dowman73

Thanks a lot, I have been swallowing paracetamol for breakfast for the last couple of days!!

We will now start saving for the last step of the process....Citizenship!!!

Well done

Thanks Paul, appreciate all your help in getting the wife here on her spouse visa amazing how quickly the 2 1/2 years has gone.

Thanks a lot, I have been swallowing paracetamol for breakfast for the last couple of days!!

We will now start saving for the last step of the process....Citizenship!!!

Thats sounds exactly like my experience in dealing with Paul and his team 2 1/2 years ago when he helped me and my wife's with her spouse Visa not only the expertise that he has but also the way he kept me calm through out the whole waiting period and process was worth every penny!

Congratulations KhunDave!

Hi

Just to update you on my wife's ILR same day application yesterday.

I spent the last few days compiling all of our paperwork then photocopying everything and putting them into identical folders (Originals/Copies), in sections as per Robs Guide to UK Settlement (but not as detailed)

Introduction Letter

Marriage & Birth Certificates

Estate Agent & Landlord Letters

Passport & Visa Documents

Employers Letter & Wage Slips

Bank Statements

Utility Bills

Other Documents

I then downloaded the ILR Form SET(0) and went about filling in all the relevant questions, I couldn't believe how many pages there were and how many categories it seemed to cover:

Tier 1 (General) migrant

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) migrant

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) migrant

Tier 1 (Investor) migrant

and many many more and I found myself confused and a little embarrassed that i did not know what category my wife came under, so I came on here and still feeling embarrassed

I PM'd 7by7 to ask him rather than posting on the main forum.

The reason I am now posting it on here is as embarrassed and silly as I felt not knowing what to put on the form I would have felt even sillier if I had not asked,

as the reply from 7by7 was:

"If she came to the UK as your spouse or partner and is now applying for ILR as your spouse or partner then the form you need is form SET(M) (it can be completed online here).

Tier 1 is a work category and is not one of the options given on SET(M). I think that you may be filling in the wrong form!"

after getting over the shock and again the feeling of total stupidity I downloaded the Set(M) form with the category:

Spouse or civil partner of a person present and settled in the UK

the realisation that I could have messed things up was followed by relief that I asked the question and like every other time got the correct answer sometimes its not the one we want to hear but it is always the right one and I am so pleased that I am member of this Forum.

After filling in the form and going to bed around 2am me and my wife woke up at 5 am and made our way to Croydon for out 8.30 am appointment

we arrived at Lunar House around 8.15 am, was let in a went and paid the money before being given a number and told to wait for it to be called out at

that point my stomach was in knots, I felt ill, my wife who has had the flu all week was not feeling much better.

We were called at 9.05 am and went to the window where we handed over our passports and application form (the correct one) and then handed over

our folder with all our paperwork he asked if we had photocopied them and when I showed him the identical folder seem pleased, he told us that it would take about 30 minutes for him to process our application and that our number would be called when he had finished. By now I was feeling

so nervous, hot & sweaty and my stomach was doing back flips that we went outside to get some fresh air and try not to worry but every minute

seemed to take an hour and after what seemed forever we went back in and sat down and waited for our number to be called this time it did

not take too long and we went back to the same window we had been called and sat down, the guy looked up and smiled and said

"Congratulations your application has been accepted, please come back in 45 minute and you can pick up your passport"

My wife cried, and if Im honest so did I, we both went outside to phone family and friends both here and in Thailand before heading in back in one

last time to pick up her passport with all important new page added with the words "Settlement" and "Indefinite" in.

The whole process on the day took around 3 hours from start to finish, there were no interview type questions which surprised and pleased us,

the decision was based solely on the application form and supporting documents and although the whole experience for me on the day was not

good that had more to do with my nerves and how I was feeling than the actual process which looking back was actually very straight forward and simple.

I have been using this site and reading everyones experiences on here for years and the great advice that is given out and shared by everyone on here is fantastic especially by 7by7 whose advice not only to me the other day but to everyone is invaluable and is always in the same clear and detailed way with links and quotes from source websites that always amazes me and I know that without it that a lot of people on here would have found it a lot harder than they already have.

So as I could not celebrate properly last night with it being a "School Night" I am now going to go out and have few glasses of something strong with my wife.

Just wanted to say

THANKYOU THAIVISA FORUM

Mr & Mrs Dowman73 (UK Residents)

There is also a Thai/Version of the Life in the UK Test Book (available on Amazon)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-UK-Test-Handbook-English/dp/0956573800

which has both English and Thai translation in, which came in handy whenever my wife got stuck on a section that she did not understand (House of Lords, MP's etc) and which I have to admit I did'nt either. She spent 3 month studying it and passed 1st time best £10 we spent.

