Requirements/best Way For Thai National Visit With Eu Husband To Spain

[gdhm]

Hi,

I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction or offer advice.

I am a UK citizen.

My ONLY home is in Spain (trying to sell it to live permanently in Thailand with my Thai wife). I hold Spanish a Residency card until 2008

I hold a Non Immigration O Retirement Visa and am living with my wife in Thailand

We legally married in an Amphur Office 8 months ago.

Sometime (soon hopefully) I will need to return to Spain to sign House sale papers when I have found a buyer (none on the horizon at present).

It makes sense (fare-wise) as I will HAVE to go back in person (to also take my wife with me to see my last 4 years adopted home of Spain and visit the UK my country of birth).

We will only wish to be in Spain and UK for a combined maximum of 3-4 weeks and then return to Thailand where my wife's 3 year old son (my stepson) will be waiting for our return.

I have 3 times since October 2006 enquired of the Spanish Embassy what they recommend and need but they have failed to reply to my emails on every occasion so far.

I now see there is not access to their published Thai website address so I cannot check out ANY information.

My MAIN concern is the Visa for Spain. I cannot tell yet if my house will sell next week, next month or next year. Equally, when I do find a buyer I will need to arrange to go to Spain very quickly and I know Visas for Spain can take time (and an interview). I do not know if I get a tourist or whatever Visa (married to EU citizen?) how long it will remain valid and open ended.

Please can I ask if anybody has any recommendations and knowledge of the requirements

AND short of a 450km journey from Khon Kaen to the Spanish Embassy in Bangkok how I can contact them and obtain some answers.

Kind regards

Dave

Edited January 16, 2007 by gdhm

[the scouser]

I don't know how you can contact them other than through the usual channels, but your wife should qualify for a visa free of charge on the grounds that she is married to a citizen of another EEA country. You need to establish that she is your dependant (marriage certificate), you are British (your passport), you will be travelling to Spain either together, or you first, and that you possess the wherewithal to support yourselves whilst in Spain.

Scouse.

[gdhm]

I don't know how you can contact them other than through the usual channels, but your wife should qualify for a visa free of charge on the grounds that she is married to a citizen of another EEA country. You need to establish that she is your dependant (marriage certificate), you are British (your passport), you will be travelling to Spain either together, or you first, and that you possess the wherewithal to support yourselves whilst in Spain.

Scouse.

Thanks scouser. I certainly would not be travelling separately.

It is unfortunate we live in North east Thailand so a fight to Bangkok is not cheap and bus is a 7 hours journey each way and in view of Embassy opening times we would probably have to stay in Bangkok over night JUST to ask about application needs. We would then need to do the same when an interview is arranged.

I personally find id so frustrating trying to get information in Thailand over the phone of email from official bodies. Its very little better when my wife phones or emails and speaks in Thai. Emails are still not answered and phone calls get passed around the depts. and she does not understand the complexity (or vagueness) of answer. Beginning to understand why Spain has so many illegals (getting in officially is too complex - NOT due to the requirements but due to the process, getting info and length of process)

The UK Embassy I have found both in Spain and Thailand AND the Thai Consulate in Hull, UK to be wonderful at answering emails and dealing with phone enquires.

I don't understand the problem with the Spanish Embassy and Thai Authorities but TIT . I have never had an email answered by ANY Immigration Bureau office or Thai Customs (wonder why they offer email communication addresses)

Regards

Dave

[paully]

Someone on an earlier thread a couple of months ago seemed to find the Spanish Embassy in Bangkok somewhat fussy about granting visas, but that was for a same-sex partner as I recall. The usual Schengen short-term visit visa should be relatively painless - as Scouse says, it should be free and you shouldn't need to give bank details or even details of where you'll be staying in Spain as you are a UK citizen. But - what visa will your wife be on to enter the UK? Schengen countries can be fussy about those on UK visitor visas.

[gdhm]

Someone on an earlier thread a couple of months ago seemed to find the Spanish Embassy in Bangkok somewhat fussy about granting visas, but that was for a same-sex partner as I recall. The usual Schengen short-term visit visa should be relatively painless - as Scouse says, it should be free and you shouldn't need to give bank details or even details of where you'll be staying in Spain as you are a UK citizen. But - what visa will your wife be on to enter the UK? Schengen countries can be fussy about those on UK visitor visas.

Hi Thanks for this info Paully

,

I am unsure what Visa my wife will be on for UK. I have emailed the UK Embassy seeking their advice/recommendation and am awaiting their reply. I assume it will most likely be a Tourist under 3 month Visa because that will not require the UK new biometric readings etc.

I am unsure EXACTLY what you mean about Schengen countries can be fussy about those on UK visitor visas. I was not under the impression I would not be needing to tell Spain at time my wife applied for the Visa to enter Spain. We will not be going to UK first but from Thailand to Spain. Spain to UK and then UK back to Thailand.

I am not sure why they care where we go if my wife has a suitable Visa to go to the UK and that we leave leave Spain as intended and declared.

Kind Regards

Dave

[paully]

Dave,

When my (Thai) wife wanted to go to France last year from the UK on a UK tourist visa, we were informed that they would only grant the French visa provided that she had at least 3 months left on the UK one after returning and that it permitted her to return to the UK afterwards (she only had a couple of months left so couldn't get one). She's now on a settlement visa and we got a Schengen visa for her from the French Embassy in London quite easily, no financial details or fee needed. But, doesn't seem that this would be a problem if you're not going to the UK first.

Good luck!

Edited January 18, 2007 by paully

[Mahout Angrit]

Dave,

When my (Thai) wife wanted to go to France last year from the UK on a UK tourist visa, we were informed that they would only grant the French visa provided that she had at least 3 months left on the UK one after returning and that it permitted her to return to the UK afterwards (she only had a couple of months left so couldn't get one). She's now on a settlement visa and we got a Schengen visa for her from the French Embassy in London quite easily, no financial details or fee needed. But, doesn't seem that this would be a problem if you're not going to the UK first.

Good luck!

Strictly speaking you should apply for the schengen visa in the country in which you are resident. however I agree with Paully and my wife has in the past successfully applied for a schengen visa to Holland from their embassy in London on 3 occasions while on Visitors Visas in UK. So while he may well be lucky and get a schengen visa at the French or Dutch embassy and use it to travel to Spain We did have to provide evidence of a place to stay/ invitation from a friend in that country.

The web site of the Spanish embassy in UK says distinctly that visa will only be given to residents in UK and seem particularly strict as it would seem that applications are only accepted by appointment which you must make through the post.

Spanish Embassy UK

If you decide to go to UK and take a chance I think it is a chance

[gdhm]

Thanks Paully and Mahout,

Now to TRY AGAIN and make contact and get requird documental info from the Spanish Embassy in Bangkok. No wonder I have no hair

Kind Regards, Dave