the scouser

There is no requirement to provide countersignatories even if renewing by post. However, a child under 11 must have a renewal countersigned by two people in the named professions who know the parent.

Scouse.

Edit// Sorry, I'm going potty. Only one countersignatory is required when appropriate.

Mark,

It is a realistic prospect for the entire Thai contingent of your family to move to the UK simultaneously. I'm no family law expert, but my understanding is that you will not be construed to have legal parental responsibility for the kids and this will remain with their mother. You can, however, subsequently seek to adopt the children, but there is no requirement to do so. Again, there is no requirement for the kids to change their surname to yours; amongst other things, you simply have to demonstrate that your wife is their mother.

Your proposal of accommodation is fine and your income after tax should be at or above the amount your family would notionally receive if you were in receipt of income support which is currently approx. £175.00 pw for a couple and two children. Indeed, once in the UK, you could claim tax credits in respect of your wife and step-children in addition to child benefit just for the kids. You don't need to have been in emplyment in the UK for a prescribed period of time.

Scouse.

If you renew your Passport yourself and turn up in person, there is no need to be vouched for !

That's right: you don't need to have the application countersigned for a renewal unless your appearance has dramatically changed since the last passport was issued.

Scouse.

You wonder why they need the fingerprints if you don't have a record...

Some people are perhaps not totally honest and may give false pars. Consequently, they don't check only a name against a database, but the fingerprints, too. No match means no record.

Scouse.

Providing that her circumstances have not materially altered since the residence permit was issued, then, yes, she can come and go within its validity.

Scouse.

The cost of the visit visa application is £65.00 payable in baht. If the visa section of the embassy decides that no interview is required, then a decision can be expected within a matter of days. I wouldn't artificially inflate her bank account as this will be apparent to the visa officer and will likely lead to refusal of the visa.

Scouse.

There's no harm in applying as your partner if that is, indeed, what you are.

In the absence of the previous passport, they will expect to see a police report which reports the loss.

Scouse.

As things stand, the woman can lawfully stay in the UK until her current visa expires but as the relationship has broken down, an application for either an extension or indefinite leave is unlikely to succeed.

However, if, as you report, she is the victim of domestic violence, she can make an application for indefinite leave now. She will have to demonstrate the DV, though, which will include reporting it to the police and going to hospital to have any injuries documented.

Scouse.

Thread closed at OP's request.

Scouse.

You are under no obligation to register your daughter's birth with the British embassy. If she qualifies, you can simply apply for a British passport on her behalf.

Also refer to:-

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/F...d=1068717512679

and:-

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/British-Citi...ip-t105205.html

Your girlfriend will require a separate visa for entry in to France.

If you complete the applications on line, the visa applicant still has to attend in person to lodge the supporting documentation etc., so it's swings and roundabouts.

Scouse.

Thread tidied up and various posts deleted.

The OP's question is quite straightforward: he simply wishes to know whether his son qualifies for German citizenship and whether military service is still in operation. We don't need to otherwise pass judgment.

Scouse.

I don't see why not.

Two weeks is a reasonable duration of visit, you are in a long term relationship, have a child, and I presume you have employment to which to return in Thailand. You will need to submit evidence of your/your family's ability to maintain and accommodate you all during the trip in addition to evidence of your relationship and a covering letter which explains the circumstances of the trip.

Scouse.

However, even with a letter from an employer, it is common for the ECO to contend that s/he does not accept that three months leave would be given, so even though the job may be genuine, s/he does not accept that it will be there on the applicant's proposed return.

Scouse.

Your state pension is based on contributions you have made, so is an "entitlement" as you've paid in. However, tax credits and child benefit are non-contributory and, as far as I'm aware, have a residency criterion which means that the child in respect of whom the benefit is claimed must live in the UK.

Scouse.

As the kids are in Thailand, you'll be lucky to get any non-contributory benefit in their respect.

Scouse.

Sorry I've not responded previously, but I've been away for a few days.

The first thing to do is to ensure that you get the appeal form lodged within the 28 days. It will take 7-8 months for the appeal to be heard, but once the form is in, the process will begin.

Once you've got the appeal form lodged, you can then consider your other options. You could either submit representations to the UK Border Agency stating why you believe the decision to be flawed and asking that the decision be overturned, or you could submit a new application, again addressing the reasons for refusal of the initial application. If the worst comes to the worst, and neither ot these options is successful, you will still have the appeal as a fallback.

Scouse.

If your g/f wishes to pay for the trip herself, she has to demonstrate that she has the ability to do so. If she's to stay with you, you need to show that you can provide a roof over her head. The visa officer will also expect to see that the relationship is genuine and subsisting, so you will need to provide evidence of your relationship, e.g. letters, e-mails, greetings cards, telephone bills, etc.: basically anything that demonstrates the two of you to be together and to have been for the length of time you claim. It is a visit visa for which your g/f will apply.

Scouse.

I didn't think you needed an excuse to pour yourself a beer.

Anyway, well done.

Scouse.

Don't purchase a ticket prior to the visa being issued because if the visa is refused the ticket money might not be refunded.

If your girlfriend wishes to pay for the trip herself, that's fine, and she will have to demonstrate her ability to do so: evidence of her employment, income, and savings. However, the point is that she must declare that she knows you, as failure to do so constitutes lying. Should she be found out, there's no way on earth she'd ever get a visa in the foreseeable future.

I really don't see what the big problem is about saying that she's visiting you. Indeed, if she were to simply present herself as wanting to visit the UK for 2 weeks to see Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London, she'd be more likely to be refused because the visit would lack a credible purpose. In informing the visa officer of your presence and relationship, the purpose of the visit will be more believable.

Scouse.

I presume that your g/f has some form of residence permit and work authority for Hong Kong, in which case she can apply at the Consulate-General there, although she will need to complete an on-line form and book an appointment for the submission of documents.

Failing to mention you in the application could be construed as failure to declare a material fact. Indeed, the application form specifically asks the visa applicant whether they know anyone in the UK: to tick "no" would be a downright lie and could lead to your g/f's visa being refused without further consideration.

Two weeks is a reasonable length of time for which to visit and this will enhance your g/f's credibility. Furthermore, as she is in employment in Hong Kong, she should be able to substantiate this, which is a positive indication by itself that she intends to leave the UK at the end of her holiday. In addition to evidence of your/your g/f's ability to pay for the trip, you will need to show that you have somewhere for her to stay in the UK and also provide evidence of your relationship.

Scouse.

The question has been discussed previously, so a search of the forum should show up a list of such countries.

By the way, Bali is not a country, but is part of Indonesia.

Scouse.

The appeal process will take 7-8 months.

Your partner's cousin might consider collating the evidence of accommodation and submitting representations to the embassy, asking that in the light of the new evidence the decision to refuse is overturned. She should still submit the appeal, though, as a fall back.

The cousin has to demonstrate that their is adequate accommodation available in the UK. This may be an offer from a third party, but she will need to show that there is at least one room available for the sole use of her and her husband. The child will also be factor, but for the purposes of calculating overcrowding, only counts as a half. They will require evidence that the property owner is content for them to stay there, evidence of their ownership, evidence and, if possible, a copy of the deeds from the land registry website. If the property is rented, the tenancy agreement should be submitted in addition to a letter from the landlord which confirms that he is content for the cousin, her husband, and child, when born, to live there.

Scouse.

Well done to you both.

Scouse.

Well done to you both and all the best.

Scouse.