UK Visa for Thai wife - fees questions

[GroveHillWanderer]

My Thai wife is about to apply for a tourist visa to travel with me to the UK. We have been living in Thailand together for 4 years (I am here on a 'retirement visa' with subsequent one-year extensions) after 30 years living elsewhere - but never the UK. We have visited the UK more than 30 times, always staying 3-4 weeks and always returning as scheduled. The last time my wife got a visa it was a 10-year one but as I recall it, back then it was simpler (and a lot cheaper). So I'm debating whether she should apply for a 10-year visa again.

 

Some questions related to fees:

1. If you request a 10-year visa do you have to pay the full amount up front and is it completely non-refundable in case of a refusal? 

2. What is the NHS surcharge fee for a 10-year visa and this also payable up front and non-refundable?

 

Other questions.  I last had our marriage certificate translated some 30-odd years ago and the translation was certified by the British Embassy at the time but not the MFA - will that be acceptable or will we need a new translation? 

 

I have more than sufficient funds to cover the expenses for our trip in my account in the UK, my wife has an account here with over 200,000 Baht in it and which shows that she receives a regular income of 60-80,000 Baht per month (from rental properties). Would it be better to use my account or hers to show there are sufficient funds available to her for the trip (or both accounts)?

 

When she got her last 10-year visa I was advised to get a letter from my parents saying we would be staying with them (which we always do) - is such a letter still recommended?

 

Finally, what are people's overall impressions of how hard it is these days to get a 10-year visa and her chances of getting it?

 

Sorry for the length of this post and I realise that people can't necessarily give definitive answers, I'm just looking for assessments/impressions based on people's experiences and knowledge.

Edited April 23, 2019 by GroveHillWanderer

[theoldgit]

1 - Yes, you have to pay the full fee with the application, and, as you point out, if the visa is refused, or a shorter visa issued, the application fee isn't refunded. 

 

2 - There is no NHS fee for a visit visa as it only allows the applicant to stay in the UK for up to six months at a time, be it a six month, two, five or ten year visa.

 

3 - She needs to prove that her proposed trip is affordable, you can show one account, two or even a joint account, as long as she can prove there are sufficients funds available.

 

She might like to get her marriage certificate translated again, though I suspect the previous translated copy would surfice, the translator can "certify" the translation, it doesn't need to be certified by the British Embassy or the MFA.

 

An offer of accomodation is helpful.

 

Yes you're right, nobody can guarantee that an application would be granted, you're married and I assume you can provide evidence of your life here, you're on extensions of stay based on retirement, so you're halfway there. Long term visas are designed for people who can demonstrate they need to travel regularly, if you can do that, you should be fine.