GarryUK

one thing gary if you have not already mentioned that you stayed at her appartment in pattaya[dont] otherwise they are going to ask what is she doing in pattaya to be able to pay the rent when you have already told them she doesnt work.

I never hid the fact that I met her in Pattaya where she worked in Family Mart (I even included a picture of her in her uniform at work), but I've never mentioned staying in her apartment. After we met she gave everything up and moved back home because I too didn't like the idea of her staying in Pattaya, too many (incorrect) assumptions for people to make about what's she's doing behind my back.

Okay, a summary of where we're at:

1. WorldSIM call logs don't match my phone number. Anybody could work out that as Orange charges a lot for calls to Thailand, I bought a WorldSIM exclusively for those calls, but as everyone has indicated I have to explain everything, even when it's obvious. So I'll be stating that in my sponsors letter in addition to including a copy of the box which the SIM came in as it shows the telephone number (I've included my driving license in the photocopy to show it's in my possession), and a printout of my registration details on WorldSIM (which don't include the phone number but at least show I have a WorldSIM account). Not sure I can add anything else to this?

2. Lack of Facebook and Skype chat logs casting doubt over my claim we talk every day. I stated in my sponsors letter that there's no export function for either of these but that didn't cut it, so I've taken onboard someone's suggestion to take screenshots of the Facebook chat log and will now be including pages showing chat on 26/27/28 November, 1/2/3/4/5/7/8 December, and 3/5/6/9/11 April. I've also printed screenshots of both of our Facebook "About" pages showing our status as being "X is in a relationship with Y". And I've managed to export 160 pages of Skype logs since we switched to using that on 8th December which I've edited down to show only video calls making it a far more reasonable 11 pages (I lose the fact that we chat without video for 30 minutes during my lunch every day, but they still show an hour or more of video chat every morning and considerably longer at the weekend). In conjunction with the itemised phone bills above I think I now show we're in constant contact every day.

3. No letter from her aunt. I'll be explaining in the sponsors letter that while we'll visit her aunt, she won't be staying with her. However, I've still got an email from her aunt indicating that we're both welcome to visit when she's here and wishing her luck with her re-application which was sent to both of us, along with copies of her and her husbands passports showing she's now a British citizen, and their marriage certificate (not that I think I need it but she's given it me so I may as well send it).

4. No proof of financial support from me, and no assets in Thailand that might encourage her to return. My payments have been quite random in both amount and method, but I am able to provide a copy of the bank transfer authorisation for money I sent to her in November, I can show ATM withdrawals in Thailand at the end of all 3 trips on my bank statements (plus receipts for each showing bank withdrawn from, date, and the amount in both GBP and THB), and I have transaction summaries and email receipts for all Western Union money transfers (the latter of which she can show as payments into her new bank account less 110B fees on each occasion). As for the lack of assets we'll be explaining that as an unmarried 23 year old girl she doesn't own land or a house (should I mention that sinsod paid when we marry will be given back as a wedding gift in the form of transfer of ownership of the family's land?), nor does she require a car or bike as she stays at home to look after her niece who lives with her and her parents (the baby's grandparents). I'll be including a couple of photos of her and the baby.

My sponsors letter will be rewritten, this time referring to the visa refusal notice explaining what we have done to address each issue raised, and the refusal will be included (my logic being if we just re-apply they may give new reasons for refusal, but if we include the original refusal notice with all the points addressed it's hard for them to refuse on a point not raised the first time, right?). They accepted from the photos provided that we have met each other, but is it worth adding some more from my third trip? With the photos that were already included showing that I've met her family, plus the additional information now provided explaining my second phone, proof of daily contact and my regular financial support I think I now show the existence of a genuine relationship, or is there anything more I can or should do? We stated before that we are aware she must return to Thailand before the visa expires but this time I'll be expanding on that stating that we would not wish to jeopardise our future plans together by over staying or breaching any other conditions of the visa. In fact we originally sought for her to stay for approximately 24 weeks from 31st March to some time in September, but as we still plan to marry in Thailand in October she'll now only be able to stay for approximately 16 weeks between early June and 5th October by the time the application has been reprocessed.

