Enough Time?

[Rj 81]

Hi Everyone

Firstly what a great site, very informative and am really glad I've found it. Mine and g/f situation is this, I've been Thailand since early Jan05, I now have a return date for UK on Jun 17. Me and my g/f have decided to go for it and try and get a visit visa for her. Are plan is to live with my Mum in the UK for the 6 months, then return to Thailand and apply for the settlement visa. This is if she likes the UK, hopefully she will. We are currently in the process of gathering all the relavent documents for hopefully a successful application. I reckon by the end of this week we will have all relavent docs and therefore should be ready to apply next week. My question is do you think we have got a chance of getting the visa in time for her to return back to the UK with me?

Any advice or encouragement would be great.

Rj

[the scouser]

Hi Rj,

Basically, it depends whether you g/f has to have a full interview or not, and, if so, how long she has to wait. However, I don't think the current waiting time for non-settlement interviews is that long.

You will have to show that you can look after your g/f whilst she's in the UK, both financially and in terms of accommodation. If you are going to be staying with your mother then get a letter off her inviting you and your g/f to stay. Your g/f will also have to display a good reason for her to return to Thailand at the end of the 6 months. If the visa officer perceives that you're going back to the UK for good, then he can infer from the situation that your g/f is too.

Best of luck,

Scouse.

[Rj 81]

Hi Scouse

Thanks for the reply mate. java script:emoticon(':)') Yeah my Mum is sending over a letter as we speak and I am also preparing a letter stating why she is visiting the UK and for how long, plus prove of accomadation.

Basically I am going to be honest and say we are not applying for the settlement visa yet because we want to be sure of our circumstanses in the UK, ie she likes it and we both settle into a routine nicely. Me or the g/f have no intention of overstaying the visa (if granted). It would make her situation really not good for the future plus we dont want to get into any trouble! Out plan is to return to Thailand after the 6 months then apply for the settlement visa. To me this is the best way to go about doing it. It's convincing the embassy of this though I know. Again thankyou for your help Scouse, very much appreciated.

Rj

[Rj 81]

Scouse

I nearly forgot

ps Congratulations on winning the Champions League

[the scouser]

ps Congratulations on winning the Champions League

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank you. Of course, it was all of my own doing

Scouse.

[Rj 81]

Hi Scouse

I know I failed to metion this before but anyway, my g/f has been refused a visit visa for Canada (previous boyfriend won a holiday and tried to take her). Subsequently we have applied for a new passport for her. Will this effect our chances, and with a new passport will it contain the refusal stamp? Thanks mate

Rj

[the scouser]

Did you declare the previous passport either lost or stolen, or did it just run its natural course and expire? If the former, then the new document might contain a reference to the original, in which case, not to put too fine a point on it, she's potentially buggered. However, I think you've done the right thing in being honest with the visa officer. Just lay it on as thickly as you can that the visit is to give your g/f the opportunity to meet your family and establish whether she likes the UK. Then, and only then, will marriage be considered and you'll both return to Thailand in order to apply for the relevant visa.

When was the Canadian visa refused and have her circumstances changed in any way since (other than now being with you)?

Scouse.

[Rj 81]

Hi Scouse

I don't know how she went about getting the new passport, I'll ask her when I get home. The Canadian visa was refused about 2-3 years ago, am not sure to be exact. Her circumstances are now that she has good job and is living with me. Again am not sure of her circumstances then, but i'll find out. As soon as I have the info I will let you know. Sorry to keep mithering.

Thanks

Rj

[paully]

^ She has to answer yes or no to the question, "Have you ever been refused entry to another country" on the VAF1 application form (question 4.7). There is space to explain why. She should be careful before deliberately submitting a falsehood, just in case a check is made. Also, they may want to see her previous passport as well.

[spacebass]

Hi Scouse

Thanks for the reply mate. java script:emoticon(':)') Yeah my Mum is sending over a letter as we speak and I am also preparing a letter stating why she is visiting the UK and for how long, plus prove of accomadation.

Basically I am going to be honest and say we are not applying for the settlement visa yet because we want to be sure of our circumstanses in the UK, ie she likes it and we both settle into a routine nicely. Me or the g/f have no intention of overstaying the visa (if granted). It would make her situation really not good for the future plus we dont want to get into any trouble! Out plan is to return to Thailand after the 6 months then apply for the settlement visa. To me this is the best way to go about doing it. It's convincing the embassy of this though I know. Again thankyou for your help Scouse, very much appreciated.

Rj

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Correct and honest as it may sound, my experience of applying for a visitors visa to UK embassies is if you say something like ' if my girlfriend likes the UK we will return

to Thailand and apply for a settlement visa' if they feel like it, and it really does seem to bare no relationship to anything except whim , maybe quotas , who knows,

they will interpret this as 'this person has aspirations to remain in UK and may do so if we grant visitors visa' therefore we reject application , then you will never overcome original refusal.

This is where it seems visa application firms come in knowing the wrinkles, what to say and what not to say, though I have never used one.

It certainly does not necessarily pay to be bare facedly honest with the Embassies they will only find a way to use it against you, if they need to.

Edited June 1, 2005 by spacebass

[Rj 81]

Thanks for the info guys, we are gonna have to have a think. Its not fair that they can turn things around on you, probably knowing what your intentions are but refusing you anyway.

Rj