Obtaining a Tourist visa to the UK for my Thai Family

[john west]

Hi
I wonder if anyone can help me and has anyone on here obtained an on line tourist visa to the UK and believe VFS Global? deal with this and also believe some professional agencies deal with this and is it right that Baht 30K and is that reasonable?
I believe one has to go down to Bangkok or Agency for finger prints, photos  and paper work and then sent to India.
I will be very appreciative if any one has obtained this visa in this way and was the process very difficult.
Yes believe that for my Thai wife and 2 Grandchildren aged 14 and 12 years the appointment dates would be at the same time and date and believe one cannot apply until 3 months before intended travel.
Many thanks and any on sites appreciated.

[theoldgit]

The short answer to your question is, yes, lots of Thai people have successfully applied for Visit Visas to visit the UK, if you have a look through the threads on this forum you will find lots of experiences, positive and negative.

 

You might want to have a look at the pinned topic at the head of this section of the forum, lots more advice there.

 

In a quick answer to your question, yes applicants have to apply online and visit VFS to have their biometric details captured, the application is then considered by UKVI staff based in Delhi.

 

The process is not that difficult, the applicants need to satisfy the decision maker that their proposed trip is genuine, affordable and that that, on the balance of probabilities, they will return to Thailand, that's usually having strong ties here. Before we can advise you further you need to give us a bit more background, do you live with your wife in Thailand, do the grandchildren live with your wife or their parents?

 

Some people use an agent, some don't, it's a personal choice, I personally wouldn't use an agent for a straight forward application, but some find using one comforting, they would probably be in the price range you mention. If you're contemplating using an agent, then consider one who is registered with OISC, Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner, whilst it's not a legal requirement to be registered here in Thailand doing so means they are fully qualified to give that advice.

 

 https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/th/en/how-to-apply

[kevinmartyn]

Well I can say with my hand on my heart it is NOT easy for getting a visa for the UK for a Thai National!

 

On top of that issue DO NOT purchase tickets until you have gotten the Visas and your holding them in your hand.

 

To that end when i applied to visit the United Kingdom with my (Legal Thai Wife under British and Thai Laws . I and my wife were treated like mass killers! We were told to come into office in soi 15 for interviews.

 

Now i was born in Central London and still have family members their.

 

Was told to produce bank books and pay slips and interviewed by a Thai National. To say i was annoyed would be an under statement.

 

Providing evidence i had property in London, Bangkok and Bank accounts in Thailand and UK.

 

Five weeks later got confirmation of visa for my wife.

 

Not only that I was stopped by 2 plane clothes chaps in UK at passport control and asked the purpose of my visit! NO BS.

 

Now i do not know if it was i had not been observed on the radar for several years and was in fact working in Tripoli Libya while the USA , France and UK were plotting to murder Mohamed Ghadafi and i was indirectly working for him in his Oil Company!

 

We stayed in a Hotel in Marble Arch just at the end of Regents Street with fully inclusive Hotel my Thai wife really enjoyed in London but found Edinburgh cold.

 

To close it was NOT easy to get UK visa for my Thai Wife. Good Luck! Funny found a lot of things less expensive.

 

In 2020 start the process again. Mm working in Chad just now and sure that will set the PCs flashing red! No matter how much cash i have on Thai Banks.

[Peter Denis]

Hi,

I am not from UK, but from Belgium and invited my thai girlfriend already 4 times to come over for a short-stay visit (max 2 months). 

My experience might be useful for you, hence me sharing it here.

I never used an agent, and surely with the present stream-lined Visa application process there is no need for doing that.

First time I applied for her was of course the hardest one because of me being not yet familiar with the requirements, but every subsequent application went smoother, and each of them was approved without having to come back.

Since the VFS process was introduced, my thai girlfriend does not need to visit the (Belgian) Embassy anymore for the application, and the fact that you apply on-line and make an appointment to present your case makes it quite easy.

The main thing is that her application inspires enough confidence that she will indeed return at the end of the proposed holiday.  So if your girlfriend has property in Thailand, or children, or other reasons to come back, it's good to provide evidence of that.

The first 3 times I invited her I was still in Belgium.

But last time when we wanted to go to my home-country for a holiday, I was in Thailand.  So instead of me inviting her to come over, I asked my father to invite her as some of the required paperwork to be provided by the person inviting the thai national is easy to get when you are in your home-country.

So I prepared a step-by-step instruction:

- outlining which official documents he had to get at his municipality (same day service);

- provided a short invitation-letter containing all the necessary detail for him to sign;

- then asked him to sent the documents to me in Thailand by express-post.

I ensured the documents would arrive before the appointment date which we had picked, so that my thai girlfriend could take them together with her own documents to the VFS-office.

Two days after her application, she got a message that her passport with the Visa could be collected at the VFS-office (or be sent to an address of her choice).

Normally I buy my flight-tickets on-line, but for the 4 cases I used a Bangkok travel-agency that is familiar with bookings for thai nationals invited for a holiday abroad, so that it would not be a hassle to postpone the flights when there would be any delay in the processing.

