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Posted

Hi, wife will be preparing an application for a longer term visit Visa to UK (5+ years), we live in LOS, but my mum who lives in UK has been in poorer health for the last year, it is their golden wedding aniversary next year and we are planning to travel over for this and stay for a couple weeks and visit the family,,, intention is to apply for a longer term visa, a few of questions on this..

1/ Can I still act as sponsor to my wife, as I am living in LOS and havent been back to UK in 11 months or should my mum and dad be acting as sponsor , I have no property in UK now and we shall be living with mum and dad when we are there??

2/ Can wife apply for 10 year visit visa even if she has a 5 year duration thai passport and/or would this have any bearing on the decision ??

3/ If the UK Immigration Authority do not see enough evidence to support a 10 year application, but may see sufficient evidence in the submitted documents to support a shorter duration ,, ie 5 year visit,, will they issue the 5 year instead ???

4/ Does she need to take this English language test ??

5/ Sufficient Funds - can this be from Joint Husband/wife bank account or in name of visa applicant only ??.

Many Thanks

Posted (edited)

I will answer your questions, as best I can, then make a couple of comments.

1. Yes, you can sponsor your wife from Thailand, in fact that you both live together here will help prove a reason to return.

2. Yes, your wife can apply for a ten year visa, I will add some caveats later, even though she has a five year passport. In the event a ten year visa was issued she would simply carry the expired passport containing the ten year visa, she could also opt to have the Vignette transferred to her new passport, that would currently cost 4650 Baht.

3. Yes, if your wife applied for a ten year visa and if the UKBA did not issue it, they might issue a five year visa, or even a two year or six month visa, there would be no refund of the fee paid for the original application.

4. No, the language test is only for a settlement visa.

5. The proof of sufficient funds could be in her name, a joint account or your account. If the money is in a joint account it would help prove a subsisting relationship, if the money is in her account, and there is evidence as to how the money got there, it might negate the need for you to act as a sponsor. And by that I mean if she has a well paid job, she can cover her own cost of the trips.

Now the caveats, whilst there is nothing to stop your wife applying for a ten year visa they are really designed for frequent travellers, business people for instance, but she need to prove that it's warranted. As we have discussed there is no refund of any part of the visa application fee, a ten year visa costs 32,500 Baht and a two year visa 12,250 Baht, a fair difference.

Your wife would need to prove a need for a ten year visa and a travel history.

This is the advice from the UKBA.

Long-term visit visas You should give careful consideration before applying for a long-term visit visa valid for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years as there is the possibility that the visa may be refused, or issued for a shorter period than you have applied for. This could happen if the evidence you provide does not support a long-term visit visa application and / or does not meet the entry clearance criteria. If the application is refused or the visa is issued for a shorter period, you will not be refunded your application fee. Although there is no requirement for you to have held a short-term visit visa (that is, a standard visit visa of 6 months validity) before being able to apply for a long-term one, if you have not previously applied for a UK visa, you may wish to apply for a short-term visit visa first.

Applications for long-term visit visas will be considered in the light of:

  • Whether the applicant can demonstrate a frequent and sustained need to come to the UK, such as family links or an established business connection.
  • Whether personal circumstances are unlikely to change significantly during the validity of the visa. The better able the applicant can demonstrate stability over the long term the more it will support an application for a longer period.
  • Whether the applicant can support themselves in the UK without public funds, and demonstrate that they intend to leave the UK at the end of each visit.
  • Previous travel history as evidenced in a current valid passport.

Edited by theoldgit
Posted

I will answer your questions, as best I can, then make a couple of comments.

1. Yes, you can sponsor your wife from Thailand, in fact that you both live together here will help prove a reason to return.

2. Yes, your wife can apply for a ten year visa, I will add some caveats later, even though she has a five year passport. In the event a ten year visa was issued she would simply carry the expired passport containing the ten year visa, she could also opt to have the Vignette transferred to her new passport, that would currently cost 4650 Baht.

3. Yes, if your wife applied for a ten year visa and if the UKBA did not issue it, they might issue a five year visa, or even a two year or six month visa, there would be no refund of the fee paid for the original application.

