Uk 6 Months Visiting Visa

[Hamburgo]

Hi all,

my Thai gf will apply for a UK Visiting Visa for 6 months. Most of my questions were answered by this helpful forum but I have a particular question about the visa interview: If they ask her/us what she is going to do during her long stay in the UK, what would be a good answer? I'll study in a Southeast Asian programme there, so is the answer "helping me with my studies / Thai translation" a good one? I also guess that we should avoid any hints about any kind of online work (website design, online shop, etc)?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[theoldgit]

A tourist visa is just that, she would be visiting as a tourist, any intention of studying and the application would fall at the first hurdle.

So why does she want to go for a six month holiday? it's not something you should be asking this forum what to put, it's something she should have already decided.

One of the most important thing to consider when applying for a tourist visa is convincing an Entry Clearance Officer that she is likely to return to Thailand, that would normally be employment, studies or other strong ties to Thailand, and I don't know many jobs that would allow a six month holiday.

If you have really though this through then I apologise, but I really think that you need to lower your expectations and prepare an application for a proper holiday.

Edited August 9, 2010 by theoldgit

[Hamburgo]

Hi,

thanks for your answer! Our intention is not that she studies or works - she simply wants to stay with me while I am studying there. But I thought that the officer might ask her during the interview what she wants to do when I am in the University and for this particular question I was looking for a good answer suggestion.

[theoldgit]

thanks for your answer! Our intention is not that she studies or works - she simply wants to stay with me while I am studying there. But I thought that the officer might ask her during the interview what she wants to do when I am in the University and for this particular question I was looking for a good answer suggestion.

You make a good point but when you say a question that might be asked at interview do you mean by the ECO or, if her visa is granted, by the Immigration Officer at the port on her arrival in the UK?

Very few applicants are interviewed by the ECO, they normally make the decision whether to grant entry clearance on the evidence supplied with the application, so exactly does she plan to do throughout this long holiday? with respect, I say again, it's really not the sort of question you should be asking here.

If she is granted a visa the IO at Border Control will certainly ask the purpose of the visit and how long she intends to stay, once again she needs to convince the IO that she is a genuine tourist, remember she can be refused entry even with a visa.

Sorry if I seem to be the purveyor of doom and gloom, I'm not, but I am a realist and am try to help you.

[Dubar]

Hi,

thanks for your answer! Our intention is not that she studies or works - she simply wants to stay with me while I am studying there. But I thought that the officer might ask her during the interview what she wants to do when I am in the University and for this particular question I was looking for a good answer suggestion.

Hi Hamburgo

My gf now my wife spent 6 months living with me earlier this year, the best advise I can give you is to stop getting stressed about making an answer up and just put holiday because thats what it is, when submitting the application along with your sponser letter think of many places in the uk that you would like to take your gf and then build yourself an itinerary to submit as well.

There was no interview on our application, stop thinking like a tourist and more like somebody who is doing an NVQ, the more you put into your application the more the ECO will recognise your efforts

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Best regards

Dubar