Every time I watch a BBC series...

[scottmitchell74]

I end up wanting to live in the UK!

I just Netflix binge-watched Derek and Broadchurch. Especially with Broadchurch (well done, by the way) I fell in love with that area. So beautiful. When I see places like that I always say to myself, or my wife "somebody gets to live there." Sigh...

I suppose the grass is always greener, but where I live is in a 10 year drought, dry, ugly and although I have a happy life, I just wish I lived somewhere beautiful.

[silly moo]

I left England when I was eight and still get very homesick. We now live in a beautiful country with an uncertain future.

I would love to go back to the UK but my husband doesn't think he could put up with the weather.

I return to England every year to visit my daughter who lives in London and get my railway and culture 'fix'.

You are probably right about the grass being greener, if I went back to England I would probably miss Africa.

[Geoff]

Well if you want lots of space I think the pair of you are better off where you are, but I love England but hate whats happening to it, oops no politics, I do live in a beatiful green country and I have what I need to keep me happy, as for the weather it is what it is and having 4 beutiful seasons makes life here so much better, then you have the railways and its not cheap to travel, and now not forgetting all the good work that the good people of our country do to keep steam engines on the tracks has to be applaudable I only wish I lived near a place that I could give my time and I doubt I would have a model railway.

As for where the both of you live is you must have something special where you live.

[Bealman]

I was back there last May on an unplanned visit, and it was great (documented on the forum), but I really can't think about going back to live now. My home town in particular was extremely depressing. I really don't know how people get by there.

UK members please don't read this post the wrong way... I am a permanent resident of Australia, and not a citizen. I still hold a British EU passport, and have to update my reentry visa every time I update me passport.

However, after all these years and a wife and 3 daughters who are Australian to the extent of being fanatical cricket and tennis fans, I think I'm outnumbered!

[BobB]

Like Silly Moo I am an ex-pat living in South Africa.

Her description (uncertain future) is wrong in my view. It is certain that the political corruption and the destruction of the legal system (to let the connected off for their crimes) is certain to ruin this place sooner rather than later.

But is the UK the best alternative destination. Yes, it has many beautiful parts to live in and it seems hard work and expertise is still valued but is the UK still British for those living there ? I read all the immigration battles, acknowledge that the Kippers are making in-roads but since I have a foreign (non-European) wife I don't think the country wants me back.

Having looked at the requirements I actually wonder if the Queen (God bless her) wanted to bring her husband back into the country now, her wealth would allow it but as a normal person, she would probably have to come back without him.

I think the British sense of fair play has become very distorted just lately.

Just my opinion of course.

[railsquid]

since I have a foreign (non-European) wife I don't think the country wants me back.

Without wanting to broaden the debate beyond our personal situations, same here - IIRC it'd cost a couple of thousand quid and a whole bunch of intrusive hassle to get a visa for my wife, and though it's unlikely I wouldn't want to be in the situation where my income/savings fell below an arbitrary level then it could be "well you can't support your wife, so back to Japan she goes", if recent media stories are anything to go by. Just to get a British birth certificate for my new-born spawn will cost somewhere between 100 and 200 quid. To be honest, if I had to leave Japan, I'd go to Germany, where I used to live and know the system, and where my wife (who BTW speaks some German so it's a reasonable destination) would have an automatic right to a visa (issued at no cost) as the spouse of an EU citizen.

Anyway the scenery sure is nice in the UK, I'm particularly fond of bracken-and-sheep-infested moors (grew up in Cumbria and my parents now live in a similar-looking part of Wales so I enjoy trips back).

[Agrippa]

Without going into the nitty gritty I would have thought that if your wife
is from Japan the same entry requirements for non EC people would apply
in Germany and UK.

[railsquid]

Without going into the nitty gritty I would have thought that if your wife
is from Japan the same entry requirements for non EC people would apply
in Germany and UK.

Nope - I have actual experience with this - as an EU citizen in another EU country, your freedom of abode etc. automatically extends to your dependents regardless of their nationality.

[scottmitchell74]

Interesting discussion! In America we're having our own immigration struggles, and it's interesting to find out how many other countries are going through their own version of that struggle.

[talisman56]

Especially with Broadchurch (well done, by the way) I fell in love with that area. So beautiful. When I see places like that I always say to myself, or my wife "somebody gets to live there." Sigh...

As is their wont when making these things, the external scenes in Broadchurch are an amalgam of two different places - the harbour and beach/cliff shots are of West Bay, Bridport, Dorset and the 'high street' and residence shots are of Clevedon, North Somerset. I live in the latter and have visited the former and found it agreeable so I can see where you are coming from...

