Uk Visiting Visa For Thai Girlfriend

[daveread]

Festive greetings,

I'm looking for advice / opinions on applying for a tourist visa for my Thai girlfriend to visit the UK. I'm a bit unsure as to if we'll qualify and what steps we should be taking so here's a brief outline of our situation. Any comments would be really appreciated.

We met august 2004 after traveling in Asia and have been in constant regular contact ever since. Returned to UK for about 5 months then stayed in Thailand as a vistor for about 7 months in 2005 to stay with girlfriend. Also spent about 7ish months in 2006 and then 4 months in 2007. All of these visits were spent with my girlfriend

Work record isn't fantastic as time spent in Thailand was living off savings. In June 2007 I started a new job as a subcontractor where I earn average / above average wage. However, due to commitments with my new job I can only spend about 1 month a year in Thailand and as a result of this would like to have my girlfriend visit the UK. At first for a about a 5 week visit with a view to more frequent visits or semi – permanent residence later down the line.

We haven't seen each other since June so as soon as I move house early next year we would like to send in a visa application. I live with my parents who own the property they live in and once we move early next year we should have a spare bedroom. I will act as a sponsor as I earn a reasonable wage and have about 10,000 GBP in my savings account. My father can also write a letter of invitation and provide copies of any documents needed (house deeds etc).

I have some evidence showing our contact since May this year. We have saved skype / msn chat conversions, pages of sms message's sent from skype each day, printed records of skype pc to pc phone calls and also some record of calls to her mobile phone from the UK with another voip program I use. We have a few dated photographs of us together in Thailand (although not that many) and finally a few emails.

My girlfriend has worked full time on and off at the same company for about 3 and a half years and has a salary of 7000 – 8000 baht per month. The reason she has been working on and off at this company is because still hasn't quite finished her studies (2008 will be her last year). Also she would often stop work when we were in Thailand together. Her work is very flexible (works at a hotel) and can easily stop work almost when she wants especially in the low season. She hasn't received wage slips for the time she has worked that but I'm told they can print backdated slips to show as proof. One problem I do anticipate is that her employer doesn't want to write a letter to say they have granted a holiday for 5 weeks stating that she has a job to return to (in actual fact I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem do to this but apparently the person who deals with this kind of thing isn't very co-operative and a little on the lazy side). I'm sure there are lots of things I've missed so any pointers would be very helpful.

One more thing if this application is successful will it be easier the second time round? And what steps would we have to take to make longer more frequent visits?

Many thanks in advance

Dave

p.s. One more thing, my girlfriend doesn't have more in the way of savings but I'm more than willing to put a sum of money in her bank account so she can take a statement to the embassy.

Finally would I be normally required to travel to Thailand to attend an interview?

[Mahout Angrit]

Dave

You really should use the search facility in this forum on the word "tourist" or "visitor" and you will unearth many threads started by people in a similar position to yourselves which will include links to useful sites.

Applying for a visitor visa for UK is really very simple

1) She needs to demonstrate that she has suitable funds for the trip

2) She needs to show that there is suitable and satisfactory accommodation for her in UK

3) She has a compelling reason to return to Thailand at the end of the trip

It would seem from what you have said here you will act as her sponsor to cover the finances (point 1)

Your parents can offer her accommodation but must prove they own/rent the property and that there is sufficient space.(Point 2)

A letter from her employer stating her length and nature of employment and granting her leave or being booked on a university/college course for the period after her return should suffice for a reason to return (point 3)

You should also, if you can, provide evidence of your relationship and its longevity

Do not attempt to boost her bank account as that will be picked up for exactly what it is, you can sponsor her entirely from your accounts.

You do not need to be in Thailand to make the application, it is her application. She may not need to attend an interview and if she does you will not be able to attend with her.

Provided you continue to meet the requirements and she kept to the period of stay in UK that she promised when she made the initial application then the second application should be a formality, however you should approach it as thorough as you approach the first application

[daveread]

Hi there,

Many thanks for the reply. Yes, your right. I should have a done a more thorough search on the forum first. But thanks for the detailed reply all the same, it's really appreciated.

I suppose it sounds quite simple. My girlfriends studies won't have finished until toward the end of next year so perhaps if she visit the UK early next year that will be evidence enough for a reason to return to Thailand.

Anyway, we shall see how it goes. Fingers crossed

Many thanks again for taking the time

Dave

Dave

You really should use the search facility in this forum on the word "tourist" or "visitor" and you will unearth many threads started by people in a similar position to yourselves which will include links to useful sites.

Applying for a visitor visa for UK is really very simple

1) She needs to demonstrate that she has suitable funds for the trip

2) She needs to show that there is suitable and satisfactory accommodation for her in UK

3) She has a compelling reason to return to Thailand at the end of the trip

It would seem from what you have said here you will act as her sponsor to cover the finances (point 1)

Your parents can offer her accommodation but must prove they own/rent the property and that there is sufficient space.(Point 2)

A letter from her employer stating her length and nature of employment and granting her leave or being booked on a university/college course for the period after her return should suffice for a reason to return (point 3)

You should also, if you can, provide evidence of your relationship and its longevity

Do not attempt to boost her bank account as that will be picked up for exactly what it is, you can sponsor her entirely from your accounts.

You do not need to be in Thailand to make the application, it is her application. She may not need to attend an interview and if she does you will not be able to attend with her.

Provided you continue to meet the requirements and she kept to the period of stay in UK that she promised when she made the initial application then the second application should be a formality, however you should approach it as thorough as you approach the first application