Uk Tourist Visa For Girlfriend

[Enjibenji]

Hi,

My girlfriend is hoping to come here in April for a month, during her university holidays. She already has a letter from her university saying that she will be coming during her holidays and will return to study after holidays have finished. I'm just wondering what else is there to do?

I understand that it would be easier for her to get the visa if i sponsored her. I'm wondering how I can do this? She will be staying with me and my family (me and my girlfriend are young), so should I write a letter and send it to her so she can show the UK embassy in bangkok? If so, what should I write, or how can I write it?

Or is there something I can download (like an application form), fill out, send to her and she can show her embassy? Or finally, do I even need to do it? Can she do it over there, and just supply my name/number if the embassy want to contact to confirm that she will be staying with me?

Is there anything else that is needed? She could obviously show our photos together to the embassy if needed, but is there any other documents that are needed?

Thanks for any help

[Mario2008]

Don't know much about this, but have a look here:

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf3sponsors

Should answer some of your questions.

[7by7]

See also:

Guidance - Visitors (INF 2)

Guidance - Sponsors (INF 3)

VAT2 Visitors: Visiting family; friends; as a tourist

Document checklist, especially item 7

Sponsored visits – If another person/a company is sponsoring your trip we must see the following documents- letter from the sponsor, a copy of their passport which include the biodata and all immigration record pages, their bank statements for the last 6 months or company registration and bank statements

[mariner29]

Ensure you follow the guidance and prepare a good application.

Good luck

[Enjibenji]

Thank you for those links, they are really useful

I'm wondering something. If my girlfriend goes to the embassy this week to hand in her application for a visa, and she doesn't have funds in her bank account to buy the flight tickets for travelling in 2 months, would she be refused application? Although she could get the money herself, it will just need another month or so - however she is travelling during Thai new year, and the later she waits for the money to accumulate in her bank and applies for the visa, the more expensive the tickets will be

She could show her parent's bank statement though, but i'm just wondering if she applied for the visa this week, would she need to have the immediate funds in her bank now to show she has money for the plane ticket?

thanks

edit: Also, it says the sponsor needs to copy their passport with all biometric data and all immigration pages. Does this mean the sponsor needs to copy basically every single page in their passport?

Edited February 1, 2009 by Enjibenji

[Mossfinn]

If my girlfriend goes to the embassy this week to hand in her application for a visa, and she doesn't have funds in her bank account to buy the flight tickets for travelling in 2 months, would she be refused application? Although she could get the money herself, it will just need another month or so - however she is travelling during Thai new year, and the later she waits for the money to accumulate in her bank and applies for the visa, the more expensive the tickets will be

You haven't categorically stated who is sponsoring your girlfriends visit.

If she is doing it off her own back, then it will show that she hasn't enough funds to holiday/visit in the Uk, hence she will need a sponsor.

edit: Also, it says the sponsor needs to copy their passport with all biometric data and all immigration pages. Does this mean the sponsor needs to copy basically every single page in their passport?

Yes, as far as I can remember, even blank pages, because you have to show the chronological numbering of the pages, you will note they often stamp the first page that opens, quite annoying really.

If that is wrong, hope someone will post quick

[Enjibenji]

thanks for the reply - it will be my parents who will be sponsoring her.

edit: Just to clarify, my girlfriend will be paying for the flight tickets, she will just be staying at my house.

Edited February 1, 2009 by Enjibenji

[Mossfinn]

, and she doesn't have funds in her bank account to buy the flight tickets for travelling in 2 months, would she be refused application? Although she could get the money herself, it will just need another month or so -

thanks for the reply - it will be my parents who will be sponsoring her.

edit: Just to clarify, my girlfriend will be paying for the flight tickets, she will just be staying at my house.

Then it will be your parents ability, without recourse to public funds, to sponsor her stay, the fact your girl friend cannot provide evidence to buy a ticket is neither here nor there

[mariner29]

Passport wise just a copy of picture and any stamps in/out of the country.

We have never inserted all the pages of the passport and we average 4/5 applications most months.