When I went for the second time in December I stayed with my GF in her apartment in Pattaya for a few days before we moved to a hotel after giving up her room. However, every hotel has always been booked over the Internet in my name using my credit card, so I'm not able to provide booking confirmations showing we stayed together, but I did send an email to one hotel in Bangkok on the third trip informing them that my GF would check-in before me in the afternoon and I would join her when my flight arrived in the evening. In my first sponsors letter I explained how the relationship developed but never named any of the hotels we stayed in or stated specifically that we stayed together, should I include that information this time as again doesn't that further show a genuine relationship?

She'll also be adding translated copies of her ID card and "house book" (is that what it's called? Basically it shows she lives with her parents and thus the reason why she has no assets), and a copy of her bank statement to match up against my money transfers (unfortunately she changed banks when she moved home so it doesn't show my November transfer, and nor did she ever pay in the cash I gave her).

Finally I'll include a more itemised "Index of supporting documentation" following seeing an example of one which was sent direct to me.

Have we missed anything (again) this time?

Fair enough. But then you shouldn't really be surprised if she's turned down for a Visitor's Visa as these are primarily for people who want to visit the UK on holiday.

Oh shit, if you're not going to go to the beach while you're here you can't come in Okay, where's that bucket and spade.

We weren't turned down because of how long she was going to visit for, or what she planned to do while she was here, we were turned down because we missed some documentation and thus failed to convince the ECO there's a genuine relationship and that she'll go home.

I have just been reading a interesting story how people can misread things, Noi who's family was in financial trouble and how she was naive about what life in Pattaya but had a dream of marrying a Farang because she knew of a lady in her village who had married a farang.

Also Mikes story who met Noi in Pattaya and fell in love with Noi and through words, ending up inviting Noi to Europe and talks of getting married.

It just shows how people see each other and misreads situations.

http://www.pattayapages.com/girls/noi.html

Interesting read, and thankfully only some similarities to our story, though I have to think with such perfect English that it's a fictional piece, perhaps based on some truths.

Since my then GF came to the UK, she kept herself to herself, I was going to work and when i got home, the house looked totally different, she wanted to make her mark, During the 2 Visitors Visa's, the only contact that she had with People was Family and people who lived in the Village, Since she was granted a Settlement Visa, she has gained many Thai friends and i have gained many UK friends (Mainly Husbands of Thai wifes) What i can say, All the Thai lady's are very supportive of each other, They call around to each others house's have food while the husbands have a natter.

Maybe 3 or 4 times a month, the wifes have a get together, Have food, some drink and a dance, Its really good to see thai people living the UK way, But still have time to have social Thai time together.

I fully understand that what people have been advising Gary, but its up to Gary to make his own mind up, there are many people with bad story's But i do think that the happy story's far out weight the Bad.

I like the idea of making friends with other English/Thai couples, but the GF isn't so keen on seeking Thai friends here because she's heard all the bullsh*t some of the ex working girls spout and doesn't want to be associated with that kind of girl. Sounds like you have a good group there, am interested where you're from as maybe I can learn something here (PM me if you don't wanna publish it but don't mind telling me).

I've heard the bad stories and don't think that's going to be us, but of course who can really say. But I'm not going to finish with her on the basis that "some" girls turn out bad, let's look at what happens and not just what could happen.

Your assumption about my wife, your use of the terms 'LoSo' and 'them' say all that anyone needs to know about you.

People post in this forum because they want advice about obtaining a visa.

Usually they get that advice. Not always good advice I'll grant you, but without any ignorant, prejudiced comment.

If you have constructive advice to offer on the OP's girlfriend's visa application; offer it.

But if all you want to do is attempt to belittle his girlfriend in an effort to make up for your own inferiority complexes; go elsewhere.

