Half Way There!

[bangbuathongben]

Hello all, just to share my good news. Me and the wife recieved her letter back from the Embassy just 6 working days after making the application. It says she has been selected for a short interview, which we will be going to tommorrow. So we are franticly revising any sort of questions they may throw at her, I will let you all know how we get on tommorrow.

Fingers crossed!

Bang........

[meelousee]

Hello all, just to share my good news. Me and the wife recieved her letter back from the Embassy just 6 working days after making the application. It says she has been selected for a short interview, which we will be going to tommorrow. So we are franticly revising any sort of questions they may throw at her, I will let you all know how we get on tommorrow.

Fingers crossed!

Bang........

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I went to the interview and a nice lady ask, well Mr. ### how can I help you?

My wife looked at me with that, Mai gao jai in her eye.

I cleared my throat and said “well I need to go home, I am not going to leave my wife behind my family insist she be with me anyway, she needs a visa and I think we both know why I am here. So lets get this show on the road so I don’t take up your valuable time”

The lady turned a little pink around the gills opened the folder looked at our papers ask for her passport and said “just a moment" and left the room she returned and said “ok pickup the passport at the window in 5 days”

Been there done that, the very best way is not to over rehearse be yourself tell it like it is.

I lit a candle for you guys. Good luck!

[mrbojangles]

Hello all, just to share my good news. Me and the wife recieved her letter back from the Embassy just 6 working days after making the application. It says she has been selected for a short interview, which we will be going to tommorrow. So we are franticly revising any sort of questions they may throw at her, I will let you all know how we get on tommorrow.

Fingers crossed!

Bang........

You lucky bugger, we applied at the beginning of May and still have 5 weeks to go. Good luck anyway mate

What is the criteria for short interviews Vs Long ones? Has she already had visit visas in the past?

MrBoJ

[the scouser]

That's good news, Ben. You're more than half way there. Provding your wife doesn't suffer from foot-in-mouth problems, she's got it.

Scouse.

[bangbuathongben]

I guess I was just lucky!

She has never applied for a visa before, and funny enough they did telephone the day after we handed the visa in asking this. Meeloussee were you allowed in with your missus to the interview? It said on the reciept piece of paper, she would have to go alone. Any way I think I should be fine although the missus is nervous as ######! Am just checking I have all original documents and I will be going tommorow.

Thanks for all the encouraging comments and will keep you all informed...

Bang.....

[the scouser]

Ben,

Spouses are not allowed into the interview and, in fact, are apparently now not allowed into the building itself.

Scouse.

[bangbuathongben]

Scouse do I need to take the original Tabian Bann document? I persume so, but I think I will take everything anyway, just to be on the safe side!

Bang.......

[the scouser]

There's no harm in taking it, but it's not really necessary; for the purposes of identification, your wife's passport will be sufficient.

Scouse.

[the scouser]

Ben,

I've just noticed in your thread in the travel forum that your wife will not travel to the UK until October. On the proviso that she gets her visa tomorrow, ask the visa officer to post-date its validity until, say, about 20 September, othrewise you could face the same difficulties that apetley experienced when it comes to your wife applying for her indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Scouse.

[bangbuathongben]

Scouse could I write a letter asking this? As The missus is very nervous about the questions that they are going to ask. And thinks she will have a memory blank!!!

Bang........

[the scouser]

Yes, that's fine.

Scouse.

[mrbojangles]

I've just noticed in your thread in the travel forum that your wife will not travel to the UK until October.

It's typical isn't it. I want my Mrs to come and join me now and she wants to come now. She's got her interview at the end of Sept and we'll be booking the flight for ASAP after that date, within 3 days. That will be 5 months wait I've tried asking for earlier dates or cancellations but not even had so much as a reply from the embassy. I'm not jealous of your success Ben, (well maybe a little bit) it's just that they could obviously fit my Mrs in, as they've done and dusted yours within a week. What's it all about, eh? They make me and my wife spend 5 months apart but your not in a rush and they do it within a week.

On another note, yesterday Scouse, i read about the Irish guy who can get an Irish Passport and get his wife here straight away. This is a serious question now, my Mother is Irish but has lived in the UK for 50 years now. I think you know what my question will be............having an Irish parent, does that entitle me to get an Irish passport?

[GU22]

Bang, congrats.

What is the criteria for short interviews Vs Long ones?

If all the supporting documents are submitted with the application and if those documents satisfy the ECO that the necessary criteria are met so that the ECO is "minded to grant" the visa then the applicant may be called in for a short interview. At the interview the applicant will be asked a few questions and provided the answers are consistent with the documents then they will be told to return the next working day (but not a Friday) to collect the visa.

If the supporting documents are not included with the application or if they don't fully satisfy the ECO then a full interview will be required.

