theoldgit

1. Him not her. When you get rejected like that for no reason, you don't just take it as a no. You go back and present your case, asking to talk to actual british consular staff, not some thai front-desk people who think they are gods for landing their job on deciding what they'll pass on and what they won't.

I said her because the OP spoke about his girlfriend, so she is the applicant and it is her who would want the decision overturned if there was a right of appeal. If she thought the wrong decision had been made on the evidence given in the application then of course she should try and speak to the Entry Clearance Manager and ask them to look at the case again but, trust me, there is no point in demanding to speak to a consular official. The Thai people at the desk, and by those I presume you mean in the application centre, are no more than messengers, they do no more than put all the papers provided into an envelope and pass it onto visa section at the embassy, they certainly do not decide what they will pass on and what they will not.

2. I got that from a friend that works inside British embassy. US and Australian embassies apparently do the same when they are not sure. Reapplying person is taken into more consideration if a case by the sponsor is made. Another point which I forgot to mention before - not only should he submit the letter from his father but also his own "invitation" letter, explaining what the trip is about. That is requirement from other EU embassies that I deal with quite frequently.

Clearly I don't know your friend in the British embassy but I maintain that they, or any other embassy, don't routinely refuse all first time applicants, if the application is sound with the applicant able to prove that the trip is affordable and genuine and on the balance of probabilities they will return to their home country, then entry clearance will be given, be it the 1st or 50th application.

The number of Thai people applying for visas to western countries, when there is an obvious intent of not returning to Thailand once visa is over is enormous. Hope this fits better than "several"

If this is the case, and as I don't have the benefit of the information provided by your friend working inside the embassy I really don't know, then this is why so many applications fail, and genuine applicants seemingly have such a hard time.

3. Maybe. I guess embassy staff are full of crap then.

I doubt it very much.

Demand to talk to british staff in visa section. Challenge their decision. Reapply.

Well which one, she cannot demand to talk to anybody in visa section, the application was for a tourist visa which has no right of appeal. You are of course correct in suggesting the applicant re-applies, but ensuring that the reasons in the refusal are properly addressed.

Many times the western embassies will flatly deny the first time visa seeker, then wait to see whether they reapply.

Utter rubbish, where did you get that fact from?

There are several thais that just want to move out of the country, not really caring as to where. So they'd just apply once.

"There are several thais that just want to move out of the country", again where did you pick up that little gem? several?

If someone is serious, they believe, that person will come back and apply again. Only then they take applicant seriously.

Again, utter rubbish.

OP, you will get a lot of helpful advice on this forum, then you will get posts like this, I'm afraid you will need to sort out the wheat from the chaff.

Electronic statements are acceptable, I think they have ways of checking their authenticity.

But you do need to prove that you are financially able to act as a sponsor.

I could be wrong but I would have thought it would have little to do with her immigration status and more about her lack of UK driving experience and the fact it does not seem that she has a UK licence, in the same way a UK youngster might have a problem getting insurance, or maybe the underwriters have had experience driving on Thai roads.

I think she really needs to get a UK licence first and then spend a while as a named driver on your car before you think about trying to get insurance for her in her own right. Others of course may have other views.

What about trying for an Amex Thai Airways credit card? I received a mail shot asking me to apply for one as I was a Thai Airways Gold Card holder, I sent off the application in fun, I am retired and do not have or need a work permit, knowing I would be refused.

My credit card with a 310,000 Baht credit limit was couriered to me a couple of weeks later, I was not asked for a security deposit. I don't really need a credit card, but it's really handy for booking flights, hotels and hire cars.

ECO's are to be VERY judgemental. It is their job!

No it's not, their job is to make a judgement on the facts provided in the application, not to be judgemental, there is a subtle difference.

^^^^

I really think this is an over simplification, for sure they will look at the relationship, I'm no expert but they will not only want to be satisfied that the sponsor can afford to pay for the trip, if that's actually what is being proposed, but that it's reasonable to do so.

But you have left out the most important thing, the reason to return, after all that's the real reason that many visa applications fail, and is the reason that visas are required.

2.5 months NO CHANCE!

you say no chance but can you you tell me what the time frame is as of yet no one has given me a concrete answer

Because nobody can give you a concrete answer.

If somebody sponsors an applicant they have only known for a very short period, like yours, it's going to be very difficult to get a visa, everything is stacked against her. This lady has two children yet she can drop everything and swan off to the UK for a six month holiday. On the other hand if she is a successful, land owning, business woman who needs to return to Thailand to meets the needs of her business, but can still afford to take a six month holiday, then she might have a chance as she wouldn't need a sponsor.

You mention in your earlier post about a "Visa checking service", is this a service that VFS provide, if so I doubt if it's any more than checking the papers submitted, they certainly are not competent to say if entry clearance will be given.

One of there favourite reason for turning down visa's is

THE BALANCE OF ALL PROBABILITES IS THAT THE RELATIONSHIP WILL NOT LAST.

Goodluck

And whilst that may be true ECO's are not meant to be judgemental, though it is up to you guys to convince the ECO that the relationship is sound, very difficult after such a short period.

Her reasons to return are strong family ties, family land, young daugthers and the desire to return to Thailand and get married in November

I have submitted a sponsers portfolio containing 75 itemsed pages. I have also booked a flight toThailand for the 30th of May.

