Married To Thai Wife For 1 Month

[zidaney]

Hello,

I'm located in Australia, my wife is in Thailand. We've been married for 1 month. We've been together since February 2005. Our relationship has been over the internet apart from when i visited her in Thailand for about 9 days in June 2005 and about a month from January 15th to February 15th 2007 (we married in the first week, about 20th January 2007). I am now back in Australia.

I would like to bring her to Australia. Is the possibility of her getting here on a tourist visa likely even though she doesn't have a current job? If she got the tourist visa she would then apply for the spouse visa when she's here. I just don't think there's any likelyhood of the person viewing an application for a spouse visa seeing our marriage as being genuine enough due to the short period of marriage and because we don't live together.

Any thoughts are appreciated, I've tried to provide as much information as possible, let me know if you need more information.

Cheers.

[smacko]

you met in person on June 2005, continued contact via internet/phone and got married in 2007, sounds like a geniue relationship to me, just provide enough information/evidence to prove this.

personally i'd apply for a spouse visa based on marriage.

i dont see why you wont met all the requirements, just put together a strong application.

there's other members here with a much better knowledge of the visa system so see what they have to say.

[Mighty Mouse]

Strictly speaking, she can't come to Australia on a tourist visa and apply for a spouse visa whilst in Oz. Tourist visa's are issued for holiday purposes only and if the Aust. Embassy, Bangkok, know of this plan, they won't approve the tourist visa.

(Just to qualify that statement. I have heard of others who have done it that way, so I suggest that you telephone the Immigration Dept. in your capital city and ask them.)

For a spouse visa application you must provide evidence that the relationship is genuine and continuing. A marriage alone is not necessarily enough evidence.

The fact that you are living apart should not be too much of a barrier provided there is a logical reason for this arrangement. If it is for the reason of work commitments it should be fairly easy for you to provide supporting proofs.

If you are financially supporting your wife you should be able to provide bank statements, evidence of money transfers etc.

Your family members and her family members (and friends) should also be able to provide written statements regarding their knowledge about the strength and genuineness of the marriage.

The Embassy can't make this determination and will be relying upon such evidence being produced.

Other proofs that you may need to address will be financial aspects, the nature of the household arrangements, social context of the marriage.

The Partner Migration Book is available on line here.

Have a good read of all the requirements.

[gburns57au]

Hello,

I'm located in Australia, my wife is in Thailand. We've been married for 1 month. We've been together since February 2005. Our relationship has been over the internet apart from when i visited her in Thailand for about 9 days in June 2005 and about a month from January 15th to February 15th 2007 (we married in the first week, about 20th January 2007). I am now back in Australia.

I would like to bring her to Australia. Is the possibility of her getting here on a tourist visa likely even though she doesn't have a current job? If she got the tourist visa she would then apply for the spouse visa when she's here. I just don't think there's any likelyhood of the person viewing an application for a spouse visa seeing our marriage as being genuine enough due to the short period of marriage and because we don't live together.

Any thoughts are appreciated, I've tried to provide as much information as possible, let me know if you need more information.

Cheers.

You can apply for a tourist visa....or a spouse visa....it is upto you....you qualify for both.

However it is very unlikely that you will be able to apply for a spouse visa while she is here on a tourist visa...

You will have to spoosor her in both cases.

[aussiestyle1983]

If you just want her to come to Oz for a holiday apply for a tourist visa................

If you want her to come to Oz to live with you permanently, you will need to apply for a spouse visa based on marriage (you meet the criteria to be granted this visa since you are married, the time frame does not matter)

Now all you need to do is proove your relationship is genuine and that might be hard to do given the circumstances of your relationship and how long you have actually spent together. At least you qualify to apply for the visa which is a good thing, but you will need a very very well prepaired application and unless you get as much convinceing evidence as possible, I think your application might not be a walk in the park.

