Advice On Tourist Visa

[walg]

ning got her tourist visa today to come to see me in england today.

thanks for your help a few months. i opted to do it all ourselves even though i am in the uk.

she is 18 and at university. i am 35 and earn 50k per annum living in london.

i had collected 12 months worth of emails together with proof that i went to see her every 3 months or so. also bank statements, proof that i send her a little money (i opened up an english account which didnt charge for foreign withdrawals and gave her the card then i could transfer her money at anytime anywhere for free), proof of address, telephone bills (although i call her from work, i could still show 100's of sms). also i had pictures of me at her families home with her nan and mum and sister etc, these i photocopied. i didnt send everything just a kind of mean average.

for instance, i showed my inbox showing 25+ emails and about 6 or 7 example emails. couldnt send all my mail as ning loves bad language! i didnt send every payslip just a random 4 from the whole year.

i included a letter stating my good intentions, basically saying that we where genuinely boyfriend and girlfriend and why i felt she should be able to come and visit me. "i feel it only just and fair that my girlfriend should be able to come and visit me in my own country!" that sort of thing.

this 1/2 inch thick file went off to ning and she did the rest.

she had to get several of her thai documents (parental release (under 20), and i assume I.D. etc) translated into english professionally. this cost a few thousand.

then it was a flight down from udon to the embassy and of course shopping and clubbing monies. she was intervied that day and told to return the following month.

she went this morning and was interviewed again. she had written a sweet letter mimicking mine and basically stating her good intentions. although a mess i decided not to change a word since it was clear what she had meant and clear it had come from her uncensored.

she was given a second interview and passed. i recieved a photo from her phone of the visa in my email and knew we had done it. i had tried to set her up for a fall but in the end it has come good. i thought my chances where about 50-50 mainly because of her age but also because of many stories of failed attempts. i have fogotton how much the visa cost which means it was negligable.

i suppose the hard bit starts now. luckily i am still young at heart and still frequent londons clubs and bars 5 nights a week. nightlife is her favoutite hobby. i intend to take some holiday when she gets here and luckily i only work 3 days a week and even then i can take her to work some days. she also has a best friend out here which is a stroke of luck and a half cause i can farm them both off shopping or out at night and get some time with the lads.

i know there are probably 1000's of men out there in the same boat as me and i have written this in the hope that it help you guys. i am very lucky though i reckon i can reitre in 2 or 3 years with some canny manouvering and guess where i am gonna go.

john