Thanks for replying I hope that is the case, my wife's english is great and she can answer any questions that they may or may not ask and as I said before all of our paperwork should be fine its just the whole importance of this day that make us nervous.

Just like the waiting for the spouse visa to come through 2 years ago I remember being on here everyday reading who had been accepted and feeling happy and relieved for them and then reading others that had not and feeling sad and upset thinking that could be us, luckily it wasn't but until we get the stamp in the visa this time I know I will be feeling like this for the next 4 weeks.

If anyone else has actually been through the same day process and wouldn't mind sharing their experience I really would appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks again Thaivisa Forum for the reassurance and information you give it really does make me feel better.

Dowman73

Hi all

Well the two years since my wife finally arrived in the UK on her Spouse Visa is up and we now have a same day appointment booked

for next month at Croydon and the butterflies have already started in both mine and my wife's bellies.

I have all the pay slips, bank statements,mortgage forms etc ready and am slowly making my way through the application form, when

I booked the appointment the lady told me that it takes around 4 hours and I was wondering if this will be the same process as the 4 hours

waiting time when applying for a same day passport as in:

turn up at appointment time, hand over forms, pay money come back in 4 hours and pick up passport.

or

If the 4 hours consisted of interviews, questions etc

although I know all our details are ok and the paperwork should be ok my wife is dreading being "interogated" and I wondered if anyone

on here had applied for the same day service and could let me know what happened in their case, I am sure that not everyone application

is the same but if anyone who has been through this and could shed some light on what the procedure is I would be very gratefull.

Thanking you in advance

Dowman73

I hope Paul doesn't mind my answering you.

This new test is a requirement for all those applying for their initial settlement visa or for FLR as a spouse, fiance or partner since last November.

As your wife obtained her settlement visa before then and is now ready to apply for ILR she does not need it.

So, from last November:-

Settlement visa as a spouse; new test required.

FLR; new test required, unless already passed to obtain settlement visa.

ILR; LitUK test (or appropriate ESOL with citizenship course) required.

Thank you for answering so quickly I didn't think she would after studying for the Life in the UK but my wife has some thai friends here in london that always seem to know more than anyone else and told her she would have to take another test so I just wanted to clear it up for both of our peace of mind (mainly mine).

Thanks as always this is only place I come to get information I can trust.

We book these through our office and use a Bangkok based exam centre.

Hi Paul

Both me and Joy are still married and as happy as ever in the UK, just coming up for our 2 year anniversary and we always raise a glass to you for the help you gave us.

Just a quick question Joy recently passed the Life in the UK test (first time) does she still need to do this new english test or is the Life in the UK test enough? 23 months is up on the 5th Sept and I would hate to apply only to find out she should have done another test any information you or anyone can give will as always be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Useful for someone who wants/needs to make a series of short visits over the course of a year. Not every one wants or needs to stay the full 6 months in one trip.

my friend has just arrived wih his wife from thailand and applied for a 12 months tourist visa and it was granted but when he arrived at healthrow immigration asked him why he had a one year return ticket as the visa was only valid for 180days. he was told that he could leave the country and go to france just before it runs out and apply for another 6 months, is this correct as he was obvioulsy not aware that she could not stay here for the full 12 months.

he was upset as he paid 12000 baht for a one year instead of paying just 3000 for a 6months

Useful for someone who wants/needs to make a series of short visits over the course of a year. Not every one wants or needs to stay the full 6 months in one trip.

my friend has just arrived wih his wife from thailand and applied for a 12 months tourist visa and it was granted but when he arrived at healthrow immigration asked him why he had a one year return ticket as the visa was only valid for 180days. he was told that he could leave the country and go to france just before it runs out and apply for another 6 months, is this correct as he was obvioulsy not aware that she could not stay here for the full 12 months.

No body get any idea's?

Come on guys, surely some one can give helpful advice?

Cheers

N

Hi my friend has just been through the same thing, he booked a same day appointment (Croyden Office) about 3 weeks before he got married took his wife there paid the money and got a same day visa...Simples!!

I've actually just logged on with a similar query to the OP (we're also off to France in the summer, my wife's also currently on a 2 year spouse visa in the UK).

One additional question: it says on the French embassy's website

http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Family-member...n-European.html

that

7. If your Marriage Certificate has been issued outside the European Union, it must be stamped by the Foreign Office of the issuing country, or its Embassy in the UK.

