Worries About Settlement Visa For Tgf

[THAIJKD]

hey guys im new to this site so i appologies if im asking a question thats been answered many times before,

i have a thai fiance, and we have been together for over one year , i have spent eight months out of the last ten living with her in chiang mai, we applied for a visitors visa over christmas but unfortunatly we were turned down , they didnt beleive anything my girlfriend said plus as i gave up my life in england and had been staying with her in chiang mai i had no bank statements and no savings , i have been back in england for the last week and am looking to go back to CM in feb, we will marry and try to make a marriage visa , but i still have no savings in my bank and no statments due to the fact that i have spent the last eight months in CM, do you think this will caouse us a problem, any advice would be great thanks

[the scouser]

There is no requirement to have savings, but you will be expected to demonstrate, amongst other things, that either your wife can support herself, or that you can support her, without her having to resort to claiming certain benefits in the UK. You will also need to show that you have adequate accommodation available for her. This should be a minimum of a room in a shared house which is for the exclusive use of the two of you. On the assumptions that you have somewhere to stay and you are now working, there's no reason why your girlfriend shouldn't qualify. One of the other rules she will have to meet is that she intends to live with you permanently in the UK, and, I would argue, this has already been largely demonstrated by the length of time you lived together in Thailand.

Scouse.

[GU22]

Have a read through DSPs:

CHAPTER 13 - SETTLEMENT : FIANCÉ(E)S, PROPOSED CIVIL PARTNERS, SPOUSES, CIVIL PARTNERS, UNMARRIED AND SAME-SEX PARTNERS

Chapter 9 – The maintenance and accommodation requirements

[THAIJKD]

thanks guys thats really helped, i was worried it may be a problem, i do have a tenancy agreement and letter from employer with salery figures on it for wene we come back, i was so worried i would have to stay away from her for 6months just to get the bank statements, thanks again for your info, much appriaciated

[atlastaname]

You have already got the answers you need in the above posts. So there is not much furthur mileage in discussing that. Howeever your previous application for the visit visa intrigues me .

You had been living together in Thailand for between 7 and 8 months right when you applied for the VV? Yet you say they turned it down because they didn't believe anything she said . Normally she would have a problem (if any problem at all) under the reason to return bit. But as you were both happy living in Thailand and only wanted to return for a Christmas visit, then i would have thought YOU were the reason to return. I can see how you failed because YOU had no savings and no bank statements and thus failed as a sponcer , but what exactly didn't they believe about her? Just curious.

I wonder if you are yet another example of someone being FORCED by our immigration policy to marry in order to bring your loved one to the UK? Yes you may have married anyway , but this previous refusal of the VV has forced you to do so quicker than you might have. Just wondered as on another recent thread i expressed my amazement that our immigration policy forces people to marry when they don't want to , and was shot down by a well known poster who said this is a fantasy and doesn't happen . Well it has in your case has it not ?

[GU22]

I wonder if you are yet another example of someone being FORCED by our immigration policy to marry in order to bring your loved one to the UK

Fantasy.

Just wondered as on another recent thread i expressed my amazement that our immigration policy forces people to marry when they don't want to , and was shot down by a well known poster who said this is a fantasy and doesn't happen . Well it has in your case has it not ?

It appears from what the OP says that the main reason for refusal was financial. He may have had the funds, but from what he has posted he failed to show that he did. How is this forcing him into marriage? If he has no means off support then any settlement visa would also be refused.

I also wonder why they ECO didn't believe what his g/f said. I wonder what story she told. Of course, without sight of the refusal notice we will never know.

Edited February 3, 2007 by the scouser
Removed comment likely to incite other members.

[THAIJKD]

I wonder if you are yet another example of someone being FORCED by our immigration policy to marry in order to bring your loved one to the UK

Fantasy.

Just wondered as on another recent thread i expressed my amazement that our immigration policy forces people to marry when they don't want to , and was shot down by a well known poster who said this is a fantasy and doesn't happen . Well it has in your case has it not ?

It appears from what the OP says that the main reason for refusal was financial. He may have had the funds, but from what he has posted he failed to show that he did. How is this forcing him into marriage? If he has no means off support then any settlement visa would also be refused.