If you are planning to start a family, I would mention this as this is one thing that may work in your favour, this is something they see as strength that your relationship will continue (I dont have any other ideas for your case)

[zidaney]

Thank you for all your replies.

All that information is incredibly helpful.

I did not indicate that our marriage in Thailand was a legal marriage consisting of paperwork only, no ceremony. I don't know if that has any affect as opposed to a proper wedding, however we're planning to marry here and i can book the church and show that as evidence.

It seems that a spouse visa isn't entirely the best option considering the points made on having to put forward an almost perfect application containing very strong evidence. I'm not sure that we could provide such a strong case for our relationship due to lack of evidence. Realistically if she was accepted and came to Australia on a tourist visa it would be a stronger case for a spouse visa. However a tourist visa is strictly for a holiday and return to Thailand, and our circumstances would suggest the opposite, in that she has intentions to stay here permanently. Since she doesn't have a job in Thailand apart from working at home, I can't see her having enough proof of reason to return to Thailand, thus being rejected for the tourist visa.

In this case would anyone lean more towards one visa than the other?

Thanks again.

[Livinginexile]

Thank you for all your replies.

All that information is incredibly helpful.

I did not indicate that our marriage in Thailand was a legal marriage consisting of paperwork only, no ceremony. I don't know if that has any affect as opposed to a proper wedding, however we're planning to marry here and i can book the church and show that as evidence.

It seems that a spouse visa isn't entirely the best option considering the points made on having to put forward an almost perfect application containing very strong evidence. I'm not sure that we could provide such a strong case for our relationship due to lack of evidence. Realistically if she was accepted and came to Australia on a tourist visa it would be a stronger case for a spouse visa. However a tourist visa is strictly for a holiday and return to Thailand, and our circumstances would suggest the opposite, in that she has intentions to stay here permanently. Since she doesn't have a job in Thailand apart from working at home, I can't see her having enough proof of reason to return to Thailand, thus being rejected for the tourist visa.

In this case would anyone lean more towards one visa than the other?

Thanks again.

I hate to give you bad news dude but you have absoletly no chance of a tourist or spouse visa on the information you have supplied to us here.

Your wife would not be granted a tourist visa because she simply is not a tourist.

She would not be offered a spouse visa because of a dozen reasons but mainly being physically with someone for 36 days does not constitute a genuine and lasting realationship.

Mate you would need to commit a lot more time and resourses to this person and you need to study the immigration guide book IN DETAIL. If you genuinly love this person then you will do whatever it takes to be with her.

Good luck mate

[zidaney]

Livinginexile,

Thank you for your honesty, it is appreciated. I do feel that our case for a spouse visa isn't compelling, and due to the process and costs involved I don't want to apply and be refused. Is there any other avenue or ideas you suggest for our situation? It seems the only way she would be able to come to Australia now is if I lived there in Thailand for a while...Although I'm not ruling that out, it's frustrating that it may be the only way she can come here.

Due to my financial situation, a move to Thailand would make things extremely difficult just living day to day (due to loans), let alone trying to save for a visa application, all the fees involved and airline tickets etc..

Cheers.

[aussiestyle1983]

Not having a wedding ceremony (and pictures) will be a big negative.

They will most likely view your marriage as a marriage of convienence.

They will suspect she paid you to marry her and bring her to Australia.

They may suspect you will make her work as a prostitute in Australia.

They might think she is your sex slave.

What are your ages?

These are just some problems you will most likely face and need to deal with.

You will need lots of evidence of relationship, even more in your case.

Spending 36 days together then getting legally married without a ceremony will most likely mean 90-95% chance of rejection. I sujest you come here and live with her for 6 months then apply. Have the wedding ceremony ASAP and make it a good Thai ceremony, get lots of pictures and Videos.

Good luck.

