Uk Vv For Thai Wife

[doctormann]

Hi Guys

Need some advice please.

Last year my TGF successfully obtained a visitor's visa for the UK (6-month multiple entry) and we subsequently went on holiday, visited relatives etc. and duly returned to LoS, where we live.

This year, we have an invitation to go an another visit and so have to obtain another VV. Our circumstances are basically the same as before except that by the time that we apply for the VV my TGF will have become my legal wife (to be married in LoS very soon). I guess that this should make obtaining the VV reasonably easy but do I really have to provide all of the same paperwork that I did last time? We had a folder about an inch thick, crammed with all sorts of stuff, including about 40 photos.

The other question that I want to ask is this:

As this proposed visit is likely to be the first of many (at annual intervals) is there a likelihood that she can be granted a visa with a longer validity? I recall that 5-year and 10-year VVs are mentioned on the application form. I think that only the 6-month variety is available for first-time applicants but what about for subsequent applications? Anyone have experience of this?

Thanks

DM

[Mahout Angrit]

You are right in thinking that provided your circumstances haven't changed for the worse then a second and subsequent applications should be easier (assuming that the first one wasn't easy!). You must however submit all the evidence requested as before to prove that those circumstances haven't changed. (However an inch thick folder seems a bit over the top, check the list of documents required and submit them)

From what is said in the notes here the British Embassy are currently not issuing 5 or 10 year visas. However you can apply for a two year visa, but you should work out whether you will do enough trips to make it financially viable. I think you would need to be making 4 trips in 2 years to make it worth your while.

Edited June 5, 2007 by Mahout Angrit

[doctormann]

You are right in thinking that provided your circumstances haven't changed for the worse then a second and subsequent applications should be easier (assuming that the first one wasn't easy!). You must however submit all the evidence requested as before to prove that those circumstances haven't changed. (However an inch thick folder seems a bit over the top, check the list of documents required and submit them)

From what is said in the notes here the British Embassy are currently not issuing 5 or 10 year visas. However you can apply for a two year visa, but you should work out whether you will do enough trips to make it financially viable. I think you would need to be making 4 trips in 2 years to make it worth your while.

Thanks for that info. - looks like another 6-month job then.

Actually, the VV that we got before wasn't difficult, as such, because I knew that we met all of the requirements. It was just that it was an enormous pain in the backside getting the paperwork sorted. We may have gone over the top but I just wanted to be reasonably sure that there was nothing else that they could ask for!

Almost worth while paying the exorbitant fee for the 2-year VV just to avoid the hassle but maybe that can wait until a subsequent application.

DM