Hi all

I have posted questions for advice previuosly regarding g/f's settlement visa application.

Good news as the application was accepted a couple of weeks ago at the Embassy in Bangkok and we are now both back in the UK. Thank you to all that posted info back to me especially Scouser. It has been hard work in collating the correct paperwork and to be patient in waiting for the interview.

I will list some points below which might help any other members of this forum who are at present or in the future considering a settlement visa;

[1] The interview lasted 25 minutes for which I was not needed however I made it known that I was present with my g/f there.

[2] The main questions that were asked were;

How long have you known your b/f

What is his job

where does he live

how many brothers and sisters does he have

why do you want to marry him

what is his date of birth

who else lives in his house

where did you meet

when did you meet

[3] The interviewer was concentrating on the strength of our relationship, he was looking at the photos and the telephone bills of our telephone conversations. My g/f had a v/v a few months previous for which she overstayed but had a valid reason, he brought this up but we had documents to cover this and he was ok about it.

[4] When we arrived at Heathrow my g/f was reffered to the Medical office to have a chest X-ray carried out for TB. We were aware of the possibility of this so we were prepered, the whole thing took 20 minutes and we then went through immigration without any problems. The immigration officer asked my g/f when the marriage was going to take place and she answered with the date.

A very unusal situation arose as we were let through immigration, there was a Thai lady of about 50 years old who was having trouble with the immigration Officer. She didn't fill out her immigration/landing card card and so had no address of where she was staying ( we later found out she had a 6 months visa to visit a sick relative ), she couldn't speak English and the immigration officer couldn't locate the Thai translater. My g/f ( who can speak English fairly well ) turned to the immigration officer and said that she would help and translate and he said ok. The Thai Lady was being asked many questions and was becoming very flustered, anyway after a few minutes of translation the immigration officer let her through and said next time she will not be let through if she doesn't fill in the card ( she has been in the UK 2 times previous ). As my g/f and I walked out to baggage claim I turned to her and said " there you go, you have just found your new job in the UK, Thai translater in Heathrow " .

Anyway, we can relax now a bit and look forward to the wedding later this year.

Regards

Clive Sorts

Clive firstly well done on your success. I'm just going through the settlement visa process with my Thai wife. I find it up lifting that people like yourself take the time to update this site. Many thanks for doing so.

All the best to both of you Janner.

My Gf has her inetrview on the 28th. I hope she gets it so much. I am a nervous reck at the moment. Congratulations any way.

Spuds

I was in the same boat as you ( I've been following your previous posts ) but when I look back I now realise that I shouldn't of been so nervous.

Just make sure that your g/f knows as much detail about you and your relationship with her, where you met, when you met etc.. We supplied photos, letters and receipts way over what was required so that we never left anything to chance.

If you want to ask me anything pls don't hesitate to PM as I know how you must be feeling leading up to the interview.

Regards

Clive sorts

My Gf has her inetrview on the 28th. I hope she gets it so much. I am a nervous reck at the moment. Congratulations any way.

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Clive,

Good news! If you're serious about your wife becoming a translator you can write to the Home Office asking that she be put on their books. Of course, only after you're married and your fiancée has her extension allowing her to work.

Best of luck,

Scouse.

A quick question - how long after the submitting of the application was the interview - is it still around three months?

The UK Visas website shows the waiting time for settlement visas as 8 weeks as of 31/1/05. Check it out here.

Scouse.

A M W A P

My girlfriend handed in her application on the 16th Dec 2004 and the interview was 2nd March 2005.

Regards

Clive sorts

Hi all

Just a quickie on this subject- i am in thailand in 2 weeks time and i have all my stuff ready for the application- i was just going to turn up first thing in the morning and try that way- is this possible for a fiance/settlement visa or do you have to apply for the interview then wait for the alloted time

i never thought of this one before and reading these posts i for i would better check.

cheers

Sparky

Sparky,

As likely as not when you turn up at the embassy they will take in the application, ask you to pay, and keep the supporting documents. They will then give a date for the interview either verbally there and then or by post within 5 working days.

Cheers,

Scouse.

If your supporting documents are sufficient to satisfy the ECO that all the criteria are met and he/she is therefore "minded to grant" the visa then you, or to be accurate your fiance, may be called in for a "short interview" within a week of submitting the application. Otherwise I'm afraid the current wait for an interview is approx. 12 weeks.