Which Visa Is Best, Help Please..

[craigm16]

Hello Everyone.

Im about to apply for a visa for my Fiance to come and stay with me permanently in the UK, With the intent to marry. ( no dates set as yet )

Which would be the correct visa to apply for.

VAF1H - Marriage Vistor

or

VAF4A - Settlement

Thank you for the advice.

[7by7]

A marriage visit visa is just that; a visit visa that allows the holder to marry while in the UK. It confers no settlement rights and cannot be converted to settlement in the UK, your fiance would have to return to Thailand at the end of the visa and apply there for settlement.

If the intention is to settle in the UK after the marriage then your fiance should apply using form VAF4A.

You may find the following helpful:-

SET01- Fiancé(e)s

Maintenance and accommodation

For where and how to apply, fees, details of the TB certificate requirement etc., see UK visa application website.

A settlement visa as a fiance is valid for 6 months, during which you marry and your fiance then applies for Further Leave to Remain, using Form FLR(M). The fee for this (w.e.f. 6th April) is £400 by post or £600 in person.

FLR lasts for 24 months, at the end of which she applies for Indefinite Leave to Remain using Form SET(M). (In order to qualify for ILR applicants need to demonstrate that they meet the knowledge of language and life in the UK requirement.) The fee for ILR (w.e.f. 6th April) is £840 by post, £1095 in person.

If you marry in Thailand then your fiance can apply for settlement as your spouse. This visa will last for 27 months and once the holder has been in the UK for 24 months they can apply for ILR (again, they will need to satisfy the KOL requirement).

So, marrying in Thailand cuts out the FLR stage and so saves that fee. Also, fiances cannot work in the UK until they have FLR; spouses can work immediately.

The requirements for a spouse and fiance visa are essentially the same; except for a fiance visa you need to show that you intend to marry during the 6 months life of the visa, for a spouse you need to show that you are already married.

Just a thought; it is, of course, your decision whether to marry in Thailand or the UK.

[craigm16]

Thanks for the reply.

Your info is top notch..

Thanks again.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

I believe you are referring to what is the purpose of your visit which is for marriage/enter into a marriage you would require :

Husbands wife's/partners

If you require professional help feel free to contact me we have offices in the UK/Thailand.

Edited April 2, 2010 by ThaiVisaExpress