I also wonder why they ECO didn't believe what his g/f said. I wonder what story she told. Of course, without sight of the refusal notice we will never know.

hey guys thanks for the reply,

the falang lady who interviewed my fiancee told her that she didnt beleive were we met , that i had been staying with her for the last 8 months , that we were not engaged, that if she came to england she would not return to thailand ,

also no we were not forced into marriage , as we were planning on marrying next month , after we had returned from england, as of know i have secured a job and accomodation for wene i return to england with my wife , i hope this is enough to get visa

[GU22]

the falang lady who interviewed my fiancee told her that she didnt beleive were we met , that i had been staying with her for the last 8 months , that we were not engaged, that if she came to england she would not return to thailand

As well as showing that you meet the The maintenance and accommodation requirements you will also need to show that the relationship is genuine. This, apparently, you failed to do last time. Provide as much evidence as you can; letters addressed to each of you, any documents with your and/or her name and address on to show that you have been living together.

The ECO didn't believe where you met. Why not? What did you tell her, and was it the truth?

Reason to return is not an issue with a settlement visa, of course, but the ECO still needs to believe the relationship is genuine and lasting.

[THAIJKD]

the falang lady who interviewed my fiancee told her that she didnt beleive were we met , that i had been staying with her for the last 8 months , that we were not engaged, that if she came to england she would not return to thailand

As well as showing that you meet the The maintenance and accommodation requirements you will also need to show that the relationship is genuine. This, apparently, you failed to do last time. Provide as much evidence as you can; letters addressed to each of you, any documents with your and/or her name and address on to show that you have been living together.

The ECO didn't believe where you met. Why not? What did you tell her, and was it the truth?

Reason to return is not an issue with a settlement visa, of course, but the ECO still needs to believe the relationship is genuine and lasting.

hey gu22, we do have hundreds of emails and photos of the time we have spent together, we actually met in a resturant/live music venue, which my fiancee told the interviewer, but her reply was " you know you are lying to me and i know you are lying, i dont beleive you met where you said", have no idea why she said this, everything was true on our part, my fiancee was pretty nervouse about being interviewed maybe the eco saw this and decided it was a sighn of untruth , will never know, anyway we are getting hitched next month as planned and we will apply for a settlement visa , thank you for your valued advice ,

[atlastaname]

You say you have hundreds of e-mails and photos of your time together , but did you actually submit them? As you have found out , they don't just believe what you say , you are required to prove everything to quite a high level. So everything must be submitted.

Notwithstanding that , even if you failed to submit them her behaviour was disgraceful if those were the words she used. As a genuine couple you will get your visa sooner or later . I would suggest that if these things were really said to your girlfriend in that manner that , once you safely have the visa, you find the time to complain to UK Visas in London about this individuals comments. They will have to investigate if you push it hard and so it will get back to the ECO and they will have to explain themselves.

This kind of rudeness is unnacceptable . Unfortunately not enough people pursue their complaints with vigour to get it changed. You should play your part.

Without sight of the actual wording of the refusal notice its not clear if she was correctly refused , but in any case rudeness like this is not acceptable behaviour from an ECO

[GU22]

you are required to prove everything to quite a high level.

On the balance of probabilities, actually. Not very high. But you are correct that evidence is no good unless it is actually submitted, and the burden of proof does lie with the applicant.

With regard to the comments made by the ECO; blunt, yes. Inaccurate, only two people know for sure. The ECOs know that many, most?, relationships between a western male and a Thai female start on a professional basis. They see many applicants who say they met their boyfriend in a restaurant/bar/beauty shop where they worked. Indeed not long ago a poster here was being told to make up such a story!

Is it any wonder that ECOs tend to be cynical when they hear "We met in a restaurant/live music venue?"

Not that this excuses outright rudeness, of course.

[THAIJKD]

i understand ,but we did submit every bit of evidence we had , the fact is that is where we met , we are genuine otherwise i would not have finished my life in the uk to be with this woman that i love so much, makes me angry and bit sad that this one person has the power to make life for many people so difficult , they wake up on the wrong side of the bed "no sorry i dont beleive you , no visa for you , have a nice day", anyway past is past, we will go for the settlement visa , we will be together, again thanks for the advice guys ,this is a great site

[topdjdel]

I remember this situation very well indeed, at first my TG (now wife) tried for a tourist Visa we was refused on the basis that they didnt believe us,at first as I done it alone was told never to say you met in bar etc and that you dont intend to marry etc etc etc.Well, the truth is and no matter how much advice people outside can give ,ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH.We were refused 3 times on a Tourist visa.

Being refused only made us stronger and closer and I already knew in my mind that I would marry and the reason for the tourist visa was to met the family and to see if she could cope with the UK,however after being refused on the 2nd time came back to the UK,4 weeks later went back applied again telling the truth that in fact we did met in a bar but the rudeness of the officer made me so mad that if it was not for bullet proof glass I would have killed him.

