Marriage To A Thai Lady And Coming To The Uk

[exeter]

I have met a Thai lady who I intend to marry. Where do I do this legally so I bring her and her 7 year old daughter back to the UK. What do the UK authorities require, how long does it take and what costs are involved? Any advice would be most useful, thanks in advance.

[gregchambers]

Proof of relationship comes to mind as all you say is you have met a Thai lady... they also want proof that you can support and accommodate your new family. It is covered at length in other posts. It can take up to three months for the embassy to decide, BTW, although they are doing the simpler cases in 4-6 weeks at the moment. As long as the relationship is genuine and all the supporting paperwork correct then it should not be a problem

[ThaiVisaExpress]

You must demonstrate to the ECO you can maintain and accommodate them both without recourse to public funds etc.

And also demonstrate that your relationship is subsisting plus various other elements, I'm sure people will add other information.

If you require professional help feel free to pm me, we have an office in Thailand.

[7by7]

Have a read of

Guidance for British nationals wishing to marry in Thailand

Settlement; Spouses

Settlement; Children

Maintenance and accommodation

then come back and ask about anything you're not sure of.

For where and how to apply, documents required, fees etc. see Official UK visa application website in Thailand

[cuddleypete]

You should read other post on this forum to find some answer's ok

How long have you know the said lady??

And then come back and ask Question's you are not sure about and you will get the answer's here

[NALAK]

i am no expert but me and my friend both had success going about it this way, get visitors visa first, comply as keep her, return with visa validation time, come back to Thailand then reaply for fiance visa. i do not think its so easy get married and her and child can go. either way things change this was eight years ago look at total costs of around £1000, again this is what it cost me with the ILR being about 600 but other people here will give you accurate information. this is how it worked for me and my friend. as a matter of interest why do you not e mail home office yourself and ask them, or check out their website visa section lots of accurate information. just one difference between me and mate he used agency i did not, might cost you a bit more but agencies can take the pain out of what is a difficult process. when i went for the 2 year visa i produce over 60 documents of various information, as in e mails phone bills bank accounts investment statements mortgage documents etc etc

Edited November 18, 2009 by NALAK

[Richard W]

i am no expert but me and my friend both had success going about it this way, get visitors visa first, comply as keep her, return with visa validation time, come back to Thailand then reaply for fiance visa.

When it comes to poor Thais, it's generally reckoned to be easier to get a settlement visa for one's beloved than a visitor's visa if the chief breadwinner lives in the UK. Vistor's visa applications tend to fail for lack of a reason to return to Thailand.

[loquent]

i am no expert but me and my friend both had success going about it this way, get visitors visa first, comply as keep her, return with visa validation time, come back to Thailand then reaply for fiance visa.

When it comes to poor Thais, it's generally reckoned to be easier to get a settlement visa for one's beloved than a visitor's visa if the chief breadwinner lives in the UK. Vistor's visa applications tend to fail for lack of a reason to return to Thailand.

Do NOT go to or through any agency. They simply over charge, delay the process and should you have any concern they have you by the balls as a] they hold your money b] they can inform the Embassy of any thing they make up. Agencies? Think plague.

You can research it yourself. Ask questions on here. Visit the Embassy. Check it all out and never believe one person's advice [ I met a man in a bar who said ...] without independently verifying it.

As a rule of thumb, if she's out the bar then keep her out the bar. If you can get work records, employment records that are reputable then do so. Bank account details both hers and yours should be at hand. But remember, do NOT put such in the hands of a third party. Your accounts to the myriad of Pattaya, Phuket, Samui and Bangkok fraudsters are manna from heaven. Pattaya is worth another warning - it is the MAFIA capital of Thailand.

It is not a complex process to complete. It is an over the counter experience. There is nothing mystical or magical or that requires the 'expertise' of any agency. It is a process open to members of the public. The nonsense that any agency has 'freinds' in the embassy is a load of bull. Do you really think that even a third secretary dirtys his hands on some cut and run running a visa-marriage shop out of Pattaya? And I have heard first hand of blokes being cleaned out by their fees. Extortionate.

Plague. Keep thinking and you'll be fine. If you've known her some time, got letters, several flights or are based here, documentation to prove such, then get your papers shuffled and head off to Wireless Rd via the internet shop and you'll be fine. Join the queue. ask the questions and they'll tell you what to do. Say why deposit an arm and a leg with 'Fleece Em and Scarper Ltd. Vias Experts'.

Don't even accept well meaning advice. It'll be wrong. One visit to the Embassy, a bit of internet research and you'll be as 'expert' as those opening their traps on here. Me included. But then I have been there. Done that. So I am like the others, one who can speak up. And as such we are not in it for the money ....... agencies again ...... hole in the head and wallet.

Good luck.

Edited November 18, 2009 by loquent

[exeter]

Thank you all for your comments, it seems to me that it might be worth thinking about staying in Thailand, a lot less complicated, money goes further, weather is better( windy, rain and cold today) and the future in the UK looks bleak when you consider how much the economy is going to cost the taxpayer, let alone think that interest rates can only go one way. Perhaps I need to rethink this.

[7by7]

She will be applying for a settlement visa, i.e. to live in the UK not visit; so money in the bank, past and current employment, owning property and other 'reasons to return' are irrelevant.

It is not necessary for her to have visited you in the UK first.

All you need to show is that you are in a genuine relationship and that you can support and accommodate yourselves in the UK.

See the links I posted earlier.

Many "poor Thais" have successfully obtained visit and settlement visas to the UK, based upon a sound relationship with their sponsor.

Whether to live in Thailand or the UK after your marriage is you and your wife's decision; but don't be put off by the scaremongers.

[brd]

Beware as Thailand has never been part of the Commonwealth each Thai citizen is restricted to six months maximum per year to stay in UK after a lot of questions asked (costs to be guaranteed with funds evidence, etc...) to answer even if you have the right questions they will ask for more consequently looking like to deter many from visiting UK.

Remember it is an Island protecting itself form an ex ultra large by 2009 standards population of ex commonwealth Members keen to visit.

Work hard at the right things rather than hard also at the wrong things.

She will be applying for a settlement visa, i.e. to live in the UK not visit; so money in the bank, past and current employment, owning property and other 'reasons to return' are irrelevant.

It is not necessary for her to have visited you in the UK first.

All you need to show is that you are in a genuine relationship and that you can support and accommodate yourselves in the UK.

See the links I posted earlier.

Many "poor Thais" have successfully obtained visit and settlement visas to the UK, based upon a sound relationship with their sponsor.

Whether to live in Thailand or the UK after your marriage is you and your wife's decision; but don't be put off by the scaremongers.

[7by7]

With the exception of EEA nationals, all visitors to the UK, whether they are from a Commonwealth country or not, whether they are a visa national or not, are limited to a maximum stay of 6 months per visit and a maximum of 6 months in any 12.

All visitors need to have sufficient financial resources for their visit.

However, the point is moot as the OP is asking about settlement, not a visit.