I'm finding it difficult to edit down the posts just to comment on the bits I want to

I don't know what LoSo means.

Some people don't think that addressing the issues we missed and that were raised by the ECO will be enough, we won't get a visa, and they're entitled to their opinions. Some people are kind enough to offer some advice of additional things to do that I might not have thought of, it's been said often that every little helps, and to those people we thank you for your help. But some people just wanna pre-judge and say bad about everybody. You don'y know me, you don't know my girlfriend, so why you have to stereotype. I think I've found a real gem, and it sounds like 7by7 has too, and while I accept there are relationships that fail, isn't it fair to say that every now and then some actually work out very well too?

Indeed; they stopped routine interviews for all applicants, visit, settlement, study, work etc., some time ago,

These days if the ECO does want more information before making that decision they will phone the applicant, or in the case of a young child the child's parent or carer.

In very rare cases they may call the applicant into the embassy for a face to face interview, but I've not heard of that happening in Bangkok for a very long time (doesn't mean it hasn't happened, though).

taotoo, telling someone to apply for a settlement visa because it is somehow easier to get than a visit visa is very poor advice.

Apart from the extra cost and the far more stringent financial requirements of a settlement visa, settlement should only be applied for if the intention is to live permanently in the UK.

Plus, of course, the OP would either have to first marry his girlfriend (spouse visa) intend to marry her once she was in the UK (fiance visa) or have been living with her in a relationship akin to marriage for at least the last two years (unmarried partners visa).

They don't qualify for the third, and from what he has said they are not ready for the first two.

I want to spend longer than a holiday with her before we get married, just to be sure we feel the same when we're together for months instead of just a couple of weeks. As she wants to come to the UK, and I want to keep my job, it makes sense she spends that time here with me rather than me giving up everything and moving to Thailand. We're going for a general visitor visa because it's the cheapest and because there are no pre-requisites like an English test or anything. We want to marry in Thailand because aside from being able to avoid a big do here, there's far more chance of my immediate family going to Thailand than there is of hers coming here. Assuming we make it that far we'll apply for a spouse visa for her to move here if she still wants to.

Obviously if things go terribly wrong then she'll go home

Oh if only it were more simple than that.

I know nothing of your girls relationship with her aunt, do you?

You have no clue as to what rubbish the aunt may be filling her head with.

Have you ever seen how some of these girls spend their days in the UK when their partner is working, have you been in the gambling dens, have you seen the money lending that goes on?

What happens if your girl, meets someone else, or returns to her old ways, have you a plan for that?

Pesimist. I agree with 7by7, I think you must've mixed with the wrong girls and now you're stereotyping.

Perhaps I will try to explain in the new letter how it's near impossible to copy FB history so I wasn't able to include it, but that I was able so have now included my Skype call history.

If you feel you have to, Garry. There's a tendency to micromanage the application until it's so convoluted that you risk contradicting yourself. Keep it simple.

Huh? I don't understand what you're telling me, sorry.

I believe in Thailand, you only pay Sinsod on the first marriage and my wife had been married before and so had i.

Regarding phone bills, i used a company called Phone cheap, it was a 0844 number, when i was doing the Visa application, I highlighted every 0844 number and explained that who i was calling, Printed off the Home page of phone cheap and how phone cheap works, explain that there was no one else who you would be calling in Thailand and that there was no need for my GF to call me because phone cheap. That sorted out our communication problem and no need to go down Facebook or Skype route, Sometimes the more info you give them, The more questions they want to ask, Keep it simple and to the point.

Regarding photos, Build up a history of photos, so every time you turn a Page, Its telling a story. so if you met in Oct 2012, you start from there and if you met again in December, that's page 2 and so on.

Record all the items that you were refused on and in your sponsors letter, explain that your GF was refused and that you have covered these in your GF application, and also we placed a copy of the refusal letter in the file for reference.

