the scouser

Your student visa will be good for multiple entries to the UK, so there's no harm in you entering the UK on your student visa, going on your tour, and then returning to the UK to begin your studies.

Scouse.

Well done to you both. It's good to know you arrived back safely, although it would have been somewhat ironic if after all the visa stresses and strains O. had blown herself up with something as prosaic as a lawnmower. I trust you've got the old residual current device fitted to your electrical system?

Anyway, best of luck to you both.

Scouse.

If you were to be married, your girlfriend could apply for naturalisation after being in the UK three years and on the basis that she would possess indefinite leave. There are other qualifications too, but the ones I've cited are the basic criteria.

Once married she could apply for an extension without having to leave the UK and this would be valid for two years. At the end of the two years she could then apply for indefinite leave. So, to use your timeline, 1 year studies + 1 year IGS + 2 year spouse extension = 4 years before her indefinite leave at which point she could seek naturalisation.

There is nothing prohibiting your wife studying whilst present in the UK on a settlement visa.

Scouse.

If you're going to claim that your relationship is x number of years long, you should, where possible, provide evidence covering its entire duration. This doesn't have to be telephone bills and evidence that you travelled together should be fine.

If you are going to submit evidence of your wife's employment, then also providing her bank statements/bank book should ideally corroborate the former. There is no requirement in the Immigration Rules to provide a certified copy of your passport and a simple copy should be accepted unless it is apparent that it has been tampered with.

The embassy doesn't expect people to buy tickets prior to getting the visa and once a visa is issued the natural next step is to buy a ticket, so this does not need to be explained.

Scouse.

The circumstances which you describe might be considered to be a technical change and, as such, not have a bearing on your friend's entitlement to his work permit. In the first instance he should report the change to:-

UK Border Agency

PO Box 3468

Sheffield

S3 8WA.

If, however, his terms and conditions change at all, or he changes responsibilities, a new WP will be required.

Scouse.

All 3747 of 'em?

Scouse.

Edit// One down, 3746 to go.....

I've merged all three of your threads about your girlfriend's visit visa application. Rather than start a new thread for each question you may have, perhaps keep it all together and then, hopefully, it'll read properly.

I've also taken the opportunity to delete one post which was of no relevance to the thread.

Scouse.

^^

You're just going to have to explain it as it is. If the company is willing, they could give you written confirmation that the ad hoc deposits are in relation to their expenses.

I don't know whether this is in breach of Thai tax laws, but that's not something that would necessarily concern the British embassy anyway.

Scouse.

The form is completed in respect of your wife. You can provide a covering letter and any relevant supporting documentation.

Scouse.

^^

Just explain it as it is: the current passport was obtained to reflect a name change and supersedes the old document.

Scouse.

Explain that you are a dual national and for the purposes of the applications at hand, you wish to present yourself as being Irish. If your travel history is contained on your British passport, you can submit a copy.

Scouse.

The family permit itself is valid for an initial six months, but the holder does not require permission to stay in the UK beyond that date providing that s/he remains construed as a family member of an EEA national. However, if no further permission is sought and the holder wishes to travel outside of the UK after the family permit has expired, they should obtain a new one prior to their return.

Alternatively, as Roy mentioned, the holder of a family permit, once in the UK, can make an application for a residence permit, also free of charge, which is valid for five years. At the conclusion of the five years, they can apply for permanent residence, and having held PR for one year, they can apply for naturalisation as a British citizen.

Scouse.

If your girlfriend subsequently obtains permission to stay as your unmarried partner, she will be given leave for two years after which, if dhe meets the requirements, she can qualify for indefinite leave. Once she will have then held indefinite leave for one year and have been in the UK for five, she can apply for naturalisation as a British citizen. If you were to marry, she could seek naturalisation once she holds indefinite leave and has been in the UK for three years.

She can switch to being an unmarried partner and, alternatively, the International Graduate Scheme (if that is what you are referring to) allows students to work in the UK for one year following their university qualification.

Scouse.

