ianwuk

Silly question but did the financial information you provide cover your main trip or all of them?

Thanks.

ianwuk

Yes I supplied copies of my bank statements to supplement the cash my girlfriend had in her own account.

How far back did your bank statements go? Was it longer than 3 months if applying for a 2 year visa?

Thanks.

ianwuk

The guidelines are that you can also apply for a long-term visit visa if you can prove you need to make repeat visits over a longer period. You can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit and your visa can last for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years.

Realistically I think for a person to be granted a longer term visit visa they must have demonstrated that they have successfully complied with previous visit visas and will also need to demonstrate that they are likely to have a need to make regular visits over a longer period. They will still need to demonstrate reasons to return.

My girlfriend has had two previous visit visas in our time together, as well as a couple of Schengen Visas. As we plan to visit the UK a couple of times this year and again next year she applied for a two year visit. In her application she gave the details of the first trip, though flights or accommodation wasn't not booked, she gave evidence that the first trip was affordable and, in her covering letter gave outline details for our future trips we were considering. She received her two year visa in a few days.

I think the main thing to do is prove affordability for the first trip, and give outline plans for future plans, reasons to return are still important as you don't want the ECO to suspect that by applying for a longer term visa that she is hoping to circumnavigate the settlement rules.

The two year visit visa isn't really cost effective unless you plan to visit regularly, though it gives the holder the opportunity to travel at short notice, but it saves having to go through the procedure every time, and the holder might be protected if HMG moved the visa goalposts.

The longer visits are really designed for business people.

Thanks again for helping me TOG.

It sounds like, as long as I have the first reason covered, with evidence, and provide an outline of the future visits that it shoule be okay from what I have read. When you say 'gave evidence that the first trip was affordable' I assume that is the same 3 month bank statements I did before for my last visa application, it is the same requirement?

Many thanks.

ianwuk

You can actually get a 2 year visa for £300.

My wife got one earlier this month. As far as the travel plans are concerned she/I detailed specific dates for a holiday next month, vague dates for another trip in September, and even more vague details for possible holiday plans in 2016. No problems at all and visa issued within 10 days.

How did you get the 2 year visa please? Do you select it on the application form on the Visa4UK website?

What supporting evidence did you include with your application if I may ask? Did you provide itineraries for all trips planned? Some or not others? What financial information did you provide? Is it still 3 months previous? That concerns me, if I have multiple dates planned to visit the UK but only supply financial date for the 3 months prior to the month of application surely they won't like that?

Many thanks.

ianwuk

Hello All.

My Thai wife currently has a UK Family Visitor visa which expires on April 2nd 2015. We have plans to visit the UK again (we are currently in Thailand) this year in June and December this year and again in February 2016. I read on the UK GOV website that you can get a family visitor visa for 1 year for 300 pounds and

I wanted some more information.

How can we apply for a 1 year Family Visitor visa if we have to go to the UK multiple times? In June it is for a wedding, in December it is for Christmas and in February it will be for my mum's birthday.

Do we submit one letter covering all plans with the proposed itineraries for everything or do we do it all separately?

Any help is much appreciated.

Regards.

ianwuk

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One thing you should do is get an English translation of the certificate.

Not only will this be needed should she want to apply for a UK visa, it will also be required for various purposes should you and she move to the UK to live and will be cheaper to do in Thailand than in the UK.

The translation should contain

• confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document;
• the date of the translation;
• the translator's full name and signature and
• the translator's contact details.

Note that the UK does not require 'legalisation' of translations by the Thai MFA, but most other European countries do; especially the Schengen states. So it may be worth getting that done as well in case she wishes to apply for a Schengen visa some time in the future.

We already have an English translation of our marriage certificate.

Sorry to correct you, AnotherOneAmerican, but depositing one's foreign, in this case Thai, marriage certificate with the GRO does not mean you will be issued with British marriage certificate of any sort.

All that it means is that a copy of the foreign marriage certificate will be available from the GRO at some future date should anyone want it.

I have to correct you. It is no longer possible to deposit a foreign marriage certificate at a UK registry office

The reasons are below.

From 1 January 2014 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will discontinue its service of depositing foreign marriage and civil partnership certificates with the General Register Offices in the UK.

British nationals overseas will need to make their own arrangements for the safekeeping of these certificates, as they do for other important documents

Why has the decision been made to stop this service?
This change is being introduced as part of our 2013-16 Consular Strategy. As the strategy makes clear, Consular Excellence is about high-quality, modern, cost effective and efficient support to British Nationals overseas.

This change will help make better use of our scarce resources and modernise the way we deliver these services. This will allow us to concentrate on front-line consular work, providing more support to our vulnerable customers including, for example, minors, the elderly, people with mental health problems, and victims of serious crime abroad.

