A couple of things I'd like to clear up, would appreciate any help whatsoever.

• My Lao wife and I went to the UK around 3 years ago after a successful settlement visa application. After the birth of our child we decided to return to Laos (wife had stayed a total of about 8 months) and abandoned the process of getting ILR for my wife (was offered a good postion/job in Lao). Now we are seriously thinking of trying again. Would this be frowned upon by the authorities/effect the outcome of another settlement visa application?

• I remember reading something about a "drop box" (quicker and easier) for people that have had similar visas before, does this exist?

• Have there been any changes in the last 3 years in terms of visa apps at the British Embassy? I heard that all applications were going through a Thai office, is this true?

Any advice/help would be great.

Thanks

That you decided not to previously settle in the U.K. should not detract from any subsequent similar application. Providing that your wife still meets the requirements of the Immigration Rules and her reasons for not settling last time are plausible, there shouldn't be a problem.

Applications are now made to the visa application centre in Bangkok and your wife will additionally need to undergo a TB test prior to making the application. The drop box facility no longer exists.

Scouse.

I'm interested to know how things work at the visa application centre. There were a lot of people trying to get on my wife's case on the last 2 occasions whilst applying for visas at the embassy. I guess they were touts trying to drum up business for agencies, they told my wife that she would never get a visa without their help and from what I've heard they do quite well according to some stories from friends. Is this new venue any different/better/worse?

Thanks again for your help

Just as bad.

If you wish to instruct a representative, then I'd recommend using one in the UK who is either a member of the Law Society or OISC-registered.

That said, your wife must attend the visa application centre in order to give her biometric details.

Scouse.