UK visit visa for wife - flight tickets

[JRG23]

Hello all. I have searched on the forum and can't find a specific situation related to my situation. I would appreciate any advice.

We are preparing documents for our planned trip soon. I live and work in Bangkok and hold a work permit.

 

But I have a question on the flight tickets.  

Do I need to pay for the flight tickets (for me and wife and kids) before I apply for the UK visa for my wife?

Or better to wait until after visa process?

 

Any ideas?

 

Thank you

[brewsterbudgen]

Always wait until after the visa has been granted, unless you can buy fully-refundable tickets.

[Upnotover]

There used to be advice on the GOV site NOT to buy tickets in advance.  Of course it may cost you money having to wait for the visa before buying as flights rarely get cheaper closer to departure. 

[manylizards]

There is no requirement when applying for a UK Visit Visa to purchase flights before applying

[brewsterbudgen]

52 minutes ago, manylizards said:

There is no requirement when applying for a UK Visit Visa to purchase flights before applying

Correct. In fact, the advice is not to do so.

[soi3eddie]

 

Unless the tickets are refundable, then definitely DO NOT buy before a visa is issued. A friend of mine's Thai wife was recently rejected for a UK visa and they had bought non-refundable tickets for April. He is hastily making a new application (the original application had insufficient documentary evidence). Hoping they will be succssessful this time.

 

My Cambodian GF and I are going to Canada tomorrow. We booked flights 11 months ago, well before her visa was issued, but I selected refundable tickets - albeit not the cheapest, but with better seats and more baggage. We are hoping to go to the USA in August (visa application underway), I booked refundable tickets already that have good travel times and seat assignments in fact, I was able to use mileage for business class inbound paying only the taxes, but the return was full fare.