We have a translated copy certified by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (as per requirement 6. on the above site) but haven't had our actual certificate stamped, apart form the usual Amphur office stamp. Has anyone had experience of getting this done at the Thai Embassy in London and/or is it actually necessary to get the Schengen visa at the French embassy?

It seems a little excessive, given that they already have the certified translation. But then so much of most visa application processes does!

Hi I posted last week about the same thing I was told by the French Embassy that my marriage certificate needed to be stamped by the Thai Embassy in the UK but before they will stamp it it has to be legalised at the the Legalisation office in Milton Keanes before they will do this it has to be Certified by a solicitor!!

I am still waiting for the document to to be ready from the Thai Embassy as it take them 2-3 days, and it took the the same to be legalised and all at cost of about £70.

Just thought I would post as I have just had a fairly stressful morning trying to arrange a Schengen Visa for France for my wife, we got one 2 years ago when she was studying here in London and although we had to provide a lot of paper work we got one for the exact time we were going to be away for (6 days) now that we are married I knew that we did not have to pay and thought it would be a fairly straightforward.

With 3 weeks to go I rang the French embassy (£1 per min) to arrange an appointment so we could go and get a same day visa and was eventually told that the earliest appointment was in 6 weeks time so now we will have to go through an agency at a cost of £80 not a problem my fault for leaving late, I asked what forms I needed and was told that this time all I needed to send was both our passports and our marriage certificate which must be stamped and legalised at the Thai Embassy in the UK

I was not sure why this had to be but thought ok and rang the Thai Embassy in London and was told that before they could stamp it the Documents must be prior certified by the Legalization Division, Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) at Norfolk House, 437 Silbury Boulevard, Milton
Keyness, MK9 2AH, tel. 037 00 00 22 44 or +44 20 7008 5959

I went on the FCO website (http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/services-we-deliver/legal-services/legalisation/) and went through the online payment (£28 per page plus £6 postage) this was going to take 3 days but before they could do this as it is a foreign document it needs a solicitor to certify it which cost £20 at our local solicitors which we did, when we receive it back we have to take to the Thai embassy again pay £10 per page and wait 2/3 days. All of this was news to me and although we will have just about enough time to sort all this out the so called "Free Visa" has cost me over £100!

The whole sending my marriage certificate off to be legalised seems so strange as my wife has a 2 year visa in her passport so it was good enough for the UK, just wondered if anyone knows if there are any other documents or things that I should be doing now which will save me this stress in the future.

Hope this might help some of you who are thinking of going abroad soon or in the future and if anyone else knows any more would love to hear from you.

After all this I just hope the Bloody Weather is HOT!!!

All - thanks for the advise. 7by7 - I like the detail, keep it coming.

This is why I love ThaiVisa forum I logged on today to post a question similar to this one or search for a previous one and here it is front page!!

My wife wants to go back to Thailand to visit her family and was wondering how long she could go for I was also on the understanding that she could only be out of the country for 90 days in the first 2 years of the FLR and that any more would stop her getting an ILR and that we would have to apply again.

7by7 you really are a fountain of knowledge thanks for the invaluable information as always.

Hi Dowman hope everything is OK ?

You marry then you apply for a settlement visa in the UK , I thought when I did your application you did this ?

Around 12 weeks generally I would allow but maybe a lot quicker, as you may make an appointment in person but more £££££.

Applying as a husband, wife or civil partner from inside the UK

You will also require :

FLR (M)

Regards Paul

Hi Paul

Everything with me and Joy is fine and we will be celebrating our 1st anniversary next month (its has flown by).

The reason I asked the question is that as they had applied for a Fiance Visa and sent all the same paperwork as we did for our Spouse Visa (minus the marriage certificate) and had waited 8 weeks for it to be granted, on the application they had stated that she wanted to stay in the UK after marriage.

I was not sure if changing the Visa over would be a quicker process as by granting the Fiance Visa they have already made it clear that they are happy for her to stay, and I was not sure if they would just have to pay the money send in the form and it would be immediately changed not take the 12 weeks that we had to wait.

They are due to be married in the middle of June and we are all going on holiday in september so the 12 weeks time scale would be a problem but if what you say is true then they should make a same day appointment and pay the extra money.

I will let them know, thanks as always for your advice and we will both raise our glasses to you when we celebrate our anniversary next month.

Speak soon

Darren

Hi

I have a friend whose fiance has just received her Fiance Visa to come to the UK, they plan on getting married as soon as she arrive after waiting the required days needed for the registry office to marry them.

