tlusername

These are the figures on the UK visa web site for February.

Settlement Visas 5 days 2% 10 days 9% 15 days 15% 30 days 69% 60 days 98% 90 days 100% 120 days 100% Applications per month 162

sumrit (or anyone else for that matter) do you have a link for the above site where you got your stats?

These are the figures on the UK visa web site for February.

Settlement Visas 5 days 2% 10 days 9% 15 days 15% 30 days 69% 60 days 98% 90 days 100% 120 days 100% Applications per month 162

OK thats what I wanted

So seems highest chance is between 1-2 months.

Does anyone know how to use the online tracking? I've tried with firefox and IE and always get invalid search. I type in : APET/111111/111111/1 (obviousbly not all 1's) and her DOB in the field below. I never get anything back. Any ideas anyone?

Thanks

It looks like maybe the number or date of birth may be wrong, but i am only guessing.

I use the same number format on firefox ok;

APET/XXXXXX/XXXXXX/X

DDMMYYYY

Maybe your wife could call them and have them clarify the tracking number again?

I want to see what the average waiting times are for UK settlement visas as a lot of people seem to be waiting a long time without update.

If you have applied for a UK settlement visa in 2009, could you post when it was granted or if still waiting then state that you are still waiting or have interview pending and the date of the interview.

We submitted 2nd March - no interview request and no updates or contact from Embasy as yet (I kind of don't expect there this early).

We request date of travel as the end of March.

So 2 weeks.

How about yourself....................

Any news Carl?

Hope you have some luck soon. I can understand how hard it must be and I know you need to put your life on hold. I am now awaiting the same thing after having to go through this once already for a visit visa for my then girlfriend now wife.

I must say I am quite un-impressed with VFS and the service provided by the Embassy. My wife is always a little upset when she leaves VFS as they seem to treat everyone with an air of superiority and contempt.

My wife and I now have a settlement visa pending (but only for a week now) and I think its out of order that we have to layout money supporting loads of little businesses that base themselves close around the Embassy punting for translation fees, medical certificates and then layout over £500 pounds to access a UK government service when I am already taxed %40 of my salary every year to insure a job and a gold plated pension for its employees - who can then decide that they won't provide the visa and leave me screwed.

Once we have got the whole thing done I will be penning some harsh letters and letting my feelings known.

Has anyone tried EVA Air

Eva Air?

They do a direct from Heathrow to BKK for £448 sterling - Thai Airways want £538.

I have flown Thai before and liked the crew service, but being someone who cannot sleep I really badly need a watch on demand enterment system so I can kill the flight with 4 movies and some old top gear episodes. Thai lacked this on my last flight with them in August, they had screens but if you did not watch from the start of the film you were screwed, it also seemed like it was playing of VHS so the picture was grainy.

UPDATE - I am going with Eva;

http://www.key2holidays.co.uk/thailand/con...?page=Eva%20Air

* 33" seat pitch / reclines 165.3 degrees

* 18.3" seat width

* 3 - 3 - 3 seat configuration

* Adjustable headrest and foot rest

* 8.4" LCD touch screen TV Panosonic 3000i Audio Visual on demand

* Global Satellite telephone system with SMS text messaging service

* Push Button controls built into arm rest

* Amenity Kit with slippers

* 20kg per person luggage allowance

* Choice of Asian or Western cuisine

* Pre assigned seats 100 days before departure if required

For an extra 300 pounds (all year) you can upgrade to Elite Class (Evergreen Deluxe Class);

* 38" seat pitch / reclines 165.3 degrees

* 18.5" seat width

* dedicated check in

* 2 - 4 - 2 seat configuration

* Adjustable headrest and foot rest

* 8.4" LCD touch screen TV Panosonic 3000i Audio Visual on demand

* Global Satellite telephone system with SMS text messaging service

* 110v power outlet

* noise cancelling headphones

* personal coat hooks

* Push Button controls built into arm rest

* Amenity Kit with slippers

* 25kg per person luggage allowance

* Choice of Asian or Western cuisine - ugraded meal service

* Pre assigned seats 100 days before departure if required

As for Thai airways cutting airfares, I should hope so, for there sake.

