Settlement Visa Advice

[cuddleypete]

i am going to pattaya on the 6 april this year to meet my wife for a month,and on the 20 april 2005 we go to bangkok british embassy for her interview for settlement visa,everywhere i look for guidance internet pages tell you different things, new rules, exceptions blah blah blah. I will be so glad when we finally have the visa,it has been a long uphill strugle ,we tried for 2 hoilday visa so ,with no luck each time refused,and told why we not do settlement visa,so we are,we have done everthing like embassy so do,so i hope this time they give my wife her visa so we can start living properly as husband and wife,

i would like any tip's or advice please on what she can say at interview,or what they might ask her?,i think we have all the paper work that is needed,but could some one please tell me whats needed just in case we have forgot.

i hope this time we get then it will be over at last,

many thanks to a brilliant forum , pete

[the scouser]

Pete,

The following are what everybody needs to submit although the visa officer can ask for further documentation depending upon the circumstances of an individual application:-

1. Your passport (or copy) and your wife's passport

2. Completed application form and 2 photies

3. The fee

4. A covering letter which briefly describes your relationship, circumstances and intentions.

5. Your last 6 months' bank statements.

6. Your last 3-4 months' wage slips.

7. Evidence of sufficient accommodation.

8. Evidence of contact, e.g letters, e-mails, phone bills/cards, photos, greeting cards etc.

9. Your marriage certificate and translation if in Thai.

The questions that she will be asked will revolve around you and your life together so she should have a thorough knowledge of you and your circumstances. Here are a few examples but they are by no means exhaustive:-

1. What's your husband's date of birth?

2. Has he been previously married?

3. Does he have children? If so, what sex are they/how old are they?

4. Where in the Uk does your husband live? (If, for example, you live in Croydon saying London is not good enough.)

5. What are your husband's hobbies?

6. What do you like doing together? ( )

7. What job does your husband do?

8. Why did you decide to marry? (Don't say, "because I've twice been refused a visit visa" .)

etc, etc.

Just out of interest why did thay refuse the visit visas? If because they doubted your wife would stay with you when in the UK then be careful they don't use this one again by saying that they don't accept that you intend to live together permanently

Best of luck,

Scouse.

[GU22]

Pete, first have a read of Guidance - Husbands, wives and partners (INF 4)

and then Bringing a visitor or fiance to the UK Although this second site relates to Fiance visas, the basic requirements are the same as for a settlement visa. The only real differance being that for a settlement visa you will, of course, need to provide your marriage certificate.

Once you've read through that lot, please come back if you have any questions.

[cuddleypete]

Hi

Many thanks for your replys ,what you said was very helpful, we have

all ready put application in and got interview date in april,when we hand in

more email ,letter's phone card's etc,

this is what they say first time

You have applied for entry clearance to visit your husband for one month, I

have taken into account the need to maintain family ties and the

compassionate aspects of your application. However the following factors

weigh against granting entry clearance to you.

There has been little change since your previous application 5 weeks ago

,you have a little more evidence of contact and demonstrate some English

ability now however, the main reasons for your previous refusal still

remain, you did not appeal against your previous refusal.

You have not provided a credible reason why you are not applying to settle

with your husband. you have said that you will go for one month return and

apply for settlement, no settle meant application has been submitted so it

cannot be that you want to be together with your husband while waiting for a

settlement interview slot to become available, also you say that if you do

not get a visa you will apply for settlement.

The onus is on you to satisfy me that you are a genuine visitor who will

leave the uk within the period stated, you have failed to satisfy me as to

this, you have gone as far as marring so if you had wanted to see the uk and

your husband’s children and family before making a decision you would not have

married first. You made no such application for a visit before you married

however, indeed you rushed into marriage after spending just over a week

with him

agian many thanks pete

[cuddleypete]

thanks for all your help

Edited March 9, 2005 by cuddleypete

[GU22]

Best of luck, Pete.

You have to admit, their reasons for refusing the visit visa do make some sense.

As some encouragement for you, my wife and I were in a similar situation when we first married. We wanted her to visit the UK before we decided where to live, but her visit visa was refused for similar reasons to those you've quoted. A few weeks later her settlement application was granted after an interview lasting all of 5 minutes!

This does not guarantee the same result for yourself, of course. You still have to satisfy the financial and accommodation criteria. But having refused a Visit Visa because

You have not provided a credible reason why you are not applying to settle with your husband.

and similar, it would be difficult for them to now say they do not believe the relationship to be genuine!

[cuddleypete]

[cheers for your help very helpfull many thanks pete