Good luck

Malc

Personally I don't have a problem with sinsod, especially since the family is now willing to use the money to give us land. I have to look at everything more closely, but this can wait until nearer the time we get married so hopefully no-one will continue to comment on this point going forward.

I'm disappointed that it isn't obvious that my "normal" phone is too expensive to phone abroad, so I have a "cheap" phone used exclusively for that, who else do they think the bills belong to. But then everyone has said take nothing for granted and explain everything, so I'll be including a copy of the pack the SIM came in as it shows the number, a copy of the registration page which doesn't but at least shows I'm registered with WorldSIM, and I'll be pointing out why I have two numbers in my sponsors letter.

I included 3 pages of photos, each containing typically 8 pictures with dates and brief descriptions. These covered the first two trips plus her meeting me at the airport for my third, but now I have the opportunity to include another page from my last trip.

I wondered whether or not I should refer to the refusal. Should I include the original sponsors letter and a new one just covering what bits have been added to this re-application, or should I simply write a new letter expanding on the original to cover/include the refusal and the extra documentation we've included this time?

for skype calls, i copied the whole conversation and put that into notepad. deleted all the actually written conversation and just left the parts that said "call to blah blah 43.32mins etc"

so it showed the amount of calls and length. then went back onto my skype and took random screen shots of the calls in skype so the ECO could marry them up and see that they match.

the good thing about using skype is even if the person changes there phone number it still comes up with there name, so they wont see different numbers if your partner changes it

Yes I've found Skype was easier than I'd anticipated it was going to be to export the chat log, unlike Facebook Ctrl-A works to select all (just the conversations). I started to edit it down, leaving just the odd conversation here and there, we'll see how many pages it reduces to when I'm done. Perhaps I will try to explain in the new letter how it's near impossible to copy FB history so I wasn't able to include it, but that I was able so have now included my Skype call history.

we waited over a year before reapplying, But used the time to build up the relationship. One thing to do, Is to Build up a folder with all the evidence that you need as you go along, this will save time when putting together your next application.

I'm not living in Thailand with her, so while we're on different continents we're not building anything, just missing each other like mad. I have realised from all the responses that every time I book a hotel on the Internet and pay on my credit card, it's appearing only in my name. We're hoping the two hotels we used in March will be able to give copy receipts with both our names on as we both had to give our ID, thus showing we actually stayed together, and going forward I'll be making sure I book under both names. I've also told her to keep the receipts for phone top-ups and monthly Internet time, she might not be able to show calls she makes to me in the same way as I can show calls to her, but it all helps right...

Can't fault the Ukba in this instance.

The Op doesn't come near the requirements,for a visa.

Wait a while and reapply,maybe a year or so.

Thank you for your input, but I disagree with you. We missed a few pieces of supporting documentation which we're working to address. We'll be reapplying again soon and hope you don't have any influence on the decision, hehehe.

I did an HSBC to Kasikorn Bank transfer the first time I sent the GF money. I only did it once! I don't recall exactly but it cost about £20 in the UK, then Kasikorn Bangkok charged 900B (worked out about the same again), and finally her local branch charged another 110B or so. I sent GBP and was told that's why Kasikorn charged me 900B. Her bank told her I should send from Barclays or Llyods TSB I think, but when I went in to see them both their charges seemed just as bad.

Since then I've withdrawn cash from an ATM (when in Thailand), otherwise use Western Union. Heard many horror stories, but not had any problems myself. Usually costs me £6.90 and takes around 3 working days, and it costs her 110B each time so about £2.55 in todays money.

Not as far as this forum is concerned, but it wont hurt, may help to say so in his sponsor's letter; which I assume he did.

Not implying anything about the lady in question, but before JLCrab or someone else asks; it doesn't matter what an applicant's past employment was or if s/he met their sponsor 'professionally.' But they should be honest about it.

To be blunt: Ex bar girls do get UK visas; liars don't.

Hopefully that will stop any further uncalled for speculation about this lady's past.

