Just wondering if its any easier to get the settlement visa for someone you are married to if you have a child together that is a Uk citizen? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Also what is the approx. turnaround time including all the english tests etc?

 

 

Having a child together makes no difference, if you are actually married, or have been living together in a subsisting relationship for two years or more then your wife will meet that part of the conditions for her application.

 

You'll be aware that you as sponsor need to meet the financial requirements and have suitable accomodation in the UK.

 

I don't know what the current processing times are, maybe another member can advise, but the English and TB tests are a seperate part of the process and should be carried out before your wife starts her actual application.  

OK thanks, a couple more questions:

 

How long are the eng and TB tests valid for?

 

Is there any problem with immigration if she got a 6 month visitor visa instead and then once that was up she returned to Thailand with our son and then made the settlement visa application?

 

We are thinking now that the latter option might be easier for us and we might do the english & TB tests now and then the actual visa application after the 6 months visitor visa.

 

I should add that shes been to the UK twice before on visitor visas.

7 hours ago, davejonesbkk said:

How long are the eng and TB tests valid for?

English test, 2 years; TB test 6 months.

 

7 hours ago, davejonesbkk said:

Is there any problem with immigration if she got a 6 month visitor visa instead and then once that was up she returned to Thailand with our son and then made the settlement visa application?

None at all, although you will need to convince the ECO that she will return to Thailand to apply for settlement and not just stay in the UK illegally with you and your son.

 

I know you say she's had visit visas before, but presumably on those occasions you were living in Thailand with her whereas this time you will have moved to the UK.

 

But why go to the extra expense? 

 

The only reason for so doing that I can think of is because you don't currently meet the financial requirement and so need to be working and earning at least £18,600 p.a. in the UK for 6 months before she can apply for settlement. In which case, like many before you, she can use a visit visa to be with you for that 6 months. But, as you rightly say, she would have to return to Thailand to apply for settlement.

 

 

14 hours ago, 7by7 said:

English test, 2 years; TB test 6 months.

 

None at all, although you will need to convince the ECO that she will return to Thailand to apply for settlement and not just stay in the UK illegally with you and your son.

 

I know you say she's had visit visas before, but presumably on those occasions you were living in Thailand with her whereas this time you will have moved to the UK.

 

But why go to the extra expense? 

 

The only reason for so doing that I can think of is because you don't currently meet the financial requirement and so need to be working and earning at least £18,600 p.a. in the UK for 6 months before she can apply for settlement. In which case, like many before you, she can use a visit visa to be with you for that 6 months. But, as you rightly say, she would have to return to Thailand to apply for settlement.

 

 

 

Thanks. Yes Im not sure if we meet the requirements and also the process is long and expensive and we might want to go to the UK fairly soon so I just wanted to know if this would be an option. We will be very open and clear with UK immigration about what our exact plans are in the application process also.

54 minutes ago, davejonesbkk said:

Thanks. Yes Im not sure if we meet the requirements and also the process is long and expensive and we might want to go to the UK fairly soon so I just wanted to know if this would be an option. We will be very open and clear with UK immigration about what our exact plans are in the application process also.

Your wife might want to consider taking her English test whilst you're in the UK, many say it's easier there, and there's no pressure, perceived or otherwise, for those taking the test to enroll in an English course, when we were considering moving to the UK my wife took her test whilst we were in London, she was in and out in less than five minutes.