[Livinginexile]

Livinginexile,

Thank you for your honesty, it is appreciated. I do feel that our case for a spouse visa isn't compelling, and due to the process and costs involved I don't want to apply and be refused. Is there any other avenue or ideas you suggest for our situation? It seems the only way she would be able to come to Australia now is if I lived there in Thailand for a while...Although I'm not ruling that out, it's frustrating that it may be the only way she can come here.

Due to my financial situation, a move to Thailand would make things extremely difficult just living day to day (due to loans), let alone trying to save for a visa application, all the fees involved and airline tickets etc..

Cheers.

I have a Thai wife and she was granted a spouse visa about 6 months ago. I am in Thailand now but I will be back in Sydney about 2nd March.

I don't know if you are in Sydney but if you would like a chat just message me and i will give you my number and we can talk. It's not impossible mate, it just needs some carefull planning.

I hope to hear from you.

[Mahout Angrit]

I did not indicate that our marriage in Thailand was a legal marriage consisting of paperwork only, no ceremony. I don't know if that has any affect as opposed to a proper wedding, however we're planning to marry here and i can book the church and show that as evidence.

You can't be married twice. It doesn't matter where you are married, the Thai marriage certificate is recognised as authentic in Australia and other countries but you will need a certified translation.

I dont know anything about visas for Oz however the regulations are similar in all countries but whatever visa you apply for you must concentrate on whether she is coming as a tourist (for a tourist visa) or coming to live (for a settlement visa). My opinion is you should go for a settlement visa but you must work on the proof that the relationship is genuine showing regular contact, sending support etc.

If you present your relationship to the embassy as you have here I think you've got slim chance.

[gburns57au]

Thank you for all your replies.

All that information is incredibly helpful.

I did not indicate that our marriage in Thailand was a legal marriage consisting of paperwork only, no ceremony. I don't know if that has any affect as opposed to a proper wedding, however we're planning to marry here and i can book the church and show that as evidence.

It seems that a spouse visa isn't entirely the best option considering the points made on having to put forward an almost perfect application containing very strong evidence. I'm not sure that we could provide such a strong case for our relationship due to lack of evidence. Realistically if she was accepted and came to Australia on a tourist visa it would be a stronger case for a spouse visa. However a tourist visa is strictly for a holiday and return to Thailand, and our circumstances would suggest the opposite, in that she has intentions to stay here permanently. Since she doesn't have a job in Thailand apart from working at home, I can't see her having enough proof of reason to return to Thailand, thus being rejected for the tourist visa.

In this case would anyone lean more towards one visa than the other?

Thanks again.

Because you are married will not preclude her from getting a tourist visa, as with any application you include photos, printouts of e mails, letters. phone bills, payslips, tax return notice, letter from your employer, letters/stat decs from friends confirming the relationship etc... that you have to support the application...also a covering letter or a stat dec outlining your particular position and why you want a tourist visa when married already, making an assurance that she will abide by the visa conditions and telling them your extent of support.

These are all things that can help a tourist visa application successful and these would be needed for a spouse visa as well.

Do not make a judgement based on what is said here, we are not experts and it is only the Department who can decide if an application is successful or not, It is upto you which visa you apply for or if you apply for one at all....many of us have had nervous waits to find out if a visa has been approved or not...you cant escape that or the fact that you maybe refused, part of the deal I'm afraid.

I recall your previous posts...You should have some supporting evidence to back up the tourist visa and the spouse visa now....

[Mighty Mouse]

A lot will depend on how urgently you want to bring your wife to Australia.

If there is no real urgency and as she has never set foot in Oz, it may be worthwhile applying for a tourist visa (Sponsored family visitor. Form 48S) and let her see the country.

Whilst in Oz, you will be able to build upon your relationship, gather many more of the required proofs and assuring your chances of having a spouse visa approved.

You can apply at the Dept. of Immigration in your capital city. You can fill out the application form, mail it to her for signing and have her post it back, then submit the application at your nearest Oz Immigration office.

