Hi,

I would like to bring my Thai Gf to the UK later this year and I understand that as a sponsor I will need to show that I can support her during her stay and also provide evidence of our 3.5 year relationship, which I am totally happy about and I fully understand the documents and evidence which I will need to provide,but I have a few questions ???

1)What I am not sure about is the procedure , who needs to contact the embassy first is it the sponsor or would it be my girlfriend?? Is there a web site which shows the procedure.

2)My Girlfriend has a 5 Yr old son and for the last 18 months has been working on the family farm , does having a son and her working on the family farm constitute a good enough reason for her to return to Thailand as I understand this can be a bit of a sticking point??

3)My Girlfriend only has little savings , but her family have told her that the money earned form the sale of rice , sugar cane , ginger could be put in my GF bank account ,do you think that this will help

4) Do you know any companies in the UK that would provide medical insurance for my GF during her stay

Your help would be much appreciated

Cheers

Dave

P.S congratulations on a very informative site

Your Girlfriend has to apply on her own. She applies not at the Embassy , but here.

Lots of info on the site.

http://www.vfs-uk-th.com/

1) See reply above.

2) Reason to return can be a minefield, and as many Thais leave their children with relatives so they can travel, often long distances, to work having children is not, by itself, deemed a reason to return. However, as long as the visa officer is satisfied that she is a genuine visitor with a genuine reason to visit the UK then reason to return is not that big a deal. Given the length of the relationship I don't see a problem. Just explain her current situation, the history of the relationship, the reason for her visit at this time and your future plans together in your sponsor's letter.

3) If the visa officer sees evidence of padding a bank account they will start to have doubts. However, as her sponsor you can provide some or all the funding for the visit. You will, ofcourse, need to provide evidence of your ability to do so. See Chapter 9 – The maintenance and accommodation requirements .

The following may be useful to you as well:-

Chapter 2 - Visitors

Guidance - Visitors (INF 2)

Guidance - Sponsors (INF 3)

4) I'm not sure if you can buy travel insurance for her in the UK as she is not a resident, but there are many firms in Thailand who will provide cover, such as BUPA Thailand.

Hi ,

Many thanks for your reply's , theres lots of information i can now look and hopefully this will help me with my application.

Just a few more question

I have heard about people queing at the British emabassy in bangkok for a visitor visa, do you think this is a better way to apply or is a postal application sufficient.I travel to Bankgok in April 09 ???

Also will my GF have to have a interview at the embassy to apply for a visitor visa???.

Is there any special format for the sponsors letter??.

Many Thanks

Hi ,

Many thanks for your reply's , theres lots of information i can now look and hopefully this will help me with my application.

Just a few more question

I have heard about people queing at the British emabassy in bangkok for a visitor visa, do you think this is a better way to apply or is a postal application sufficient.I travel to Bankgok in April 09 ???

Also will my GF have to have a interview at the embassy to apply for a visitor visa???.

Is there any special format for the sponsors letter??.

Many Thanks

Like I said she does not apply at the Embassy. She just submits and goes back in a few days.

They try to to decide without the need for an interview.

Hi,

I would like to bring my Thai Gf to the UK later this year and I understand that as a sponsor I will need to show that I can support her during her stay and also provide evidence of our 3.5 year relationship, which I am totally happy about and I fully understand the documents and evidence which I will need to provide,but I have a few questions ???

1)What I am not sure about is the procedure , who needs to contact the embassy first is it the sponsor or would it be my girlfriend?? Is there a web site which shows the procedure.

2)My Girlfriend has a 5 Yr old son and for the last 18 months has been working on the family farm , does having a son and her working on the family farm constitute a good enough reason for her to return to Thailand as I understand this can be a bit of a sticking point??

3)My Girlfriend only has little savings , but her family have told her that the money earned form the sale of rice , sugar cane , ginger could be put in my GF bank account ,do you think that this will help

4) Do you know any companies in the UK that would provide medical insurance for my GF during her stay

Your help would be much appreciated

Cheers

Dave

P.S congratulations on a very informative site

Hi

From our experiance make sure you have plenty of detail to show you have known each other for the time you state.

The process we found to be straight forward and pain free.

Like yourself my GF has a young child and had been working on the family farm, from what i recall i dont think she said that she had any savings and no bank details were supplied on her part.

As for medical insurance we arranged this once visa was granted and flight booked through a local travel agent in thailand.

hope this helps & good luck

spider

Thanks for the link to www.vfs-uk-th.com its very useful.

1 last question (Honest!!)

When my girlfriend applies for the visitor visa at what point should the sponsorship letter be sent, should they be sent together ??.this bits still confusing me

Cheers for the info much appreciated.

Many Thanks

Thanks for the link to www.vfs-uk-th.com its very useful.

1 last question (Honest!!)

When my girlfriend applies for the visitor visa at what point should the sponsorship letter be sent, should they be sent together ??.this bits still confusing me

Cheers for the info much appreciated.

Many Thanks

She submits everything at the same time. The whole lot is part of her application

Also a letter from the householder in the UK offering her accomodation for her stay. Including a Utility Bill or some other proof that the householder actually has the accomodation to offer.

Copies of your passport and bank statements.

Anything that ties her to Thailand, property,car,driving licence, anything you can think off however trivial.

You must submit the application including sponsors letter etc just follow the guidance on UK/Vac.

Good luck