brian272727

First of all, I am truly saddened and shocked for the loss of two individuals at the beginning of their adult lives. RIP

Now to my point which has been made previously but worth repeating.

The key CCTV images which have been shown on media around the globe as can be seen on the BBC site here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29225672 are clearly not of David and Hannah. Not only are the profiles wrong, hair colour wrong and clothing wrong but the man seen in the CCTV clearly has a tattoo of some sort on his upper forearm, having seen the frankly gruesome images from the scene I can confirm that David has no tattoo at all.

It frankly beggers belief that the RTP can be so careless and inept as to authorise the release of these images. Thai police work at its finest.

Thanks guys, thought so.

I tend to take what she says with a pinch of salt as she panics over nothing.

Hi,

Booked for 2 days in Surat Thani (with 3 days in Samui) on the 1st July.

Flying into Surat Thani from BKK.

My GF's Auntie has been on Facebook recommending we cancel and rebook somewhere else due to the flooding. GF is now panicking.

I can handle the rain but was wondering if there is LIKELY to be any distruption with flights or travel?

Just looking for a local farang viewpoint on the matter.

Thanks in advance,

Cheers guys, no need to stay overnight and as there are regular flights to the UK we should be cool even if delayed.

Worst case is that we could get one of they short-stay hotels within departures (YO! Hotel).

@Merengueman, any Thai communities in Rio?

Just for reassurance you could always check with your airline, best to email then you have record of reply should it prove to be inaccurate, quote you ticket number, the ILR is probably irrelevant.

Just one proviso, are you traveling all the way on the same ticket? "UK > Brazil via Netherlands"

If say you book a flight UK > Netherlands on one airline and then Netherlands > Brazil on another then you may have a problem as you probably have to pass immigration to collect your baggage and check in on the next.

You are not considered as being in transit if you leave the international transit zone of an airport, e.g. to collect luggage or to check-in with another airline. If so, normal Schengen regulations apply.

From: http://www.dutchemba...index.php?i=133

Also:

http://www.minbuza.n...ransit-visa-atv

Thanks for the responses... Looks like it should be fine but I prefer to check.

Yep, we are travelling with KLM all the way so will get our bags checked straight through from Edinburgh to Rio:)

For future queries and information I emailed the embassy and got this reply:

Dear Mrs xxxxx,

As a holder of a Thai passport you do not need a transit visa as long as you do not leave the international zone at Schiphol airport.

Kind regards,

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Consular Affairs & Migration Policy Department

Aliens & Visas Division

Visa-section - iv, The Hague

IATA database states this:

/ 18NOV11 / 0142 UTC

National Thailand (TH) /Transit Netherlands (NL)

Destination Brazil (BR)

ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW

Netherlands (NL)

TWOV (Transit Without Visa):

Visa required, except for Holders of onward tickets transiting

TIRULES/R32 by the same or first connecting aircraft *Note:

TWOV is not possible when arriving from a non-Schengen Member

State AND departing to a Schengen Member State TIRULES/R34

She should be fine, just make sure the luggage will be transfered without the need to go through immigration/customs.

Thanks for the information. I am sure on paper she will be ok, just wondering if anyone has flown their partner via Schiphol and experienced any issues?

Quick question guys to alleviate the paranoia...

Taking the girl to Brazil in February. We are flying UK > The Netherlands > Brazil. She holds ILR( in the UK) on her Thai Passport.

We know Thai passport holders don't need a visa for Brazil but will she be ok for a 3 hour transit at Schipol?

All the signs point to yes but has anyone had an experience of this? Any problems??

Thanks

Brian

Thanks for this.

I presume I don't actually need an appointment?

Hey,

Just submitted my GF's completed UK VV Application but there was a problem with the e-appointments system and I now have no way of making an appointment now.

I know that its not mandatory and you can just walk in with your documents and wait but do I still need to have an appointment showing as booked?

Also does anyone have a link to the appointments system?

Thanks in advance

Brian

I see the visiting times for August are now as follows:

On a seperate note I see that Visa waiting times are down to 5 days and in most cases 3 days:

Visits Visas 2 day 3 day 5 day 10 day 15 day 30 day

General Visit (6 months or less) 50% 80% 96% 99% 99% 99%

Good news!

Great guys, thanks for the info

Invaluable as ever.

When applying for a UK Visitor Visa, how much weight, if any, would a previous visit to the UK carry?

Is each application treated on its own merits or would previous problem free visits to the UK be considered.

I guess what I am also asking is it easier to get a visa the second time round?

Would be interesting to here people's experiences of this.

It does happen, I got a UK visitor Visa for a Thai girl I knew for a couple of months and had only spent 14 days with.

Like your GF she was unemployed, although she was a student and had some savings, car etc but fundamentally it was the same situation.

I provided 8 weeks of phonecalls, emails, photo's, flight stubs from trip to Malaysia etc Also proof of residence, wage slips and P60. I DIDN'T show bank statements however.

She provided proof of University attendance, car documents, land documents, old passport showing she had travelled extensively. etc

My advice would to be as honest as possible.

OK, so you opted for the honest approach. Did she get the visa? How many visa applications are discounted because someone thinks that their mutual love or at least a trusting relationship is so obvious?

If your girl did get her visa, then you made a bullet-proof case with all your documentation supporting that contention. That's my point and you have helped make it. Stay focussed on the INITIAL application and making sure that all forms, letters and statements 'play the same tune'.

The OP's assumption that "proving the relationship is not a problem" based on 210 days of knowing each other indicates that he's still looking at the application from their point-of-view which may well be based on a real solid relationship. However, they need to make sure the BASIC assurance to the visa people that his girlfriend will indeed return on time this time should not be lost. The clarification on the original question about her staying longer has been somewhat explained although the ie if she is already in the country bit still hints at not really focusing on a FIXED plan for THIS visit visa application.