Once the application has been approved, the Immigration Office will notify the Aust. Embassy, Bangkok, and she only need to post/produce her passport to them for the visa to be entered into her passport.

If there is some urgency, I would be applying for the spouse visa a.s.a.p.

Quite honestly, I can't see any real problem in proving a genuine and continuing relationship. You have been together since 2005. and now recently married.

Only you and she know just how genuine this relationship is, certainly not the embassy staff and certainly not any posters in this forum.

I'm assuming that you have now read the Partner Migration Book (link provided in my last post) and I'm also assuming that you have spent some time reading the numerous other threads in this forum regarding spouse visa requirement from other successful Aussies, so you should now be in a better position to know the type of proofs that you can produce.

You can download application forms from here and start applying.

[gburns57au]

Be a bit wary of the 48S as a security bond of between $5000 and $15000 maybe required.....in most cases probably will be required.

You can sponsor your wife on the 48R tourist visa without a problem.

[Mighty Mouse]

Be a bit wary of the 48S as a security bond of between $5000 and $15000 maybe required.....in most cases probably will be required.

You can sponsor your wife on the 48R tourist visa without a problem.

In some cases a financial security bond may be requested.

The formal sponsorship is a sponsor's undertaking to ensure that the visa holder will abide by their visa conditions and leave at the end of their visit.

The imposition of a security bond is decided on a case by case basis, is added assurance that the visa holder will depart and is normally applied in those cases where residual concerns remain about an applicant's intention to comply with their visa conditions.

Source: Aust. Immigration web site.

I can't agree that a security bond would be called for in "most cases."

If a bond is required ("in some cases" as the website states), there would have to be some doubt in the case officers mind about the applicants true intentions.

As with any tourist visa application, there is the need to provide a compelling reason to return to Thailand upon the expiration of the visa.

I do however, agree with Graham that applying for a 48R visa could be a better option.

The only concern that I have re applying for a tourist visa rather than a spouse visa, is that when it comes time to prove the existence of a genuine and continuing relationship for a spouse visa, the case officer may question the applicant as to why they both were prepared to live apart following the marriage and only see each other on a short holiday visit, rather than pursue married life together on a permanent basis.

[Jockstar]

How about a fiance visa?

[dukkha]

As this topic intersests me though the circumstances are different as I am a gay Australian man with a thai partner of two years I am keen to know the possiblilty of his coming for a short time..he is not employed and everyone has said dont bother even trying, we have lots of documentation, pics, names on leases, letters from friends etc...you may say post on the Gay Forum, but this is an Immigration matter so took the liberty...every one has advice on this topic but am still open to any suggestions, we dont wish to migrate to Australia, just make a visit as we live here in Bangkok...open to any aqppropriate advice...kop khun Khrap... Dukkha

[teacher]

As this topic intersests me though the circumstances are different as I am a gay Australian man with a thai partner of two years I am keen to know the possiblilty of his coming for a short time..he is not employed and everyone has said dont bother even trying, we have lots of documentation, pics, names on leases, letters from friends etc...you may say post on the Gay Forum, but this is an Immigration matter so took the liberty...every one has advice on this topic but am still open to any suggestions, we dont wish to migrate to Australia, just make a visit as we live here in Bangkok...open to any aqppropriate advice...kop khun Khrap... Dukkha

You dont have to be a different sex to sponsor a visitor to Aus/uk/usa or anywhere else really. You just need to show the relationship brother in law,friend,or even partner (guy) just show you have known each other for the two years as friends or lovers. Show you have somewhere to go and stay, ensure he has enough money to fund the trip and also show you will be returning back to Thailand IE. house contract,land in his name, job etc etc. No problems.

As for taking the wife back on visitors or spouse visa there is only one option that is a settlement spouse visa. You will not be allowed to take your wife back on a visitors (tourist Visa) and expect to be able to change it, sorry that is totally out of the question. Tourist means tourist only. Just get all the relevant paperwork together and apply. GOOD LUCK.