Once they are married does anyone know or has been through the process of changing the Visa to a Spouse Visa as in how long does it take, is it a formality as they have already been through all the paper work to get the Fiance Visa or do they still have to apply and wait the 12 weeks it took for my wife to get her Visa last year.

If anyone has any information or can point me to a web link I would really appreciate it.

Thanking you advance and hope everyone in the UK is enjoying the great weather.

My wife hasbeen in the uk since October on a spouse visa previously she had been here on a 2 year student visa if she was to pass the KOL test can we apply for a ILR now as we have been together for longer than 2 years or only when her spouse visa runs out?

When we got our COA, we booked up to give notice of marriage straight away, this was at a registry office, when we was there and all was ok we booked up the wedding and just had to wait for the 15days to pass.

sorry did not mean to give wrong information it was what i was told by the registry office when i was applying last year, in the end other things happened and my wife had to go to back to thailand and we never needed to book.

If you have 6 months left I would apply as soon as you can so that it gives you enough time in case you need to provide more info, or other things go wrong (all of our information was stolen in the post), you sound like you have enough of a good case to be granted.

good luck and keep us informed on how you get on.

Thank you fr the informative and speedy response!

I guess we have 6 months to play around with here and if we take our time in gathering all the relevant documents for submission for each step and make sure we've not missed anything out then that will speed the application side of things.

On the CoA side of things, do you think our circumstances (as detailed below) would give a favourable outcome (based on previous posts on here)?

I am 25, she is almost 24.

We have been together for about a year and a half and met at work.

Both in full time employment which more than covers bills, rent etc.

Both have a reasonable amount of savings.

She rents a flat, I stay there but am not on the lease or utility bills (I will be in the future).

No kids.

One thing to bear in mind is after you get appoved for the COA is approved you have to wait 28 days before you can get married in a registry office ( that's what I was told last year by Barnet Regustry office) so make sure you have enough time left on her visa.

I had exactly the same problem last year with my Thai wife, she was also a student who had studied General English for 2 years and could not apply for a 3rd year as she did not want to study for a Masters Degree. We applied for a COA when she had 3 months left on her visa, unfortunately everything we sent in the post was stolen (money, passports and birth certificate), by the time she got a new passport we had very little time to really for a COA as her visa had just about run out. She had to leave the Uk and go back to bangkok, I followed her there where we got married and applied for a settlement visa 3 months later she was here.

It was not a great experience for us but it was the best option, if your gf does have to go back to thailand go with her and get married, the fact that you have applied for and been granted a COA must go in your favour as you would have had to state your intention of her staying here in the Uk after you were married, and looking at the times of processing for the settlement visa that was on here a couple of months ago some people were being granted in 2 weeks.

i hope you dont have to go down this route and you manage to get married here, and wish you all the best.

It is up to the individual whether they take the test or sit a course; but unless their English ability is at ESOL entry level 3 or better then it is unlikely that they will be able to understand the study materials, and the test itself, well enough to be able to pass.

If sitting a course an ordinary ESOL course is not enough; it must be an ESOL course with citizenship materials.

See Knowledge of language and life in the UK

Hi

I brought my wife the Life in the UK book and test questions for Xmas, my wife was a student here for 2 years learning english and her speaking and writing are good but I must admit that she is not the best at reading especially a whole book in english and learning it by herself, can anyone suggest a good ESOL college in London that she could attend a couple of time a week etc, I dont mind having to pay but if anyone knows of a free/cheap one that would be good or even a website I could go on to find the nearest one to where I live in North London.

Thanking you in advance

sounds the same as my wife she was out at 2am on the balcony in BAREFEET laughing asking me to join her!!

Your exeperience with Paul and staff was exactly the same as mine, cannot thank them enough, enjoy your new life togeather in the UK

Great to see so many getting approvals in time for Xmas.

I just wanted to thank everyone who has posted on here all 107 pages I have read them all and I know that when I was waiting for my wifes visa to come through that this was the always the first and last thing I would check everyday as just reading this and knowing that I was not the only one going through the agony and then joy of a visa application was areal comfort and help, the information and support given on here is priceless.

I hope that everyone who has got an approval this year has the best Xmas ever and those waiting know that there are people on here wishing you all the very best of luck in gettting the correct descision...VISA GRANTED!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

From Mr & Mrs Dowman

Glad to hear of your success, Paul and his staff helped my wife get her settlement visa and I wil always be greatful for their calming and positive attitude while I was waiting in the uk feeling helpless. Cannot recomend them enough.

Enjoy you're girlfriend vist.