Globaleyes

Are there any thoughts on why there has been such a rush for applications to visit / settle in the UK? Is it because of the strength of the baht, enabling many more Thais to pay for the visit? Or is it the weakness of the pound, forcing people on fixed incomes to return to the UK, family in tow?

I know chewy has been waiting for ages since march, but on the list there are 2 others who are too right?

Chrisspuresbkk1 and also domm...

is that right that you are also waiting since middle of march with NO news?? if so whats happening, any answers for you guys??

oops, sorry, didn't mean to leave anyone out...

Congratulations to those who recently got their visa this week. I was actually in Thailand seeing the Mrs ! Been 4 months separated.

Good luck to everyone, but especially Chewy, who really should take a complaint all the way to the top!

congratulations bigsy i was hoping we would hear from you today. your news is wonderful for you both. now tomorrow is possibly my day and a couple of others on here, good luck kate and Marcjaiyenyen, i hope we are all smiling tomorrow. Right now i am scared maybe a couple of bers tonight will ease the worry, I need my wife here with me and i know you all fel the same. as newly weds spending our fist 3 months married apart is not how it should be..........anyways dont wanna bore you all with my worry but as they say...........ITS GOOD TO TALK.. lol

Thanks AndyJoy. I hope everything works out for you too. Have a few (or more) beers and try and relax. Easier said than done i know but stay positive.

Good luck

Bigsy

Congrats Bigsy. Good luck in the future

A friend of mine owns a restaurant in the UK and with his (mainly Bangladeshi) staff has had various immigration issues.

When he last saw me, knowing the situation with my Mrs and I, he mentioned that he knows a good immigration lawyer.

Does anyone have any comments on using such a lawyer to overturn decisions or speed the process up?

If you get a refusal, then by all means contact him for help/advice, but I wouldn't try and push your application to the front by using an immigration lawyer. It probably wouldn't work, would cost you money and you may just piss someone off at the embassy trying to throw your weight around and then hey presto, refusal, which may well be overturned later, but has taken longer than it would have originally. If you were doing a job and a customer set a lawyer on you to try and make you do it faster, would you be a) happy or b ) pissed off?

Sorry, I realise that i did not make my self clear. I was referring to the people who had waited an unreasonable length of time for any sort of response. I agree, one shouldn't use the 'big guns' first.

Well, I have drafted a email to the embassy that I will send later tonight and following up with a few hours on the phone.

All I can do is point out that there has been an oversight in the processing of my application and beg to have the decision reviewed.

I am flying out to Bangkok on Wednesday and really want to bring the misses back with me.

FINGERS CROSSED!!! Will let you all know how it goes.

Best of luck...

Congratulations MrBurb, welcome to our 'merry' club Mr Hawkins

I remember reading on the guidance for the settlement visa application that if circumstances change during the application, we are to tell them. However, yesterday my Mrs rang the visa place and asked to 'tack on' various payslips that I have accrued since our application which I believe support or enhance our application (i.e. our circumstances are changing in that they are improving).

I'm sure you've guessed already, not allowed to do that!

Which is it to be? If I lose a job, should I not now tell them? If I gain a better one, it seems I'm not allowed to...

A friend of mine owns a restaurant in the UK and with his (mainly Bangladeshi) staff has had various immigration issues.

When he last saw me, knowing the situation with my Mrs and I, he mentioned that he knows a good immigration lawyer.

Does anyone have any comments on using such a lawyer to overturn decisions or speed the process up?

Very pleased for you Jason .

Our application has been refused as the ECO who handled it did not see adequate evidence that I have a job!

I am self employed, I included my company bank statements, anuall accounts and a complete list f my clients with our application bu this has not been accepted.

The sky truly has fallen in for me, I am utterly crushed.

I'm seriously worried now, because I don't have a full time job yet...

Really sorry for you.

Just heard back from the missus.

No Visa, she has been refused!

Still don't know why but will post as soon as she can send me the details.

Very sorry to hear that. I hope it can be sorted.

My Mrs and I applied for a settlement visa June 8th 2009, and we'll let you know when we hear anything.

The visa place noticed a small error in the application before we submitted it and said to change it (i.e. retype the whole thing) before we submitted. Glad that they didn't just take the money...

As long as you can maintain and accommodate her without any public funds you should be OK.

Not forgetting she may also work once she arrives.

Many thanks to yourself and everyone else. I am now busy preparing the (rather large) amount of documents for the application.

Another thought. You will be required as her sponser to submit your LAST 6 Months bank Statements.

Originals are required not Photocopys. I did however print mine off of the Internet I was in Thailand no choice.

Might be better to submit sooner rarther than later if you are going to be using your reserves to live on

Online application now for settlement, Your wife just needs to take the supporting Documents in to VFS

Many thanks, I am much less worried now

I am sure you will get the info you require on here

You say she has been to the UK before for 7 Months what Visa did she have for that visit ?

Personaly I think you stand a good chance. you have savings amounting to a tidy sum + accomodation

Your bank account will be the issue but if it shows you are managing that OK. Dont worry

She has previous history of a UK Visa

No Doubt you will recive better info from others on here

My, that WAS quick - thanks.

Actually, she has lived in the UK for 2 years, but only 7 months of that was with me, and were were 'attached' for 3 months before we moved in together, for which she had a student visa.

Dear All,

About 2 months ago my Wife and I married quietly after nearly 3 years of living together - over 2 in Thailand, 7 months living together in the UK.

I (UK National) have moved back to the UK in advance of her and we are just about to start the visa application process, however, I am worried because I don't yet have a full time job (been here 6 weeks now). We have about twenty thousand pounds between us to show and I have a house (small mortgage) and car (shit car!) here in the UK. Her situation is that she is fluent in English with an MBA from a lowly British university, and has a very good job in Bangkok. I am a graduate, now chasing quite low jobs as no others are available.

I am only an agency temp at the moment (things in my area are VERY bad job wise....). Does that preclude us from getting the settlement visa? How likely are we to get it? I have been rejected for state funds so that is not such an issue...

Being apart is really hurting us both, and we really can't afford to go through the application process repeatedly. Can anyone advise us how to proceed, or if to bother at all until I have a proper job?).

Many thanks.

Many thanks - great informative reply (and good news too ).

Thanks folks.

Dear All,

My girlfriend and I have been together nearly 3 years, living for the first 9 months in the UK, then moving to Thailand for the last 2 years.

We now wish to marry and move back to the UK to live and work etc.

Sorry if this is an oft repeated point but what are the basic requirements for getting married THEN moving back, or moving back then getting married? She intends to work in the uk, from where she has an MBA already.

I plan to leave early April, she, asap thereafter so although time is short, there is no emergency.

With regards to 'evidence', we haven't been planning to marry for long, and although there will be some sporadic evidence of our relationship, I am not sure how much. How many phone calls / emails do you send to someone you live with?

Also, is it possible to work in the UK just as a fiancee of a citzen?

Many thanks.

Hello,

I am an esl teacher with 2 years post-CELTA experience and Bachelors degree from the UK. Currently I work at a Thai highschool and do various other work (Corporates, Privates etc) but am looking for a 'next step'.

I gather I'm not qualified for the International schools but if someone can correct me there, all's good.

Any advice / suggestions appreciated.