mikeyp

wife (thai) is currently in the uk on 2 year spouse visa which ends in September, she will be applying for settlement (ILR) Start of September.

We want to add her 7 year old daughter (Thai) on the application, her daughter is currently in Thailand. the question I have is can her daughter be added onto the wife's ILR application or do we have to do a seperate visa application from Thailand?

Her daughter has never been to the uk .

any one else been through this, any feedback, information that may help.

Update to my original post.

We decided to re-apply for my step daughter UK family visit visa. We addressed the two points on her first refusal, however she was refused for a second time on 4 completely different points that the EC officer should have asked in the first refusal. These additional points could have been easily addressed on the first refusal if they had the fore thought to just ask.

I had already covered two of the refusal points in our first application, but the Embassy seem to have completely missed this or not bothered reading the first application in addition letter. I dont know what these guys are doing, but it smacks to me of just a money grabbing from UK embassy or they have already met thier quotos for the year and are just nit picking to refuse visa's. I was told by a relative to try and avoid applying for visit visas during March and April because more than likely the UK gov have already met thier quotos on certain visa types.

The thing that really irkes me is that all they are doing is keeping a family apart even longer for really no legitimate reason.

Wife fly.s back to UK next week, which means we really don't have time to get a reply back from embassy if we re-apply or appeal before she fly's.

anybody else out there who have had original documents you submitted for visa applications not returned by UK embassy?

in our case 2 x originals of translated marriage certificates and 1 x original letter from Amphur office for sole responsibility of daughter.

Just means we have to go to the time and expensive of getting originals again, or trying to get the originals back from UK embassy. I know it does not cost alot to get originals again but it's just the hassle of getting it done, especially when both of you are back in the UK.

anybody have experiences of this?

wife has just been to VFS today to re-apply for step daughters family visit visa. She called me to say that the visa cost has increased 140 baht from when she applied 4 weeks ago. Also the courier service has increased in cost also about an extra 40baht. Not alot of money I know, but could this be a sneaky increase before they increase prices again on the 1st April.

see link for fees, they mention that the increase from 1st March.

http://www.vfs-uk-th.com/visafees.aspx

I am currently going through this at the moment, due to my step daughter being refused a family visit visa on Monday. I was going to appeal until I spoke to the first tier tribunal service in Leicester. They say a basic appeal can take a minimum of 4 months. 11 days for them to say they got your appeal, they then have to send it back to the clearance office that you applied at, they have eleven days from then to tell you that they have received it, then another 11 days to reply back to first tier tribunal. All your paperwork then has to be sent back to uk first tier tribunal with the clearance officers first decision on refusal. First tier can then take upto 3 months to arrange date and time of your hearing dependant on if you want paper or oral hearing. They did mention that paper hearing is quicker, but depends on any additional paperwork required from you.

After talking to one of my work collugues who is a Nigerian now resident in uk for 6 years, who in the past has tried to get his mother and sister over for uk family visit. Both refused. He appealed for mothers case, took 8 months to finalise outcome, with his sister he re-applied with additional letter discussing the points for refusal, the original refusal was overturned in 10 days and his sister was given visit visa.

I my case I have decided to re-apply for step daughters visa.

Good luck with whatever course you take

Found out this morning that Step daughter (Thai) has been refused 6 month family visit visa. (originally thought she had got it on previous post)

Is it better to re-apply in Thailand or go through appeal at the first tier UK tribunal service.

I.m in uk just now, wife still in Thailand until end of March then she has to fly back to UK

Anyone been through this, replies or thoughts very much appreciated.

here's the UK Border agency proposed UK visa cost increase for implementation from April 2011

CLICK ON LINK

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/fees-table-spring-2011.pdf

Airlines are liable for large fines if they carry a passenger who does not have entry clearance for their destination. Which is probably why the person you spoke to told you she needed a return ticket. But that person doesn't fully understand the UK immigration rules; she doesn't. Provided she can, if asked to do so, satisfy an IO that she has the funds available to purchase one.

Thais do not need return tickets before being allowed out of Thailand.

You can either try and speak to someone at Etihad who knows what they are doing, buy an open return for her or fly with another airline.

Thanks 7by7, going to book ticket anyway. I will be meeting wife and step daughter at airport, if any questions by IO at least i will be there so they can call me and I can answer any questions.

Thanks again for your valued input.

step daughter (thai) just received 6 month family visit visa. Phoned Etihad to book step daughter on the same return flight as the wife. ETIHAD booking staff said that she would need a return flight booked. We don't know yet when the step daughter will be travelling back to Thailand so I was only going to book a one way ticket just now. Have looked at UK Border/ immigration rules and they state that the traveller must have enough money on entry to UK to book a return ticket to the country they came from.

