Marry Thai Gf And Move To Aust?

[Jimbob1]

I have my GF living in Esaan and want to come to Thailand December and marry / apply for spouse visa / move to Australia.

I am 55, on a disability pension and get $1,060 a month or which I send her $350 to live on.

I have $14K savings and own my own house.

It's going to cost $1,300 for visa application, non-refundable if unsuccessful, so am I 'having myself on' with the above figures expecting them to grant me a visa?

My GF has just turned 50 and has a ticket for massage and among the Thai's in her village is sort after as she has the skills and is very good and will be able to work when she gets here.

I was hoping to be able to apply and get it before I return so as to bring her back with me in 3 months? Am I dreaming or not?

She has enough English to get by but I wouldn't like to see her make the trip by herself. Is their a way to fast-track the application? Or a set procedure to apply to minimise the approval time?

I would appreciate any / all advice you can give me please.

Jim.

[gburns57au]

I have my GF living in Esaan and want to come to Thailand December and marry / apply for spouse visa / move to Australia.

I am 55, on a disability pension and get $1,060 a month or which I send her $350 to live on.

I have $14K savings and own my own house.

It's going to cost $1,300 for visa application, non-refundable if unsuccessful, so am I 'having myself on' with the above figures expecting them to grant me a visa?

My GF has just turned 50 and has a ticket for massage and among the Thai's in her village is sort after as she has the skills and is very good and will be able to work when she gets here.

I was hoping to be able to apply and get it before I return so as to bring her back with me in 3 months? Am I dreaming or not?

She has enough English to get by but I wouldn't like to see her make the trip by herself. Is their a way to fast-track the application? Or a set procedure to apply to minimise the approval time?

I would appreciate any / all advice you can give me please.

Jim.

How long have you known her and what evidence can you provide to show an ongoing genuine relationship?

With a pension income of $1060 per month, you may well be asked to have an Assurance of Support from friends or family through Centrelink.

Even with a ticket and at 50yo they would view her working in the massage area with suspicion.

It is possible to fast track by getting all the evidence and the Police and medical clearances beforehand and then making an appointment with the Embassy for an interview.

But the most important thing to show is the ongoing and genuine relationship, this will need such evidence as; photos, letters, sms's, e mails, financial transfers, etc... Without this evidence then she would be unlikely to be granted a visa.

[Jimbob1]

We met 18 months ago and were together a month before I went home and I was sending money and supporting her then up until Feb of this year when I was in Thailand and we travelled and lived together for 3 months and having to leave the country then and come home I payed 6 months rent for a house for her.

I send money every month and ring her every day and I have records of all this and photos of us together from the start of our relationship.

Even with a ticket and at 50yo they would view her working in the massage area with suspicion.

It's a shame peoples minds go to the gutter as soon as you mention massage while for Thai people they will first consult a masseur before seeing a doctor.

[marty1310]

Hi jimbob1 new member but have been reading this site for awhile .I am the same age as you and same circumstances and will be trying this all in march next year.If we can help each other at all i can be contacted at [email protected] ALL the best

[Lucifer]

We met 18 months ago and were together a month before I went home and I was sending money and supporting her then up until Feb of this year when I was in Thailand and we travelled and lived together for 3 months and having to leave the country then and come home I payed 6 months rent for a house for her.

I send money every month and ring her every day and I have records of all this and photos of us together from the start of our relationship.

Even with a ticket and at 50yo they would view her working in the massage area with suspicion.

It's a shame peoples minds go to the gutter as soon as you mention massage while for Thai people they will first consult a masseur before seeing a doctor.

I would strongly suggest you see a doctor before marrying a masseur.

[Jimbob1]

It's a shame peoples minds go to the gutter as soon as you mention massage while for Thai people they will first consult a masseur before seeing a doctor.

I would strongly suggest you see a doctor before marrying a masseur.

I find this reply offencive and illustrating my point exactly.