There is no legal requirement to deposit your foreign marriage or civil partnership certificate with the GRO, or to have your marriage/civil partnership recorded in the UK. The deposit of a foreign certificate does not make the marriage legal in the UK, nor does it recognise the marriage as a valid one.

The validity in UK law of a marriage or civil partnership contracted in a foreign country is in no way affected by its having been, or not having been, recorded in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/marriage-certificate-registry-service-discontinued-for-overseas-brits

Yes, I noticed this also which is why what the British embassy said to me makes no sense.

Many thanks.

ianwuk

I have no idea why I was told that either which is why it is confusing. I did look in to the GRO thing that was mentioned but I did not see any relevance in it and what the embassy told me.

It seems that I do not need to do anything then, which is good.

Thanks for the reply.

ianwuk

Thanks for the advice Steve. It just seems that what the British Embassy told me and what I am being told here are conflicting so I just want to know what is the required course of action.

Awesome. I just thought it be much harder such as requiring a solicitor or something to legally change it.

When I went to the British embassy in Bangkok to get the affidavit of marriage they said that we had to contact a solicitor in the UK to update my status under British law which is why I am confused as to what they meant by this.

Thanks again.

ianwuk

Hello All.

How can a Thai marriage be legally seen as a proper marraige in UK law if my status does not change accordingly?

Thanks for all the answers but I am just worried that it is too easy because, for example, if the UK government looked up my passport number then surely they would see my status of being single?

Thanks again for all the replies.

ianwuk

First of all this may seem a silly question and I apologise if it is in the wrong section (please move accordingly) but when I go back to the UK next month, now that I am married (and the marriage being recognised in the UK as well due to getting marrried at an Amphur), how do I go about officially changing my marital status in the eyes of UK law from being single to being married?

Many thanks for any assistance.

ianwuk

Just to give an update to this (for those who were wonderig) I had the operation via social security at the hospital my employer had assigned me to. Total cost was 5000 baht so I am more than happy with that.

Just to clear up the confusion.

I do pay social security and I have a social security card with a number and a registered hospital too.

Apologies.

So what is your problem?

Go there. They'll pay for it, and any upgrades you can pay yourself, like the mentioned private room.

Thanks very much Stevenl. Appreciate the advice. I am doing just that.

Just to clear up the confusion.

I do pay social security and I have a social security card with a number and a registered hospital too.

Apologies.

Unfortuantely I am not on a pension harrry but thank for the advice. Will no insurers in Thailand help me out? Even if they pay the costs themselves upfront (the insurer) and I pay back per month, I would be fine with that.

Thanks.

ianwuk

Hello All.

So, long story short, I was diagnosed a few months back with nasal polyps. I was told that I could have an operation (but from what I learnt the polyps just come back - specialist confirmed this) so I stuck with using nasal spray instead and thought that the condition could be controlled. Fast forward to last week and it seems the infection caused by the nasal polyps has worsened spreading to my lungs causing shortness of breath, general tiredness and fatigue and nasal congestion chronically in the left nostril.

Suffice to say, the second hospital I was at last week (first diagnosis was at Phayathai 1 hospital, second was at Samitivej) checked again and the polyps have worsened and now an operation is needed to the tune of around 300,000 baht.

What are my options? I don't have real health insurance (my work reimburses up to 1500 baht only), I do pay social security though. Fully legally working in Thailand.

Will any healthcare provider cover all or most of it as I really do not have the money? - asking family/friends is also not an option, they don't have the money and nothing is ever for free.

What about bank loans?

I am from the UK but I believe that I have been out of the UK too long (8 years in Thailand) to be able to fly back and get it done on the NHS, is this true?

Any help anyone can provide me with in getting the money to resolve this would be much appreciated.

Many thanks.

Thanks again for the great advice TOG!

It is much appreciated.

ianwuk

Thanks for replying TOG!

I have a letter of invitation and proof of ownership as well as the other things mentioned as I want to be thorough.

I won't get penalised for too much information will I? (silly question, I know!)

Thanks again.

ianwuk

A new question please.

I got the letter of invitation from my parents in the UK except my mum's passport has expired. Therefore only my dad has provided copies of his passport, driving license, council tax bill and proof of ownership where me and my wife will be staying - is that enough or does my mum also need to provide a copy of her passport?

Thanks.

ianwuk

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. It is much appreciated. I will let you know the outcome as I am still collecting the supporting documentation.

ianwuk

You seem to have things covered, the reasons to return are the most important, your partners employment, your employment in Thailand should cover this.

Just to clarify, there's actually no point in pitching up at the British Embassy, if you did manage to get yourselves inside by saying you're going to the Consular Department, you wouldn't get to see anyone from the UKVI, they're in a separate office and don't see the likes of you and I.

