Another Lazy Set Of Settlement Visa Questions

[Baboonboy22]

Hey guys,

Once again I would like to tap into the collective knowledge of the Thai Visa Forum.

Rather than searching through all previous posts, I thought it would be quicker to just ask.

My fiancée and I are getting married the end of next month, so I need to start getting all the paperwork together.

She has had 2 successful visit visas to the UK. So am I right in thinking that all I need to do is refresh all the docs (upgrading the bank statements to the recent 6 months etc) adding our birth certificates and our soon to be acquired marriage cert to the pile.

She didn't give a cover letter for the previous visas, but she will this time just highlighting the contents and our relationship so far. Basically the same as the sponsor letter that I gave but from her perspective.

I'm aware that certain parts of the law have changed towards people coming into the UK, but do any of them effect us?

I'll give a full break down of documents that I have later. If someone could have a quick look to see if I've missed anything out it would be really helpful.

But if you could clarify that what I said is correct it would be great. Or am I being really naive, and I actually have a hel_l of a lot more work to do than I think

Anyway.. any help you guys can provide will be greatly appreciated.

BB22

[vinny]

See also Guidance - Husbands, wives and partners (INF 4) and 13.5 - Spouses/civil partners and how they qualify and Rob's Guide To UK Settlement Application Preparation.

[Baboonboy22]

Thanks for the links vinny. Yea I've read through them before, which is why I came to thinking that it was the same as what I've done with the previous visas, just with the extra certificates.

Just need someone to say.. yes you are correct.. lol

I'm sure you all know what it's like, getting paranoid, thinking you're going to miss out something important, or finding something out after its too late.

[Baboonboy22]

Just a quick add on to what I originally posted.

The plan we have for as soon as I arrive in Thailand is to get my affirmation to marry sorted, then go to the Amphur office and get our marriage certificate, submit her visa application and then go to Samui for our wedding ceremony.

By being "legally married" before our "ceremony marriage" we thought was the best thing to do as it buys us an extra week, as I'm only there for 3 weeks, and the idea (depending on the outcome of the visa) is that she flies back with me.

Does anyone consider this as a problem regarding getting the certificate before the ceremony? As my fiancée has been chatting with other Thai women who are settled in the uk and this is what some of them have done also, so she reckons it will be fine. But I just want to check with you guys.

[the scouser]

There's no problem with that: the civil ceremony at the amphur and the religious ceremony are not related. Indeed, you are not obliged to undergo a religious ceremony.

Scouse.

[Baboonboy22]

I know this is a bit of a dumb question. But... I'm just writing up my sponsor letter for her settlement visa, I'm guessing I should be referring to my fiancée as my wife?

[the scouser]

As, when the application is submitted, you will be married, then yes.

Scouse.

[Baboonboy22]

I'm assuming its ok to mention about her finding work when she's here in the letters?

[Baboonboy22]

Right I have a few more questions...

- Can anyone foresee there being any problems that I still live at home with my parents? Our house is plenty big enough, we have our own double size bedroom, and the full run of the house.

- Do we need to mention anything about the plans we have when she's in the UK like we had to in the visit visa?

- I'm assuming there is no need to give a reason for her return to Thailand like in the v.v?

- Do we need to mention anything about the wedding ceremony or us being married? as we are having our ceremony after we hand in the application, we can't really give any details. So is the marriage certificate all they need?

- And I've read somewhere about giving original documents of mortgage statements and what not. For the v.v we just provided copies. Is that ok still?

[Baboonboy22]

<Apologies for the bump, I'm just starting to run out of time>

[7by7]

"I'm assuming its ok to mention about her finding work when she's here in the letters?"

Yes, as she is entering as your spouse she is allowed to work immediately.

"Can anyone foresee there being any problems that I still live at home with my parents? Our house is plenty big enough, we have our own double size bedroom, and the full run of the house"

None at all, but you must get a letter from them inviting the two of you to stay and confirming that there is at least one room available for your exclusive use. Evidence that they own the property, e.g. a mortgage statement, is useful; or if they rent then a letter from the landlord granting you permission to live there.

"Do we need to mention anything about the plans we have when she's in the UK like we had to in the visit visa?"

Not necessary.