Once the visa is issued, the first trip made in compliance with the terms, then I think that subsequent visa applications can contain more... how do I say this, emotional motivation?

She hasn't submitted her application as yet, she will do it next week...

The last time we did an application we had only known each other a couple of months and were able to get a 6 month UK visitor visa. We were entirely honest though and I was extremely meticulous when pulling together the documentation for her.

She is in a different situaion this time though, she has now graduated from her Uni so has NO real reason to return other than ownership of a car and some land. Because of this we need to focus on strength of relationship and past adherence to visa regulations, she has been travelling in Australia recently so I have also focused on this, ie the fact she complied fully with the rules there also. Our plans for the future are paramount in her case so I needed to mention them.

I do see your point though, honesty is the best policy, the UKBA or whoever can smell a rat a mile off, they must see 100's of applications a week. Instinct must play a major part.

I am by no means an expert on this subject though so I find feedback of any sort extremely valuable.

As a bloke married to a Thai who got a 6-month UK visit visa the first time and a 2-year UK visit visa the second time without any need for interviews, more bank statements, more pictures, etc.., make sure that her application and your letter of support only comment on the reason for the CURRENT 1-month visit. Don't mention future plans and what-if scenarios. If the letter from her employer states she is allowed off for xx weeks, make sure that her application asks for the same xx weeks and your letter of support says the same. The visa is going to be approved primarily on strong evidence that she won't overstay and will return to Thailand. I would NOT mention anything about future hopes to relocate to the UK at this juncture.

I find this a curious post.

The main reason that my GF put for coming to the UK on her visitor visa was to get to know the country and my family better as we plan to marry and settle here in the next couple of years.

Indeed one of the reasons she has to return is our solid plans for the future.

She is being 100% honest and I felt ommiting out future plans would leave gaps in her application. Why else would you wish to spend 6 months in a strange country unless you had a desire to come here?

The first time i sponsored my Thai GF now wife, back in 2006 she did exactly the same thing, although not sure about exact amount, and we had no problems, but i did give them as much information as possible.

Have noticed some people on here have struggled to get visa's for their better halves due to the length of time they asked for. We asked for 6 months and was no problem. Maybe now its getting harder.

Good luck

Great, cheers, like I said she has been here before and we tell the truth in all cases but I still feel paranoid about our actions.

Since graduating in March she has dossed on her friends sofa in BKK, spent 30 days with me in Chiang Mai and Koh Lanta, went travelling to Korea and Australia and worked with her brother at his mini-marts in Phuket. All funded by her parents. Whilst nothing out of the ordinary for a 20 something girl in the UK, in Thailand I feel like we need to justify her existence.

The best I can do is tell the truth and cross my fingers.

My Thai GF currently is in Australia travelling, but will be back on Sunday to begin the visa application process.

She currently has minimal funds in her bank but her parents are going to give her 100,000 baht for her trip to the UK. (I am sponsoring her fully though)

Her family are affluent and she is well educated and owns a car, land etc but I am stil conscious that a sudden deposit of 100, 000 baht looks suss?

She will mention in her application form and supporting letters that her parents have provided this money but do you think it may cause an issue?

She has been to the UK before but I am still worried, its 100% legitimate though.

Indeed, put whatever is the truth.

To be classed as unmarried partners the two of you need to have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least the last two years.

There is no provision to state this though. So will I put "other", obviously we have elaborated in our repective accompanying letters.

This seem reasonable???

My girlfriend of two years is coming to visit me. What will I put here:

Where will you stay in the UK?

Hotel / Bed and Breakfast

With immediate family

With distant friends

With friends

Other

Also, do I then answer YES to this question?

Do you have any friends or family in the UK?

Yes / No

If so would I declare myself as a friend? If so can I put my relationship as Unmarried Partner?

HELP, Please!!!!!

Many thanks for your responses , very very helpfull

I will let you know how I get on.

Good luck man.

On a sidenote I am now considering just biting the bullet and going for a Fiancee visa instead of a Visitor visa

The only reason I can see not to is the fact it will give me more time to save money for our future application.

The cost etc can be balanced against the £880 its gonna cost just to fly here, which would need to be paid twice.

If she is on a visit visa she can apply immediately upon her return as she is applying as the fiancé.

You must marry within a 6 month window then apply for FLR using the following forms.

Sorry to thread hijack but...

Does she need to go back to Thailand after her fiance visa has expired or can you apply for further leave to remain whilst in the UK and if granted stay additional 2 years?

Cheers

I think I answered that question in my post above. She can apply in the UK without leaving or returning to Thailand.

Great, thanks for that info. I presume that the waiting time is in-line with the settlement visa?

If she is on a visit visa she can apply immediately upon her return as she is applying as the fiancé.

You must marry within a 6 month window then apply for FLR using the following forms.

Sorry to thread hijack but...

Does she need to go back to Thailand after her fiance visa has expired or can you apply for further leave to remain whilst in the UK and if granted stay additional 2 years?

Cheers

In answer to Q2, you must be looking at the Indian site, its in rupees.

The fee for the Thai site appears to be 33488 baht, which to me is bloody excessive. I have NO idea why its so much.

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

There is nothing wrong with this. The visa was a Multiple Entry visa, and she was legally able to enter as many times as she wanted to during the validity of the visa ( as long as she complied with the terms of the visa ie no work, etc ).

Her first visit seems to be completely in accordance with her application - two weeks visit. The fact that she went to UK a second time, and complied, really goes, IMHO, in her favour if she applies again.

Great, thanks for this. Makes me feel more confident.