Visa For Thai Girlfirnd To Visit Uk

[Big Brian]

Hello.............

I'm very new to all this ....... I wonder can I ask advice please? I had a wonderful holiday in Pattaya and Bangkok November last year, during my stay in Pattaya I met a wonderful young lady, we spent all the remaining time together and got extremely close!!

I'd love her to visit me in UK, but, looking and reading various posts, it seems an almost impossible task! I did enquire via the British embassy about a 30 day visa, but after reading a fraction of the requirements, I gave up, I wonder has anyone on here had a similar problem.

Naturally I can support her whilst in UK, I'm in full time employment, own my own house and a little in the bank, so that's not a problem, it seems a very difficult task indeed.

Has anyone had a similar problem and can offer advise please?

Brian (Yorkshire, England)

[pnustedt]

No doubt you will have read from previous threads that it depends upon whether your g/f will be able to convince UK immigration that she would comply with the terms of the visa, in particular that she has a compelling reason to return to LOS within the time and not be a burden on the British taxpayer.

You don't give much away about her except that you had a holiday romance in Pattaya - UK imm will want to know a lot more to approve a visa.

[Big Brian]

No doubt you will have read from previous threads that it depends upon whether your g/f will be able to convince UK immigration that she would comply with the terms of the visa, in particular that she has a compelling reason to return to LOS within the time and not be a burden on the British taxpayer.

You don't give much away about her except that you had a holiday romance in Pattaya - UK imm will want to know a lot more to approve a visa.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi.....

Thanks for the extremely fast reply. She actually wortks in Pattaya and, has 2 children from a previous failed marrige to a Thai guy!

I wonder if that might be a good enough reason.............It seems all the odds are stacked against a visa being approved, it was just a nice thought my being able to offer her a free 'holiday' in UK.

I fullly understand the reasoning for the immigration people being cautious, the UK presently is over flowing with people (English and non English) being a huge burden on the tax payer.

A final point, I have seen adverts offereing help (I presume for a fee) for Thai's to get an entry visa to UK etc., I did enquire with one such advert, but never got a reply, that probably says it all.

If we were engaged, would that make any difference I wonder.

By the way, thanks for the reply and your time in replying, it's much appriciated.........

Brian

[andyadam]

You wil need to prove the relationship, november 2004, not much chance.

[lopburi3]

You have given no information that would serve as proof she would leave the UK at the end of a visa. The children might be a reason in some societies but in Thailand they can and often are put in the care of family rather than with mother in a failed marriage. The last idea, engagement, serves to prove she has no intent to return to Thailand if you are not employed here.

If engagement/marriage is your long term plans you should probably be looking at settlement visa process rather than a tourist visa. Make a few more visits here first would be my; and most peoples advise I believe. Keep full records of travel/calls/photos/letters etc. if you believe this will be more than a short affair. But do take some time to reflect on what the future may hold. Can your differences work to bring you together or push you apart after the infatuation phase ends?

[pnustedt]

I'd give it a try.

She'll need a letter from you as a sponsor, stating where she will be staying and that you will buy a return air ticket for her, plus evidence of your ability to support her whilst in UK and evidence of your relationship i.e. phone receipts, photos, etc.

A letter from her employers stating that she is taking xx days leave, wage slips, her childrens' and her birth certs., passport, fee, etc. etc. If she owns property evidence of that may help. I don't think being engaged would help.

Unless she is really intimidated I would not use an agency.

If she is successful beware that she could get further hassle at Heathrow -some of immigration staff there are real dragons, would be better if you could accompany her.

I did it and looking back I think our circumstances were more dubious than yours seem to be.

Good luck

[Big Brian]

I'd give it a try.

She'll need a letter from you as a sponsor, stating where she will be staying and that you will buy a return air ticket for her, plus evidence of your ability to support her whilst in UK and evidence of your relationship i.e. phone receipts, photos, etc.

A letter from her employers stating that she is taking xx days leave, wage slips, her childrens' and her birth certs., passport, fee, etc. etc. If she owns property evidence of that may help. I don't think being engaged would help.

Unless she is really intimidated I would not use an agency.

If she is successful beware that she could get further hassle at Heathrow -some of immigration staff there are real dragons, would be better if you could accompany her.