I was so livid and frustrated words cannot express how much but I took this up with my local MP whom I have to say was fantastic,he took this up with Jack Straw and it went to a full investigation(Still occasionally read the letters,looking back it was worth the grief).

So,if anyone feels that the staff issuing visas are rude DO make the complaints,I appreciate they are doing a job even to this day I think it is wrong for a person to decide a persons future on interviews etc.That was 4 years ago.

I did in the end marry in LOS our settlement visa was issued no problem,I was amazed at how polite the embassy staff were to us.

But remember this,even when your visa is issued its not over.Keep all your documents for indefinate leave to remain visa for the UK after your probation period.

I totally understand how you feel,dont give in!!! I'm sure thats what the UK visa people want.

[THAIJKD]

hey guys , i have gone from feeling pretty down 3weeks ago , knowing i had to leave my fiancee behind , to reading the post's on here and feeling pretty optamistic about getting settlement visa and being with the woman i love,

thanks

[atlastaname]

topdjdel makes some good points.

It maybe because i've had a long week and am a tad tired, but can someone tell me why it matters where you met the person you choose to love. I didn't meet mine in a bar BTW , but for those who did, ...so what?? I guess what i am saying is "why is the question even asked?"

[GU22]

It doesn't matter where you met; as has been said on this forum time and time again. But lying about it does matter.

Perhaps the most important point any one has made in this, or any other thread, is topdjdel's when he says

ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH

Ex bargirls do get visas, but liars don't.

[atlastaname]

Quote GU22 "it doesn't matter where you met..." , so yet again i ask , why ask the question then? Anyone know?

Also he says "EX" bar girls get visas , does that mean that current ones cannot? This is not just directed at GU22 , anyone can reply

[the scouser]

In terms of settlement visas, it is a prerequisite of the immigration rules that the two partiers have met. The question is therefore asked not necessarily to establish where, but that they have. There is no blanket ban on "hostesses" getting visas: I would suggest that each case is decided on its own merits.

Scouse.

[GU22]

The question "Where did you meet?" is not always asked. My wife wasn't asked it.

Maybe the ECO asks this if there is something about the application that doesn't look right? In a well prepared application this question will already have been answered in the sponsor's letter. Perhaps it is asked to see if the applicant is being consistent with the sposnsor?

It is, of course, possible for bargirls to get a UK visa. As Scouse says, each case is judged on it's own merits. Something that would be impossible under the more rigid system proposed by some.

[topdjdel]

Hi Guys,sawadee Kup.

That dreadful question "where did you meet" is all part of telling the truth.Those people working in Thailand issuing visas are not stupid,they know that falangs main issues on there first visit is to drink as much beer as possible, and sleep with as many delicious Thai ladies as possible(thats my opinion anyway haha) they do know that most people will go to tourist areas ie Pattaya and will fall in love.

Just because a Thai girl working in a bar or go go it is remember and remember this they are working it is there job that is how they earn a living and I remember this bit DO NOT be embarressed because you have fallen for a bar girl or gogo girl.Love is love and if its real then and you both want be together it will and can happen.

Does it matter where you met?? my opinion NO

However telling the truth like in my previous post IS important.

When at the embassy after the visa was issued I did ask why do you ask that horrible question where did you met,the staff replied it is import to know or see for ourselves that the relationship is genuine,you didnt meet on the internet,it was not arranged or you intent to take the girl back and throw her into sex trade in the UK.

I remember then and thought fair play,I still do.As difficult as they make it I think overall they are on your side believe it or not.

I will say this if you or anyone gets refused -dont give in, it will happen if its meant to be.

Hope this helps

[Deanuk]

Hi topdjdel,

I notice on your location its uk/chaiyaphum ....are you 1 of the guys that i met on my last trip from nong bua deng from farang corner?

sorry to take this off subject guys

Dean

Edited February 5, 2007 by Deanuk

[topdjdel]

Hi,

Did you met me?? where Chaiyaphum??

If so its quite possible,Im back in the UK now but I remember saying hello to a few fellas whilst watching football at stupid o clock in Chaiyaphum and also at tesco lotus.

In truth tho guv,dont honestly know for sure.

[britmaveric]

I think where you met is a legit question - bar/shop/disco whatever. I think just trying to establish details or even the truth, perhaps match-up what was written in the visa documents?