7by7

I retired from the profession 5 years ago for health reasons, but I was an ADI for nearly 15 years previous to that and, for obvious reasons, taught a lot of Thais. None of them had any problems with tuition, the theory test nor the practical test as they could all speak English sufficiently well. Any who had difficulties reading English were able to ask for the theory test questions to be read to them in English; I assume this is still an option.

Any ADI, ex or current, will have plenty to say about the Dismal Standards Agency; but maybe on this point they are correct about there being no demand for theory tests in Thai.

However, good luck with your campaign, though with the increasing language requirements for UK visas maybe government departments and agencies will soon be scrapping all the other, non UK, language options available.

Custody should not really be an issue for a visit application. It will be if they decide to apply for settlement, but then sole responsibility is more important than sole custody.

She should be able to obtain a custody document from her local ampur( Kor Por 4 I think); certainly if the father is around and willing to go with her, possibly if his whereabouts are unknown.

I repeat; you cannot get to Waterloo from Paddington via Leicester Square without at least two changes.

Well, one change if you go to Kings Cross and then walk to Euston, but as circle line trains no longer go in a circle but start and finish at Edgware Road you'd have to change there, so make that two. You could take the Hammersmith and City line to Kings Cross, but the Paddington stop for this is a long walk from the mainline station, with several stairs to negotiate.

To travel direct from Paddington to Waterloo you need to take the Bakerloo line.

standard-tube-map.pdf

As most of the questions were about central policy issues, such as visa fees, passport fees, consular fees, pensions, over which the ambassador has absolutely no control it's difficult to see what answers he could have given other than those he did. All he can do is pass these concerns onto his superiors who can then only pass them onto the elected politicians who actually decide these things, albeit on the advice of their officials.

As for questions about Thai politics, such as those from Mr GB, what do people expect? What would be the reaction of people like Mr GB if the Thai government attempted to interfere with the internal affairs of the UK?

The only reason I was nervous about mentioning our relationship was that I would then have to provide evidence, would this not be the case?

Even if you were just a friend offering him accommodation you would still need to explain why you were doing so in a covering letter and provide some evidence of your relationship.

Phone/email/skype/etc. records are fine.

You may find http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/446602-uk-visit-visa-basics/ helpful.

It is difficult to give an answer if you do not say which country your wife is applying to!

You mention your income in Sterling, which indicates the UK; but UK settlement applicants do not have guarantors!

They do have sponsors, though; their British or UK resident spouse/partner.

If you are asking about the UK, the following applies; if not the UK then it doesn't.

As her husband, you are the sponsor and as you will be providing the finances for her maintenance in the UK then it is your financial evidence that should be included in the application.

Accommodation can be provided by a third party, such as the sponsor's parents. In which case the person providing the accommodation should provide evidence that they can do so, proof of ownership if they own or a landlords letter granting you and your wife permission to live there if they rent. They should also provide evidence that the accommodation is suitable, with at least one room for the exclusive use of you and your wife.

As said, all work, even unpaid work, is prohibited to general visit visa holders. If he does enter as a general visitor and addresses or even attends the seminar then he will be in breach of his visa conditions which could have serious consequences if discovered; including a possible 10 year ban from entering the UK as a visitor.

Surely the university concerned have experience of overseas visitors attending and addressing their seminars and so can advise on which visa he requires?

There is no reason why he cannot pay all the costs of the trip himself, though he will need to provide evidence that he has the finances to do so.

There is also no reason why he cannot stay with you. If you are only providing accommodation you do not need to supply any evidence of your finances. You will need to provide evidence that he can stay with you; proof of ownership, such as a mortgage statement, if you own or a letter from your landlord if you rent. You will need to show that there is at least one room for his exclusive use, though sharing with another male is acceptable.

As is sharing with a female partner. So if you only have one bedroom you may want to reconsider telling the truth about your relationship! Better to do so anyway; lying, even by omission, in a visa application is a very bad idea. Remember he will sign a declaration that the information in the application is true and complete. Possible 10 year ban if discovered that it isn't.

If you want advice on the refusal itself, then you can post the refusal notice ( GV51) here, after removing identifying details, and we can perhaps give advice. There is a lot of experience in the forum.

If you wish to do this, please start a specific new topic rather than posting it here in a general one where it could easily be missed; thank you.

Which is why if wishing to take the scenic route from Waterloo I think that it would be better to take the Railair bus from LHR to Woking station and join the Exeter train there.

