IMMIGRANTS who want to marry Brits will be forced to take an English lang test First

[johncar54]

MY sentiments entirely, Penny ... that's what infuriates ME! It's so blatantly unfair ... yet the UK is apparently FORCED to go along with the ruling that allows so many Europeans - who have absolutely NO knowledge of the English language whatsoever - to come here freely ... simply because Britain is a member of the EU.

Arthur it works the other way too.

Very few Brits, even those who have lived in Spain for years (15, 20 +) can hardly order a beer in Spanish. I know I have been a voluntary interpreter for 15 years.

[Arthur Little]

Arthur it works the other way too.

Very few Brits, even those who have lived in Spain for years (15, 20 +) can hardly order a beer in Spanish. I know I have been a voluntary interpreter for 15 years.

Oh, I KNOW that, John ... indeed I'm willing to wager by far the majority of Brits [myself included] haven't bothered trying to learn a foreign language - other than the most basic words or phrases likely to be useful when holidaying abroad - in stark contrast to the vast numbers of people from many, many of the world's countries who've at least made SOME effort to speak English ...

[Arthur Little]

... however, laying aside the language criteria, it seems ludicrous that, while successive British Governments have been content to pander to just about every law dreamt up by the EU, they're quite prepared to "stand alone" on immigration issues. Hence the exhorbitant visa fees incurred to bring OUR lawfully-wedded spouses to the UK ... whereas it's free of charge for citizens of EVERY other country within the 'Union'. HERE, those applying for *ILR - for which there was NO financial outlay prior to 2003 - are being particularly badly hit ... with steep rises in cost, each year since! By your own admission, John, you've found it altogether much cheaper living in Spain - from *THAT angle at least.

[johncar54]

... however, laying aside the language criteria, it seems ludicrous that, while successive British Governments have been content to pander and surrender: to just about every law dreamt up by the EU, they're quite prepared to "stand alone" on immigration issues. Hence the exorbitant visa fees incurred to bring OUR lawfully-wedded spouses to the UK ... whereas it's free of charge for citizens of EVERY other country within the 'Union'. HERE, those applying for *ILR - for which there was NO financial outlay prior to 2003 - are being particularly badly hit ... with steep rises in cost, each year since! By your own admission, John, you've found it altogether much cheaper living in Spain - from *THAT angle at least.

Hi Arthur, not exactly free but I take your point.

When I asked in the Spanish embassy in Manila if it would be possible for my wife to live with me in Spain they looked at me as if I were stupid, and said, "She is your wife, where else would she live but with you in Spain ? "

[bornatbirth]

can hardly order a beer in Spanish. I know I have been a voluntary interpreter for 15 years.

you have been ordering beers for over fifteen years for them, are you a barfly

[johncar54]

you have been ordering beers for over fifteen years for them, are you a barfly

Sorry if you misunderstood, I was making a serious comment and did not think it necessary to add, 'At police stations, medical centres etc.'

For the most part Spain has not seen it necessary to provide information and services in just about any language, which may be used by the multitude of people who have come to live, or even holiday, in Spain.