I did indeed talk about when and how we met, and about both subsequent visits including where we went together in my sponsors letter. This was also replicated in the many photos provided which included her meeting me at the airport, me meeting her family, our trips to Bangkok and Cha Am, and me meeting her aunt in the UK.

the main hurdle she needs to overcome is the 'reason to return' at the end of the visit....in the sponsors letter you could write that she wanted to visit the UK and continue relationship before moving onto the next step which would be marriage.

Good luck

I've known from the start that if the application was refused it would be because we struggle to prove she'll go home. In addressing the points raised by the UKBA I've got to provide more proof than 3 pages of photographs and 3 trips to Thailand that the relationship is genuine, and I've got to convince them that we fully intend to return together to Thailand in October to get married.

Paying sinsot and her parents using that to buy her some land is a waste of time as far as any UK visa application is concerned. It will be seen for what it is; an attempt to artificially bolster her application.

From your OP you seem to know where the problems lie, lack of evidence, and how to deal with them, provide it; but will say a couple of things.

Firstly, you should have explained that you use a low cost card/access number to call her and that this is the number shown on your phone bills.

Had you done that, then I'm sure that you were unable to provide Skype logs etc. would have been accepted.

The ECOs are well aware of modern technology.

However, it may be worthwhile exchanging some emails and including print outs of the headers (the contents are none of the ECOs business) in her next application.

Secondly, if she says she is going to visit her aunt while she is in the UK then include a letter from her aunt confirming this. A copy of her aunt's British passport whilst not essential wont hurt. Her aunt can self certify the copy.

You may find UK Visit Visa Basics helpful.

Feel free to ask any further questions.

As always 7by7 a very helpful answer with guidance. Yes you're right, on some of the points I know we have to include new supporting documents or clarify the information already provided, we're on the same page re the WorldSIM phone and invitation letter & passport from the aunt.

Thank you for your input on the sinsod/land question, I've been having the same thoughts that it might just appear to be a move to address the visa refusal. As it happens we've been talking about it for a long time, but they don't know that.

I have manually copied our chat log from Facebook but think there's far too much information and things said I wouldn't want them to read. Not sure what to do with this information - do I filter it, do I include the odd page or six showing regular consecutive dates and explain there are 360 pages of chat? Although I've not copied the Skype chat it does look better as it shows video call start and duration so perhaps better than Facebook.

Garry - it's a hard knock but your attitude does you no favours, if I'm honest.

The refusal states, on more than one occasion, a lack of evidential documentation. Then you sit back on blah blah blah.

The trouble with email is that one person can read something one way, while another reads it completely differently. The "blah blah blah" wasn't attitude, it was failing to see how it would help copying the entire text from the refusal letter, especially given that the girlfriend copied it rather than mailed it to me so there are clearly some mistakes, would help other than to double the length of the original post making it too long to read.

Yes, I accept with hindsight that it's easy to see things that could have been included that were not, I actually told my GF we wouldn't need a letter of invitation from her aunt as she was coming to see me not her, we'd just visit occasionally, but as they picked up on that I was clearly wrong. And I incorrectly assumed (as picked up on by rawhod) that when I said in the sponsor letter don't hesitate to contact me if you need anything else that they might phone the WorldSIM to confirm I own it, and that they might phone the aunt to confirm she was aware of her neice's visit, as why else would they require her contact details. We won't make that mistake again.

Met my girlfriend in Oct 2012 As per topic query, what next? Maybe wait until you've established a relationship other than via long-distance on the telephone, of which she may (in theory) have several concurrently.

I've visited her 3 times, we intend to marry in October 2013. As it's so expensive to keep going out to Thailand and difficult to keep getting time off work, we decided if she can visit for a few months that will give us time to develop the relationship even further than it has, as well as help her decide if she wants to move to the UK. We talk on video twice a day, every day. We don't have and don't want one of those relationships where a Falang visits his Thai GF once a year and doesn't know what she does the rest of the time. And moving to Thailand for a few years isn't an option at the moment as I have a decent job here and am far from old enough to retire.

