Thai Visitor To Uk.

[Robski]

Hi, my friend wants to invite his Thai girlfriend over to the Uk as a visitor.

He's a working guy, with mortgage, credit etc...

What paperwork and information is needed and where would he find it?

Is it an process that he can do himself or should he use a third party service to make it easier?

he's going to Thailand for Songkran, is there any paperwork or documentation he should take over with him?

Thanks in advance.

[Brigante7]

Hi, my friend wants to invite his Thai girlfriend over to the Uk as a visitor.

He's a working guy, with mortgage, credit etc...

What paperwork and information is needed and where would he find it?

Is it an process that he can do himself or should he use a third party service to make it easier?

he's going to Thailand for Songkran, is there any paperwork or documentation he should take over with him?

Thanks in advance.

Tell him to take any bank statements, utility bills, photos of his house, photos of where he works, credit card statements, mortgage statements or rent book, council tax bills, he'll have to write a letter to the UK embassy telling them where & when he met his G/Friend, proof that they have spent time together and communicated (photos, letters, e-mails, text messages), he will have to give her a letter inviting his G/Friend to come to the UK for a vist and he'll have to write a letter to the UK embassy asking them to grant his G/Friend a visa.

Good luck to him, he'll need it.

[CharlieB]

Hi, my friend wants to invite his Thai girlfriend over to the Uk as a visitor.

He's a working guy, with mortgage, credit etc...

What paperwork and information is needed and where would he find it?

Is it an process that he can do himself or should he use a third party service to make it easier?

he's going to Thailand for Songkran, is there any paperwork or documentation he should take over with him?

Thanks in advance.

Your friend will have to provide info on where she is going to stay while in the UK, the purpose of the visit, how much money will be available for her to live on, how long she intends to be in the UK, details of relationship to back up the reason for visiting etc.

Your friends girlfriend will also have to provide proof of some fairly decent reason to return to Thailand. This could be a decent job, university course, land ownership, other major assets, close family ties etc. The people assessing the visa application will start off with the assumption that this person may just want to gain access to the UK cheaply via a visit visa with the purpose of overstaying. One of the burdens of proof is to convince them that his girlfriend will comply with the conditions of the visa and return to Thailand before it expires.

[Mossfinn]

What paperwork and information is needed and where would he find it?

For a visitor visa Robbo he will need This Form for her.

Is it an process that he can do himself or should he use a third party service to make it easier?

This will depend on the difficulty of the application, how long has he known her, proof of friendship etc, generally you should be able to navigate the form without the attention of an advisor, however if he does feel the need for help I am sure you can point him in the right direction

As has been stated, RtR is a get out clause the Embassy uses for ease of refusal, so this needs attention, if nothing else Load the family connections.

This friend Robbo is not known to me is he? After your extended trip, is there something you want to tell me

Good Luck and pick up the phone, you can spin me a yarn or two.

Moss

Edited March 7, 2009 by Mossfinn

[Robski]

Tell him to take any bank statements, utility bills, photos of his house, photos of where he works, credit card statements, mortgage statements or rent book, council tax bills, he'll have to write a letter to the UK embassy telling them where & when he met his G/Friend, proof that they have spent time together and communicated (photos, letters, e-mails, text messages), he will have to give her a letter inviting his G/Friend to come to the UK for a vist and he'll have to write a letter to the UK embassy asking them to grant his G/Friend a visa.

Good luck to him, he'll need it.

Yes I think luck is the key ingredient.

Are you saying that he should make the application in Thailand while he is there,

rather than making the application in the UK?

Your friend will have to provide info on where she is going to stay while in the UK, the purpose of the visit, how much money will be available for her to live on, how long she intends to be in the UK, details of relationship to back up the reason for visiting etc.

Your friends girlfriend will also have to provide proof of some fairly decent reason to return to Thailand. This could be a decent job, university course, land ownership, other major assets, close family ties etc. The people assessing the visa application will start off with the assumption that this person may just want to gain access to the UK cheaply via a visit visa with the purpose of overstaying. One of the burdens of proof is to convince them that his girlfriend will comply with the conditions of the visa and return to Thailand before it expires.

It certainly is minefield, where one false move spells disaster.

As you and Moss have said, it is the onus of the applicant to prove the visitor has a good reason to return to Thailand.

A very hard thing to prove no matter how good the visitors credentials.

As has been stated, RtR is a get out clause the Embassy uses for ease of refusal, so this needs attention, if nothing else Load the family connections.

This friend Robbo is not known to me is he? After your extended trip, is there something you want to tell me

Good Luck and pick up the phone, you can spin me a yarn or two.

Moss

You haven't met this friend Moss although you have heard of him,

perhaps if I bring him over one night you could help explain the visa process, or at least get him roaring drunk.

I think the latter will be easier.

[Mossfinn]

If he does feel he requires an Agent, ensure he goes for an OISC registered Office, no Agent can guarantee a successful visa, but a lot can guarantee failure, some Agent who states for a fee he will have a visa in a PP, walk an Irish country mile.

Get him round to my place Robbo, I will either put him right, or get him langers, either way will be a result.

Moss

[CharlieB]

-snip-

Are you saying that he should make the application in Thailand while he is there,

rather than making the application in the UK?

-snip-

If you think about it, he's not making the application, it's her that actually makes the application. He can do all the form filling in, but it's done in her name. So, it should be done in her home country, which is Thailand. I'd advise him to get all the required paperwork together now, before he goes there. Then dedicate a few days to running around BKK with her to get any translations done and get the application in.

Unless your friend is the forgetful type, very unorganised, or doesn't know how to fill in forms properly there is no reason for him to get an agent involved. If he does get an agent involved, make sure he gets reputable one that will actually help him, rather than themselves to his bank balance. Might be worth him posting on here himself with any more specific questions.