Not getting a short interview does not necessarily mean there is a problem with the application, merely that the ECO wishes to go into some aspects of the application in more detail with the applicant.

Edited August 22, 2005 by GU22

[bangbuathongben]

It's typical isn't it. I want my Mrs to come and join me now and she wants to come now. She's got her interview at the end of Sept and we'll be booking the flight for ASAP after that date, within 3 days. That will be 5 months wait  I've tried asking for earlier dates or cancellations but not even had so much as a reply from the embassy. I'm not jealous of your success Ben, (well maybe a little bit) it's just that they could obviously fit my Mrs in, as they've done and dusted yours within a week. What's it all about, eh? They make me and my wife spend 5 months apart but your not in a rush and they do it within a week.

On another note, yesterday Scouse, i read about the Irish guy who can get an Irish Passport and get his wife here straight away. This is a serious question now, my Mother is Irish but has lived in the UK for 50 years now. I think you know what my question will be............having an Irish parent, does that entitle me to get an Irish passport?

I can understand your frustration MrboJ! I was very suprised after all the horror stories I have read on this forum that they replied so quick. But the reason I am waiting is that I have to sort out all my possesions here in Thaland. I wished I had sorted it out earlier, but I didnt want to sell my car if the visa got refused, as I would have had no transport. As it is it looks like I will have to return at christmas to get the gear shipped back, not ideal but hey! I wish you all the sucsess there is!!

Bang.......

[the scouser]

having an Irish parent, does that entitle me to get an Irish passport?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would think it does. Give the Irish embassy in London a ring tomorrow and find out. If your mother is Irish by birth, then I would suggest all you would need is her birth certificate, her marriage certificate and your birth cert.

Scouse.

[The_Moog]

I'd recommend people who are applying to read through all of Triple B's posts (only 5 pages 120 posts), as its an informative chronicle of the process, in chronological order, and with lots of relevant topic headings on the key issues.

When you read it through one can appreciate why, given the circumstances and preparation, approval has now become a formality and has been fast-tracked.

[the scouser]

Mr BoJ,

It would appear from the following Irish govt. site that you are, indeed, entitled to Irish nationality:-

Irish nationality - a guide.

Scouse.

[mrbojangles]

Mr BoJ,

It would appear from the following Irish govt. site that you are, indeed, entitled to Irish nationality:-

Irish nationality - a guide.

Scouse.

Marvellous news Scouse, cheers mate (that's another beer or 3 on the tab)

My Mother was born in Ireland but came to live here at the age of 4 and both her parents where born and bred in Ireland. I wish i had known all this 4 months ago. Oh well, spilt milk and all that. So, the dilemma. The wife has her interview in 4 weeks, am i going to save any time by going the Irish passport route, it could take a couple of weeks to sort that out and would it cause unnessassary (spelling) confusion in my application. It would probably take another 3 or 4 weeks to get the documents posted over to Thailand.

However, am i better off getting the passport sorted, just in case? Cos if in the event of refusal at the interview, could i use the Irish EU stance in the appeal. I can't remember off the top of my head but i'll look at the post in a minute. Something about a "Family permit" as opposed to a "settlement visa".

Cheers MrBoJ

[the scouser]

Applying for a family permit won't confuse matters: you simply withdraw the settlement application and lodge the family permit application. However, you're right that now may be a little late in the day as it may well take 4 weeks to get the Irish passport etc., but it may well be worth getting the Paddy passport anyway. If your wife's settlement visa is refused, you don't even need to wait for the appeal to be heard, you can just bang in a family permit application.

Cheers,

Scouse.

[mrbojangles]

That's brilliant news Scouse, apart from the fact i'm going to make myself a fully fledged Paddy (only messin). Is it worth writing a letter explaining that if they refuse her this is the route i will take, so that the wife can give it to the ECO in the interview. I'm a bit scared of "rocking the boat" but under no circumstances do me and the wife want to spend any more time apart than we absolutely have to (yeah, you read my sloppy thread before ) What do you reckon, leave it alone for the minute or write the letter?

MrBoJ

[mrbojangles]

I can understand your frustration MrboJ! I was very suprised after all the horror stories I have read on this forum that they replied so quick. But the reason I am waiting is that I have to sort out all my possesions here in Thaland. I wished I had sorted it out earlier, but I didnt want to sell my car if the visa got refused, as I would have had no transport. As it is it looks like I will have to return at christmas to get the gear shipped back, not ideal but hey! I wish you all the sucsess there is!!

Cheers for that Bang. All the best for tomorrow mate and let us know how you go on.

MrBoJ

[the scouser]

You don't really need to forewarn them. The settlement application will either stand or fall on its own merits. Only if it fails do you then make the family permit application. The other side of the coin is that if you withdraw the settlement application now, you might get your £260 back.

