Mocksy

Twix,

I have just been granted a U.K. 3 month visa for my GF recently and she is here now. Basically what the other guys have said is true, you have to prove it is a legit visit. My GF did have a job with a supporting letter saying she will be back and I am also escourting her back to Thailand after the 3 month period (had plane tickets to prove this. Booked all the flights etc)

Your GF has property, so provide the docs for this as it is a good proof of having to return. Dont worry about her finances, the fact that she is reliant on you is good (just prove you can support her, bank statements, payslips) it means she can't just set up in the U.K.

Me and my GF just went in there and told the truth, we said we were bf/gf and had the emails to prove it and we planned to visit my GF's sister.

Just document everything you can and provide multiples of everything

Passport photocopies (both yours and hers)

Flight confirmations

Emails

invitation Letters

Payslips or bank statements photocopied

I put everything in a folder and just gave them it and it seemed to be OK.

Hope that helps.

Mox.

I have a U.K. visa for my Thai GF and we are in the U.K. right now. We want to go visit my GF's sister in South Ireland. Do we need a seperate visa for that too or is the U.K. visa valid for that ?

Mox.

Oh man, I'm really sorry Big Spuds....

We are in the same boat together my friend. I am flying out this friday and going Monday and really not looking forward to the prospect of being turned down. I dont know if you can reapply for a visitor visa, I heard you can't unless its a family visitor you were applying for.

It may be worth going in person next time my friend so you can get a better understanding of what they are saying.

I'm very sorry mate, I really hope it turns out better for you.

Mox.

Quick question

were you present for the application ?

We met in a hostel in BKK, she works cooking and just general running of the place i.e. taking bookings etc so were OK as she has a letter to prove that she has employment when she returns which is one good thing and we have a return ticket, I guess I just have to go in there and hope for the best. If all else fails, I guess I've shown evidence that I have gone over to stay with Sudawan twice which looks good if we try and get a fiancee visa later on.

Ah well....we'll see I guess....

Martin,

If you dont mind me asking, but what were the circumstances of your GF coming on a holiday, did she have a job, What was her age etc ? I only ask as I am trying to get as much info as possible for my GF to come over on a tourist visa.....

Thanks.

I understand Big Spuds that you are staying over here yes ?

I'll let you know if it makes any difference going over there in person which is what i'm doing. I want to ask them some questions if they do reject it and just want to be there for Sudawan as I think it may be a frightening experience if they start asking her all sorts of questions.

Only a few weeks to go !

Thanks very much viviana,

I want what most people want on this board, and that is just a chance to see how things turn out. I dont know if sudawan will like the U.K. if she doesn't she goes home and we look at me working over there. simple as that really. but to be denied any choice over the matter just because somebody doesn't earn a great deal of money I personally think is wholy unjust.

Its a very good point about the student route, again, its another path I have considered and I have looked into. I was really nieve about the whole applications process and didn't think she would have any problems so Sudawan gave me some money (bless her) and I put the rest towards a plane ticket thinking we could get a visa no problem. I know thats a stupid thing to do but I honestly thought a return ticket coupled with the proof of her little job back at the hostel would be enough.... It may still be, I may be harping on about nothing...

I dont really have the time to sort all of that out, I think it takes a while to get an offer etc....

Thanks Whattodo,

Just thought i'd ask.... I have done the working abroad thing before (3 years, Canada and 2 in N.Z.) so no stranger there. but you're probably right, I haven't even applied yet, we may get lucky.

As a great deal of people on this board, I do have a really good connection with my GF. I'm sure people reading this will agree that Thai people and their culture is as exciting to us as the thought of travelling to the U.K. or even any other destination is to Thai's

I really want the chance to explore what can happen if me and Sudawan are together for a while hence the other posts regarding tourist visa's etc...

Thanks for keeping your fingers crossed and I hope that everyone that has genuine intentions on this board all come true for them too.

Take care and I'll keep ya posted.

and .... I cant spell neither....

Sorry forot, I am 32 too !!!!

OK guys,

I am making a great deal of backup plans if I fail to get a vistors visa for my GF to the U.K. I have worked in a few countries now (Canada and N.Z.) I have conversational Thai (not reading or writing, but learning) what is the process of getting work in Thailand. I have a U.K. degree in software Engineering and over 8 years experience in this field.

In N.Z. I just went for a holiday, found an employer and got a work visa whilst still being in the country (Unofficially of course). Can you do this in Thailand ? or are they a little more stringent ?

Just want a heads up on this at the moment....

thanks

Mocksy

Thanks chonabot,

Just going in with a clear head, and being honest and of course hoping it still counts for something these days

I have warned her that we may not get a visa though so she is prepared for the worst the same as me. I still can't believe a holiday visa is so much of a problem. I was wanting to hear good stories of people that just went in, came out with no problems that were in a similar situation to me i.e. their GF's dont have a great deal of money.

I still cannot understand the difficulties of obtaining a tourist visa. Like previous posts on this thread, Richard quite rightly points out that they are trying to protect U.K. citizens from being ripped off and fair enough, I can see that. But if the only way people are going to see if it works out is to get a fiancee visa, they will go that route and then there is a greater risk that if something does go wrong they are in a better position to stay in the U.K. completely Bananas !!!!