[gburns57au]

I wasnt implying anything by saying that it would viewed with suspicion.....I was merely pointing out how it would be viewed by the powers that be. In other words it is not a strong point for a visa application.

Ok, you should have enough evidence to show an ongoing relationship, the drawback could be your income and the need for an Assurance of Support...I suggest you get this set up in part before you apply, in case they ask for it. I am not saying it will be needed.

The department website gives an estimate of time for a decision on spouse visas, however most are decided well before that time quoted. Usually between 4-8 weeks for a normal application...a fast track as I described could take about 2 weeks.

Have a good read of the website and the parts that pertain to your partner specifically.

We are not experts here and it must kept in mind that the department will do things as they see fit and in their own time, the best we can do is give estimates based on other members and our own experiences.

[stevemiddie]

It's a shame peoples minds go to the gutter as soon as you mention massage while for Thai people they will first consult a masseur before seeing a doctor.

The comment was not meant to be offensive from the poster but was being realistic. The authorities WILL raise an eyebrow to that.

You have to be prepared for what Immigration officials will think.

As for your comment on Thais consulting a masseur before a doctor, errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr that depends on WHERE they live in Thailand.............the education they have and how much money they have.

Good luck and best wishes intended though.

Edited November 7, 2007 by stevemiddie

[Jimbob1]

gburns57au I appreciate you weren't implying anything and your advice is 'gold' for me and I thank you very much for that as it gives me hope and a direction to work on so your information is invaluable to me and I will pursue Centerlink and Immigration this week from Oz to have all my paperwork in order so as to make it as easy as I can to make the application as smooth as possible.

Thank you very much.

Also taking into consideration where you pointed out that the pension I receive may be boarder line I will now, when I get 3 friends to supply stat-decs about proof of relationship, have them include they could also back me up financially if needed.

stevenmiddie I do find it offencive when someone suggests the woman I love is maybe spreading an STD ...

The advice from Lucifer was neither constructive of aimed to help as if you think about it making a visa application for a spouse visa includes a full medical report in any case.

As for your comment on Thais consulting a masseur before a doctor, errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr that depends on WHERE they live in Thailand.............the education they have and how much money they have.

Yes I am talking about Sikhiu and a small farming village in Essan and I do appreciate that larger cities such as Bangkok and Pattaya are more 'westernised' which in some ways is a pity.

Thank you also for your input and best wishes as it is positive and uplifting for me right now.

Jim

Edited November 7, 2007 by Jimbob1

[gburns57au]

Here are the links the refer to the AoS.

http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/inte...nce_support.htm

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/booklets/1127.pdf

Page 26 of the immi link for AoS information.

It is only needed if they ask for it.

[Jimbob1]

Thanks Graham thats great information and very handy ammunition to go armed with

I am off to Centrelink today so can enquire in person.

Cheers mate, Jim

[gburns57au]

Thanks Graham thats great information and very handy ammunition to go armed with

I am off to Centrelink today so can enquire in person.

Cheers mate, Jim

Let us know how you get on...

[aussimike]

We met 18 months ago and were together a month before I went home and I was sending money and supporting her then up until Feb of this year when I was in Thailand and we travelled and lived together for 3 months and having to leave the country then and come home I payed 6 months rent for a house for her.

I send money every month and ring her every day and I have records of all this and photos of us together from the start of our relationship.

Even with a ticket and at 50yo they would view her working in the massage area with suspicion.

It's a shame peoples minds go to the gutter as soon as you mention massage while for Thai people they will first consult a masseur before seeing a doctor.

I would strongly suggest you see a doctor before marrying a masseur.

This is a typical stupid and unwanted comment -- Jimbob is here asking for advice - many people find themselves in this position and dont need your smart half baked stupid puns -

[Phuyai]

I have my GF living in Esaan and want to come to Thailand December and marry / apply for spouse visa / move to Australia.