I just had a look at flights online from heathrow to bangkok return, Economy.....

Qatar, Emirates and Gulf Air are approx £650 to £700 to fly Feb 22, return March 7th.

Thai Airways quote £2,675.

They are not that great! They don't even have watch on demand entertainment like Emirates.

Hi mariner29 - thanks for you advice.

I don't get what you mean about chest xray..I need to supply one?

Do you also have any idea on if we can apply for spuse visa while she still has a UK visit visa with time left?

Cheers

Hi All,

Wanted to ask what the best way forward maybe for myself and my Girlfriend.

Currently my girlfriend is here in the UK on a 6 month visit visa. We asked for three months which would take her visit up until late Feb 2009.

What we wish to do next is apply for a spouse / settlement visa when she returns to Thailand late Feb. I will be going back with her for a couple of weeks annual leave. We plan to marry, but its going to need some organization and some cash, so what we wish to do is register for Marridge at the local Amphur and then have the ceremony at a later date.

Will she have to wait for the 6 month visa to expire before she can apply for the spouse visa?

Does the settlement application have to show photos of a wedding ceremony, or is it considered strange not to include photos?

Note - we have already been through the whole prove your relationship and post half you life fed ex to Bangkok ordeal to get the visit visa.

Cheers in advance.

Sure - whats the news Darren? keep my fingers crossed for you.

Hi Hanuman1 - it appears it does affect thai nationals. It affects any individual applying a spouse visa to enter the UK on the grounds of marrying or being married to a UK national.

If they are under 21 it won't happen...If they are over 21 then the sponsor is required to register with the home office first.

"UK sponsors will be required to register their intention to marry overseas before leaving the UK"

So now I have to go and 'register' like a fricking pedophile with the home office before marrying someone from overseas as I am now considered as fitting a group ear marked as containing potential abusers of young girls through forced marriage and all because of some rare incidences that occur outside of what is the very far from mainstream English culture.

I find this quite offensive. In my case we are both over 21 so why the need to register? I thought this was about age?

By all means crack down on the injustices that occur in this area, but don't paint everyone with the same brush.

All this just adds foder to my desire to go expat again as soon as I can (hopefully before we are all carrying id cards and being tracked on a national database).

I noted this in the beeb website as well;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7708305.stm

and the point that I am trying to un-dig on the home office site is;

"Other changes intended to tackle forced marriage means people will have to register their intention to get married before they leave the UK."

This will include me as we plan to Marry in Thailand next year.

The other factor:

"Spouses will have to agree to learn English - with future plans for English tests before spouses get their visas. "

A test is no issue for my GF as she speaks very good English (I could go so far to say better then some of the natives) - but I am not sure if this means we are going to have to put her into a language school.

Well done, I hope she enjoys the visit - and the warm weather :-)

Its one of the best feelings ever when you open the envelope and find the visa in there.

Nervously biting fingernails on our own current application - ILR, nearly 3 weeks in the post and nothing as yet.

Congrats again.

I really wish you the best of luck mate. Its so hard having to wait while someone else makes such a big decision for you.

I called the GF this morning 9am UK time which was 4pm TL time (she was told to collect 3-4pm) and could not get an answer. The first thing I had heard was an email she sent from her phone saying 'Hey call me, we need to work on documents". I then assumed this meant there had been a rejection and so we need to work on more documents for the next attempt.

I was fuming and ready to go to war with the embassy!

Turns out she did not mean this and she didi in fact have the visa - either that or it was a wind up, still not sure? When I spoke with her at 10am she was like 'jai yen yen, its ok, I have the visa".

I think I have grown from the whole experience and looking forward to her coming now

Thanks Moss - I am keen to hear the experience of others as well.

Currently our thinking is that she may as well come sooner rather then wait until the 28th. But if this does jeopardise or infringe upon further applications - naturally we will wait.

Well pleased to say my girlfriend collected her passport with a UK visit visa inside!! Man what a relief, it was difficult relaxing over the weekend, but I am now chuffed with the result!

Wanted to say thanks to eveyone who has helped.

