Tourist Visa For Uk Gf?

[studenttraveller]

Help with bringing my gf to UK!

Hi, I hope you guys can help me here

I'm 22 years old, and this summer went to Thailand/Southeast Asia for 3 months after finishing university - originally I was with my friend, and we went and did all the main tourist attractions (Ko Phi Phi, Phan Ngan etc.) but he unfortunately had to go home after a month to resit some exams (he's still at uni.)

So anyway I'm a real history buff so really wanted to visit the River Kwai - I headed to the small town of Ratchaburi in west Thailand, planning to go completely off the tourist trail, and that's where I met my girlfriend

I was in a restaurant struggling to get the waitress to understand me (as no one speaks english there!) when this beautiful girl on the next table smiles and speaks to me in english and helps translate!

I got chatting to her and we arranged to meet up the next day - she lived in Ratchaburi with her mum and sold fish at the local market to support the family. She used to work in Bangkok at a massage parlour (not a boom-boom one she says) hence why her english was reasonably good. Long story short, she showed me round the town, her cousin who had a car took us to the River Kwai + Erawan Waterfalls (gave some money for petrol + food etc.) and I took her out for a few meals, took her to the cinema etc.

After about 2 weeks I obviously wanted to move on round the rest of Southeast Asia - so I asked April (the girl) to come with me. At first she was a bit hesitant, and I had to go and meet her mum and family first, but she agreed - and we went to Laos, Vietnam, Singapore and Bali before coming back to Thailand for the end of my trip! We'd kissed etc. in Ratchaburi but didn't become intimate till our first night in Laos.

Anyway sorry for the lengthy story - after over 2 months together, I tearfully went back to the UK, and she to Ratchaburi. We talk on the phone every day - but here's what I need help with

- I want to bring her to the UK in November, for Xmas time

How likely is our visa to get approved?

I've read up on visas for the UK and here's what I think so far:

Pros of my situation:

- Wasn't a 2 week fling, stayed with her for 2 months, and have passport stamps/photos etc. to prove it. Went to a number of countries

- Not a bargirl (hopefully nothing untoward went on at the massage parlour she used to work in)

- She speaks pretty good english, it's got a lot better since she met me

- Age similarity: I'm 22, she's two years older, 24

Cons:

- As she just sells fish, no proof of employment - she also left school at 16, so no real "reason to return" other than she looks/provides for her elderly mum

-

Money:

Not a student anymore, so technically 'unemployed' - plus only have a few hundred pounds in my bank account. However my parents are reasonably well off (£20k+ in savings) have a large house with spare bedrooms, and are happy to write a letter saying they'll assume responsibility. I will also urgently try to get at least a part-time job before sending off the application. Despite my limited finances, I send her a hundred pounds or so every few weeks, as selling fish doesn't go that far, and her family really struggle to make ends meet i think!

So, basically, what's next? Do I have a snowball's chance in hel_l of getting a visa? How do I go about it? Thanks so much in advance

[ThaiVisaExpress]

I would expect you to visit her again which is just my professional opinion others will add their thoughts on the matter from what you have said she has little or no real ties to Thailand. But on the other hand if you can demonstrate your relationship is strong the Eco may still issue a visa, I hope you have kept evidence of close contact phone/email/money transfers etc.

Your family may offer third party support accommodation/Finances etc.

See link here Visitors to the UK

General grounds for refusal :

You are a single person of working age you are unemployed with little or no assets. ties or property, which might encourage your presence in your country. I am not satisfied under these circumstances that you are socially and economically well settled in your country. Accordingly, I am not satisfied that you intend to leave the UK at the end of the period of the visit as stated by refuse your application under paragraph 41 (I), (ii) & (iii) of the immigration rules.

Regards Paul TVE

Edited August 25, 2010 by ThaiVisaExpress

[studenttraveller]

I would expect you to visit her again which is just my professional opinion others will add their thoughts on the matter from what you have said she has little or no real ties to Thailand. But on the other hand if you can demonstrate your relationship is strong the Eco may still issue a visa, I hope you have kept evidence of close contact phone/email/money transfers etc.