Does anyone know any different, or are there THAI immigration rules that state that a THAI national must be in possession of a return air ticket before THAI immigration will let them leave the country.

Thanks for any information

Just reading through all the pages and re-calling how stressful it all was at the time ago (nearly 2 years ago when sent visa application to VFS BKK). And like ROLYPIE cannot believe this topic is still going. I am sure all the advice and inputs from all posters have helped many people understand some of the problems that we face.

Anyway, wife has been here since August 2009, we had baby girl November last year, they are over in LOS now, she has just been to VFS BKK to hand visa application for her 7 year old daughter to come to UK, Should be no problem with that one.

Anyway good to go back and read all the old posts.

All I have to worry about now and stress over is doing the wife's UK RESIDENCY visa in August/September this year !!!!

Good luck to all those who are applying for settlement visa.

Cheers

My wife got settlement visa 18 months ago. We supplied letter in addition to application. It was two a4 sheet that i wrote out for her, she then hand write it and sign. It covered alot of things. these are:

date we met

how we met

how many times she had seen me, time, duration, where we stayed

my address in uk

that she knew my mother and father names, and that they are retired

that she had met other members of my family, my two brothers (brother is married to Thai also, even mentioned her name)

how i get on with her daughter

how i have helped support her and daughter, sent the usual money transfers paperwork,

added about 10 emails, ranging in date from day one to the week prior to handing application in at VFS

send daughter to school in thailand, we paid for school fees, etc, books, uniform, SHOW RECEIPTS

our intentions when we live in uk

what work i do, how long i have been doing it (i was self employed at the time)

what she is looking to do for work, what she has been doing to look for work prior to getting visa, ie working on cv, looking at uk internet job sites (researching)

what she might do about english language courses if and when she arrives in uk,

out future what we are planning on doing, where we are going to live, etc

added about 10 photos, inside house with everyone together, mum, daughter, her me, and photos of the two of us outside the house, also added photos of us, her brother and my brother when we signed marriage paperwork.

her friend was also police officer, and i knew him for about 4 years on and off. He wrote a character reference for me in Thai (was not translated when attached to application form)

and most important of all. THAT YOU CAN LIVE THE TWO OF YOU BY YOUR OWN MEANS, I.E NO RECOURSE TO PUBLIC FUNDS. (FOR HER ANYWAY)

that was about it, don't know if it helped, but surely having as much information about the two of you must be a bonus. I.e the embassy staff can see that you have known each other for a certain amount of time, that you have shown details of a lengthy relationship.

Hope this helps, good luck

just to let you guys know what immigration asked my wife at Heathrow, 3 questions and these where

What is your date of birth?

What is your husbands date of birth?

What job did you do in Thailand?

She was nervous and excited as hel_l when she was at immigration desk and gave the wrong answers to the first two questions, she got the bloody dates wrong!! no further problems he just handed back her passport and said "have a nice stay"

See the long waiting times still going!!!

been away for a wee while so just catching up, Just read that CHEWY got the visa, well done mate. think u hold the record for the longest most stressful wait EVER. Not had a chance to read through all replies so don't know if your wife's with you in uk or your still in LOL, anyway good luck for the future my friend, you both deserve it.

My Wife arrived in UK on the 3rd of August. Due to TB cert being out of date, (because of the length of wait to get visa) they stopped her at immigration, she had to go for Xray at heathrow, did not give her results or speak to her just told her to go through arrivals and meet me. They did say that if anything showed up on xray they would contact me, not heard anything yet.

I waited just over one hour at arrivals (after her plane landed) still no sign of her, tried calling her no answer on her mobile, waited another 30 minutes, still no sign of her, started to get worried at this stage. Went to info desk at arrivals and asked them how do i contact border control, they pointed me in the direction of a phone at the other side of arrivals. Dialled the extension and spoke to the duty control officer, asked if my wife had came through, they could/ would not tell me anything. Really worried at this stage, went back to the barriers at arrivals and lo and behold she walked through after nearly two hours. It transpired after being told her TB certificate was out of date they "marched" her with a few others to the xray dept not telling her anything and asking them to turn phones off (hence why i could not get through to her). The thing that really f*****g annoyed me was that i did not know where the hel_l she was and border control knew she had came through but still not tell you as her husband anything. I am sure they just do it to piss you off even more and add more insult and anguish you have already endured waiting on the visa!!!!!!!

to all the folk still waiting, good luck

After how long do the TB certs go out of date?