I would appreciate any / all advice you can give me please.

Jim.

You may wish to allow you GF to experience Australian life/culture first before committing to a move to Australia. Some 12 years ago I considered applying for a spouse visa for my Thai wife. I applied for a tourist visa instead to allow her to meet family and friends. I wanted her to be able consider how my plan for us to move to Australia would affect her family and her happiness. Sure life is about being together as a couple, but it is more than that.

I have since decided that I have more capability to maintain long-distance relationships than she has. My idea of her being an immigrant has switiched to me adapting to Thailand and Thai life. And before any suggestions from my fellow Australians, there was no issue of her acceptance by my Australian family.

In terms of visa applications, I understand that Aust Embassy views sustained on-going relationship as proved when existing for 2 years. Marriage is not an issue: documented relationship is the concern. In my case this was proved by matching entry/exit stamps in our passports to countries neighbouring Thailand where I was working. The Embassy interviewer specifically asked me about my future plans: I intended to continue the relationship and continue my work as a consultant in Asia. The stamps and my answer provided satisfaction.

[gburns57au]

I would advise that a trip or two first is a great idea, but then it is up to the people involved, I have seen couples who go straight for the spouse visa have successful marriages and lives here in Oz.

There is no set time limit for the ongoing relationship, but you are right in that you have to satisfy the department that you have a strong and ongoing relationship even when married...Marriage on its own is not prove enough.

You may wish to allow you GF to experience Australian life/culture first before committing to a move to Australia. Some 12 years ago I considered applying for a spouse visa for my Thai wife. I applied for a tourist visa instead to allow her to meet family and friends. I wanted her to be able consider how my plan for us to move to Australia would affect her family and her happiness. Sure life is about being together as a couple, but it is more than that.

I have since decided that I have more capability to maintain long-distance relationships than she has. My idea of her being an immigrant has switiched to me adapting to Thailand and Thai life. And before any suggestions from my fellow Australians, there was no issue of her acceptance by my Australian family.

In terms of visa applications, I understand that Aust Embassy views sustained on-going relationship as proved when existing for 2 years. Marriage is not an issue: documented relationship is the concern. In my case this was proved by matching entry/exit stamps in our passports to countries neighbouring Thailand where I was working. The Embassy interviewer specifically asked me about my future plans: I intended to continue the relationship and continue my work as a consultant in Asia. The stamps and my answer provided satisfaction.

[Eureka]

If in doubt I would not risk $1,800 on the application as from the information supplied your relationship would be borderline at best.

Try a different approach that may take longer but has a greater success rate in the end.

First take her to Oz on a Tourist Visa. Apply for a mulitiple entry 12 month Tourist Visa based on the need to travel between Thailand and Australia as you need to visit family etc. Do not mention that she plans to move to Oz when applying for this Visa.

After a trip or two to Oz apply then for the Spouse Visa from the embassy in Bangkok. You have now demonstrated a valid relationship and increased her status as a trustworthy person as the conditions of the Tourist Visa were not violated.

This method shows a committment on her part to understand Australian society before a permanent move. This has proven to balance a decision in favour of the application on numerous ocassions.

[fishhooks]

With regard to the great advice on Thai Visa, I'm going to (or should I say my Thai wife) is going to apply for a Spouse Visa in Bangkok during the next few months. I will be in Thailand also.

I have read the Partner Migration booklet cover to cover a few times and understand the on-going and committed relationship part is very high on the list of priorities.

A couple of brief questions:

I don't quite understand the part re the applicant's immediate family needing a medical.

Is this required if they are 'not' included in the application?

Also when it gets to the interview stage, like 'Phuyai's' situation, we intend to move around a fair bit and come and go OZ. Thus back to Thailand a ? percentage of the time.

Would the department consider this application as not so much a Spouse Visa but moreover akin to a Tourist Visa and better for us not to mention this fact?

