Uk Visitor Visa - Do We Have Enough? Anything To Add?

[NarcosisDiver]

So here's the situation...

Im 26 currently studying to become a diving instructor, my Thai girlfriend is 31 employed by a local construction company as a secretary. I have been living in Thailand for 9 months, I have known her for 8 months, we've been a relationship for 7.5 months.

Im looking to go back to the UK for 3 months to see friends, family & earn a bit of extra cash, before returning to Thailand to work as an instructor. I would like my girlfriend to be able to come with me.

This is the documentation we have collected so far for her visitor visa application:

- Old passport (no stamps) & a new one (Changed name back to her maiden name a few months ago (marriage ended 6 years ago), no stamps, never been outside Thailand)

- Letter from employer to confirm employment and salary (16,000 pm). Also that they are aware of the intended 3 month leave of absence and she will continue to be employed by them on her return. (Her education goes as far as High school)

- Bank Account statement showing 60,000Bht of her own savings

- Daughters birth certificate (some more reason for return)

- Confirmed purchase of airline e-tickets, return to Bangkok (outbound & inbound dates specified & im travelling with her)

- Emails to each other from around the time we entered into a relationship until present day.

- Receipt of continued rent of apartment (so we can store our stuff here & also offer some evidence we intend to return)

- Letter of full financial support from myself

- Proof of means to support

- ISA & Investment Bond accounts (total about £12k), NO BANK Statement as im somewhat low on funds as ive not been working, however the savings I have should be enough to demonstrate I have the means to support the both of us.

- Mortgage statement (shows we have place to stay)

- Letter of additional financial support from parents should we require it & also acting as guarantor for myself (they have met when they came out to Thailand on holiday and have stated so in the letter and are looking forward to seeing her again etc)

- Itinerary - includes arrangements to visit family & close friends on specific dates (we have 2 letters from different friends she has met stating they are looking forward to seeing her) & attractions i'd like to take her to. Confirmed & paid for tickets:

- Concert ticket @ O2 Dome

- London Eye tickets

- Alton Towers tickets

- Evidence of me living in Thailand to support the fact we have actually met and are in a relationship

- Flight here from UK, Diving course booking, Passport (educational visa), emails

- Proof of me returning to Thailand with her

- Letter of offer of employment at a diving resort

- Return Flight tickets

- Apartment receipt showing we are continuing to rent the apartment while we are away

So the questions are:

Do I have everything I need?

Can I add anything?

I'd prefer the application not fail due to the time, effort, money and stress in sorting it out! If there's anything anyone can think of to add i'd ike to know so at least we can say we did everything we could, rather than missing out things we dont know about that the VAC deems vital.

- I thought maybe photos but unfortunately we seem to take pictures of each other and not of us together!

- Also I guess crossing borders for a weekend to get her passport stamped to show she has been to another country?

Thanks for any help

[the scouser]

I wouldn't worry about what the visa application centre deems vital as they have no part in deciding a visa application.

The question you have to ask yourself is whether you believe the requirements of the Immigration Rules have been met. These principally state that the visa applicant has to demonstrate that there is adequate maintenance and accommodation available during the proposed stay and that s/he intends to leave the UK at the end of the visit.

If, when you consider all of your evidence in the round, you think it shows to the balance of probabilities that your girlfriend does indeed meet the criteria, then it should be job done. The test for what constitutes the balance of probabilities is if you were to show the same stuff to a man on the Clapham omnibus and ask whether the evidence indicates the relevant criteria to be met, would he say yes or no? If the former then the standard is attained and if the latter, not attained.

The one thing I would add is that if you are to present your parents as back-up financial providers, you will have to provide original evidence of their ability to live up to the pledge.

Scouse.

[Lite Beer]

How about a letter from whoever' s house she will be staying in while in UK. Offering her accommodation.

Together with proof that they actually do own or rent it. (Utility bills etc.)

[NarcosisDiver]

How about a letter from whoever' s house she will be staying in while in UK. Offering her accommodation.

Together with proof that they actually do own or rent it. (Utility bills etc.)

That would be me and the proof in the mortgage statement.

Thanks for your suggestion though.