Bus goes from the central bus station, which is easy to get to from T3, and it stops to pick up/drop off at T5. Bit of a pain if arriving at T4 as it doesn't stop there, but there is a free shuttle bus which will take you to the central bus station.

However, it looks like there's a loophole that a few hundred couples can quickly jump through, saving the hassle (extra time and cost?) of getting the marriage visa beforehand.

As Basil says, no extra hassle, no extra fee for a marriage visit visa, just a different form.

BTW, Basil, to give notice of the marriage and to book the ceremony both partners have to attend, so it cannot be done until the foreign partner is in the UK.

An off topic nonsense post has been removed.

To be honest, it's still not clear.

Para 41(x) says "does not, during his visit, intend to marry or form a civil partnership, or to give notice of marriage or civil partnership;"

The UKBA reply you received says "Therefore anyone who is intending to travel to the UK for the purpose of getting married on a general visit visa and not a marriage visit visa will be in breach of the terms of their visa."

(My emphasis)

So is it the intention that breaches the terms of a general visit visa or the act itself? If someone enters the UK with a general visit visa without any intention of marrying; but then decides they do want marry whilst there, can they legally do so and if they do, have they breached the terms of their visa?

This reminds me of the confusion over whether a couple who legally married in Thailand can marry again in the UK; remember that?

Some registrars and senior registrars said they can; others said they can't!

Enquiries to the appropriate authorities just got the reply that a marriage which was legal in Thailand was also legal in the UK; great help!

I assume you mean can she apply in the UK.

If so, the answer is yes; she is classed as a UK resident so can apply in the UK.

Remember that as she is the spouse of an EU citizen most of the questions on the form wont apply to her and the visa will be free.

Better, surely, to stay on the Bakerloo Line train and get off it at Waterloo?

It's quite a slog from Waterloo East to Waterloo main line; plus the change at Charing Cross!

Northern Line doesn't go to Paddington. You can't get to Leicester Square, or the Waterloo branch of the Northern Line, from Paddington without at least 2 changes.

If flying into Heathrow, then Paddington would be easier as the Heathrow Express goes directly there.

If flying into Gatwick, the Gatwick Express goes to Victoria, but you can get off at Clapham Junction and change to the Waterloo - Exeter train there.

Be warned, though; if arriving late afternoon/early evening you wont get a seat when getting on at Clapham, not even in first class!

You could get the Railair bus from Heathrow to Woking and join the Waterloo - Exeter train there, most of the commuters get off at Woking, but the M25 during peak hours can be a very slow nightmare!

On the plane, you are given a card, what details do we put down the Thai for entering Thailand ?

The answers according to their Thai passports.

My daughter, a dual Thai/British national, once filled the card in in English and the immigration officer made her complete it again in Thai; saying "If you're Thai you must fill it in in Thai, not English!" He was probably out of order, but easier and quicker to comply than complain.

Visa processing takes as long as it takes, I'm afraid. At busy times visit visas can take 6 weeks or even more. At quiet times a matter of a few working days.

This is normally a quiet time; but it usually starts to get busy in Feb/March.

Yes, your daughter leaves and enters Thailand showing her Thai passport and leaves and enters the UK showing her British one.

She should show both to the airline when checking in so they will know why she doesn't have a visa and so will have no concerns about carrying her..

Have you read the book? A1 or even B1 English level is not enough. You mention this test, that is step 2. Try and think for a minute how a non-native English speaker would interpret each paragraph. I have taught rich and poor students in Thailand, and I have taught adults. For those who are not teachers of Thais, reading the chapters may take a couple of hours, and may seem simple enough. Try and explain 1 paragraph to your Thai neighbour and then ask them 2 questions (mulitiple choice - the questions are written to cater for higher level English) and see if they can answer it.

To satisfy KOL; for those whose English is not of a high enough standard to understand the LitUK study materials or the test itself, there is the alternative route of an ESOL with citizenship course. Which overcomes the 'problem' you state.

Thai family members are disadvanteged compared to those from many other nations - the same standard may apply, but the effort to reach that standard is not the same for all citizens of all countries.

My wife could speak, though not read or write, English when I met her; she'd taught herself from a book. Does this mean she is more intelligent than you assess most Thais as being, or did she just have a better teacher?

reason i ask is my wife has an 8 year old daughter who lives with her grandparents and we want to bring her to U.K. (This is not in Thailande, i use this forum as its about the best reference forum i can find on such topics)

I am confused.