Scouse.

[mrbojangles]

I'm not bothered about the money, i just want to be with the wife ASAP. Married 4 months, spent 3 weeks together I reckon people in prison get to see their wives more often. Whereas all i have ever done, is spent 7 years in the Navy, fought in the Falklands for this &lt;deleted&gt; country, and then spent every day since leaving the navy, working and paying my taxe's.

As for the application standing on it's own merits. I honestly can't see why it should fail. We've done everything by the book, financially and house wise, I'm in very good shape and we've got all the supporting documentation. The Mrs is scared to death though, i just hope she doesn't fall foul to, your quote "foot-in-mouth" in the interview.

[the scouser]

I was just thinking that the £260 might just keep me in beer for one night..........

I wasn't implying that the settlement application won't succeed, rather that it is now of less consequence if it fails because you'll have the EU card up your sleeve.

Scouse.

[mrbojangles]

I was just thinking that the £260 might just keep me in beer for one night..........

Whereas, apparently, Vulture is £2.60

[mrbojangles]

I wasn't implying that the settlement application won't succeed,

I know buddy, i knew you were'nt implying that. Sorry if my reply sounded that way

[Clive sorts]

Hi Mrbojangles

I have been reading through this thread and thought I would make a short comment.

Regarding your Wife's interview, I realise it is nerve racking thinking about the interview however as many has quite rightly said before me just advise her to tell the truth as it simply is. You have a relationship, you are married so her answers should flow naturally as there isn't anything that she needs to lie about.

Best of luck.

Clive sorts

Edited August 23, 2005 by Clive sorts

[mrbojangles]

Hi Mrbojangles

I have been reading through this thread and thought I would make a short comment.

Regarding your Wife's interview, I realise it is nerve racking thinking about the interview however as many has quite rightly said before me just advise her to tell the truth as it simply is. You have a relationship, you are married so her answers should flow naturally as there isn't anything that she needs to lie about.

Best of luck.

Clive sorts

Cheers for that Clive, thanks for your thoughts and indeed she will tell the truth, as you say there is nothing to lie about. The difficulty, and what causes the nerves are all the different questions that they could possibly ask. Ranging from my favourite food to the name of my ex wife, where i live, what do my parents do, and their names etc. etc. Bang's wife got her visa today and they asked her what his fav food was, so i thought. oh i don't even know what my own fav food is, so how should the wife. I like anything that i don't have to cook.

I have been to the wifes village and met her parents but i haven't got a clue what their names are, mamma and pappa is all i know, so how should the wife know my mothers name, she hasn't met her yet. She has spoken to her on the phone but she calls my mother "mamma" also. It's those type of questions that can trip you up, as opposed to lying, that i am worried about.

All i want is for her to be with me. Last night i found out i could get an Irish passport and bring her over that way, if she is refused. I got 5 hours sleep, thinking too much. In the end i got up and got back on the Irish web site. Can you believe that i am looking at getting an Irish citizenship to bring my legal wife into my own country that i have lived in and worked for all my life?

Has anybody got a name for some good sleeping pills I've still got 4 weeks to wait yet.

[bangbuathongben]

Has anybody got a name for some good sleeping pills

Can you get Chang in Manchester??

Seriously though MrboJ, the missus was very very nervous also. But talking to her after she has calmed down and they asked afew of these questions like "what are my parents name?" and she said I call them mumma and pappa! Same with the food, she said we both eat the same so he has no favourates. He eats everything! You should be fine mate, if you truly are in love (which I am sure you are) then this will roll off, just tell her not to try and think up awnser's if she is unsure. Oh the missus has just said the main questions were about when you first met. They just want to check that her awnsers correspond with the supporting documents. So I would suggest going through the documents so she has a good understanding of what is written on paper. Good luck!

No Chance of a southern TV party piss up??

Bang.........

[GU22]

MrBJ, simply tell her to tell the truth. If the honest answer to an ECOs question is "I don't know" then that is what she should say. My wife was asked what my parents names were, she said she didn't know. The ECO asked if she had ever talked to them on the phone, she said she had. So the ECO asked what she had called them on the phone and she said "Mum and Dad."

Good luck with the interview, and remember that over 90% of settlement applications are granted.

To any one reading this who is about to embark down this road the most important thing to remember is always tell the truth!

For example, many so-called advisers will tell you never to say that you met your wife/girlfriend in a bar. They will 'advise' you to make something up. But, at the interview your partner forgets the story and says something else. Result, no visa.

The ECOs are not stupid, they know that many Falang/Thai couples meet in bars. They are allowed out of the embassy compound sometimes. If you met your partner in a bar, even if she is an ex bar girl, say so. The only way to ensure that your partner does not slip up and get confused at the interview, the only way to make sure her answers are consistent and match the paperwork is to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.