[steve_dench]

It is difficult to get a tourist visa if the embassy thinks that there is a strong possibility that your wife has no intention to return home to Thailand.

I brought my wife to Australia 9 years ago. We were not married and I thought applyinf for a tourist visa would be quite straight forward. I was in Australia and she was still in Ayutthea. I had to provide my telephone records to prove regular contact, my bank statements to prove financial support, proof of my ability to support her while she was here. In the end I had to book myself a ticket to Thailand on the same return flight as hers to prove that she would leave Australia because we were both going.

We lodged an application for a spouse visa while she was in Australia. This was granted.

[teacher]

It is difficult to get a tourist visa if the embassy thinks that there is a strong possibility that your wife has no intention to return home to Thailand.

I brought my wife to Australia 9 years ago. We were not married and I thought applyinf for a tourist visa would be quite straight forward. I was in Australia and she was still in Ayutthea. I had to provide my telephone records to prove regular contact, my bank statements to prove financial support, proof of my ability to support her while she was here. In the end I had to book myself a ticket to Thailand on the same return flight as hers to prove that she would leave Australia because we were both going.

We lodged an application for a spouse visa while she was in Australia. This was granted.

9 years ago was a long time. The rules have changed in so much you can not apply for a spouse visa whilst on holiday. They have also change since then one could take a girlfriend back home on a tourist and marry her there,then apply for a settlement spouce visa.This ruling changed in Feb 2004.

Why did you lodge an application for a spouce visa that was granted as you say and come back to Thailand? Dont understand!!!!!!!!

[RJJ]

The best advise is to contact the Department of Immigration and Multiculturism and Indeginous blah, blah, blah. and explain your situation exactly.

You are interested in bringing her out here to see how you live and to meet your family and friends.

This is tourism and will be helping to build your case for you partner application.

Remember to take photos of everything you do.

If you can't take a photo of both of you, then ask someone nearby to take your photo together.

Now for my input:

In Jan 2004 we applied for a fiance visa in BKK. I said to the case officer that I needed to return to Australia fairly quickly because I had accepted a new job (letter of offer was also submitted). The case officer said she could grant us a tourist visa immediatly based on the evidence provided in our fiance visa application, however if she entered Australia on the Tourist Visa, she would be required to leave Australia within 3 months of arrival, even if the Fiance Visa was granted.

FYI - Even though a passport is required to travel to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, that travel is not far enough for DIMIA and would not permit someone to re-enter on a different visa! (Funny huh?)

You MUST treat all visa applications as though you are the accused and are preparing for court. Make sure you provide 10 times more evidence that you think you will need, because you will need it.

DIMIA will not recognise phone cards, but will recognise an itemised statement from your calling card company, assuming you keep topping up the same account.

We used to use a card from OzCall - Call your current calling card company to find out about a statement and call OzCall and get a card from them.

I contacted DIMIA recently when inviting my mother-in-law to Australia to help when our second child was born. Turns out I had to invite mother-in-law because my wife doesn't have her Perminant Resident visa yet. DIMIA phone operators are surprisingly helpful, just the case workers you gotta watch out for!

Grab the forms people have linked in the replies.

I don't believe you need a migration agent, you simply need to read (and re-read, and re-read) the booklet, and provide as much as is practical for each category of evidence they are asking for. When in doubt, ring DIMIA phone operator again.

PS. Once your visa comes through, email me and I'll tell you how to make FREE calls from Australia to Thailand (land line or mobile)!!! [email protected]

Well almost free; the connection fee is 5 Euro cents (approx AUD$0.09), but the call is free for as long as you want.

[thommo46]

If you apply for tourist visa go for the 12 month multiple entry visa.That way she can stay for a maximum of 3 months a time and return again at any time during the 12 months.

[damo]

Hi There.