[red_death]

Without wishing to get into the (rather unpleasant) politics of the matter - the media portrayal of the immigration problem only makes matters worse.  It is so much more complex than the media often makes out - in some areas there have been huge benefits from immigration (how many of our public services would be unviable without immigrants (from several waves/places)), yet at the same time there is no doubt that in some areas there are genuine problems either from the inability of councils to cope with sudden changes in demand or because of the way the unscrupulous try to exploit tensions (on both sides).

Of course calming tensions doesn't sell copy so we get some ridiculous storis about how awful things are (they're not).

The reality is that things are pretty much as they ever were - there are large differences in wealth/class etc across the country. If people want to get on, work hard and integrate (rather than segregate) to our society then we can be a pretty welcoming bunch (except for London    ).

Cheers, Mike

[Kipper]

Slightly off topic, every time I watch a BBC series, I have to get my ears syringed. Can hardly make out a word they mumble.

[MalcolmInN]

Without wanting to broaden the debate
,
I wouldn't want to be in the situation where my income/savings fell below an arbitrary level then it could be "well you can't support your wife, so back to Japan she goes", if recent media stories are anything to go by.

I doubt if the media is anything to go by !!!!

Just for curiosity ( and not wishing to grind any axes !)
I thought the 'income to support a spouse' was an initial requirement ( of one of the ill-conceived anti-'marriage of convenience' measures) and not a continuing one (/obligation)  ?

But considering that half the world seems to want to come to the UK ( probably to England actually, but lets not get into a Sturgeon debate) and the other three halves want to go to America, is it any wonder that a wee small island needs to take measures ?
So dont blame us, (including me that had the good sense to come back to Blighty in good time, before the hoards were at our door ( <-- ummmm !? )  )
But I agree, it is sad that natural born Englishmen have to jump through these hoops.

Who needs an identity card, done y'know I'm English ! - - lol!
(removes tongue from cheek ! )

[railsquid]

Without wanting to broaden the debate
,
I wouldn't want to be in the situation where my income/savings fell below an arbitrary level then it could be "well you can't support your wife, so back to Japan she goes", if recent media stories are anything to go by.

I doubt if the media is anything to go by !!!!

I was thinking about articles like this.

Just for curiosity ( and not wishing to grind any axes !)
I thought the 'income to support a spouse' was an initial requirement ( of one of the ill-conceived anti-'marriage of convenience' measures) and not a continuing one (/obligation)  ?

I don't think it's continuous, but you never know when it might be changed as a knee-jerk reaction to some focus group. Realistically I probably wouldn't have any problems, apart from having to throw substantial wads of (non-refundable) cash and time at the issue.

For the record, when applying for my spouse visa in Japan, I downloaded the form, filled it in, supplied copies of the relevant documents, handed it in to the local immigration centre, waited a few weeks, went back and paid about 25 quid fee (payable on success of the application only) and that was it.

But considering that half the world seems to want to come to the UK ( probably to England actually, but lets not get into a Sturgeon debate) and the other three halves want to go to America, is it any wonder that a wee small island needs to take measures ?
So dont blame us, (including me that had the good sense to come back to Blighty in good time, before the hoards were at our door ( <-- ummmm !? )  )
But I agree, it is sad that natural born Englishmen have to jump through these hoops.

Hey, I might be non-English you know    Anyway not blaming anyone, the immigration policies are certainly working in my case, I'm happy where I am and will help keep the island less crowded and certainly won't trouble it with my income (which is currently contributing to the trade deficit).

PS for added fun, try going through the non-EU citizens line at Heathrow (went through with the wife, as it was going to take some time)... first time I've ever been interrogated as to the purpose of my stay in my own country.

[MalcolmInN]

Hey, I might be non-English you know 

Hey, very good point !
Thank you

Anyway not blaming anyone,

I agree, it is very difficult in this modern world, but I dont see hords of peeps wanting to emigrate to Kosovo or Sierra Leone,
or have you seen the reqirements of Australia these days ?
I was thinking of sending the Queen and Prince C there (post paid but , you know , , , )

I'll leave you to de-italiase  >
my own country.

Last time I went through the only Q. was should I declare or not 

EDIT
Or, not to beat about the bush, if we really want to be serious,
mods please strike if needed
how many Afgans, Sudanese, middle eastern, sub saharn, Indian sub cont., want to emigrate to Japan (an equally small island( (is it possible to ask that sort of question in this sort of context without oprobrium ? ) )
?