6 months from date of getting first TB xray

My wife had shadow on her lung on first xray taken mid december 08, had to wait the 8 weeks to see if all was clear, she got all clear about the 28th Feb 09, i went back to LOL on the 28th March to hand in visa settlement paperwork on the 3rd of April. The TB certificate expired on the 21st July, she got visa ok'd on the 26th July. Because she got visa when the TB certificate was still in date everything ok, I was just worried what would happen when she arrived in uk with out of date certificate. I was told by border control manager at heathrow that even with an out of date TB certificate they would NEVER turn someone away, they just send them for xray then tell them to go and meet thier partner at arrivals.

Just make sure you have an in-date TB certificate at the time you hand your settlemnt paperwork in at VFS.

See the long waiting times still going!!!

been away for a wee while so just catching up, Just read that CHEWY got the visa, well done mate. think u hold the record for the longest most stressful wait EVER. Not had a chance to read through all replies so don't know if your wife's with you in uk or your still in LOL, anyway good luck for the future my friend, you both deserve it.

My Wife arrived in UK on the 3rd of August. Due to TB cert being out of date, (because of the length of wait to get visa) they stopped her at immigration, she had to go for Xray at heathrow, did not give her results or speak to her just told her to go through arrivals and meet me. They did say that if anything showed up on xray they would contact me, not heard anything yet.

I waited just over one hour at arrivals (after her plane landed) still no sign of her, tried calling her no answer on her mobile, waited another 30 minutes, still no sign of her, started to get worried at this stage. Went to info desk at arrivals and asked them how do i contact border control, they pointed me in the direction of a phone at the other side of arrivals. Dialled the extension and spoke to the duty control officer, asked if my wife had came through, they could/ would not tell me anything. Really worried at this stage, went back to the barriers at arrivals and lo and behold she walked through after nearly two hours. It transpired after being told her TB certificate was out of date they "marched" her with a few others to the xray dept not telling her anything and asking them to turn phones off (hence why i could not get through to her). The thing that really f*****g annoyed me was that i did not know where the hel_l she was and border control knew she had came through but still not tell you as her husband anything. I am sure they just do it to piss you off even more and add more insult and anguish you have already endured waiting on the visa!!!!!!!

to all the folk still waiting, good luck

Having looked and considered all supplementary documentation with your application, I am satisfied on the balance of probability that you have failed to discharge the burden of maintenance and accomodation in your application to the required standard. You have failed to satisfy me that you, your sponsor and any dependant will not recourse to public funds on arrival to the UK.

look like you need to submit re-appeal as 7by7 mentions.

within my application i submitted "in addition to application" letter stating that we do not wish to have any re-course to public funds, gave 3 years personal banks accounts, and signed letter from my father stating that we could stay at the family home in uk until my wife and i found suitable accomodation (parents own house, 3 bedroom) i did not tell them in letter about size of house or how many rooms are un-occupied. Wife did get visa at the 12 week stage, submitted 4th april 09. Also note i am self employed and did not have any tax returns or businesss docs with me at the time (they where in uk).

JOB/ MONEY and accomodation are the biggest things they are looking for (or unless you have a hidden past). Its all very well stating how long you have been together and about family life in thailand, but its not thailand your wife wants to stay in, its the UK. So make sure you tell them everything they have asked for about your work in UK, what kind of work your wife wants to do, money/ savings and about where you plan to stay. I thought about the biggest thing they will look for is money, and is there enough regular income (not always savings) in your uk job to support the both of you and pay all your outgoings and still not struggle to meet ends. If it means submitting 2 or 3 years bank accounts, do it, dont give them the last 1 or 2 months statements.

just make sure you give them all they need. Its stressful enough without having to go through a re-appeal process.

Good luck with it all in the future

sorry, last reply was for ridgydidge, but general comments for anyone in same position or about to apply for visa.

Having looked and considered all supplementary documentation with your application, I am satisfied on the balance of probability that you have failed to discharge the burden of maintenance and accomodation in your application to the required standard. You have failed to satisfy me that you, your sponsor and any dependant will not recourse to public funds on arrival to the UK.

look like you need to submit re-appeal as 7by7 mentions.

within my application i submitted "in addition to application" letter stating that we do not wish to have any re-course to public funds, gave 3 years personal banks accounts, and signed letter from my father stating that we could stay at the family home in uk until my wife and i found suitable accomodation (parents own house, 3 bedroom) i did not tell them in letter about size of house or how many rooms are un-occupied. Wife did get visa at the 12 week stage, submitted 4th april 09. Also note i am self employed and did not have any tax returns or businesss docs with me at the time (they where in uk).