Unfortunately not: it works the other way round. If you were a citizen of an EEA country your wife could get a free visa for Switzerland, but as you are Swiss, she will have to meet the requirements of the Swiss immigration rules, of which I'm afraid I have no knowledge.

Scouse.

Those who marry whilst on visit visas are not allowed to then prolong their stay in the UK. Your friend's fiancée would have to leave the UK at the end of her stay and then apply for a settlement visa at a cost of £515.00.

If they do decide to marry whilst she is on a visit visa, it is a "marriage visit" visa for which she should apply. If she applies for a normal visit visa, she will have to then apply to the UKBA for a certificate of approval to marry at a further cost of £295.00.

Scouse.

I wouldn't worry about what the visa application centre deems vital as they have no part in deciding a visa application.

The question you have to ask yourself is whether you believe the requirements of the Immigration Rules have been met. These principally state that the visa applicant has to demonstrate that there is adequate maintenance and accommodation available during the proposed stay and that s/he intends to leave the UK at the end of the visit.

If, when you consider all of your evidence in the round, you think it shows to the balance of probabilities that your girlfriend does indeed meet the criteria, then it should be job done. The test for what constitutes the balance of probabilities is if you were to show the same stuff to a man on the Clapham omnibus and ask whether the evidence indicates the relevant criteria to be met, would he say yes or no? If the former then the standard is attained and if the latter, not attained.

The one thing I would add is that if you are to present your parents as back-up financial providers, you will have to provide original evidence of their ability to live up to the pledge.

Scouse.

Jamie,

You might get more guidance in the travel forum.

Thread moved.

Scouse.

Jason,

My response can be found in your other thread:-

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/-t197295.htm...t&p=2060118

Rather than have two threads by the same author, and of the same topic, running simultaneously, I'll close this one.

Scouse.

Are you Swiss? If not, and you are of an EEA nationality, your wife and mother-in-law might qualify for free visas to enter Switzerland.

Scouse.

Jason,

My advice in your other thread still stands. Additionally, if the grandparents are no longer physically able to take care of the child, and there is no-one else in Thailand to fill the role, your wife can present the circumstances of the application as being sufficiently compassionate and compelling for the "sole responsibility" requirement to be waived.

If you claim Working/Child Tax Credit, your step-daughter's visa application cannot be refused on that alone.

Have a search of this sub-forum and you'll find quite a few threads about applying for UK settlement visas for children.

Scouse.

The UK Visa Application Centre is located at:

Regent House, 2nd Floor,

183, Rajdamri Road,

Kwaeng Lumpini,

Khet Pathumwan,

Bangkok 10330

Stuart,

Applications for family permits are made to the embassy in Bangkok via the application centre. You don't need to be present. You need to demonstrate that you are married, and that you are a citizen of an EEA country other than the UK. In relation to the step-children, they can apply for family permits, too.

As a citizen of an EEA country, you have an initial right of residence for three months in the UK during which time you do not need to demonstrate that you are a "qualified" person. However, for the sake of an easy life, you may wish to provide evidence that you are/will be working in the UK or that you are self-sufficient or that you are actively seeking work.

The relevant UK legislation gives the visa officer the right to apply the Immigration Rules to such an application as your family's but the immigration Tribunal has established that this has no foundation in the actual European directive (EC/2004/38) which is the primary legislation. However, again for the sake of ease, you may wish to supply the embassy with evidence of accommodation and that you have been living together.

A family permit is valid for six months. Once in the UK, the holder is not obliged to seek any extension and, whilst still considered to be a family member, will be lawfully in the UK. However, s/he may make an application to the UK Border Agency (UKBA) for a residence permit which will be valid for five years and helps to facilitate travel abroad. This application is again free and the UKBA is legally obliged to make a decision within six months of having received it.

Scouse.

Aye, she'll need separate visas for both Ireland and Spain. These should be obtained before she travels to the UK.

Scouse.

It doesn't really make a difference one way or the other: it's simply a matter of choice.

Scouse.

Well done.

Scouse.