Good luck.

[ShugNorris]

I did the sponsoring of a visitors visa a year ago and literally just scanned the pages of relevance and didn't bother getting them certified.

Got accepted anyway and there was no mention. Also from what I've read here they wont refuse a visa on the grounds of that, obviously put a copy of your main page with your photo and pages with stamps of your visit.

Actually, I never did this for the settlement visa also, pehaps the reason it's been there without any contact for four weeks already!

Anyway, good luck with your girlfriends application.

- Shug

[mazimus]

you can do tha application online,you have to show how you can support her during the visit,you will have to provide evidence of a reasonably long relationship,6 months bank statements,you would also need a letter from your parents to say she can live at theirs and there is enough room for her etc

[Enjibenji]

Hi,

we're busy doing the visa application now - i'm wondering, should she put in her application (and fill in) the general visitor application (Application form VAF1A - General visitor) or the student application (Application form VAF1D - Student visitor) ?

she is a student at university.

Also, my dad is a bit sensitive about sending his 6 months bank statements away. She now has money for the flight ticket, and she is showing her parent's bank statements (For the last 6 months) which does have money coming in. Would it be enough (on my part) to just send a letter to the embassy saying that she will stay at my house? (Therefore embassy thinking her mum paying for food, etc. Although she will be eating at my house, just I can't prove it because my dad won't be sending his statements away to anyone).

Does anyone know around how much money altogether she would need to show to the embassy to stay here for 1 month? Without paying for accommodation, so just.. for eating and plane ticket?

Another thing, just a yes or no answer - Does my girlfriend need to show her parent's passport + company registration number + bank statements? Or is just bank statements ok?

Also, finally, do I need to download somekind of sponsorship application and send that also? Or is the letter sufficient.

Thanks for any help

Edited February 6, 2009 by Enjibenji

[mariner29]

If my girlfriend goes to the embassy this week to hand in her application for a visa, and she doesn't have funds in her bank account to buy the flight tickets for travelling in 2 months, would she be refused application? Although she could get the money herself, it will just need another month or so - however she is travelling during Thai new year, and the later she waits for the money to accumulate in her bank and applies for the visa, the more expensive the tickets will be

You haven't categorically stated who is sponsoring your girlfriends visit.

If she is doing it off her own back, then it will show that she hasn't enough funds to holiday/visit in the Uk, hence she will need a sponsor.

edit: Also, it says the sponsor needs to copy their passport with all biometric data and all immigration pages. Does this mean the sponsor needs to copy basically every single page in their passport?

Yes, as far as I can remember, even blank pages, because you have to show the chronological numbering of the pages, you will note they often stamp the first page that opens, quite annoying really.

If that is wrong, hope someone will post quick

No Moss just the relevant pages of interest.

[Enjibenji]

sorry about this - one more question (for now).

Am I able to scan a handwritten letter from my dad + passport stuff and send to my girlfriend by email, so she can print it off there and show the embassy?

or do i have to send everything by post to thailand?

thanks

[Mossfinn]

I think I might have shot from the hip, but as others had responded previously, I hadn't bothered to explain.

I know I had all the wife's passport pages verified for a particular visa, I just can't remember which, but then it could have been pure belt and braces on my part, as it didn't cost me anything extra, it was not a worry.

Edited February 6, 2009 by Mossfinn

[7by7]

i'm wondering, should she put in her application (and fill in) the general visitor application (Application form VAF1A - General visitor) or the student application (Application form VAF1D - Student visitor) ?

As she will be coming to the UK to visit friends/asa a tourist then she should complete VAF1.

Am I able to scan a handwritten letter from my dad + passport stuff and send to my girlfriend by email, so she can print it off there and show the embassy?

or do i have to send everything by post to thailand?

As copies, printouts etc. can be easily altered the embassy prefer originals or certified copies. So I would post the documents and letters to her.

[7by7]

As she will be coming to the UK to visit friends/asa a tourist then she should complete VAF1.

Sorry, that should be VAF1A!