My girlfiriend and I are planning to apply for a fiance visa in the near future. We have know each other for 5 years and been together 3 years. I lived in thailand until Dec '06. We have travelled together to Hong Kong, Singapore, KL and spent two weeks in Italy with my father. My question is this:

Would we have more chance of success in getting a fiance visa if she were to come here first on a tourist visa for a couple of weeks?

Another question i just thought of - we didn't live together in Thailand as she shared a condo with her brother and sister in Bangkok (and her parents are conservative) - she did of course "stay over" regularly - does this work against us?

Would we have more chance of success in getting a fiance visa if she were to come here first on a tourist visa for a couple of weeks?

It would neither hinder nor improve a fiancée application. If you've known each other for 5 years, that is more relevant than her having visited the UK.

Another question i just thought of - we didn't live together in Thailand as she shared a condo with her brother and sister in Bangkok (and her parents are conservative) - she did of course "stay over" regularly - does this work against us?

No: in respect of a fiancée visa there is no requirement to have lived together.

Scouse.