I mean on our part, surely a Spouse Visa, would be much more convenient than the continual hassle of getting Tourist Visa's.

We haven't decided yet on the amount of time in Australia each year, but I'm just wondering if any members here have experience with not making OZ as permanent as some who may want to really settle back here most of the time?

[Phuyai]

I mean on our part, surely a Spouse Visa, would be much more convenient than the continual hassle of getting Tourist Visa's.

We haven't decided yet on the amount of time in Australia each year, but I'm just wondering if any members here have experience with not making OZ as permanent as some who may want to really settle back here most of the time?

In my experience of assisting my wife get Australian tourist visas, there has been no hassle after the first visa. All other applications have only required commiting time, following procedure, paying the fee. She has obtained (once in 5 applications, all of which have been successful) a 12 month multiple entry tourist visa. The request for 12 month multiple was based on family need and plans. I suggest the decision on type of visa to apply for depends on your assessment of frequency of visits (time, cost, convenience).

[thommo46]

My g/f is coming to Aust. for her 2nd visit next week. 1st.visa tourist visa 3 month no further stay. 2nd visa 3 month but can apply for a different visa while here.That being either a fiance visa which allows her to come and go but must marry within 9 months.Marriage either being here in Aust. or in Thai.In thailand need all papers translated to thai.I can marry her while she is here which will give me more fire power to obtain spousal visa.Cost all up for both spousal and fiance visa works out the same.Can email me for more info if you want.

Thommo

[gburns57au]

With regard to the great advice on Thai Visa, I'm going to (or should I say my Thai wife) is going to apply for a Spouse Visa in Bangkok during the next few months. I will be in Thailand also.

I have read the Partner Migration booklet cover to cover a few times and understand the on-going and committed relationship part is very high on the list of priorities.

A couple of brief questions:

I don't quite understand the part re the applicant's immediate family needing a medical.

Is this required if they are 'not' included in the application?

Her immediate family being children who are not migrating....to determine if there is any heredity diseases that may be passed to future children.

Also when it gets to the interview stage, like 'Phuyai's' situation, we intend to move around a fair bit and come and go OZ. Thus back to Thailand a ? percentage of the time.

Would the department consider this application as not so much a Spouse Visa but moreover akin to a Tourist Visa and better for us not to mention this fact?

I mean on our part, surely a Spouse Visa, would be much more convenient than the continual hassle of getting Tourist Visa's.

We haven't decided yet on the amount of time in Australia each year, but I'm just wondering if any members here have experience with not making OZ as permanent as some who may want to really settle back here most of the time?

During her time as a temporary and permanant resident she will be free to travel in and out as much as she wants....after, I think 5 years of PR, she will require a resident return visa each time. So it doesnt matter....however I would advise that you only tell them what is necessary so as not to complicate things for yourselves.

[gburns57au]

My g/f is coming to Aust. for her 2nd visit next week. 1st.visa tourist visa 3 month no further stay. 2nd visa 3 month but can apply for a different visa while here.That being either a fiance visa which allows her to come and go but must marry within 9 months.Marriage either being here in Aust. or in Thai.In thailand need all papers translated to thai. I can marry her while she is here which will give me more fire power to obtain spousal visa.Cost all up for both spousal and fiance visa works out the same.Can email me for more info if you want.

Thommo

I would check that out again...

While it does say that you can extend the visa...that can only be done if there is not a "No further stay" condition....this is unlikely on a 3 month tourist visa. In any event you can only apply for a further 12 month stay as a tourist...you cannot apply for a spouse or fiance visa while here on a tourist visa.

If you marry in Thailand the documents you need to translate into Thai are minimal....However once you apply for the spouse visa all Thai documents must be translated....the cost of doing this in Oz is quite high. Where you get married makes no difference to the success of the application as long as they are registered marriages.

The cost of the fiance visa is about $850 more than the Spouse visa....the fiance visa and the spouse visa are the same cost....however once married on the fiance visa, a spouse visa is still required for temporary resident status....that will cost around $850 more for that application.