You have asked about this twice before, once in Feb and again in July.

In both those other topics you said that the child is in Thailand!

You were given the answers you need in both topics.

Why did you say in them that she lives in Thailand and now you say that she doesn't?

My point is, if this pre-test results in extra delays in bringing a UK family home i.e. needs to jump through EXTRA hurdles, then it is affecting the family. Till then (spouse getting able), the UK husband or the wife can assist with the transition and all else that is required (in the UK). time could be better spent building a family in the UK, rather than trying to just enter.

You make it sound as if the majority of spouse/partner applications are suddenly made on the spur of the moment with no thought and no preparation! Which is, of course, ludicrous.

Part of that preparation is, or should be, preparing the non British partner for their new life, and learning some English, whether a test is required for the visa or not, is surely part of this.

There is a lot involved in moving one's family to another country; more than just getting the relevant visa.

Having said that, I have said before that I am no great fan of a test before the initial visa. The current required level is too low to be much use to anyone, make it higher and it could end up duplicating the KOL requirement for ILR. Better, as I said in a previous post in this topic, to have a mandatory test after two years in the UK, whether one is applying for ILR or FLR.

Family name means surname, so the same as in her passport.

The embassy are used to the vagaries of Thai birth registration; put an approximate date.

The visa will be dated from the date you put here or the date it is issued, whichever is the later; it cannot be used before this date. Put the date she wishes to travel.

If you are paying for the visit, then it is you who supplies the financial evidence.

You may find this topic helpful.

Remember that the ECO will wonder why you live in the UK and your wife and step-daughter live in Thailand, and be concerned that they will wish to remain in the UK with you and so not leave at he end of their visit. You need to explain this in your sponsor's letter.

I agree that it is better to give too much rather than too little.

However, ECOs only have a few minutes to check through everything and come to a decision; give too much that is not needed and it is possible that the ECO will miss something vital.

Visit visas cannot be extended; except in extremely exceptional circumstances.

Someone in the UK as a visitor cannot apply for settlement in the UK; they have to return to their country of residence and apply there.

Many apologies, I missed one very important, perhaps the most important, part of Bangkockney's post

you must have been 'ordinarily resident' in the UK and Islands (the Islands means the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) for the full three year period before the 'first day of the first academic year of the course'

Which means, I'm afraid, that you'll have to pay the international fees; unless her English is good enough to take the LitUK test instead. You could wait until she has been in the UK for three years; but this would mean she wont qualify for ILR in two years time so would have to make another FLR application. Cheaper to pay the international fees for the course, I think..

BTW, you say that you will be marrying in the new year, but that she wont be applying for FLR until May. Two things:-

1) Does this mean she entered with her fiance visa in December 2011? If so and I understand Bangkockney's quote correctly, and my maths are correct, this means she wont qualify for home student fees until September 2015!

2) She does not have to wait until her fiance visa expires before applying for FLR; she can do so immediately after the wedding. There may very well be a fees increase between now and May, so better to get the application in ASAP and avoid this if it happens. The same in two years time for her ILR application.

They should each apply for a family visit visa.

Two applications, two fees but they can combine supporting documents.

You may find this topic helpful.

Just curios guys..............do Thai nationalists have to do any english exams or anything if they are applying to settle in Ireland?

No idea, and as this is a topic about UK settlement I doubt many who know will see your post. Maybe you should start a new topic?

ive been looking to send my tg/wife to collage once we are married in the new year. My local collage is Quoting £10 a hour with the session 2 hours at a time this cost there telling me because she is a international student this cant be right can it?

From this post by bangkockney

Residency is the qualifying factor when judging someone to be a home or international student for the purposes of fees, as set out in the Education (Fees and Awards) (England) Regulations 2007.

Any visa endorsement is irrelevant.

In order to qualify as a home UK student, you must meet all of the following criteria:

you must be 'settled' in the UK on the 'first day of the first academic year of the course'

AND

you must also have been 'ordinarily resident' in the UK on the 'first day of the first academic year of the course'

AND

you must have been 'ordinarily resident' in the UK and Islands (the Islands means the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) for the full three year period before the 'first day of the first academic year of the course'

AND

the main purpose for your residence in the UK and islands must not have been to receive full-time education during any part of that three year period.

As the academic year usually starts in September, if she entered the UK with her settlement visa after September 2011 she wont qualify for home student fees until September 2012.

Edit The above sentence is incorrect! See post 21 below.