Travelling to the UK for a Thai Family- what is required

[john west]

Please, can anyone advise me what is required for a visit to the UK and can one book a flight a year in advance and hoping nothing goes wrong, but have heard one can only get a ??? tourist visa only a few months before travel Hope this is not true as very short time and can one book a ticket, which can be refunded in case of any problem? 
Thanks all

[theoldgit]

The situatiuon hasn't changed since you asked last week, as I pointed out then, a visa application can only be applied for three months before the intended date of travel.

Of course it's up to you if you wish to purchase a flight ticket before a visa is issued, but the advice of the UKVI is not to purchase a non refundable ticket in those circustances.

I've taken the liberty of reposting the link to the general advice given on this forum: 

 

[rasg]

9 hours ago, john west said:

Please, can anyone advise me what is required for a visit to the UK and can one book a flight a year in advance and hoping nothing goes wrong, but have heard one can only get a ??? tourist visa only a few months before travel Hope this is not true as very short time and can one book a ticket, which can be refunded in case of any problem? 

Why would you want to book a flight that far in advance?

[john west]

Thanks, Everyone and rasg and yes exactly my point.
What I am concerned about for instance is that our 2 Grandchildren obviously have their school holidays from the 1st of May and an ideal time to take them on holiday.
We have friends in the UK who book up 12 months in advance and yes their wives are Thai and also British and possibly lower costs etc.
The current rules for applying, initially online is that one can not apply for a tourist visa longer than 3 MONTHS  before intended departure date.
I am looking into this and it will be a while yet, but asking the question has anyone had any difficulty in getting flights to the UK and if going in May for instance, one can only apply for a tourist visa 3 months in advance.
Also been checking available dates just out of curiosity and has anyone ever had any difficulty in booking flights just 3 months down the line and yes probably a very busy period ie school holidays, but wonder gets the chance to go or indeed can afford to.
Yes on the online booking there sometimes states there are only 2 spaces available and yes sometimes a year in advance (but under the present rules one can not) and act quickly.
What I am trying to say has anyone had any difficulty in getting flights just  3 MONTHS  in the future ie in my case a possibility to travel in May, considering the busy period in May, but don't want the children to go in the school term.

Obviously, one way is to book earlier and take a risk that applying for first Visas for my Thai Family and should not be too much of a difficulty, but the way Governments work and civil servants and visa can be refused on a most ridiculous of things, but assume the airlines have a cancelation charge.
A chance one has to take, but a risky one, but hoping I can get say 4 air tickets to go to the UK in say 2020 so at present the earliest I can apply for a visa online is in February 2020.
Thank you everyone and yes it is way down the line, but always good to hear other peoples experience.



 

[jimn]

4 hours ago, john west said:

Thanks, Everyone and rasg and yes exactly my point.
What I am concerned about for instance is that our 2 Grandchildren obviously have their school holidays from the 1st of May and an ideal time to take them on holiday.
We have friends in the UK who book up 12 months in advance and yes their wives are Thai and also British and possibly lower costs etc.
The current rules for applying, initially online is that one can not apply for a tourist visa longer than 3 MONTHS  before intended departure date.
I am looking into this and it will be a while yet, but asking the question has anyone had any difficulty in getting flights to the UK and if going in May for instance, one can only apply for a tourist visa 3 months in advance.
Also been checking available dates just out of curiosity and has anyone ever had any difficulty in booking flights just 3 months down the line and yes probably a very busy period ie school holidays, but wonder gets the chance to go or indeed can afford to.
Yes on the online booking there sometimes states there are only 2 spaces available and yes sometimes a year in advance (but under the present rules one can not) and act quickly.
What I am trying to say has anyone had any difficulty in getting flights just  3 MONTHS  in the future ie in my case a possibility to travel in May, considering the busy period in May, but don't want the children to go in the school term.

Obviously, one way is to book earlier and take a risk that applying for first Visas for my Thai Family and should not be too much of a difficulty, but the way Governments work and civil servants and visa can be refused on a most ridiculous of things, but assume the airlines have a cancelation charge.
A chance one has to take, but a risky one, but hoping I can get say 4 air tickets to go to the UK in say 2020 so at present the earliest I can apply for a visa online is in February 2020.
Thank you everyone and yes it is way down the line, but always good to hear other peoples experience.



 

I can assure you that you are worrying unduely about availability of flights to the UK in May. It may be holiday season in Thailand but the UK schools are in term time. When you look at flights online they sometimes show " only 2 flights left". This normally means only 2 seats left at that price. When the next batch of flights are sold the price could be higher or lower, its a marketing ploy. You will have no problem booking flights to the UK 2 months in advance there will be plenty of availability on many airlines. Try sites like Kayak or Momondo. 

There other more important factor for you to consider is the Visa application. Follow the advice given above and from the people on here that talk sense and if the family are eligible to come they should not have a problem. Dont book the flights until visas are granted its madness.

[RichardColeman]

I've had marriages to Thai women last less than 3-6 months. I'll book the flights with 2 weeks left in future ! 

[john west]

On 9/9/2018 at 4:15 PM, jimn said:

I can assure you that you are worrying unduely about availability of flights to the UK in May. It may be holiday season in Thailand but the UK schools are in term time. When you look at flights online they sometimes show " only 2 flights left". This normally means only 2 seats left at that price. When the next batch of flights are sold the price could be higher or lower, its a marketing ploy. You will have no problem booking flights to the UK 2 months in advance there will be plenty of availability on many airlines. Try sites like Kayak or Momondo. 

There other more important factor for you to consider is the Visa application. Follow the advice given above and from the people on here that talk sense and if the family are eligible to come they should not have a problem. Dont book the flights until visas are granted its madness.

Jimn and others Thank you for your input etc and yes my main problem is that indeed my children are Thai children and May being the holiday period and realise the UK holidays not out, but will need available flights for my Thai Family and this is the busy season, right.
Maybe not many can afford a trip to the UK and a holiday, but many Thai children will no doubt be going over to the UK. I see where you are coming from and how many can afford the airfare, but a lot more people can these days.
Appreciated and thank you.
After the payment of tourist fee via VFS I assume one get called in or to make an appointment to get the visa in to the Thai passports.
thanks again.

 

[theoldgit]

After the payment of tourist fee via VFS I assume one get called in or to make an appointment to get the visa in to the Thai passports.

As detailed in the link I’ve posted a couple a couple of times, the applicant applies and pays the processing fee to the UKVI online.
They’re then directed to the VFS website to make an appointment to visit the Visa Application Centre to have their supporting documents scanned, have their biometric details captured and deposit their passports.
The passports are returned after a decision has been made, either with visa vignettes attached or a notice of refusal.
My wife and I often visit the UK in August, when we did so this year we did so to take advantage of a last minute offer by the airline, as there often is.