Uk Visit Visa For My Thai Boyfriend

[gh22]

Hello, I am trying to get a 6 month visit visa to the UK for my thai boyfriend, and I have a couple of questions for those who have done it before.

The thing I am most concerned about is how to prove that my boyfriend will leave after the required time. He works for his family business as a mechanic, so would a letter of leave from employers (i.e. his family), as suggested in the guidance documents, be sufficient? I would imagine that this kind of letter would only really count if his job was, say, in a bank or office in the city. So any suggestions as to how we can prove he will leave would be much appreciated.

The second concern is that, on the application form, we have stated that he will stay for 5 weeks in the UK. This was because we're not sure how he'll like England, and i've not decided exactly when i want to return to thailand, depending on the job situation here and in the UK. We have also reserved plane tickets (but not paid yet), thinking we could always change the date if we decide to stay longer. However, i read on this forum that if he stays longer than stated on the application form, this may ruin any chance of future visas being granted. Is this true, even though the visa would be valid for 6 months? Obviously he would not stay over the 6 months validity period, but we may want to stay there for more than 5 weeks depending on how things go (i've not been home myself for 2 years).

Lastly, we will be staying at my parents' home, and my mother has written a letter confirming this, but is it necessary to prove that my parents actually own the house? This is not a huge problem as they do own the house outright, it's just that I am in Thailand now and would have to wait for the deeds for the house to be sent, which might take a while, and we plan to be in the UK for Christmas. I read somewhere that pictures of the house, inside and out, should be included with the application, but is this really necessary?

Ok that's all, sorry it turned out to be rather long but we've never done this before and tearing our hair out bogged down in paperwork!

[the scouser]

Hi gh22,

First of all, your boyfriend does not need to "prove" anything: he just has to demonstrate that the facts as presented are likely to be true.

The circumstances of an application are taken in their entirety, so one person who works for his/her parents may get a visit visa, whilst another may not. If you're looking for reassurance, then none can be given. However, if your relationship is of sufficient longevity, then this, per se, might outweigh any perceived lack of intention to return. That said, I wouldn't recommend your boyfriend deliberately misrepresents his intended length of stay as this may well come back to haunt him later. However, (again) that someone presents themselves as staying five weeks and then stays six months is no reason on the part of the visa officer to automatically refuse.

Your parents will need to show that the proposed accommodation is theirs to offer. They don't necessarily need to show the deeds, but they will need to write a letter both offering a place to stay and describing the property, in additon to submitting, for example, either a council tax or utility bill.

On the proviso that you have all of the relevant supporting documentation, there is no reason why your b/f can't get a decison on his application within a week of it being made.

Scouse.

[sbk]

I'd be sure to include copies of your passport showing how long you've stayed in Thailand--if you've been here quite a while it will show that you choose to be here as well. Same goes if you have worked here and had a wp.

[gh22]

Thanks sbk and scouser.

It's not that he deliberately means to misrepresent the amount of time he'll stay, we're just not totally sure of our plans yet, I just assumed it would be ok to change ticket dates if necessary, in the same way that many do in thailand, as long as it's still within the 6 mth validity period.

We have copied my passport to show i've been here in thailand for a long time, but other than that we don't have much proof of the relationship....we're both on pay as you go, so no phonebills, and we've been together most of the time so no emails either. Hope this will be ok.

Also, does anyone know whether original bank statements are required by the embassy?...at the moment we only have faxed copies. Thanks!

[Mahout Angrit]

It's not that he deliberately means to misrepresent the amount of time he'll stay, we're just not totally sure of our plans yet, I just assumed it would be ok to change ticket dates if necessary, in the same way that many do in thailand, as long as it's still within the 6 mth validity period.

Also, does anyone know whether original bank statements are required by the embassy?...at the moment we only have faxed copies.

You should check the terms & conditions of the ticket before purchase to see if the return date is changeable, some are, some aren't, some are subject to a penalty, some have a time limit.

If he remains in UK for the entire period covered by the visa validity he will be legal however as previously warned if he stated that his trip is to be only for a few weeks and that is a condition of granting the visa (even though the visa will be valid for 6 months) then you have been advised that should he subsequently request another visa his credibility may be questioned.

It depends on how his 'reason to return' is worded, if his employers offer him 5 weeks leave could he then stay away for 6 months?

According to the guide for a Visitors visa his bank statements should be original but the sponsors can be a copy.

Edited November 12, 2007 by Mahout Angrit

[JohnC]

I took my b/f over two years ago the week after the London bombings, for his visa I had to state who would support him, a letter from my employer stating I had a job, details of my home, how many bedrooms etc, original bank statements, how long had we known each other, how we met, what was the relationship, who would look after him in the event I was taken ill, how we kept in touch and how often. He also had to have a return ticket, he was called to Bangkok for an interview (you are not allowed to be present) and was eventually given a six month visa. However on arrival at Manchsester Airport he was detained for two hours,I was not informed althouh I was there waiting for him! He does not know why they detained him as he could not understand their english! I was getting frantic thinking he was stranded somewhere but the airline confirmed for me he had landed but could not help any further, they suggested he might be with immigration but there was no way to confirm this.

Anyways eventually he was allowed to enterand we had a great months holiday.

[sbk]

However on arrival at Manchsester Airport he was detained for two hours,I was not informed althouh I was there waiting for him! He does not know why they detained him as he could not understand their english!

Sorry, I just had to laugh at this one. Having met quite a few Mancunians, I must say I sympathize with your boyfriend

[ChangMaiSausage]

Just follow the guidelines availbale on the internet (required documentation) as pointed out in earlier emails if it's followed to the tee then you should not have any issues unless he's lying/hiding something!!

I was suprised how easy it was to arrange my girlfriends (now wife's) visitors visa ever the two year one!

Good Luck

Edited November 12, 2007 by ChangMaiSausage