Thai Wife Uk Settlement Visa

[narak86]

hello all this is my first post, and would like to apologise if this topic has been done before

Looking for advice

Thai girlfriend and i plan to marry maybe november 2012. We plan to marry in thailand then live permanently in the uk.

Need advice on how to obtain the settlement visa/what forms do we need to complete

The girlfriend has never left thailand before, so i am curious if a tourist visa and trip to uk will be needed to boost the application for a settlement visa?

I currentley live with parents and we intend to rent when the then wife comes to uk, should i start to rent a property beforehand to aid the application?

Any info on the new english language test? and any medical tests/injections needed before visit to uk?

Any guides to the costs of the visas? Any good using a visa company? and what prices do these charge?

Before the marriage do we need to show proof we are single? how do you do this, or is it ok if never married before?

Also can we apply for the wife settlement visa before we marry, is it a 3 month wait? we wanted to marry then honeymoon, then start our life together in uk, is this feasable or is it worth marry, honeymoon, then i go back to uk while she waits in thailand for the visa?

Thanks for any advice in advance, and sorry if all questions have been covered in the forum before im just struggling getting my head around the visa situation never done anything like this before

[7by7]

Glad to see you're planning ahead!

Most of your questions should be answered by reading the following:-

Guidance for British nationals wishing to marry in Thailand.

Settlement - visa application guide

Maintenance and accommodation

SET03 - Spouses

(The last two are guidance issued to Entry Clearance Officers, the people who decide applications)

For how to apply, see the various pages on the UK Visa Application Centre website.

Visa application fees

Tuberculosis testing for applicants visiting the UK for longer than 6 months

Note that all the above is the current situation and is subject to change; especially the fees which have been regularly increased. I expect at least 2 more increases by November 2012!

As one of the required documents is your marriage certificate, you cannot submit the application until after the marriage.

Whether to use an agent or not is a personal decision, but I would suggest that you read this topic first.

Once you've digested all of that, if you have any specific questions feel free to ask.

On your last question, the visa will be valid for 27 months. In order to qualify for the next stage (Indefinite Leave to Remain) she must, among other criteria, have been resident in the UK for at least 24 months. Visas are normally dated from the day of issue, but she can ask for this to be post dated for up to 3 months when submitting the application. So in theory she can submit the application up to 6 months before you wish to travel.

Note, however, that her passport will remain with the embassy throughout the whole application process. This can last anything between 10 to 15 working days if applying at a quiet time up to 3 months (or more!) if applying at a busy time. So if you intend to honeymoon outside Thailand it will probably be better to submit her application after the honeymoon.

[narak86]

Thank you very much for your help, all the info will be read and saved for future referance. Yes trying to understand the visa application well in advance to fully understand when it comes that time, i am completley foreign to this so will keep in check with this forum to learn of all successes and denials so i can hopefully learn, cant afford a couple of denials haha got a wedding to pay for

p.s. is it recommended for the GF to travel to the uk on a tourist visa to aid the settlement application? or is this not necessary and we apply straight away for the settlement visa?

[7by7]

It is not necessary for her to have made a visit to the UK prior to applying for settlement. Doing so wont help the settlement application and not doing so wont hurt it.

Of course, whether you and she want to visit prior to settling is your choice.

[narak86]

thanks again thats sounds great, not planning a visit to uk just was wandering if it aided the settlement application, thanks very much very much appreciated