bigyin

Helpful to have the date but not necessary. I have made 2 successful visa applications without the date. It is much more important that they show a normal life together.

I have done both successfully so you can do either. If you send the actual photos they will send the originals back and they will also send back A4 paper copies. They don't care about the format only the evidence so don't worry and do what is easy. But if you are worried then send the originals..they will return them.

I have been reading about Schengen visas and there was a previous thread where it was stated that in addition to the translations being certified by MOFA in Bangkok they also had to be stamped by the Embassy of the EU national spouse (in my case the British Embassy). That thread was in 2013 but this thread suggests that the MOFA certification is enough. Can anyone with recent experience categorically state what is required for, say, getting a visa from the French Embassy?

The funds need to be cycled in and out of the bank. The powers that be 'like' to see cash flow... even in cases where there are virtually no savings.

The Thai applicant does not need to have any money in a bank or otherwise. Between them the applicant and the sponsor need to show that the visit can be paid for without recourse to public funds, that they have a genuine and subsisting relationship and that the applicant will return to Thailand at the end of the trip. If you can show these then you will get a visitor visa (to the UK anyway) without needing to do anything with bank accounts. The ECO is only really interested in those 3 things.

The KET involved both reading and writing English which made it difficult for Thai speakers but I understand from another thread that the new test only involves speaking and listening. If you succeed with the next visitor visa application a better bet might be to take the Trinity test in the UK which is only about 10 minutes long, I believe. She would not, however, be able to study for the test whilst in the UK.

I don't know if Immigration at the airport will be open as you can normally get a re entry permit there although I have never personally risked it. If you have a visa to stay here or an extension of stay and you leave the country without obtaining a re entry permit then your visa/extension of stay lapses and you come back in on a normal 30 day stamp I think. Not a good idea.

The UK has scrapped the 1 year passport extension introduced last year due to the delays in processing passport applications so that is no longer an option.

I think photos of the shop perhaps with explanations of what they show is a good idea. I also think give them all the detail about the very valid reasons you mention for not seeing each other so often. From what you have said I think it is just a question of really making sure the ECO understands about the shop and about your personal circumstances. Good luck with the next application.

It seems to me (and I am happy to be corrected on this) that the main reason for refusal is the lack of evidence of an ongoing and subsisting relationship. The ECO is almost bound to think it odd that you haven't met in person for 18 months. The last time was easy because you had just married and there was no history of long periods apart. This application was, in my opinion, quite different and was almost bound to be refused. The shop is an extra issue because you mentioned it. The Thai applicant doesn't have to have any money or source of income but does need to display a good reason to return. On that basis the shop is I suppose just such a reason so all you can really do is be perfectly honest about that. Does Tia have a bank account? If so as stated above copies of statements showing monies going in would be good but I suspect that she either doesn't or if she has, not much of the money gets that far. This is Thailand and money evaporates very quickly. All you can really do is explain the situation and if possible provide corroboration from 3rd parties. But for me the big issue is the one of lack of regular contact as would be considered the norm for married couples. I think any future application needs to explain in some detail why you meet so infrequently despite being married. You need to provide firm evidence to convince the ECO that you have a genuine and subsisting relationship and that Tia will return to Thailand at the end of the trip.

Just done this again and got 19 which is a bare pass. I love history but too many questions about historical dates. No one learns this information anymore so why should immigrants have to learn them. I suspect nobody under the age of about 40 would have learned historical dates at school in the UK. My daughters are 36 and 34 and I know they didn't...I am also 100% sure they would fail this test.

Not everyone who comes to live in the UK takes out British citizenship; for a variety of reasons.

The LitUK test is not just a test of knowledge, it is also a test of the candidates English reading ability, though not writing as it is computer based.

I live in an area with a high immigrant population; mostly from Pakistan. Doctor's surgeries, hospitals, the local council etc. all used to provide leaflets etc. in several languages to cater for immigrants who could not read or write English. They also often had to provide translators for residents who could not speak English.

All at vast cost to the public purse.

The requirement for these services are reducing, and will reduce to zero over time due to the English language requirements, including the LitUK test, for the initial visa, FLR and ILR.

