobs to make ends meet but they still can't catch a break from the bigots over at UKIP.

Yes, and the last time I was in the UK about three years ago, I was walking down a busy main road at 11pm minding my own business when three Eastern Europeans chased after me shouting in a foreign language, good job I was able to run, or who knows what may have happened to me. The place is full of those people all day, they are obviously not working.

The UK needs UKIP, you call them all you like, they can not be as bad as the thieving scum of UK governments who have been there all my adult life robbing the working class at every turn to make their rich friends richer.

You have your opinion and I have mine, so we will agree to differ.

the thieving scum of UK governments who have been there all my adult life robbing the working class at every turn to make their rich friends richer.

Comrade, I fear its Nth Korea for you, if you can stand the weather.

Failing that the failed socialist republic of Cuba.

You might want to venture up north in Thailand and see all the Mercs with their Laos plates.

Never mind, power to the people.

Popular front for Tooting, say what Citizen Smith.

No mention of the working class scum who have contributed nothing to society except breeding more of their leeching chav kids who in turn breed even more leechers.

Here is a prime example of these leeches,

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/jobless-couple-demand-bigger-council-house-because-mother-is--really-fertile--and-can-t-help-getting-pregnant-131232054.html#oRKa3bE

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Here is a prime example of these leeches,

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/jobless-couple-demand-bigger-council-house-because-mother-is--really-fertile--and-can-t-help-getting-pregnant-131232054.html#oRKa3bE

Off topic,

I have no problem with such families, the government would only fritter the money away in foreign aid to somalia (or some such boondoggle).

Good luck to those who can manage to live off their government, is what I say.