I just can not find a box to tick for the length of relationship question, because there isnt one. So when is a relationship too short or just right??

Strong family ties are ok, but I don't think ECO's put a lot of credence in the fact that your gf has two daughters, though I'm sure she does, remember a lot of Thai women leave their youngsters with family while they try and find a "better life" in the west. Is the family land in her name, she will need to convince the ECO the land is so much of a tie that she is likely to return because of it.

Whilst a sponsorship letter is an important part of the application I really think 75 pages is way over the top, again put yourself in the ECO's position, do you honestly think they are going to read 75 pages?

I don't want you to think that she has no chance, I am just trying to temper your expectations, I and other posters are on your side and we just play devils advocate, which is easier to do when we are not personally involved.

Obviously imported food is going to cost you more here than it its country of origin. Isn't that basic commonsense?

I agree, but with the Baht increasing in value against western currencies shouldn't imported foods be showing a small decrease in price, not an increase?

You cannot pay online in Bangkok, there are some countries that provide this facility but sadly Thailand isn't one of them.

You have to pay by 'Cashiers Cheque' or 'Bankers Draft' when the hard copy copy of the application is submitted and the biometric process undertaken.

Look it from the ECO's perspective, the applicant has known you for a couple of months and now wants to join you in the UK for a six month holiday.

You obviously realise that it's going to be virtually impossible for you both to prove a sustaining relationship, but can she prove strong ties to her home country and thus a reason to return? I suspect that given the fact she wants to go on a six month holiday she doesn't have a proper job. Does she own property or have other ties?

I really think you know the answer to the question, put yourself in the ECO's shoes, what decision would you make?

That said there are no hard and fast rules about the length of a relationship but I think with the circumstances you describe, you are setting yourselves up for a disappointment.

I left Pattaya this morning at 06.00, traffic ok until I got to Bangkok, normal Rama IX hold ups.

What did suprise me was the water throwing that was happening at that time of the morning on Beach Road, they seemed to have been there all night.

She applies at the VFS Visa Application Centre in Regent House, all the details are here http://www.vfs-uk-th.com/

With the greatest of respect she should have already read the basics like this if she "in the middle of applying for a visitor visa to the Uk".

Good luck

Try again

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&sour...009602&z=17

My UK pension was due to be credited into my account today, it is normally credited at about 11/12. It wasn't in the bank by 3pm so I called Kasikorn, the guy was very helpful and checked, but advised it wouldn't be credited until Monday, because of Songkran.

My money was however credited about 4pm, so at least I can eat this weekend

I would have thought that most behind the scene bank operations would have carried on over the holiday period, haven't these people heard of rosters?

If this link works, it's as about as near as I can get. The intersection by "B" is the centre of the demo, but it spreads out in all directions.

The link didn't work so I have deleted it, if you turn right out of the embassy and right on the main road, I would say it's about 15-20 mins to the centre of the reds demo stage.

It may not end the crisis but it will send on hel_l of a message ie the Govt will no longer stand by and let mobs take over the country. The Red's refuse to negotiate, what else can the Govt do?

By just taking people out would indeed send a message, a message that the government is no better than the thugs holding the country to ransom.

By all means enforce the arrest warrants, but do it properly.

Their better off ordering Commandos to shoot him on sight. Harsh yes but result is crisis over.

The crises might be over if it happened on your planet, but I suspect that in the real world it would be catalyst for more trouble.

The embassy is open all next week, in fact from Friday this week, the details are on their website http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us...office-holidays

Obviously whilst the situation in Bangkok remain like it is there could be short term closures, you will be aware the embassy isn't too far from the reds demo site.

As for the situation in Changwattana there was a closure there when the demonstrators went to the Electoral Commissioners, but I am afraid you will just have to monitor events.

I also arranged for Barclaycard to send my missus a card in her name but on my account for emergencies etc.

Of course in some peoples eyes a new outfit or a handbag might be classed as an emergency

You say obviously this and obviously that in your posts, just bear in mind that nothing is obvious to an ECO when they are considering an application, if the applicant wants them to consider certain aspects of the application, then they should most certainly include them in the application, probably the best place would be in the covering letters.

As 7by7 says the list seems fine, I assume she will be applying for the visa in the US.

Here we go again! The Thai people respecting the fact that you don't want water thrown over you, but the falangs not caring whether you have valuable equipment that you don't want ruined.

No doubt you are the exact type of tosser that would think its fair game to drench somebody with a camera? If I had as many Thai;s throwing water at me as farang it would have been different.

The fact that EVERY Thai could see I was there to take pictures and not get soaked says heaps. They ALL just posed or smiled. I did put the camera down and threw water and enjoyed being fair game. I got very wet and covered in talc. NO PROBLEM!!!!

I presume from your name you stay in Pattaya so expect nothing more.

If you read his post properly I think he is saying exactly the opposite of what you are accusing him of.

It looks like the whiners on this thread missed their flight out of Dodge for the holiday. So stay in doors tell Monday.

Absoluty right, people have no right to go to work or go out to dinner because people want to exercise their, perfectly understandable, right to soak you, the fact that you don't want to partake is absolutly of no consequence.

Just remember you must do as your told and "stay in doors tell Monday"