It also really doesn't matter whether your wife applies for a General or Family visa.

Thanks for replying TOG!

We did go to the embassy and they confirmed that, as said on here, the embassy service to to register a marriage in the UK is no longer offered. Furthermore we then went to VFS who, as also said on here, confirmed that a General Visitor Visa will be fine and so it turns out that I was right in my pursuits but at least I was officially agreed with.

Thanks again. I just need to get the remaining documents sorted out. However I have one more question. My fiancee was blacklisted when she visited the USA for overstaying (since then she has been living in Thailand for the past six years) and the priority visa service at VFS states that only those who have been to the US and UK before can apply (my fiancee has been to the US and the UK) but I am just concerned that the blacklisting from the US may be a red flag? (there is nothing in her passport from the US saying she is blacklisted).

Thanks.

ianwuk

Your list doesn't mention your Sponsor's letter, although I know you know about it! Don't forget it, as it's a key document.

Hello Brewster.

All the supporting documentation listed is referenced in my sponsorship letter and the sponsorship letter for my wife which we will obviously include.

Thanks.

ianwuk

Thanks very much Brewster. Seems I am on the right track after all but I will go to the embassy tomorrow just to confirm what I suspect - that we will get no help at all.

Thanks.

ianwuk

I already have the affirmation of freedom to marry notarised from the embassy. I then got it translated in to Thai and legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and it is these documents that I will take to the Amphur next month, along with my passport, to get married. When I am married am I correct that my wife's visa status in the UK will not be affected meaning that she can still apply for a general visitor visa or to visit family (both short stay tourist kind of visas)?

I was told that, because she is my spouse I would need a different visa to bring her in the UK because she is now officially my wife. Also I was told that the marriage had to be registered at the embassy but I have read that this is no longer offered. I know this has already been answered but there is just so much conflicting information I am just trying to make sense of it all.

I don't actually have an appointment at the embassy. I was kind of hoping to just turn up with my fiancee (I understand she may not be allowed in) and talk to a real person and get some real information. The issue I have is that as soon as we land in the UK my fiancee will stay with her family under the date of the blessing and I will stay with mine until the date of the blessing ceremony.

After the ceremony my wife will then spend the rest of our time in the UK with my family. So my questionns are this:

1 - Because she will be staying with her family for a period of time and then mine she needs a letter of invitation from both places, this is my understanding - am I correct? Could I just say she is staying with my family for the entire trip which is pretty much true?

2 - The reason to return is employment for me and my wife. I have already obtained six months financial data from my Kasikorn accounts but how long back does the six months have to be (i.e. when they review the financials obviously my accounts will have had money deducted and deposited in it and so the six months data will be out of date?).

3 - My supporting documentation to include is thus:

Me:

• Letter of employment for me stating position salary and date to return
• Thai bank statements for the accounts I will be using to finance my wife’s visit to the UK - see question above
• Thai work permit for proof I am legally working in Thailand - is this really needed?
• Letter of invitation from my parents - this is where we will both spend most of our time
• Letter of invitation from my wife’s cousin - this is the first place my wife will be until the ceremony
• Copy of my British passport
• Copy of my Thai marriage certificate as proof of my marriage
• Proof that the blessing ceremony will be taking place in the UK

My wife:

• Letter of employment for her stating position, salary and date to return
• Letter of invitation from my parents - this is where we will both spend most of our time
• Letter of invitation from my cousin - this is the first place my wife will be until the ceremony
• Copy of Thai passport
• Copy of Thai marriage certificate as proof of my marriage

Thanks so much for all the replies!

ianwuk

So, if for example, as per my original plan, my wife gets a general visitor visa and, during her time in the UK, will be staying at two different places she would need a letter of invitation from both places, is that correct? She will only be staying at the first place for a few days before spending the remainder of the time at my parents place with me. I gather that they need a letter of invitation from both places otherwise they may start asking questions?

Tomorrow we will both go to the embassy (only to be turned away and told to go to VFS in Sukhumvit most likely) but we have to try because there is so much conflicting information on the internet about this to be honest and I just want some real answers. It seems a lot of it may be outdated also.

My original plan was this:

Get married next month at local amphur
Apply for general visitor visa for my wife (reason to leave being we both have employment in Thailand and have to return)

Get visa approved

Book flights

Go to the UK

What may be a spanner in the works though is that in December, at a church where my parents live, we will just be having a blessing ceremony to commemorate the wedding because I know the wedding is recognised in the UK and it is illegal to remarry. How would this affect things in terms of applying for a visa, visa type and such?

Thanks so much for all the replies.

ianwuk