JOB/ MONEY and accomodation are the biggest things they are looking for (or unless you have a hidden past). Its all very well stating how long you have been together and about family life in thailand, but its not thailand your wife wants to stay in, its the UK. So make sure you tell them everything they have asked for about your work in UK, what kind of work your wife wants to do, money/ savings and about where you plan to stay. I thought about the biggest thing they will look for is money, and is there enough regular income (not always savings) in your uk job to support the both of you and pay all your outgoings and still not struggle to meet ends. If it means submitting 2 or 3 years bank accounts, do it, dont give them the last 1 or 2 months statements.

just make sure you give them all they need. Its stressful enough without having to go through a re-appeal process.

Good luck with it all in the future

hi GOT IT !!!!!!!!!!!!! today my fiancee get her visa suprich also get visa just trying to get flights now good luck for everybody still waiting

if you find any good bargins,(flights to manchester) can you let us no cheers,best ive found so far is 500quid one way.

flights from bangkok to heathrow with Jet Airlines, bought one way flight for my missus last wek, 13850 baht, worked out at £247, its the best priced i have seen for a long time. I know you asked for manchester flights, but thought this might be of interest to you.

CHEWY & CHRISSPURE. I have been working in the back of beyond the last week so have had no access to computers, but i have been thinking and praying (im not a religous man) for a good outcome for you both. hope you get the news you want, very soon. good luck my friends.

Super we got visa yesterday.

No more life on hold, hair torn out, intermediable long phone calls, crying (not me!) etc etc.:-)

Thanks to everyone for their sharp and quick answers.And pingit and mikeyp for their PMs.

The TW seems to think I have all the answers of which I actually get most of them from TV.

I am self-employed and incidently it appears from opened folder items that (among others but not many) :-

Marriage documents checked (predictably)

TWs old passport was checked (have many visa stamps)

Photocopies of tax returns for last 4 yrs (ended last yr) not checked

Business bank account statements for last 5 years (ended last yr) thoroughly checked.

Personnal statements (have 6 yrs) only last 6 months checked.

And once again no interview.

Good luck everyone, try to keep sane and hang in there, will keep following thread to see how some of you do...

Superb news,HUGE CONGRATES!!!! im just back from working in the highlands (scotland) and have managed to catch up whats going on. all i can say is have a wonderfull, fulfilling and happy future. all the best.

think its a few things, monetry, family and study. Monetry, especially for retired guys living in thailand, a few of the guys i knew have upped sticks from thailand and went back to uk with missus, Some are retired military, mid 40s/ 50s some are just plain old retired fed up losing about £200 to £400 on thier pension due to exchange rate. A few boys have got their girl pregnant and want birth in uk, and at this time ,the amount of student visa's applied for will be sky high, as they where in April when i went to hand in settlement visa.

if expat has business in LOS, probably time to cut loose and come home for them due to economic downturn. I know when i i was last in thailand in april, everywhere was so quiet.

wrong thread to put this link in, but seeing N.I questions where asked earlier, here's link to HMRC

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/faqs/ynino.htm

BIG congrats pingit

Thanks Mate !! wats ur tipple ??

nueng SINGHA bee-a krup and a bottle of water for the missus hee hee. Bet youe wife's jumping around daft and building up the phone bill!! Good one mate, so happy for you both. Chok dee krup.

BIG congrats pingit

fesantplucka can you tell me.... did you check the vfs website after your wife called you to see if had changed already or is there any delay??????????? its just my wife didnt have her money with her when she went in the room to hand her application in so we did not pay for the call/sms?????????

Yeah would be good to know that, as my sons wife didn't pay for the sms either...perhaps other people who have received good news could maybe let us know how it works as well

quote i sent in last week i think about visa

"they sent my wife sms first just stated that her passport could be collected at same office she applied (did not say she got visa on sms) then 2 days later on vfs email (tracking), it said your application is ready to be collected at same office you applied (again did not state that she got visa) she only found out she got visa as she walked up the stairs at vfs office, vfs officer was calling her to tell her that she could collect visa and passport!!

got some news to share, got a sms this morning to say the visa application was ready to pick up

I used an Agent so I called her to tell her, she went to pick the apllication up after 3pm, recieved a phone call from her about 4pm congratulating us on getting the visa granted. and to think yesterday I had given up, just goes to show although you feel down there is still hope left & this Forum, busy now not much time to organise things for Thursday, Good Luck Chewy, Andyjoy, & Kate, dont give up it will happen.

FP, who did you share the good news with first? us on thai visa or your family, hee hee. Have a great future