Hi all,

I have been seeing a Thai girl for about a year. I spent 4 months in Thailand with her at the end of last year and the beginning of this. I have stayed in touch with her, and have just visited her again for a couple of weeks.

I'd like to bring her over to the UK for about a month or two. I'm not in love with her, although I do like her, and I have no intention of marrying her. But it would be nice if she could help make an English winter a bit more bearable. And if we got on OK in the UK, I would like her to visit often.

Her sister is seeing my mate (that's how I met her) and is due to visit the UK with him soon. They have already visited once so expect no visa problems. Should my GF try to get a tourist visa, with me being her sponsor, or would it be preferable (or even possible) for her to accompany her sister and my mate on a visit?

She currently works in her sister's bar. It is a (fairly sad and unpopular) girly bar, where she is the cashier. I helped her look after the place for two months while her sister and my mate visited the UK last Xmas, so I know her job is purely a clothes-on role. She used to run a market stall upcountry, and seemed to manage to pull in regular earnings. I think this is what she would rather go back to doing. In fact, I would like to cover the rent on a shop so she could do something she enjoys, and I'd have somewhere to stay when I visit.

If the normal tourist visa, sponsored by me, is the best option, should she tell the Embassy people she is currently the manager of a bar (she is when her sister is not around, usually)? Does that cut much ice, or do they just assume she is a bar girl? Should she tell them she runs a market stall? This hardly sounds like a compelling reason to come back to Thailand.

Hope that's enough info for you to go on. Feels like I just wrote my life story!

Thanks for any help.

I think you're best option is to pose as the sponsor and explain to the visa officer that your friend works for her sister to whom the embassy has already granted a visa and who has complied with the terms of that visa. (The inference being, "Well, if you've given her sister a visa you can give her one (a visa ), too"). Also explain that although the sibling owns the bar the sisters are each responsible for the bar when the other is away. It's not guaranteed to work but it's worth a shot. Certainly if they've granted the sister a visa, and their circumstances are similar, then it makes it more difficult for them to decline your friend's.

Cheers,

Scouse.

Also explain that although the sibling owns the bar the sisters are each responsible for the bar when the other is away. It's not guaranteed to work but it's worth a shot. Certainly if they've granted the sister a visa, and their circumstances are similar, then it makes it more difficult for them to decline your friend's.

Cheers,

Scouse.

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Scouse,

Thanks for the prompt reply. Much obliged for the info.

In fact, my gf runs the bar from 10pm until closing time most days. Her sister usually knocks off for an early night. I will be sure to mention this detail to the embassy staff.

Thanks again.

djmm

Scouse,

I've just thought of a further question regarding your reply(don't worry, there will be more!). Is it OK that my g/f travels at the same time as her sister and my mate?

I am worried about the authorities' assessment of reasons to return to Thailand. Her sister would certainly want her to return becuase she relies on her to run the bar most of the time. However, that begs the question that if the sister relies on her to run the bar so much, why are they travelling together, and who IS looking after the bar?

In other words, would she have a better chance of getting a visa (with me being the sponsor) if she travelled alone or with her sister?

Thanks again.

djmm

Providing that her sister supplies a letter for the visa officer's attention stating who is running the bar in their absence then no adverse conclusions should be drawn from their travelling together.

Scouse.