Your family may offer third party support accommodation/Finances etc.

See link here Visitors to the UK

General grounds for refusal :

You are a single person of working age you are unemployed with little or no assets. ties or property, which might encourage your presence in your country. I am not satisfied under these circumstances that you are socially and economically well settled in your country. Accordingly, I am not satisfied that you intend to leave the UK at the end of the period of the visit as stated by refuse your application under paragraph 41 (I), (ii) & (iii) of the immigration rules.

Regards Paul TVE

Thanks so much for the reply - so any idea of the likelihood of us getting a visa? (obviously not looking for a % chance, just if it's at all realistic.) Yes we've got plenty of photos, bank records and passport stamps to document all our time together/me sending money. If she got a job at a 7/11/minimart would this help at all, or would it be seen as simply a blatant effort to spruce up the visa application? So if I get my parents to endorse me, does my lack of funds/employment matter particularly?

Many thanks again!

[seaneee]

I am not an expert, but i do have a lot of experience in helping friends with visas and i feel that your chances are less than 30%. I can see so many reasons that the ECO could fail her on.

Maybe better idea is to reduce sending her money and save that money and you go to Thailand to visit her over xmas. I feel a good idea would then be for the two of you to visit a third country together for a few days which will cement the relationship in the eco's eyes. You could then get a job next year, and save a little money and get your own place and in the meantime your gf could also maybe enroll on a course or get a 7/11 type job. She would then get a letter saying she has holidays and that would take care of her reason to return.

As i say, im no expert, but i have seen a lad in a similar position to you get refused a year or so ago. Reason was no proof relationship was genuine and she was not financially well settled etc etc.

Whatever you decide goodluck with your relationship.

[personchester]

I know of many young lads (around your age) that have tried to bring their Thai gf's to the UK after meeting them during their tourist stay in Thailand, but have not been succesful even after several applications.

All the suggested details ... private letters, photos, travel details, money sending, stamped passports etc ... will often be regarded as a planned set-up in order to get the requested visa,

Moreover, the age of the lads has in many cases been regarded as too young, that is to say ... no proper secure job, no guaranteed income, no savings, no personal accommodation (living with their parents) and still with an undecided and a non established personal lifestyle, in addition the time frame of the relationship will be regarded as not being solid, and could falter after a while, thereby leaving the visa holder (gf) finacially and socially unprotected in the UK.

The above are all the negative factors in applying for a UK visa, I know of cases, when in order to overcome those problems some Thai gf's, anxious to get a UK visa, have looked for (and sometimes married) older UK chaps who, due to their positive social position at home were able to obtain a visa for them.

However, the end result was dramatic, financially expensive, insulting, and emotionally painful for the older chaps, since a few days after their arrival in the Uk the girls left them and met up again with their original young lads who were unable to get the visa for them, but are nevertheless now together in the UK.

ECO's are of course well aware of those negative aspects regarding visa applications by young lads for their Thai gf''s and their decisions are reflective of this.

If the gf wants to go to the UK as a tourist (or a girl frind) she needs (in Thailand) ... a permanent job, regular monthly / weeky income, a bank A/c with some savings, own some property (land or house) a letter from her employer to confirm her income, bank statements, and copies of her property deeds.

She can of course go as the wife of a 'Brit' to the UK, providing the husband is in a position to cover all the required positive financial and social life style aspects, unfortunately, (or fortunately perhaps) young lads are not in such a postion at this stage in their lifes to cover this, hence the problem, however, ... wait a bit, things may chance in your favour, in the meantime keep on visiting her in Thailand, and keep supporting her financially if you can, ... good luck.

Edited August 26, 2010 by personchester

[ThaiVisaExpress]

It maybe worth trying for a visa if you are declined the reasons will be in the GV 51 then you must satisfy the Eco concerns.W e have a client at the moment who is struggling every time we cover the Eco concerns they throw further obstacles in the way ts very frustrating at times.

[raven0099]

So is it basically now the case if your Girlfriend doesnt have proof that she has a job and no savings the tourist visa will be refused ?

If the OP explained that his girlfriend worked with her family selling fish , but the work was only cash in hand, is that not ok ?