4. No, the language test is only for a settlement visa.

5. The proof of sufficient funds could be in her name, a joint account or your account. If the money is in a joint account it would help prove a subsisting relationship, if the money is in her account, and there is evidence as to how the money got there, it might negate the need for you to act as a sponsor. And by that I mean if she has a well paid job, she can cover her own cost of the trips.

Now the caveats, whilst there is nothing to stop your wife applying for a ten year visa they are really designed for frequent travellers, business people for instance, but she need to prove that it's warranted. As we have discussed there is no refund of any part of the visa application fee, a ten year visa costs 32,500 Baht and a two year visa 12,250 Baht, a fair difference.

Your wife would need to prove a need for a ten year visa and a travel history.

This is the advice from the UKBA.

Long-term visit visas You should give careful consideration before applying for a long-term visit visa valid for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years as there is the possibility that the visa may be refused, or issued for a shorter period than you have applied for. This could happen if the evidence you provide does not support a long-term visit visa application and / or does not meet the entry clearance criteria. If the application is refused or the visa is issued for a shorter period, you will not be refunded your application fee. Although there is no requirement for you to have held a short-term visit visa (that is, a standard visit visa of 6 months validity) before being able to apply for a long-term one, if you have not previously applied for a UK visa, you may wish to apply for a short-term visit visa first.

Applications for long-term visit visas will be considered in the light of:

  • Whether the applicant can demonstrate a frequent and sustained need to come to the UK, such as family links or an established business connection.
  • Whether personal circumstances are unlikely to change significantly during the validity of the visa. The better able the applicant can demonstrate stability over the long term the more it will support an application for a longer period.
  • Whether the applicant can support themselves in the UK without public funds, and demonstrate that they intend to leave the UK at the end of each visit.
  • Previous travel history as evidenced in a current valid passport.

Excellent reply, you've answered my questions perfectly,, I was thinking of the longer term visa option more for the health of my mum and once yearly visits to UK , ie. if her health was to suddenly deteriorate, and we/wife were required to travel at short notice, wife has a very good relationship with my mum and dad, (I work offshore),, maybe 10 years is a bit optimistic for that, but I think I shall consider the 5 year option.

Many thanks again

Posted (edited)

I will answer your questions, as best I can, then make a couple of comments.

1. Yes, you can sponsor your wife from Thailand, in fact that you both live together here will help prove a reason to return.

2. Yes, your wife can apply for a ten year visa, I will add some caveats later, even though she has a five year passport. In the event a ten year visa was issued she would simply carry the expired passport containing the ten year visa, she could also opt to have the Vignette transferred to her new passport, that would currently cost 4650 Baht.

3. Yes, if your wife applied for a ten year visa and if the UKBA did not issue it, they might issue a five year visa, or even a two year or six month visa, there would be no refund of the fee paid for the original application.

4. No, the language test is only for a settlement visa.

5. The proof of sufficient funds could be in her name, a joint account or your account. If the money is in a joint account it would help prove a subsisting relationship, if the money is in her account, and there is evidence as to how the money got there, it might negate the need for you to act as a sponsor. And by that I mean if she has a well paid job, she can cover her own cost of the trips.

Now the caveats, whilst there is nothing to stop your wife applying for a ten year visa they are really designed for frequent travellers, business people for instance, but she need to prove that it's warranted. As we have discussed there is no refund of any part of the visa application fee, a ten year visa costs 32,500 Baht and a two year visa 12,250 Baht, a fair difference.

Your wife would need to prove a need for a ten year visa and a travel history.

This is the advice from the UKBA.

Long-term visit visas You should give careful consideration before applying for a long-term visit visa valid for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years as there is the possibility that the visa may be refused, or issued for a shorter period than you have applied for. This could happen if the evidence you provide does not support a long-term visit visa application and / or does not meet the entry clearance criteria. If the application is refused or the visa is issued for a shorter period, you will not be refunded your application fee. Although there is no requirement for you to have held a short-term visit visa (that is, a standard visit visa of 6 months validity) before being able to apply for a long-term one, if you have not previously applied for a UK visa, you may wish to apply for a short-term visit visa first.

Applications for long-term visit visas will be considered in the light of:

  • Whether the applicant can demonstrate a frequent and sustained need to come to the UK, such as family links or an established business connection.
  • Whether personal circumstances are unlikely to change significantly during the validity of the visa. The better able the applicant can demonstrate stability over the long term the more it will support an application for a longer period.
  • Whether the applicant can support themselves in the UK without public funds, and demonstrate that they intend to leave the UK at the end of each visit.
  • Previous travel history as evidenced in a current valid passport.

