Can My Thai Wife Travel Freely In The Eu On Her Uk Visa?

[tomuk76]

My wife has lived in the UK now for 2 years and has just recieved her indefinate leave to remain visa to live in the UK permanently, does this mean she can travel to other EU countries freely without the need for new visas??

thanks in advance for any advice

[the scouser]

Unfortunately not. The UK is not part of Schengen, so her indefinite leave only relates to the UK. If your wife wishes to travel within Europe, she will still need Schengen visit visas, but, on the assumption you're british, these should be issued free of charge as she is married to a citizen of another EEA country.

Scouse.

[tomuk76]

Unfortunately not. The UK is not part of Schengen, so her indefinite leave only relates to the UK. If your wife wishes to travel within Europe, she will still need Schengen visit visas, but, on the assumption you're british, these should be issued free of charge as she is married to a citizen of another EEA country.

Scouse.

cheers scouse

yes i am british we plan to travel to france, i have heard of the schengen visa before. Its just my wife told me her thai freind in the UK travelled to swiss without a visa after she recieved her permanent residence.

I presume i can just turn up at the french embassy in london and get the schengan visa on the day? is that right or do appointments need to be made?

[the scouser]

Switzerland is not part of Schengenland either, but they do let in ILR holders without a visa for visits. You'll need to make an appointment at the French embassy, although, if I recall correctly, if you live outside the South-East of England, they will accept postal applications.

Scouse.

[tomuk76]

I do live in the south east so i will make the appointment. Thankyou for making this very clear to me scouse you are a great help with your wealth of information.

Thanks

[Khun Bob]

The UK ILR is just for the UK - after 3 years I think she can get a UK passport which will give visa free transit in the EU. But the UK gov are requirig som english proficiency test now I think. (maybe because English is a minority language in some London suburbs !)

For whicever country you wish to travel to, best to call the closest embassy/consulate. Also, make sure you take with you a copy of the letter from the Immigration and Nationality Dept as getting back into the UK can be not so smoothe - particularly if her passport does not have her married name/name in english on. Just take her through the UK passport channel and go together. Just keep saying she is your wife. They have all your details on the computer, so they will know when she left and maybe now when you left. If your wife doesnt have her married name in English on her Thai passport see if you can get it endorsed next time at renewal.

HTH

[Khun Bob]

scouse - with schengen visas, once issued how long does the person issued to have to use the visa and once used how long do they give a person to stay in a schengen country/schengen area ?

[Mahout Angrit]

As your wife has ILR in UK she is entitled to travel to and fro UK as much as she likes (she mustn't stay away for longer than a 2 year period). There should be no problem re-entering the UK or with the fact that your wife has a different name to you in her passport (if she has). Her passport is her ID and she doesn't even have to travel with you to be allowed freedom to travel in and out of UK.

As you have been advised, check to see if you need to make an appointment at the French embassy (many EU embassies in UK require appointments these days)and apply for the Schengen visa, you will need to prove your marriage when you apply to get it free. You request whether you want a single, double or multi entry, the time in country you require and your expected date of arrival on the form.

Edited March 8, 2007 by Mahout Angrit

[tomuk76]

The UK ILR is just for the UK - after 3 years I think she can get a UK passport which will give visa free transit in the EU. But the UK gov are requirig som english proficiency test now I think. (maybe because English is a minority language in some London suburbs !)

For whicever country you wish to travel to, best to call the closest embassy/consulate. Also, make sure you take with you a copy of the letter from the Immigration and Nationality Dept as getting back into the UK can be not so smoothe - particularly if her passport does not have her married name/name in english on. Just take her through the UK passport channel and go together. Just keep saying she is your wife. They have all your details on the computer, so they will know when she left and maybe now when you left. If your wife doesnt have her married name in English on her Thai passport see if you can get it endorsed next time at renewal.

HTH

I dont know why people are going on about re entering the UK again as this was not the question and neither a worry. my wife has a UK residency visa which means she is entitled to reside here. passport not same name but marriage certificate solves that issue.