Hello, long time reader first time poster.

I'm British and have been married a few months. I seek a tourist visa for my wife to travel with me to the UK for a short holiday (2-3 weeks), we will be travelling together out and back to Thailand where I now work. WP etc being used to show that I have reason to return to Thailand and my wife with me.

We have completed the VAF1(a) applcation online and are in the process of putting together the supporting documents, photgraphs for a planned submission in person early next week.

For things like our Thai marriage certificate and Channot (land title) documents etc - it is necessary to get these translated from Thai to English. If so can this be carried out in Pattaya? Does it need to be carried out by an approved translation service - like my freedom to marry document (English to Thai!)

How long does the VFS / Embassy take to process a simple (?) tourist visa like this?

Thank you.

Hello, long time reader first time poster.

I'm British and have been married a few months. I seek a tourist visa for my wife to travel with me to the UK for a short holiday (2-3 weeks), we will be travelling together out and back to Thailand where I now work. WP etc being used to show that I have reason to return to Thailand and my wife with me.

We have completed the VAF1(a) applcation online and are in the process of putting together the supporting documents, photgraphs for a planned submission in person early next week.

For things like our Thai marriage certificate and Channot (land title) documents etc - it is necessary to get these translated from Thai to English. If so can this be carried out in Pattaya? Does it need to be carried out by an approved translation service - like my freedom to marry document (English to Thai!)

How long does the VFS / Embassy take to process a simple (?) tourist visa like this?

Thank you.

Probably best to get them translated. I got my daughters birth certificate translated for my wife's visa application. The more info you can provide the better.

I had the translation done by the agency next to the VFS centre. I wouldn't advise people going in there for anything more than this kind of thing, ie simple translation.

Not sure how long it's taking at the moment, but my wife's settlement visa took just over a week and other people posting recently about visa decisions are quoting around 5 to 10 days.

Thank you - this is really helpful information.

My next question (arose last night while we were reviewing the supporting documents) in the event of an interview, either by telephone of in person - will the interview be conducted in Thai? If in English is a translator provided, would we be allowed to bring one with her (I assume from other comments) I am not allowed anywhere near the interview. Does the translator have to be registered / approved?

I ask this as I would guess the 'helpful' but high fee agencies might provide such a translation service - but as I read that they block signs pointing the correct way to the VAC processing office etc. I can't help but speculate that any live 'translation' that they might offer could also be a cause for visa rejection, but place a hook in the applicant saying that they/their agency would solve the problem, for a fee.

My next question (arose last night while we were reviewing the supporting documents) in the event of an interview, either by telephone of in person - will the interview be conducted in Thai? If in English is a translator provided,

When my wife went for hers, they asked if she would like the interview in Thai or English. My advise is, unless her English is of a high standard, go for the interview in Thai. They can sometimes quiz the applicant and you wouldn't want to refused because she answered something wrong which was "lost in translation" .

Good luck.

If she opts to be interviewed in Thai the embassy will provide their own translator.

VAF4 Question 6.1.3. If we need to interview you, what language would you like to use in the interview?

Application is 2/3 days at the moment i would doubt you would require an interview it will be a simple yes/no they tend not to bother with interviews for simple tourist visas anymore.

Hello, long time reader first time poster.

I'm British and have been married a few months. I seek a tourist visa for my wife to travel with me to the UK for a short holiday (2-3 weeks), we will be travelling together out and back to Thailand where I now work. WP etc being used to show that I have reason to return to Thailand and my wife with me.

We have completed the VAF1(a) applcation online and are in the process of putting together the supporting documents, photgraphs for a planned submission in person early next week.

For things like our Thai marriage certificate and Channot (land title) documents etc - it is necessary to get these translated from Thai to English. If so can this be carried out in Pattaya? Does it need to be carried out by an approved translation service - like my freedom to marry document (English to Thai!)

How long does the VFS / Embassy take to process a simple (?) tourist visa like this?

Thank you.

Get the interview done in Thai and translate the other documents.

There are a few places just over the footbridge near the embassy which will cost a few hundered baht.

Photocopy all your submitted documents just incase they lose them.

When i took my wife they told me not to bother applying for a visitor visa and made me get a settlement visa although i know this is not always the case.

Also when i went there they did not accept the fee in cash anymore and i had to go to the bank around the corner and get a bankers draft .

Anyway good luck.

When i took my wife they told me not to bother applying for a visitor visa and made me get a settlement visa

Sorry to wander off topic, but can you say who told you this and why?

One should only apply for a settlement visa if it is one's intention to settle in the UK. If one only intends to visit then one should apply for a visit visa. Being the spouse of a British citizen or resident does not change this.

VAF4 Question 6.1.3. If we need to interview you, what language would you like to use in the interview?

Pretty sure that question was not offered during the online version of VAF1(a) - maybe because it is just a tourist visa they remove that question as they assume that no interview will be required?

The Thai original documents we had translated and submitted certified copies, and yes the supporting check list suggests that translations are not required. The originals were presented at interview but returned at they point. My opinion is that we will probably require a more permanent visa in the future so I may as well get such documents now as what we have compiled for this application is a potted history of your relationship, any future 'application pack' will just be bigger. Easier to add to than start from scratch again.