Excellent reply, you've answered my questions perfectly,, I was thinking of the longer term visa option more for the health of my mum and once yearly visits to UK , ie. if her health was to suddenly deteriorate, and we/wife were required to travel at short notice, wife has a very good relationship with my mum and dad, (I work offshore),, maybe 10 years is a bit optimistic for that, but I think I shall consider the 5 year option.

Many thanks again

Good advice from tog. Your circumstances almost mirror ours where my aging parents concerns us both and we try to manage 2 trips back home each year. I assume that your wife has been issued one or two 6-month UK visit visas already? Possibly also a 1-year visit visa and has already complied with their restrictions?

Reason I ask is my wife received a 6-month UK visit visa for her first application and we managed one trip home before it expired. Not relishing the chore of doing visa applications twice per year, she opted to apply and pay for a 1-year visa for her second entry (within a year of the last trip). She was lucky and was given a 2-year UK visit visa so win-win all round. My letter also mentioned my aging parents and indicated that the nature of my work (based in Thailand) as her main reason to return to Thailand. The letter from my father stated that we would be staying at his house and I included my 6-months of bank statements (one account) as well as the wife including her Thai bank book and basic details of her debit & credit cards.

You may be taking a chance of losing some money if you apply for a 5-year and she gets issued a 2-year UK visit visa. IMHO applying for a 10-year UK visit visa is being very optimistic. I know that each visa application is granted on it's individual merits but there must be some value in having proof of prior compliance with the visa regs and a good travel 'history'.

As far as I know, only the US routinely granted visas that had longer duration than the travel document containing the visa. That opened a whole can of worms with the holder making sure that the visa was never destroyed when renewing the passport and ensuring that you ALWAYS used this visa to enter the US.

Good luck!

Edited by NanLaew
Posted

I will answer your questions, as best I can, then make a couple of comments.

1. Yes, you can sponsor your wife from Thailand, in fact that you both live together here will help prove a reason to return.

2. Yes, your wife can apply for a ten year visa, I will add some caveats later, even though she has a five year passport. In the event a ten year visa was issued she would simply carry the expired passport containing the ten year visa, she could also opt to have the Vignette transferred to her new passport, that would currently cost 4650 Baht.

3. Yes, if your wife applied for a ten year visa and if the UKBA did not issue it, they might issue a five year visa, or even a two year or six month visa, there would be no refund of the fee paid for the original application.

4. No, the language test is only for a settlement visa.

5. The proof of sufficient funds could be in her name, a joint account or your account. If the money is in a joint account it would help prove a subsisting relationship, if the money is in her account, and there is evidence as to how the money got there, it might negate the need for you to act as a sponsor. And by that I mean if she has a well paid job, she can cover her own cost of the trips.

Now the caveats, whilst there is nothing to stop your wife applying for a ten year visa they are really designed for frequent travellers, business people for instance, but she need to prove that it's warranted. As we have discussed there is no refund of any part of the visa application fee, a ten year visa costs 32,500 Baht and a two year visa 12,250 Baht, a fair difference.

Your wife would need to prove a need for a ten year visa and a travel history.

This is the advice from the UKBA.

Long-term visit visas You should give careful consideration before applying for a long-term visit visa valid for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years as there is the possibility that the visa may be refused, or issued for a shorter period than you have applied for. This could happen if the evidence you provide does not support a long-term visit visa application and / or does not meet the entry clearance criteria. If the application is refused or the visa is issued for a shorter period, you will not be refunded your application fee. Although there is no requirement for you to have held a short-term visit visa (that is, a standard visit visa of 6 months validity) before being able to apply for a long-term one, if you have not previously applied for a UK visa, you may wish to apply for a short-term visit visa first.

Applications for long-term visit visas will be considered in the light of:

  • Whether the applicant can demonstrate a frequent and sustained need to come to the UK, such as family links or an established business connection.
  • Whether personal circumstances are unlikely to change significantly during the validity of the visa. The better able the applicant can demonstrate stability over the long term the more it will support an application for a longer period.
  • Whether the applicant can support themselves in the UK without public funds, and demonstrate that they intend to leave the UK at the end of each visit.
  • Previous travel history as evidenced in a current valid passport.

