Uk General Visa

[Digitalbanana]

Anyone have any experience of current Processing time for a UK General Visa for a Thai in Bangkok?

I have taken my GF twice previously in 2006 & 2008 for 1 week trips and need to do same this month. Shes legally married now. The http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/processingtimes web site now says processing times are 10 working days for 74%. Previously when I was unmarried on those last two trips it only took her 3 days? What can I expect this time. When she applied the Visa center could not say, but they did see our planned travel dates within one week and took our money.

I have already booked the tickets, hotels in UK for a weeks trip but if the visa is longer than the usual 3 days we experienced last yr, I will need to cancel the trip as I have a job to go to from Thailand.

Have we jumped the gun expected a UK visa to be issued within 5 days as we got last 2 times?

[barnaby666]

hello digitalbanana

my gf tourist visa was submitted 6 weeks ago and still waiting for a reply, my gf has tried to email and contact the embassy but has not been given an answer we were just told to wait for a phone call. i gues we just need to keep waiting. maybe your circumstances are different as you have had a visa granted in the past. many people have told me iv been waiting far too long, but what more can i do? i hope ur application is a lot swifter and that u have a holiday together in the uk. if u have hotels and flights booked maybe the embassy will fast track your application. my holiday plans are for november so maybe the embassy in bangkok are delaying my application untill closer to november...best of look with your application...

[Bladefire]

A friend of mine was at the embassy last Friday, 4 week wait for visitor visa im afraid

[Digitalbanana]

I just found out my Mrs got hers back today, we will pick it up tomorrow. So the wait isn't always as bad as it seems. We applied last Thursday afternoon and the web site says its ready to pick up now on Monday evening.

My worries are over .. thanks to all for help. I only plan to go for a week then we come back to Thailand.

[lekatai]

I was in a very similar situation to the OP.My wife applied for a UK family visit visa on the 3rd September,and the website information was that it was ready for collection on the 11th.I couldn't go that day,so went today and picked it up(14th) 2 year VV applied for,but only a 6 month VV granted,because it was only her second trip to the UK.I think if it is a straightforward application, possibly with previous visas being issued,it only takes a short time,although I wouldn't like to bet on it.In our case it was 7 working days including the day it was submitted.

[Thongkorn]

last year I got a general Visa for 6 months it took 4 days , Because they are tightening up on things this year it says up to 6 weeks, Why did you not apply for a settlement visa then she could come and go up to two years and get city sen ship

Edited September 14, 2009 by Thongkorn

[7by7]

last year I got a general Visa for 6 months it took 4 days , Because they are tightening up on things this year it says up to 6 weeks

I disagree; the waiting time depends mainly upon demand. The busier they are, the longer it takes. (Last december my sister-in-law handed her application in on Monday morning and collected her passport and visit visa on Tuesday afternoon!)

Why did you not apply for a settlement visa then she could come and go up to two years and get city sen ship

One should not apply for a settlement visa unless one intends to settle in the UK. Also, a two year settlement visa costs £585; a ten year visit visa costs £500.

To get citizenship one first has to have ILR, and then (among other things) satisfy the citizenship residency requirements. For the spouse of a British citizen these are; during the three years prior to applying the applicant has spent a maximum of 270 days out of the UK with a maximum of 90 days in the final year.

Not really suitable for a Thai resident who only wants to visit the UK for a few weeks every year!

[lekatai]

last year I got a general Visa for 6 months it took 4 days , Because they are tightening up on things this year it says up to 6 weeks, Why did you not apply for a settlement visa then she could come and go up to two years and get city sen ship

I am not sure if this is aimed at me or the OP,but as "7by7" says,you don't apply for a settlement visa unless you intend to settle there.I have no intention of doing that,We just wanted a visa that would let us come and go whenever we wanted,for a family visit or holiday.If you have to apply for a visa every time,it's very difficult to travel at short notice,and take advantage of last minute cheap fares,because you are never sure how long it could take to get it,or even if you will get a visa

Edited September 15, 2009 by lekatai

[Digitalbanana]

Yes, no plans for us to settle in UK. Thailand is our home, just need a week max per yr visit. I will apply a bit earlier next time, but good to see it can still be done quickly (2-3 days) when needed.

[barnaby666]

id really like to know why application is taking longer then 6 weeks..still no reply. iv tried calling, emailing and today have sent a fax. is it really possible they may have lost my application?

[lekatai]

id really like to know why application is taking longer then 6 weeks..still no reply. iv tried calling, emailing and today have sent a fax. is it really possible they may have lost my application?

Have you tried checking on their website using your tracking number.If you do that it will tell you the status of your application,i.e papers sent to Embassy,or ready for collection.On both occasions my wife has applied for a visit visa,there have been original papers missing when we got the application back,but I would think it very unlikely they could have lost a complete application.

[hhgz]

"Shes legally married now. "

To whom?

[barnaby666]

id really like to know why application is taking longer then 6 weeks..still no reply. iv tried calling, emailing and today have sent a fax. is it really possible they may have lost my application?

Have you tried checking on their website using your tracking number.If you do that it will tell you the status of your application,i.e papers sent to Embassy,or ready for collection.On both occasions my wife has applied for a visit visa,there have been original papers missing when we got the application back,but I would think it very unlikely they could have lost a complete application.

the online tracking status has'nt changed since i first submitted the application. im ok with the waiting, but my gf is climbing the walls. she does'nt understand why many of her friends seem to get theres after just a few days and she is waiting weeks and weeks. maybe there are others like me that are waiting weeks. or maybe our circumstances are taking the embassy a litle longer to come to a decision.

[Digitalbanana]

"Shes legally married now. "

To whom?

Well whoever it is, obviously did wonders for getting the visa issued in 3 days eh?