Brief history: Met my girlfriend in Oct 2012, returned to Thailand Dec 2012 for Christmas and New Year following which my GF moved back home to her parents, and I returned to Thailand for a third visit in March when we applied for a tourist visa for her. It probably won't shock most of the people that offered advice in my original posts, but had the decision back end of last week which was a refusal. The letter stated "You have applied for an entry clearance to visit the UK for 24 weeks. I have consided your application under paragraph 41 of the UK immigration rules. blah blah blah. I have therefore refused your application because I am not satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that you meet all of the requirement of the above paragraph(s) of the Immigration Rules".

Breaking down the letter, the blah blah blah seems to come down to four points:

1. "you have provided a call history log from worldsim which shows calls to your mobile but it does not match the mobile number given by your sponsor, and a call history log from Orange showing calls made to your number between December 2012 and February 2013". Okay, so the internet printouts of the WorldSIM logs don't bare my name, but I thought it was obvious when you see a 10 minute call on Orange cost me £14 that I bought/use a WorldSIM exclusively for calls to the GF, only using my Orange phone when absolutely necessary (because WorldSIM VoIP is pretty unreliable at connecting and not always very clear). Would including a printout of the page baring my name and a clearer explanation in my sponsor letter as to the existence of a second phone help, or how do I fix this?

2. "Your sponsor letter states that you met in October 2012 and are in daily contact via FB and Skype however you have provided no evidence of this contact. This casts doubt over whether your relationship with your sponsor is as stated which casts doubt over your intentions in travelling to the UK". In the sponsor letter I stated that you cannot export logs detailing calls made via FB video, or Skype video (paid calls are logged, free Internet video chats are not). I have painstakingly copied over 15000 lines of conversation from FB chat which took many hours but as it's in the format time, person, conversation and blank each on new lines so even setting for font size to 8 it's a whopping 360 pages long - I wish I could somehow import it into Excel having time, person and conversatio in 3 colums on a single line, that'd reduce the number of pages immensly. I hope to produce something similar from Skype which, unlike FB, at least shows video call duration, but again there's no export function or simple logs I can print. Are these going to be any good, or will I spend hours producing something they'll not accept?

3. "You have stated that you will also visit your aunt in the UK but have provided no evidence of your aunt's immigration status in the UK, or that she is aware of your intended visit, which again casts doubt over the circumstances of your proposed trip". Easy one to fix, the aunt will email us both inviting her to visit, and is obtaining certified copies of her English passport showing her as a British Citizen, and her marriage certificate. I'm assuming I don't need the husbands passport or any documentation from her gaining ILR due to the fact that she has British citizenship?

4. "You have described yourself as unemployed and have stated that you are wholly financially dependent upon your sponsor, however you have provided no evidence of this regular support. I must also note that you have no evidence of assets or property, which might encourage your presence in your county and you have submitted no evidence of your current financial cirucmstances". Okay the first bit was an oversight so I'm putting together bank statements (already given) highlighting ATM withdrawls in October, December and April, a bank transfer in November, and Western Union payment summaries and receipts for payments made 25/01, 31/01 and 27/02. We'll also copy her bank book which will show corresponding receipts for the Western Union payments (less fees), but when paid in cash she never put it in the bank so there's no real proof that I gave it to her, just that I withdrew fairly large sums on the last day or so of my trips. What can we do about the assets and property remark though? She's 26, prior to me was single, living at home with her parents (now at least), so what assets is she likely to have? We've talked about paying a sinsod for which her mum will sign over land ownership to my GF, but I learned today that doesn't include the house, just the land it's on. Aside from the financial risk to me is this wise, will having the land signed over help the visa, and should I involve a solicitor to make sure it's really given to her?