[ChangMaiSausage]

More than covered, good luck

[NarcosisDiver]

UK Immigration Rules:

41. The requirements to be met by a person seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor are that he:

(i) is genuinely seeking entry as a visitor for a limited period as stated by him, not exceeding 6 months; and

(ii) intends to leave the United Kingdom at the end of the period of the visit as stated by him; and

(iii) does not intend to take employment in the United Kingdom; and

(iv) does not intend to produce goods or provide services within the United Kingdom, including the selling of goods or services direct to members of the public; and

(v) does not intend to undertake a course of study; and

(vi) will maintain and accommodate himself and any dependants adequately out of resources available to him without recourse to public funds or taking employment; or will, with any dependants, be maintained and accommodated adequately by relatives or friends; and

(vii) can meet the cost of the return or onward journey.; and

(viii) is not a child under the age of 18.

Leave to enter as a visitor

42. A person seeking leave to enter to the United Kingdom as a visitor may be admitted for a period not exceeding 6 months, subject to a condition prohibiting employment, provided the Immigration Officer is satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 41 is met.

------------------------------------------

So based on that, to obtain a visitor visa, we must satisfy every requirement in paragraph 41.

I believe we have built a case to satisfy the majority of them, however for requirements (iii), (iv) & (v), how can you prove with certainty a person wont take employment, sell items or services, or undertake a course of study???

An itinerary showing intent to participate in a number of activities can provide evidence that the risk of the person entering into any one of these 3 things is reduced.

Also isn't it enough that in order to work, an NI number & Tax code is required? Without these, the chances of employment are reduced significantly as well (obviously i realise there are cash in hand type opportunities but these are in the minority).

Thanks!

[NarcosisDiver]

Came across a problem when filling out visitor visa application.

My gf recently changed her name back to her maiden name and as a result went and got a new passport. Now the authorities didnt take her old one off her so now she has two passports (old one still valid) in different names. Is this right?! Im sure she shouldn't have 2 passports.

I ask because in Part 2:

2.7 Please give details of previous passports covering the last 10 years.

Include details of where any previous passports are.

Where the information is available, please provide full details for each. This should include travel document or passport number, issue and expiry dates and place of issue. Please tell us where your previous passports are such as lost, stolen, expired or returned to the issuing country and no longer with you.

Are we to say she still has it OR it is "expired" in that the name is no longer correct/valid OR should we send it to the Thai passport authorities?

Thanks for any advice

[NarcosisDiver]

Seems to be one problem after another!!!

So my thai gf has a Savings account bank book with Siam Commercial showing among her salary every month, miscellaneous deposits & withdrawls. This is due to her company's accountant giving her cash to put in there to pay for certain expenses such as flights for her boss (she is his PA) & other employees, office supplies, equipment, materials etc etc

Now of course, coming to fill in the application there are all these transactions in her savings account she cant really account for as her savings book is cash operated.

Firstly, is her company, by asking her to do this being a bit naughty to avoid taxes and other expenses a business may incur in Thailand?

Secondly, knowingly or not, are her actions criminal?

Thirdly, how do we explain this on the application? Of course we can show her salary going into her savings account each month, but as a result we expose all these other transactions in her account to the UK authorities which cant reasonably be explained unless her company can provide evidence of the expenditures.

Help!

[the scouser]

^^

Just explain it as it is: the current passport was obtained to reflect a name change and supersedes the old document.

Scouse.

[the scouser]

^^

You're just going to have to explain it as it is. If the company is willing, they could give you written confirmation that the ad hoc deposits are in relation to their expenses.

I don't know whether this is in breach of Thai tax laws, but that's not something that would necessarily concern the British embassy anyway.

Scouse.

[the scouser]

I've merged all three of your threads about your girlfriend's visit visa application. Rather than start a new thread for each question you may have, perhaps keep it all together and then, hopefully, it'll read properly.

I've also taken the opportunity to delete one post which was of no relevance to the thread.

Scouse.

[Mossfinn]

I've merged all three of your threads

Thank Heavens for that, I thought I was going mad, could you delete my post please, as it now has no relevance, cheers.

Moss

[the scouser]

All 3747 of 'em?

Scouse.

Edit// One down, 3746 to go.....