One question the girlfriend would like to ask:

The visa is for 180 days. She requested that she would visit for 3 months (28/11/2008 to Febuary 28/02/2009).

The visa states valid from 30/10/2008 to 30/04/2009 - does this mean that she can come at any time during the period stated as long as it is for no longer then 90 days (3 months requested). Or does she have to stay inline with the Original request (28/11/2008 to Febuary 28/02/2009)?

Thanks again all.

Thanks all so much for the encouragement. In here you are all so friendly compared to the malcontents I have seen prowling in 'general topics' baying for blood of the new or naive - I will definately let you all know on Monday

@Moss "Have you actually stated that your partner will return to manage the business, don't ever allow them to assume." - Did at that. The letter from Mare states how she wishes for her to return to work when she comes back.

Hi Moss,

I believe it to be good. We sourced all of the Documents stated as required.

My side:

Six months bank statements (inc proof of how I can support her), letter from my employer + pay slips, phone billls, photos of us together, solicitors letter showing house ownership, letter from my sister saying she wants us to spend xmas with her family, chat logs and emails, sponsoring letter. Passport copy showing stamps from when I went to visit her.

Her side:

Passport (containing US visa and Japanese Visa).

Details of her scholarship / degree from studying in Japan.

Letter from her father (government employed teacher (whom since has passed away, rest his soul)) and her Mother (runs private business shop) saying they approve of her engagement to me and her trip to UK + she will help run the famliy business on return from UK. Details of the company registration, earnings and copy of the mothers ID card

+ There were more additions to the above, but may have mislaid mention of all.

Our main push for her return to Thailand is that we are engaged and will marry. I will be her first hubby (and she my first wife) for her not to return would ruin are chance of eventually living together in the UK where I have my career and we will apply for a settlement / spouse visa.

One note - apparently the staff at the VFS place were really off with her in high browed manner . Seems like they did not appreciate meeting a girl originating from Isarn with a foreign degree, fleunt English and a Caucasian fiancé absolutley head over heals in love with her

Monday will tell. I get nervous as I you hear of some many rejections made.

Maybe I should have been more clear - for everyones benefit

UK Visit Visa Application for a Thai National to Visit the UK.

However further study seems to suggest that there is no way to know as the status will be sealed within an Envelope awaiting collection at VFS (and they are closed until Monday now).

My main query was to see if the turn around time was in any suggestive of the outcome? But alas, it appears I am just going to have to take the suspense in good character and hold out until Monday for the big result.

Wish me luck if anything...i <deleted> hate this waiting...its not nice knowing that seeing the one you love is contingent upon someone elses perspective and judgement.

It's great when you mention the country of concern in the topic title.

I see your point...not sure I can edit that now.

So my GF submittied a big folder of documents to the visa application office on Wednesday early afternoon. Nextday the site showed the status as arrived at embassy on Thursday morning and then recieved an SMS this morning (Friday) saying to come and collect her passport.

I was wrong here - it was sent to embassy on 29th, here is the status from the website;

Application date 29 Oct 2008 Status Your application is ready for collection; please visit the UK Visa Application Centre where you submitted your visa application to collect the same 31 Oct 2008

Hi All - maybe this cannot be answered, but I am clutching at straws somewhat and thought where better to turn to then here.

So my GF submittied a big folder of documents to the visa application office on Wednesday early afternoon. Nextday the site showed the status as arrived at embassy on Thursday morning and then recieved an SMS this morning (Friday) saying to come and collect her passport.

Now there was nothing in the message to suggest that it had been granted or rejected? Just come and collect.

GF cannot reach the embassy until Monday as she is staying at her parents. I am like a cat on hot tin roof trying not to dwell on worst case scernarios of they have seen something they don't like (or rather have not understood) and rejected right away - thus the quick turnaround.

Do they normally tell you if its failed / passed? Or is there a number you can phone?

I suppose am just going to have wait right? shesssh

Does anyone know if the new points based immigration visa system to come into affect in the UK will have any bearing on settlement visas?

http://www.vfs-uk-th.com/Annex%20A.pdf

Hope it all works out for you Darren. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and I hope that when you get the 'yes' it is going to be an over the moon monent.