Thanks to you all on the good luck messages. it is completely ironic that Sudawan is completely relaxed and just looking forward to seeing me again even if it does go all wrong and we are only together for a week where as I'm a complete gibbering wreck right now. Westerners eh ?

After learning a little Manderin and currently learning Thai, I guess for Chinese, Thai would be a simpler step for them than for native English speakers. my GF is always in stitches when I talk to her on the phone in Thai (or try I guess)

I'm using Teach yourself Thai and it seems pretty good. Like learning any language. Persistence is the key. Got writing half the alphabet sorted out !!!

Thanks Richard,

We will still try and go for the tourist visa as I am going over there now and it would be a real shame just not to have a go. If it does turn out to be as bad as I am hearing, I may just be leaving this sorry arsed country myself. I have been to other countries where people are accepted for who they are and not branded or catagorised just for the amount of money they have.

I may just stay over there....

If this fails i'll invite you to the wedding !!!

where did you get married btw ?

Thanks DFW,

Good to hear a nice story for a change rather than all the bad ones. Good luck with the marriage and congratulations on the new baby. I hope everything works out.

I can understand the point of view about being ripped off, that is why I want to do the holiday thing first. I am trying to do this correctly and I really hope I dont get shot in the foot for doing so. There are people in all walks of life trying to rip others off that is why I think a tourist visa is the best way to go. It will help me as well as her to understand how we both are together.

I am going to try and make this point at the embassy. with a little luck they'll understand this.

Thanks,

Unfortunately, she just works in a hostel (not the bar scene) she doesn't have any kids, does not own a business and she rents a place so it aint looking too good me thinks. I am trying to be positive about all of this but the more i read, the more depressed I get....

She does have 2 sisters over in BKK but her mum doesn't live in BKK.

I guess we just have to wait and see.

I will let you all know how it goes.

Rich,

What do you reckon my chances are on the Tourist Visa. I am so worried about all of this now. We have been really looking forward to all of this and I can't help but get really downhearted about it all. the thought of getting to BKK and being refused is starting to make me ill.

Sudawan will be dependant on me for her finances, she has a return ticket to BKK at the end of her stay and she does have a job albeit in a hostel and not very well paid. she is going to return because I refuse to apply for a fiancee visa as I want her to see the U.K. for a holiday first. I know people over here in the U.K. who are married to Thai people and they do miss their homeland it is for that reason I want her to come over for a holiday first, moving to another country is a huge step for anyone more so I think for people like Sudawan. Doesn't my word mean anything ?

I cant believe I am hearing all of this, its a bloody holiday visa for gods sake ! arn't people who come from a poorer background entitled to holidays too ?

So how many people have had success stories with tourist visas and what were there circumstances ??

Known her for 7 months now

I'm sure you have heard all this before but we are genuine, I want to do this properly. I have told her that England is not all its cracked up to be, we do have shit weather it gets dark for 4 months at a time near winter and for a foreigner who is not used to this it can get really depressing for them (###### it does for English people) So I truly want her to come over for a visit and see what it is like, see her sister and then go back and apply for a fiancee visa if she still wants to come here.

I am going to tell them this when we get to the embassy, a Fiancee visa is for people who intend to marry, we dont intend to marry yet. We want to see how we get on. Its the truth and i'm sticking by it.

the U.K. bangkok embassy website gives three points on how you qualify for a vistors visa. She meets all three, she doesn't intend to stay, she can make it without public funds and she is not going to work. If they dont allow her a visa I know it wont help but I will tell them they are in no uncertain terms being racist. Like i said it wont help my cause, but I really do have a problem with people jumping off ships claiming asylum (I know there are genuine cases) when I am willing to support her and perfectly capable of doing so.

Wish me luck.

P.S. Thanks Big Spuds. I wish you all the best. good luck. I think we all need it.

i Think its what most people say, its just up to the officer you get on the day.

I heard all sorts of stories when i was travelling about Russian visas, and vietnam visas and how difficult they were to get, but in all honesty, I never had a problem whatsoever, got my vietnam visa in two days and the Russian one in 15 no questions asked. I've got the feeling its the same with the U.K. one.

I have to admit, I think we are going to go for the tourist visa, be honest and hope that the officer on the other side of the table likes us. I am gonna be really pissed if they do reject it as sudawan (my other half) has actually contributed towards the price of her flight. I am in a job and the flight for me is like a months salary so not really a big deal, but Sudawans contribution was a far bigger price to pay.

find it really ironic that you can jump onto a container ship these days and get into the U.K. and when you go through the proper channels all you get is a shit fight......

OK guys and ladies,

I have it on good authority that a Fiancee visa is the way to go as the evidence for my GF to be returning to Thailand is sketchy at best (return airplane ticket and letter from hostel employer)

My question is, We have known each other for about 7 months now, is that long enough to apply for such a visa or are they going to throw us back on that one ? I have kept all my phone cards, printed emails and kept receipts from flowers I have sent her etc... do ya think this is good enough ? the BKK embassy claims to have visas done in around 2 days does this apply for fiancee visas as I have bought my GF a plance ticket to the U.K. and we need to get a visa in a week !!!!

Am I best going for a vistor one first ?

Your comments appreciated,

Mox.