Uk Visa Options - Help Before I Go Insane!

[Rickys]

Hi,

Before I go completely insane and disheartened with the whole British visa system I want to make sure I have covered every possibility.

Friend is Thai national works for Thai architect firm. The company is in trouble and looks like closing in the next week. Friend is getting fed up with Thailand and would like to come to the UK to further his career or education.

He has savings of around 100,000 Baht

He has already been to a couple of countries in Europe but this was a while ago and visa stamps etc are in an old passport. So I guess there is proof he has been out of Thailand and returned, if needed

Reading many threads and trawling the UK visa website, I can only realistically see the following options:

Work Permit

A company in the UK would need to organise this, but I guess it’s a chicken and egg as if he was lucky enough to get an interview he would have to get a visitor visa to attend the interview.

Visitor Visa

Whilst I am happy to be a sponsor I am worried that if he has no job in Thailand to return to the application will fail. That’s seems to be one of the major things they look at.

Student Visa

Has to have a clear offer from a recognised UK educational institute (normally involving a deposit of £1,000 towards course fee) and proof that they are able to pay course fees for the year and support themselves. But on the plus side can work 20 hours a week during term time and unlimited during holidays.

He’s already been to British Council to explore this and there is always the possibility of scholarships.

Short term student visa

Visa for courses of 6 months or less, has to have a clear offer from UK educational institute plus rules in relation to visitor visa apply and he can’t work.

I have a question on this one, I understand he has no choice but to return at the end of 6 months but does he necessarily need to show proof of a job to go back to in Thailand to be granted one of these? I personally can’t see a Thai employer keeping a job open for 6 months.

Am I missing anything or are these the only options available?

He would be happy to work as anything in the UK, but I understand that a lot of sector based schemes, such as hospitality staff, have dried up.

Obviously I am trying to manage expectations and if chances look slim I don’t want to get hopes raised or even worse a visa refusal stamp in his passport.

I know immigration rules are there to protect but it does seem unfair when you have genuine people who want to better themselves and they are preventing from doing so. (I’ll get off my high horse now!)

So any pointers you can give, even if it’s to say, yep those are the only options, would be helpful.

[the scouser]

What's your friend's English like? If he is well enough qualified he might consider the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, in which case he doesn't need to demonstrate an intention to leave the UK at the end of his stay.

The alternatives, I must say, don't look too promising. As soon as the visa officer becomes aware that he's recently lost his job and has developed a new-found wanderlust, the chances of getting either a visit visa or student visa will be rather remote. Work permit-wise, he is going to have to be offered a job for which he is qualified and which has been advertised within the UK and EU for at least six weeks of the previous six months. It is the prospective employer who applies for the permit and they will have to demonstrate how any other candidates who applied for the post are unsuitable.

Scouse.

[Jersey_UK]

So any pointers you can give, even if it’s to say, yep those are the only options, would be helpful.

I guess Scouse's reply pretty much sums it up................unless you want to consider a Same Sex Partnership (I am not sure exactly what you have to be able to demonstrate to the Embassy - so you may wish to check first )

[the scouser]

I must say that my own personal belief is that people should have a purpose in mind and then apply for the visa which best suits it; not go scouring the Immigration Rules looking for categories and then trying to shoe-horn themselves in to one.

Scouse.