I did it and looking back I think our circumstances were more dubious than yours seem to be.

Good luck

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for all the replies, there are a lot of negatives in this equation for us, I speak no Thai., she speaks some English, but, I like a challenge with reasonable odds, but most things seems against in thi quest.

Maybe better if I visited Thailand a few more times and see how things progressed, all this (like with other members maybe) seemed a good idea at the time, and still does of course!

What I will probably suggest is, on my next visit later this year to Thailand, is to maybe visit the British Embassy in Bangkok and with her and apply together in person, I'm wondering if she needs a (Thai) passport first, or, depending on the success of the visa application, get one then, I didn't want to burden this poor girl with the expence of her getting a passport, if the application was refused.

Finally, thank you all the for your time and efforts here.....

Brian

[PvtDick]

What kind of job does she hold, and does her bank passbook reflect monthly deposits of her salary?

[lopburi3]

Thanks for all the replies, there are a lot of negatives in this equation for us, I speak no Thai., she speaks some English, but, I like a challenge with reasonable odds, but most things seems against in thi quest.

Maybe better if I visited Thailand a few more times and see how things progressed, all this (like with other members maybe) seemed a good idea at the time, and still does of course!

What I will probably suggest is, on my next visit later this year to Thailand, is to maybe visit the British Embassy in Bangkok and with her and apply together in person, I'm wondering if she needs a (Thai) passport first, or, depending on the success of the visa application, get one then, I didn't want to burden this poor girl with the expence of her getting a passport, if the application was refused.

Finally, thank you all the for your time and efforts here.....

Brian

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Believe the wait is best. She will need a passport prior to any visa application and the cost is about 1,000 baht.

[paully]

Yes, the main things to show are:

1. An established relationship, the longer the better. I don't know that there is an 'official' minimum amount of time for a relationship, but I should think you need to show you've known her for at least 6 months. A year would be better.

2. She can show she intends to return to Thailand at the end of the stay. This is best done by showing a letter from an employer which states she is expected back at work, but you can try to use other evidence. Just having children living in Thailand will not, in itself, be evidence of intention to return: as others have already said, it is an accepted practice in Thailand for children to be brought up by relatives if the mother is away - and the consular officials will be perfectly aware of this.

If you can get these two sorted out, then a tourist visa should be perfectly possible. Having both of you there when the application is made is a good idea.

Edited January 13, 2005 by paully

[Big Brian]

Yes, the main things to show are:

1.  An established relationship, the longer the better.  I don't know that there is an 'official' minimum amount of time for a relationship, but I should think you need to show you've known her for at least 6 months.  A year would be better.

2.  She can show she intends to return to Thailand at the end of the stay.  This is best done by showing a letter from an employer which states she is expected back at work, but you can try to use other evidence.  Just having children living in Thailand will not, in itself, be evidence of intention to return: as others have already said, it is an accepted practice in Thailand for children to be brought up by relatives if the mother is away - and the consular officials will be perfectly aware of this.

If you can get these two sorted out, then a tourist visa should be perfectly possible.  Having both of you there when the application is made is a good idea.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hello Paully........

Thanks for the reply, it makes perfect sense what you say, thinking in depth about this matter and trying to be objective, it seems far better to wait and establish a longer relationship and then see how things are.

It's very easy after a (wonderful) holiday with a superb female to let ones heart rule ones head maybe!!

Another possibility of course would be for me to consider employment in Thailand maybe, I am a fully qualified electronics engineer, the UK is pretty short of good engineers, I guess Thailand might be too...something to think about?

I certainly have 'food' for thought here..............you sound from your reply you have been in a similar situation to myself, if this true, if you don't mind me asking of course!

Brian

[Richard W]

You might want to consider the advice given to Shrek in Total Novice Needs Help, and indeed the more recent advice given in Re: Marriage Laws. The downside gets a lot of airing in the Farang Pub forum.

Lots of people have been in your situation - there are lots of Thai wives in England, and they're not all ex-bargirls either. (A rough guess is that 50% are, but we're not into the 'spot the bargirl' game.) The pattern of applying for a visitor's visa, getting turned down and then getting a fiancée visa is extremely common. The visitor's visa part has been termed a racket.

If you're serious about your girlfriend, you may want to read up at www.thailand-uk.com about getting her children to the UK.