Excellent reply, you've answered my questions perfectly,, I was thinking of the longer term visa option more for the health of my mum and once yearly visits to UK , ie. if her health was to suddenly deteriorate, and we/wife were required to travel at short notice, wife has a very good relationship with my mum and dad, (I work offshore),, maybe 10 years is a bit optimistic for that, but I think I shall consider the 5 year option.

Many thanks again

Good advice from tog. Your circumstances almost mirror ours where my aging parents concerns us both and we try to manage 2 trips back home each year. I assume that your wife has been issued one or two 6-month UK visit visas already? Possibly also a 1-year visit visa and has already complied with their restrictions?

Reason I ask is my wife received a 6-month UK visit visa for her first application and we managed one trip home before it expired. Not relishing the chore of doing visa applications twice per year, she opted to apply and pay for a 1-year visa for her second entry (within a year of the last trip). She was lucky and was given a 2-year UK visit visa so win-win all round. My letter also mentioned my aging parents and indicated that the nature of my work (based in Thailand) as her main reason to return to Thailand. The letter from my father stated that we would be staying at his house and I included my 6-months of bank statements (one account) as well as the wife including her Thai bank book and basic details of her debit & credit cards.

You may be taking a chance of losing some money if you apply for a 5-year and she gets issued a 2-year UK visit visa. IMHO applying for a 10-year UK visit visa is being very optimistic. I know that each visa application is granted on it's individual merits but there must be some value in having proof of prior compliance with the visa regs and a good travel 'history'.

As far as I know, only the US routinely granted visas that had longer duration than the travel document containing the visa. That opened a whole can of worms with the holder making sure that the visa was never destroyed when renewing the passport and ensuring that you ALWAYS used this visa to enter the US.

Good luck!

Hi NL, yes she has had a successful application before, but only one 1 x 6 month as visitor last year, hopefully that would be ok, I am slightly different in that I work offshore, but the UK company I work for fly me in/out from Thailand every 5 weekly, so I hope that would suffice as reason to return, My mum has already started her letter and included the date of the celebration including a copy of her wedding cerificate as proof of golden wedding date and confirmed we shall be staying with her and my dad, mum has also included the quality of their relationship with their daughter in law,, I understand your concerns about losing out on money if the 5 year option was unsuccessful, but i'm thinking in stress reduction there,not so bad if we lose some money and take the chance if at the end of the day there is still a visa there,,,

thanks

Posted

Hi NL, yes she has had a successful application before, but only one 1 x 6 month as visitor last year, hopefully that would be ok, I am slightly different in that I work offshore, but the UK company I work for fly me in/out from Thailand every 5 weekly, so I hope that would suffice as reason to return, My mum has already started her letter and included the date of the celebration including a copy of her wedding cerificate as proof of golden wedding date and confirmed we shall be staying with her and my dad, mum has also included the quality of their relationship with their daughter in law,, I understand your concerns about losing out on money if the 5 year option was unsuccessful, but i'm thinking in stress reduction there,not so bad if we lose some money and take the chance if at the end of the day there is still a visa there,,,

thanks

My wife only had the single 6-month visa before getting the 2-year one. Good luck with the 5-year application. Post here if successful.

If you have a condo, you could put your wife on the blue Tibian Bahn as further proof of YOUR Thai residency. I have a yellow Tibian Bahn since I am living in my wife's house. All further evidence to the good!

PS. You must be 'boat trash' if your are on 5/5 rotation. I am a bird dog btw.

(Ignore that if you are not in the marine seismic business)

Posted

My wife only had the single 6-month visa before getting the 2-year one. Good luck with the 5-year application. Post here if successful.

If you have a condo, you could put your wife on the blue Tibian Bahn as further proof of YOUR Thai residency. I have a yellow Tibian Bahn since I am living in my wife's house. All further evidence to the good!

PS. You must be 'boat trash' if your are on 5/5 rotation. I am a bird dog btw.

(Ignore that if you are not in the marine seismic business)

I suppose you could classify parts of my job description as something close to boat trash NL,,, hehehe,,, i'm commissioning mainly Mechanical and Hydraulic units

thanks

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