My wife came here on a tourist visa 48R and was granted temporary residency. Fortunatly she had the visa condition 8503-no further stay, waived. That meant just before the end of her 3 month stay that we could make a further application for another visa. We chose PR and were given temp within 8 weeks. In Adelaide. Visa 48S may not be a bad option if you have sufficient liquid, the bond may help the dep't substanciate the visa. Before you apply, commence the 48s application in your state but check with the processing time. When I brought my wife here we wanted to use the 48S visa just to give ourselves some more certainty of success, allthough I was told at the time there would be greater than a 3 month wait for an outcome due to backlogg. Not sure if this situation is still apparent.

Personally, whilst applying for PR I adopted the logic of the person making the determination, I think this mindset helped to make a great application. After reading some of the horror stories I was quite daunted, allthough now I could only say that I expierienced nothing unpleasant in my dealings with DIMA.

Don't be too concerned with not having a ceremonial wedding, I had'nt and was never even questioned about it. If anything not having the marriage documented will get you nowhere.

Chok Dii.

Damo

[wamberal]

A range of experiences and advice here. My advice would be to think about engaging a good migration lawyer, if you can afford it.

However, if you cannot afford a lawyer, then you would be well advised to study the rules and regulations carefully. If you are a genuine case then I reckon you should be okay, although it is never a walk in the park. We know two couples (Australian/Fiji and Australian/Indonesian) who have been waiting years for permanent visas.

Prepare yourself, and your wife, for some tough, even unpleasant, questionning. But don't take it personally. Stay calm, and cool.

[aussimike]

I did not indicate that our marriage in Thailand was a legal marriage consisting of paperwork only, no ceremony. I don't know if that has any affect as opposed to a proper wedding, however we're planning to marry here and i can book the church and show that as evidence.

You can't be married twice. It doesn't matter where you are married, the Thai marriage certificate is recognised as authentic in Australia and other countries but you will need a certified translation.

I dont know anything about visas for Oz however the regulations are similar in all countries but whatever visa you apply for you must concentrate on whether she is coming as a tourist (for a tourist visa) or coming to live (for a settlement visa). My opinion is you should go for a settlement visa but you must work on the proof that the relationship is genuine showing regular contact, sending support etc.

If you present your relationship to the embassy as you have here I think you've got slim chance.

I dont think he is talking about marrying twice--- registered already and have the wedding/blessing party later no problem or have a church ceremony when in back in Aust - this is done all the time - but there is a problem with the time spent together -- you need to keep all records of each contact you two have - phone calls - from your phone bill - bank transfers - internet chats - emails = what ever - as many pics you have together - with her family/friends what or who ever - dont even think of the option of going there on a tourist visa and trying to change it to spouse visa - she will end up being deported for sure -- things have changed dramatically since sept 11 and i have heard of couples waiting up to 18 months for a spouse visa even when applying in bkk - and he lived in thai at the time -- also I am sure she would not get a tourist visa -- no way on what you have said here -

but I do wish you all the best of luck --- and as someone suggested - come here and live with her for 6-12 months - will look a hel_l of a lot better for you both ---

[damo]

When my wife came here I enquired about having a wedding, a formal wedding ceremony. I wanted to have it done by a celebrant at a picturesque locasion by the seaside. Bear in mind I had allready married my wife (legally) in Thailand. I was advised that I could not marry twice. The option I was given was to renew my vowels, this is in South Australia.

With the tourist visa my interpretation is that it does'nt regard yourself much more than your letter of invitation. If you wife does not have any employment, that is not the same as having an employer (or business owner) draphting a letter stating the length of time she has *been employed, the position she holds and the amount of time she is allowed from work*.

DIMA will like to see AUD$1000 or greater per month for each and every month she intends to stay in Australia. This could boil down quite simply to having 100,000 THB in the bank, a *letter*from an employer, and something to document and prove her ties to Thailand. A family book is a good start, it will have the names of her brothers, sister, mother, father and an address of which she more than likely resides(will return to). And last but not least a letter of invitation outlining how you know of each other, what types of support you will provide, ie: transport, accomodation, meals, guidance.

hope I'm helping. chok dii.