So... sorry it's a long post, but thoughts please. Is a clearer explanation about the WorldSIM number, including that number in my contact details, and showing the registration details page enough to address point 1. Are manually exported conversation histories going to be okay, and should I remove, black out or leave any personal/rude conversations as she says <deleted> an awful lot, and will these address point 2. Is the aunts passport enough to address point 3 now she's a British citizen? And I'm sure the bank/WU transfers are okay but what about the ATM withdrawals, but of more concern should we buy/transfer the land into her name to address point 4?

Heeeeeeelp

It pretty much looks like they don't think she'll go home, so what else can I do to make them believe it's in both our interests for her to do so. In the sponsor letter I said "We are applying for a General Visitor Visa as we feel this best fits our circumstances. We understand its conditions and limitations with regard to the fact that she must not take any form of work whilst in the UK, she must return to Thailand before the visa expires, and that she is not entitled to free healthcare during her stay". I also wrote "The primary purpose of her visit to the UK is to meet my family before we return to Thailand to marry". Would it help to add something I found in another post "We hope to apply for a Settlement Visa at a later date and do not want to jeopardise xxxx"s future application by failing to comply with all visit visa conditions, including leaving the UK at the end of the visit"?

Just looking for flights for the girlfriend to fly from BKK (Bangkok) to BHX (Birmingham, UK) Monday 18th March, returning Friday 23rd August, booked via the UK. Cheapest is Emirates at 597GBP for 15hr coming, 34hr return. If I want 16hr return it increases to 653GBP. If I change the return date to Thursday 22nd March I can get 536GBP and 628GBP respectively for long/short return flight. At 47.3THB exchange rate that means the cheapest flight I can get is 25,368.88THB.

Strangely the first time I did the latter search prices were coming back considerably higher, as much as 1200GBP. I just hope in 3 weeks time if/when her visa is approved that prices haven't changed significantly. Very pleased with these prices considering that it cost me 672GBP to go to Thailand in October and 1036GBP in December.

Just looked for 3 weeks in the UK in September, or seven weeks June/Aug, flying BKK-London-BKK on Emirates own website, and was being quoted B46k-B48k, so wonder where you're finding approx B26k ? Does that include taxes/extras ?

Yes the flights soon disappeared. Plans have changed so I'm going back to Thailand in March instead of her coming here, and I can't even get those fares BHX to BKK any more, 673GBP I think when I looked yesterday for half decent flight times. I'm planning to fly on the 17th, wanted to go on the 2nd or 3rd but that added 100's more to the cost.

Thanks for the advice that has been given, a few changes were made as a result. I didn't have time to give more information about my property beyond what was mentioned above - I added "(a 3 bedroomed property in which I live alone)" to my sponsors invitation letter and a mortgage statement was already part of the supporting documentation. However, I've already started to put something together should the visa be refused and it looks like expanding on this in the re-application will help.

In the end I didn't get everything sent until Monday as DHL didn't seem to cover her region near to Cambodia. For a while I was looking at sending everything to a relative in Bangkok and getting her to collect it from there, but I found UPS could deliver so used them. A bit expensive for a few documents, but I was going around in circles and had to get it sent. All being well it should be there Friday.

I'm still open to any advice as to things to put under additional info in Part 9. We've requested the visa start date is delayed to March 18th and I think I'll get her to add a note to the front of the document pack as well as suggested. At this stage I didn't add anything about what she'll do when I'm at work, but it'll be a week before she does the application online so plenty of time to add anything if we need to...

Thanks again everyone, sorry it's all so last minute. I'll be following up this post with a "Thai Gf First Visit To Uk (Part 3)" in a few weeks when we get our decision, hopefully detailing everything we did to get the visa approved to help others applying rather than looking at what we need to do to overcome reasons given for refusal. Fingers crossed.

Just looking for flights for the girlfriend to fly from BKK (Bangkok) to BHX (Birmingham, UK) Monday 18th March, returning Friday 23rd August, booked via the UK. Cheapest is Emirates at 597GBP for 15hr coming, 34hr return. If I want 16hr return it increases to 653GBP. If I change the return date to Thursday 22nd March I can get 536GBP and 628GBP respectively for long/short return flight. At 47.3THB exchange rate that means the cheapest flight I can get is 25,368.88THB.

