Maestro, so good to still see you here, you advice has been golden for me!

Yourself and others such as TCA et al provide an invaluable service, I sincerely like to thank you from my heart, this information means so much to me, and everyone deserve kudos for contributing!

Well done team Thaivisa!

There is clarity through the bureaucratic fog and you people are a part of it!

What exactly do you mean with "married by Thai ceremony" and "Thai ceremonial wedding?" Unless you have a marriage certificate issues by a district office you are not married and the person to whom you refer as your wife is in fact nor your wife for the purpose of a visa application.

Family of a settled person is the correct visa. As a British citizen, you are deemed settled. You will however have to show you have an adequate place to live in the UK, but as far as I know there is no requirement for you to actually be in the UK before your wife applies.

Is this correct? I thought the "settled " part meant that the person was living in the UK not one that had a passport. Does this also mean that it is possible to show earnings from another country as proof of affordability before moving back to the UK after your family? This has opened up an old wound for me, and I think a consultation really is a good idea

Yes and yes. You'll see some examples of overseas sponsors coming to the UK with their partners in section 5 of the financial requirements document Appendix FM 1.7:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/469692/Appendix_FM_1_7_Financial_Requirement_August_2015.pdf