If it is anything to go by, my wife has visited Australia twice on three month tourist visa's (as my wife) and she has never worked a day in her life. her visits were in 2004 and 2006.

Damo.

[dukkha]

Thanks a lot Teacher...much appreciated and will look into it asap..cheers Dukkha

As this topic intersests me though the circumstances are different as I am a gay Australian man with a thai partner of two years I am keen to know the possiblilty of his coming for a short time..he is not employed and everyone has said dont bother even trying, we have lots of documentation, pics, names on leases, letters from friends etc...you may say post on the Gay Forum, but this is an Immigration matter so took the liberty...every one has advice on this topic but am still open to any suggestions, we dont wish to migrate to Australia, just make a visit as we live here in Bangkok...open to any aqppropriate advice...kop khun Khrap... Dukkha

You dont have to be a different sex to sponsor a visitor to Aus/uk/usa or anywhere else really. You just need to show the relationship brother in law,friend,or even partner (guy) just show you have known each other for the two years as friends or lovers. Show you have somewhere to go and stay, ensure he has enough money to fund the trip and also show you will be returning back to Thailand IE. house contract,land in his name, job etc etc. No problems.

As for taking the wife back on visitors or spouse visa there is only one option that is a settlement spouse visa. You will not be allowed to take your wife back on a visitors (tourist Visa) and expect to be able to change it, sorry that is totally out of the question. Tourist means tourist only. Just get all the relevant paperwork together and apply. GOOD LUCK.

[thommo46]

Hi zidaney,I notice you are on line.Did you get my email.

Thommo

[gburns57au]

Damo....there is no need for the applicant to have any savings or employment for a tourist visa nor a spouse visa if the sponsor shows that he has enough income or means to support her.

Jockstar....they are already married therefore a fiance visa is not applicable in this case.

[gburns57au]

Thanks a lot Teacher...much appreciated and will look into it asap..cheers Dukkha

As this topic intersests me though the circumstances are different as I am a gay Australian man with a thai partner of two years I am keen to know the possiblilty of his coming for a short time..he is not employed and everyone has said dont bother even trying, we have lots of documentation, pics, names on leases, letters from friends etc...you may say post on the Gay Forum, but this is an Immigration matter so took the liberty...every one has advice on this topic but am still open to any suggestions, we dont wish to migrate to Australia, just make a visit as we live here in Bangkok...open to any aqppropriate advice...kop khun Khrap... Dukkha

You dont have to be a different sex to sponsor a visitor to Aus/uk/usa or anywhere else really. You just need to show the relationship brother in law,friend,or even partner (guy) just show you have known each other for the two years as friends or lovers. Show you have somewhere to go and stay, ensure he has enough money to fund the trip and also show you will be returning back to Thailand IE. house contract,land in his name, job etc etc. No problems.

As for taking the wife back on visitors or spouse visa there is only one option that is a settlement spouse visa. You will not be allowed to take your wife back on a visitors (tourist Visa) and expect to be able to change it, sorry that is totally out of the question. Tourist means tourist only. Just get all the relevant paperwork together and apply. GOOD LUCK.

A tourist application for a gay person is no different than an application for a straight person....you dont have to declare anything more than a friendship..he will need to be prepared for some questions over the phone though.

You only need to show that you have known each other for a reasonable length of time...usually I quote a minimum of 6 months but it is case dependant.

If you are sponsoring him and there is a section on the 48R form for this, then as long as you can show sufficient income to support the applicant there should be no problem. Submit a Stat Dec or at least letter telling them how and in what areas you will support the applicant and that you will ensure the "applicant abides by the visa conditions if so granted" This can take care of the reason to return...I recommend a Stat Dec as it is a legal document.