I agree, and have never said otherwise, that some of the questions in the test should be more relevant to the day to day requirements of life in the UK; but I am wholly in favour of requiring those who come to settle in the UK to be able to speak, read and write English to a good enough standard to get by, communicate with their doctor etc. without the taxpayer providing multitudinous translations for them.

I totally agree with the last paragraph and I don't think any reasonable person could disagree but the test as presently constituted is not really testing that. Questions tailored to everyday life with perhaps a little bit of history and culture would be fine but to expect immigrants and particularly the lawful spouses of UK citizens to know more about the history of the UK than is taught in schools is patently absurd. I do agree that these things should be taught in school as they were when we were young but they are not and it will never revert to how it was so the test should change to adapt to modern circumstances.

To the O.P., don't do it via her boss, do it legit. From the info you have provided you should not have a problem, just follow the advice given already regarding a well prepared application.

To the guys who have mentioned about going through different immigration lines when arriving in the UK. I have been going backward and forward with my wife for 15 years now, we have entered the UK through Heathrow, Manchester and Leeds. I always go through the line for non UK / EU passport holders with my wife and I have never had a problem from any immigration officer. When they ask a question I let her reply and if she struggles a bit I help. She sometimes has a bit of difficulty understanding different accents. Not once have I been told that I am in the wrong line and none of the officers have minded me going through with her.

Yes I did the same thing last year. As a UK citizen you can go through any line you want. When I went through I did the little talking that was required and that wasn't much. Very smooth and easy. I have actually seen references in the forum somewhere to a family all going through the UK line together but I wasn't brave enough to try that.

Don't be too disappointed, I done an application about 2 weeks ago and never got that email either

Same here and we did get the visa so I don't think it is anything to worry about. VFS are pretty well organised these days.

Yes I think having the logo with all the account details makes it ok but just a non headed printout probably isn't.

I submitted printouts with the official Bank logo on them for settlement visas with no problem. I wonder if that is the case with the other accepted printouts? I would be surprised if they accepted printouts without the bank logo on them but I could be wrong. I certainly wouldn't risk it anyway.

DONE!

many thanks to all participants for the very useful information provided in this forum

happy happy

Was this the British Embassy? If so did you make an appointment and did you take an application form with you or did they give you one to fill out then and there?

I am spoiled in Phitsanulok. Went with my wife the first time and they just said "Your wife guarantees you" and so I only give them my proof of income letter and copies of passport. Very relaxing.

If you have a valid visa then the airline should not refuse to let you check in. I have come back to Thailand on a one way ticket quite a few times and they look for my visa in my passport. Once they see that they are happy. That was with Emirates. No visa then it is a problem.

I didn't even do that and succeeded with a visitor visa last year and settlement visa this year but there is certainly no harm in doing so as theoldgit proves. At all times it is the applicant's form whoever actually does the computer input. I think the ECO's are aware that the applicants get a lot of help with the application. I did my step daughter's as well and that was challenging to complete it as a 10 year old (or maybe not given my mental age).

To get the letter from the British Embassy you need to show the source evidence that you have the income. In my case that is the original annual letter from my pension provider showing the amount receivable in the current year so clear proof is required. It is my understanding that the US Embassy requires no such evidence so there is a clear difference. I don't know what other Embassies require. On a lighter note and referring back to the question about exchange rates the Immigration Officer in Phitsanulok asked me to look it up on my phone.

Yes pretty sure the problem is at your end as worked perfectly for me last month. I was using Google Chrome.

Just to expand on this question does getting the extension mean that you don't have to worry about transferring extension of stay stamps? I need a new passport next year but am planning to return to the UK a few months later so really don't want all the hassle about the transfer of stamps. I assume that if I extended the life of the current passport until after my final return to the UK then I wouldn't have to worry. Also does anyone know the procedure to extend?

No they don't. Last year was a visit visa and no check list. This year a settlement visa and just a form about the English test. Sorry if I confused anyone.

I just checked with my wife and the only thing she had to do was state where she took her English language test and then sign that...no checklist. This was the case last year as well. There may well be an element of inconsistency here from VFS but as I said before they were helpful to my wife.