Juvenile Visa

[what next?]

I want to check this out before I start an application for a visa to the UK.......

Have any of the members got experience of taking their Thai wife's kids to the UK?

Initially for a holiday- but thereafter maybe settlement?

My 'daughter' is 5 yrs old and has her own Thai passport.

My wife wants to know if she needs any documentation from Thailand regarding release (not a good word) from any interference from the natural Thai father.

They were never married officially, whereas we have a 3yr old marriage certificate.

anyadvice or direction, anybody?

[vinny]

For settlement, see also Bringing Step Daughter To Uk, Any advise welcome and Step Daughter To Uk, How easy?

For just a visit, see 10.3 - Children as visitors

Edited October 10, 2006 by vinny

[what next?]

Vinny thanks a million for the links

sorry, I should mention I am not a step father, nor she step daughter.

I have not made any legal moves in that direction yet.

My wife has my surname, her daughter has her grandparent's surname.

[vinny]

Follow the links that I gave you. For settlement, it would also be important for the mother to show that she has sole responsibility for her child.

[saranagon]

You should be aware that immigration requirements for Child Settlement are dependent on the age of the child and the nature of any compelling family circumstances.

As a general guide you should submit the following documents together with a completed Settlement Application Form - VAF2.

Passport and One recent photograph. This should be:

a. Taken against a light (prefers white) background

b. Clear and of good quality

c. Printed on normal photographic paper

d. Unmounted – 45mm x 35mm in size.

Full face (without sunglasses and normally without a hat or other head covering, unless the applicant wears such items for their religious belief or ethnic background).

1. Original Birth Certificate, together with English translation.

2. Confirmation of sole custody and responsibility. This is obtained from the Amphur (Local District Office) with a certified English translation. (Please see attached example – in Thai language). Also if the mother has been divorced from the father, she should provide evidence showing that she has sole custody. Not applicable if the child is applying to join both registered parents.

3. Evidence that the parent has been financially responsible for the applicant and has maintained contact during their time in UK (e.g. telephone bills and exchange of letters).

4. Proof of support and accommodation with description of said accommodation.

- A copy of your/sponsor’s last six months’ bank statements (to give an indication of your financial standing and level of continuing financial commitments).

- Full details of the accommodation available i.e. number of rooms and their intended use e.g. bedroom, kitchen, living room, etc.

Full details of all those persons who will be occupying the accommodation including details of their ages and sex.

5. Photocopy of applicant’s parent’s passport showing that he/she has Permanent Leave to Remain/Settlement in the United Kingdom.

6. IOM certificate confirming the child is free from infectious Tuberculosis (TB). (With the exception of those children under 11 years of age) * Please see the below guidance.

7. The fee for this application is Baht 19,500. This figure is set in Sterling and is subject to exchange rate fluctuations. Please prepare a bankers draft made payable to “British Embassy” account.

[Maizefarmer]

I want to check this out before I start an application for a visa to the UK.......

Have any of the members got experience of taking their Thai wife's kids to the UK?

Initially for a holiday- but thereafter maybe settlement?

My 'daughter' is 5 yrs old and has her own Thai passport.

My wife wants to know if she needs any documentation from Thailand regarding release (not a good word) from any interference from the natural Thai father.

They were never married officially, whereas we have a 3yr old marriage certificate.

anyadvice or direction, anybody?

I am married to a Thai - 2 kids, both have Thai and foreign passports.

Sound like you are not the biological dad - but she is the biological mother (Correct/Incorrect) - and she is your legal wife.

As far as getting "permission" from the father is concerned - no, not required at all if she has normal custody (meaning the daughter resides with and is cared by her) - she is at liberty to travel with the child.

As you proberbly know - moms visa does not cover junior - junior will also require a visa.

Tim

[GU22]

As the daughter is only 5 she will certainly get the same type of visa as her mother.

Provided:

She has a sole custody document issued by a court or ampur, or the father's death certificate.

and

You show that you can support and accommodate them both without recourse to public funds.

If the child is only coming for a visit then a letter from the father granting your wife permission to take the child out of the country may suffice, but if she is coming to live then sole custody is essential.

Following Vinny's links should tell you all you need to know, if not please ask again.

One pedantic point

I should mention I am not a step father, nor she step daughter.

Yes you are her stepfather and she your stepdaughter because you are married to her mother. Of course, this is not the same as if you adopted her.

[what next?]

Vinny-Maizefarmer-Saranagon-GU22

thank you, let me download and digest this stuff.

Let's see if the uk gov has any more logical procedures than what I've been immersed in for the last 3 yrs.