[Chris Lawrence]

I would suggest talking to Immigration here in Oz. Ask them the questions or ring some of the Thai assoc here in oz. There are advocates in some of the multicultural centres that u can talk to as well. TV is great for some guide but some narrow minded wamkers always stick their 2 bob in.

The staff in immig at Bangkok will not answeer any questions. This is my experience. They want to act like detectives and from my anacdotal experience will give people not from Bangkok who are not educated a hard time.

I would suggest put the application in but put as much detail as you can in the application to show that the relationship is strong and lasting. So what if your gf does massage. Its just in your mind. I know of a person that sounds similar to your situation from same area and wife did massage in Bangkok, got visa in 3 mths. He stayed with gf while visa went thru. His advice was to suck up to the immig ladies and a letter of support from a high court judge.

I am a bit more proactive in this area. When I see attitude or personal judgement displayed from people that are in position to make decisions I react, as I think it is unfair to be treated in a way that is less than what other people recieve. But that is another story.

They may ask that assurance of support be provided as you need to be able to show how you will support gf for 2 year period. U can get this information from Centrelink.

Good luck and I hope you have a good result.

[CbrLad]

....

I am a bit more proactive in this area. When I see attitude or personal judgement displayed from people that are in position to make decisions I react, as I think it is unfair to be treated in a way that is less than what other people recieve. But that is another story.

...

Interesting attitude that one. Personal judgment is what they are being paid to do. They are paid to look at the facts and make a personal judgment on those facts.

[Jimbob1]

Thanks Chris, yeah the more I look into it the more I think the AoS will be a key factor here so I will go armed with all my 'aces' before I start playing their game.

My Gf is one of 7 of a farming family and never had the opportunity of school as they didn't have the money but she has been now going to school every chance she can get to learn and she loves it and works so hard at it that it melts my heart when I see her pull out her exercise books and pen and spend hours writing and reading to improve herself.

Their is not a mean bone in her whole body and is a kind and generous loving woman and deserves every break and luck in life thats out there.

OOps ... here I am rambling on ... how lucky we will be with this application will really now depend on me putting in the 'hard yards' to have a complete and thorough application and if I can work as hard as she does then we can only hope we might be looking good.

Cheers, Jim.

[Chris Lawrence]

Put your heart into the application and it should be OK.

I met a few people who were going for visa' at the embassy. The people who waited the longest were the women on their own and from the country area's. Go thru some of the posts for Oz applications; some you will see have taken six to eight weeks but Some appear to be around 3 months. There are some that are also around 3-5 mths.

Again it is preparation. This is important. Just go thru the application and take your time.

The jugdements that I encounted was the reluctance of supply of information from the Thai women that work in that section of the immig. Department. That is why I suggest to speak to immig here in OZ. I have found this side to be more than helpful. Discrimination is a judgment and as you may see when you mention areas of life that have a stigma in other peoples minds there is formed a judgment of character. This I felt because like yourself my partner was not well educated but worked very hard to achieve.

The gentleman I mentioned in earlier post also just got on with what he had to do. He succeeded in their application with a partner from the same area that did massage.

Not everyone is playing with a tossel every time a massage is done.

Of course people are to make judgments, but you also need to be human about the decisions you make and be prepared to talk. This is what duty of care is all about and have a fiduciary responsibility when giving information.

[gburns57au]

Actually Chris, it is more common for applications to take a few weeks rather than months now....the waiting period has been cut dramatically....more to do with issuing 12 month ME visas instead of individual 3 month visas and the use of the VFS office has also contributed to shorter waiting periods for visa applications.

The staff are there to do a job and it cant be an easy one but they work to guidelines that are set by the Oz Immigration....they are trained to look for things that may cast suspicion on an application, not just in the paperwork but also the body language of the applicant at the interview.