The required documents that need to be provided with the application are straightforward.  But most  applicants for a Visa for their girlfriend are not sure about the content of the 'invitation letter'.  It does not need to be a long-winded letter.  Mentioning that you have already x years a relation with your girlfriend and want to invite her over for a short holiday and will take care of her when she is over there, is the main thing.  Also including all factual details (passport issue date and validity, envisioned window of her staying, reference to all the accompagning paperwork).

In case you'd like a copy of the short/concise letter I used, just PM me and I will sent over (I did my application in english).

Hope the above proves useful for you.

Success! 

 

 

Edited November 20, 2019 by Peter Denis

[theoldgit]

Whilst it's always interesting to read about other peoples experiences, I would make a couple of observations.

 

The process for a visa to visit Belgium is totally different for visiting the UK, especially if the applicant intends visiting a national of that country, and the required documentation is also completely different.

 

I'm sorry to read the horror story by the other poster, the production of financial records has always been a requirement, I'm not sure that the applicant was formally interviewed by the VFS staff, any interviews that are carried out are normally to address areas of concern and are carried out by telephone by a member of the UKVI staff, I'm surprised that you were called for interview, as a British National you don't need a visa so the UKVI team wouldn't need to interview you. 

 

UKBF staff at the ports of entry are all uniformed, I'm surprised you were asked the purpose of your visit, as a British National you have a right of entry without reason, though a visa national would usually be asked, that said when passports are scanned you might have been flagged as a person of interest on the warnings index, there are police officers based at airports for such eventualities.

 

The advice not to purchase non refundable flight tickets until the visa has been issued is a valid one, and advice that the UKVI give on their website.

[MarkyM3]

Gf has visited the UK last 2 summers and did not have any issue obtaining a visa. I wrote a covering letter outlining I would be providing accommodation, reasons for trip, length of relationship, how long I spend in Thailand visiting her and that I would act as guarantor amongst other things. She earns her own money though so guarantor bit was purely to keep it looking OK. They did not contact her employer to follow up on her job and income either time, according to her. 

 

My view - based on our experience at least - is that if you can demonstrate solid reasons for the visitor to return to Thailand i.e. a certifiable job or income, family ties etc. then you aren't *likely* to have issues (not saying it can't/won't happen - just based on our experience). It is really important to allow at least 4 or 5 weeks for visa process from application to receiving it, at least in the UK summertime. The processing is handled in India apparently. 

 

Gf was asked a few questions at Heathrow by immigration officer but not the Spanish inquisition. They were not hostile so I am told. She can speak very good English which helps - someone with little or no English might find it more intimidating. 

 

Agree that it is definitely not wise to purchase flight tickets until the visa is issued. 

 

Fairly sure GF told me cost this year was 4k baht or thereabouts for application.

Edited November 20, 2019 by MarkyM3

[globalThailand]

Last Christmas I had my mother in-law, sister-in law and her 2 kids over for a 2 week stay.  I think they began the application mid October, not sure when they got a decision but I recall it was pretty quick.  You can use an agency, but at 30k per person it's expensive and not necessary-- the online application process is pretty straight forward and my sister-in law arranged the VFS appointment for all four of them.

 

You are correct that the earliest one can apply is 3 months before travel.  More info here  https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa

[john west]

On 11/19/2019 at 1:10 PM, theoldgit said:

The short answer to your question is, yes, lots of Thai people have successfully applied for Visit Visas to visit the UK, if you have a look through the threads on this forum you will find lots of experiences, positive and negative.

 

You might want to have a look at the pinned topic at the head of this section of the forum, lots more advice there.

 

In a quick answer to your question, yes applicants have to apply online and visit VFS to have their biometric details captured, the application is then considered by UKVI staff based in Delhi.

 

The process is not that difficult, the applicants need to satisfy the decision maker that their proposed trip is genuine, affordable and that that, on the balance of probabilities, they will return to Thailand, that's usually having strong ties here. Before we can advise you further you need to give us a bit more background, do you live with your wife in Thailand, do the grandchildren live with your wife or their parents?

 

Some people use an agent, some don't, it's a personal choice, I personally wouldn't use an agent for a straight forward application, but some find using one comforting, they would probably be in the price range you mention. If you're contemplating using an agent, then consider one who is registered with OISC, Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner, whilst it's not a legal requirement to be registered here in Thailand doing so means they are fully qualified to give that advice.

 

 https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/th/en/how-to-apply

Thanks the old git and everyone else.
Yes, I have been married for 14 years and been back in Thailand for over 11 years and live with my Thai wife and the 2 Grandchildren aged 14 and 12 live with us.
Thanks for all your helpful replies and yes there are questions who is travelling  with you to the UK and somehow this is cross referenced but wondering if say VFS Global would link the 3 applications together and we get the same date and time for our appointment.
Thanks again and it's like renewal of British passports and when one gets the documents in ones hand, then the worries diminish and yes we all worry about things and especially our families.