Strangely the first time I did the latter search prices were coming back considerably higher, as much as 1200GBP. I just hope in 3 weeks time if/when her visa is approved that prices haven't changed significantly. Very pleased with these prices considering that it cost me 672GBP to go to Thailand in October and 1036GBP in December.

Garry

As I, and others, pointed out in your previous thread, five months is an awful long time for a hoilday in the UK, that doesn't mean your girlfriends visa would automatically be refused, but the ECO will most certainly be looking at the application in detail. What does she intend to do when your at work?

Good luck to you both.

Do you think we should add something into part 9? "While my boyfriend is at work I intend to spend some of my time with his retired mother, walk his brothers' dogs, listen to music, cook, and chat with friends back home via the Internet". Open to suggestions as I'm not sure what she'll do but she assures me she'll be absolutely fine. The wife of my best friend is very much like her, knows everyone, will talk to anyone. She works at a hairdressers in the village so I'm sure the girlfriend will go to see her from time to time too.

Thanks for the best wishes, lets hope we're lucky and get a yes (much to some peoples surprise I'm sure).

As that is the reason for the visit, that is what you should put. In answer to Q8.4 you can either say "See Q 9" or "See sponsor's letter," depending on where you put this information.

Despite Chivas' response, this is a perfectly reasonable reason for visiting one's boyfriend in the UK, and as it is a visit then a visit visa is what she should be applying for.

The only possible problem is that saying you intend to marry in October may lead the ECO to believe that you intend to do so in the UK.

So, you should make it clear that:-

• it is your intention to marry in Thailand,
  
• that you understand that if the intention were to marry in the UK then she should be applying for a marriage visit visa, not a tourist one and
  
• you understand that if you were to marry in the UK whilst she was there as a visitor she would still have to return to Thailand in order to apply for settlement.
  

Thanks for the various answers, but this one covered what others have said so seemed the best one to quote. I appreciate the deadline was too tight so didn't DHL it in the end. As there's a DHL collection point in WHSmiths I'll take it later today (so technically it'll ship Monday).

In my covering letter I had written "The primary purpose of her visit is to meet my family ahead of us marrying in Thailand on 10^th October, but it will also be an opportunity for us to spend much more time together as even though we video chat for 3 to 4 hours every night, this is no substitute for being together". I'm thinking, however, because of what's been said, that I should stop after "more time together"? This paragraph also talks about meeting my friends, tasting our food, experiencing our weather "all important factors ahead of her having to make a decision as to whether she would want us to live in the UK or Thailand after we’re married". I've infered that she'll be returning to Thailand by the fact that we will marry there, but do I need to state it more obviously? I do say "In line with the terms of the visa she will not work while in the UK".

In 8.4 I went for "Meet boyfriend's family and friends, visit a relative, tourism (visit London)".

For 8.7 I put "With boyfriend Garry xxxx at his home: (address here)". I haven't, however, described the house in any way, but I have sent my mortgage statement for 2012 as part of the financial evidence as I have over £8000 overpayment as a contingency. In my covering letter in the section explaining I'll be paying for absolutely everything I do mention "provide accommodation in my home", maybe I should expand by including something like "(a 3 bedroomed property in which I live alone"?

Her aunt is detailed in the appropriate sections regarding visiting relatives.

In part 9 marrying in Thailand on October 10th 2013 was repeated along with mention of the possibility that land may be purchased by the family as a wedding gift.

Sorry the short notice annoyed some people, totally understandable, I'm trying to balance getting my finger out to give us as long as possible to decide what to do if they say no, with trying to get everything as right as we can first time round. It's always been said that a 5 month trip when we'll have only been together for that time if/when she comes is a big ask, but I've got to try...