"I'm assuming there is no need to give a reason for her return to Thailand like in the v.v?"

Correct, she's Coming to the UK to live so doesn't need a reason to return to Thailand.

"Do we need to mention anything about the wedding ceremony or us being married? as we are having our ceremony after we hand in the application, we can't really give any details. So is the marriage certificate all they need?"

The Ampur registration is the legal marriage under Thai law, so it is this that the embassy recognise. Your marriage certificate is proof of this and all that is required. However, it wont hurt to state that you intend to have the ceremonial marriage on xdate.

"And I've read somewhere about giving original documents of mortgage statements and what not. For the v.v we just provided copies. Is that ok still?" Originals are preferred. If you do provide copies then attest them as follows: "I certify that this is a true copy of ........"

[Baboonboy22]

With the application do we need to give original copies of our birth certificates? or do we only need them to obtain the marriage cert?

[Baboonboy22]

Oh and thank you very much 7by7 for that, was just what I wanted to hear

[7by7]

With the application do we need to give original copies of our birth certificates? or do we only need them to obtain the marriage cert?

As you can see from the list of supporting documents, birth certificates are not required.

[CharlieB]

Just a quick add on to what I originally posted.

The plan we have for as soon as I arrive in Thailand is to get my affirmation to marry sorted, then go to the Amphur office and get our marriage certificate, submit her visa application and then go to Samui for our wedding ceremony.

By being "legally married" before our "ceremony marriage" we thought was the best thing to do as it buys us an extra week, as I'm only there for 3 weeks, and the idea (depending on the outcome of the visa) is that she flies back with me.

Does anyone consider this as a problem regarding getting the certificate before the ceremony? As my fiancée has been chatting with other Thai women who are settled in the uk and this is what some of them have done also, so she reckons it will be fine. But I just want to check with you guys.

You might not have realised, but some people have started to experience delays in their visa applications being processed. Read a few posts done recently to see some people having visas take about a month to be given. I think 3 weeks might be cutting it fine. Have you paid for the ticket yet? When I applied for my wife's fiance visa I put the date of travel almost 3 months after the application date. This meant that any delays were ok. In the meantime I went home for most of those 3 months. I was in Thailand for just over 2 weeks and we submitted on the Wednesday of my first week, but it took until the weekend I flew home for them to send the passport back to the visa centre. That was when theren't any delays.

[Baboonboy22]

Thanks 7by7 once again.. I didn't think you did, but my fiancée heard otherwise.

And CharlieB.. yea I did notice that things seem to be taking longer for the visas to be granted.

Yea all the flights are booked and everything is ready for the wedding. I have a couple of weeks before the big day and a week afterwards. We are handing in the application the first week. At the end of the day if we haven't heard anything and I have to go back home without her then there's nothing I can do. She'll just have to wait until we know. We're not booking her flight until we hear. It's just going to be a proper downer if she can't come back the same time as me.

We're just hoping that because our application is fairly simple (ie she's been here before, no kids, no debts, just a normal young couple) that it will go through reasonably quickly. (That's my theory anyway hehehe)

[Baboonboy22]

I do have a few questions about this application form or should I say biography!

In section 6.2 Your Sponsor

"6.9 If your sponsor is in the UK when did they first arrive?" Does that mean my date of birth or what? that's when i 1st arrived

"6.2.10 Sponsor's permission to live in the UK." Guess I just write UK Passport, but then in "6.2.11 When did they get this permission?" is that the same as date of issue?

And finally will you gain any points if you do write something in "Part 7 Additional information"?

Like please please please .. me love you long time! (that's a joke by the way.. I'm not being derogatory.. promise)

[7by7]

Not every sponsor is a British citizen, so some of the queations do seem a bit silly when the sponsor is one.

Q6.2.9 I put my date of birth, for Q6.2.10 I put "British citizen" and for Q6.2.11 I put my date of birth again.

Worked for me!

In part 7 you should add anything you feel my help her application which has not already been covered in the form, supporting documents or your sponsor's letter. Don't worry if you can't think of anything.

They do try to process applications within 2 to 5 working days, but obviously if there is a period of high demand this can take longer. Fingers crossed, here's hoping she will be able to return with you.

Edited September 4, 2008 by 7by7