When To Apply For Visitor Visa

[Philbot44]

Hi Everyone hope you can put me straight on a couple of things.

I met my g/f online in Feb 2005 and went there for the 2 weeks may/june this year. As like others I have been swept of my feet and plan to re-visit end of September and hopefully arrange for the interview at BKK so she can visit the UK.

I have a good job at present about £37k and my own house however I am taking voulentary redundancy end of august and then going to start my own business. The severance pay will top up my bank acount by about £50k and I will receive a pension in 4 years time of around £16k per annum.

So to my questions:-

Is there enoguh time between now and end of september to arrange the visa and interview on my next visit? (it is a Visitor visa's I require).

Would it be beter applying now while I have pay slips etc.. rather than later when I have no history of my new business i.e. as in accounts? and if I fail the first time will they request further pay slips at a later stage when I will have left my employment?

The other question I have is she is 24 I am 45 will this predjudice my visa in anyway are they more strict if the age gap is larger and if so in what ways?

Thanks in anticipation

[the scouser]

Hi Philbot,

The wage slip scenario is a bit of a catch-22. If your g/f were to apply now with you supplying your wage slips, the visa officer might condemn the application because you've only known each other a relatively short time, but if you wait until it is stronger, then you won't have any accounts from your business to show them. What does your g/f do as, ultimately, it will be her circumstances which dictate whether or not she gets a visa?

The current waiting time between lodging a visit application and an interview as of 26 March is quoted as 26 days. If you are intent on your g/f applying for a visa before your arrival in September then there is sufficient time.

Cheers,

Scouse.

The age difference may raise an eyebrow but won't adversely effect your g/f's chances.

[Philbot44]

Ok she has jsut finished university at Udon and is now back living with parents so unfortunatley she is not in work I have asked her to try and get a job but she say it is difficult to get job in Kumpawapi but I say any job will do for now.

Yes maybe I should apply jsut before I take my redundancy say end of august then I have pay slips but will they check with my old job that they are legit becos if they ring to them later they will say I have now left the company?

Waht about if I get my friend who is an accountant to make some accounts for me will that do the trick or do they check everything even with the tax offices?

The business I am going into is Gas Installation/plumbing which msot people in Uk know is very lucrative so I do not know if that will cut any mustard or not with them do you?

Perhaps I should wait until after my 2nd visit I have lots of evidence already with regard to photos and phone calls ./ MSN chats pity I didnt have a picture with her parents when I was over there last time seems I did actually meet them. I will do this next time as its her birthday and Ithink we will all be going for a meal, guess I end up picking up the tab too.

Ps. What do people know about dowry;s here how much will it set me back and is it negotiable?

Edited June 11, 2005 by Philbot44

[GU22]

Philbot,

However tempting it may seem, do not attempt to lie or deceive the Embassy in any way! The slightest slip and it's no visa. The only way to ensure that your story and your girlfriends responses in her interview are consistent is to tell the truth.

Explain the true situation exactly as you have here, provide as up to date pay slips as you can and at least 6 months worth of bank statements. From what you have said (£50K in the bank) you should not have a problem showing that you can afford to sponsor her visit.

The problems will come, I think, with her reason to return. She has no job and does not own property. Coupled with the short time you have known each other this will, in my opinion, make it difficult. Not impossible, but difficult. She (not you) will need to convince the ECO that she is a genuine visitor and will return to Thailand at the end of her visit. If the ECO thinks she is merely using you as a means of getting to the UK and will then disappear, then the visa will be refused. Remember they will be judging her intentions, not yours.

Please don't take offence at this comment. I am only trying to explain the thinking of the ECOs.

[Philbot44]

No not offended I welcome your comments and thanks very much for the advice..

I will wait until I see how my 2nd visit goes I still have some things I need to check out about her so maybe another visit to record her phone calls to friends might do the trick I am in no rush to be honest.

Thanks again

[Cossi]

No not offended I welcome your comments and thanks very much for the advice..

I will wait until I see how my 2nd visit goes I still have some things I need to check out about her so maybe another visit to record her phone calls to friends might do the trick I am in no rush to be honest.

Thanks again

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Record phone calls! Very interesting. How would this be done?

[Philbot44]

Well when I was last with her she had many mobile phoen calls so I use my mobile to record her on the phone then when I get home send it to my friend who has a thai wife and she can translate for me. You never know might pick something odd up from them conversations, wish I could whole heartly trust her but then I have too much to lose

hope this helps you

[Cossi]

Does this mean you only get to hear one side of the conversation?

[Philbot44]

half is better than nothing at all