By and large I reckon they dont do a bad job.

[Jimbob1]

OK ... at this point what I am proposing to do is .......

Arrive Bkk 26th ... Next day , Go to Aus Embassy for pro-forma statutory declaration. get translated 1 day and lodge with Department of Consular Affairs 2/3 days ...

In the mean time get medical / police report, and lodge all documents / payment with immigration and ask for a interview date.

Hopefully I can accomplish this all in 4-5 days ..... while waiting for an interview if more than a day or so .... collect the marriage documents and go to Pattaya where we both have friends and get married.

When returning to Bkk for interview can produce marriage certificate.

Then travel to Sikhiu (Korat) and wait for a reply hopefully 2 or 3 weeks or well before my 90 days runs out.

Can you see anything wrong with this plan?

Jim.

[Chris Lawrence]

As long as they follow the client service charter, no problem Graham. What was the name of the person that the embassy appointed in early 2006 to take on the position of helping applicants who were having problems with their applications. From what I can remember it was advertised late 05 or early 06 about 60000 baht a month job. The job description encapsulated this as part of their role. I went thru the job description information.

You see if this information can be made available people will know who they can contact. This was a problem that I encounted and can really help when you need to talk to someone. Always got straight answers from the onshore people stationed at the embassy and here in Oz. But it was so hard to navigate to these people.

We need to be aware of what people have to do but we also need to be aware of our rights. I have looked at the charter again and quickly identify 5 points were I was discriminated against. I have also done these types of interviews and see nothing wrong with being human.

I hope what you are saying is now true Graham, as I would hope that no one goes thru what I had to go thru and that it also cost me a few thousand dollars in extra cost.

But sorry Jim, Graham may be the best to get some indication on timing as to your plan schedule.

[gburns57au]

OK ... at this point what I am proposing to do is .......

Arrive Bkk 26th ... Next day , Go to Aus Embassy for pro-forma statutory declaration. get translated 1 day and lodge with Department of Consular Affairs 2/3 days ...

In the mean time get medical / police report, and lodge all documents / payment with immigration and ask for a interview date.

Hopefully I can accomplish this all in 4-5 days ..... while waiting for an interview if more than a day or so .... collect the marriage documents and go to Pattaya where we both have friends and get married.

When returning to Bkk for interview can produce marriage certificate.

Then travel to Sikhiu (Korat) and wait for a reply hopefully 2 or 3 weeks or well before my 90 days runs out.

Can you see anything wrong with this plan?

Jim.

Get your girl to get the migration pack....and do the medical and police before you arrive...the police will take about a week and they post it to her address for a small fee, otherwise allow at least two weeks for that to go to the embassy...the clearance is free.

Same for the medical (not free)....takes about two weeks for them to send it on to the Embassy.

Also get her to have any Thai Documents translated and certified copies made.

Get married and have the documents translated and cert copies made....collect all the evidence

1...Go to the VFS office near Surasak BTS station....in the CC Thai tower building.....Lodge the completed forms and all the evidence there, They will give you the interview date....go to the interview at the embassy and wait for the decision.

2. Call the embassy and see if you can get an interview, if so present the forms and evidence in one package at the Embassy interview....wait for the decision...members here tell me it is a few days the Embassy says about three weeks.

You will need to get cert copies of all your documents....Divorce papers....citizenship proof...etc....

I really do suggest you download or at least read "Booklet One, Partner migration" from the Immi website....worth a read before you start making plans.

[david96]

Here is the link to the client service charter Cris.

http://www.immi.gov.au/about/charters/clie...ice_charter.pdf

Where do you think you were discriminated against in this charter? If a visa is refused you will have been advised of the reason and the regulation(s) that apply to it. You would have been notified that you could appeal to the MRT in Australia.

Yes public/civil servants do make mistakes and give incorrect assesments they like to err on the safe side "protect their own" You only have to look at the culture of DIAC in Australia with people in detention.