What To Do Next?

[BIG SPUDS]

Me and the GF get married saturday 24th sep.

I have requested the new form from the home office allowing her 2 years stay. 355 quid

I am about to book tickets for the flight back to thailand. do i book it under her new name or maiden name, have been told can take marriage cert and old passport if neccessary, at what point do i upgrade her passport, after she has been granted a further 2 years? have been told this can take 14 weeks!

What is asked and required for her to obtain a further 2 years?

Can any one help or give advice about what i need to do paperwise after the marriage!

Thanks in advance!!

Edited September 14, 2005 by BIG SPUDS

[the scouser]

Hi BS,

Once you're married apply to the Home Office for the 2-year stamp for your wife. As well as the fee, her passport and the application form, you will need your passport, your bank statements and your wage slips. Additionally, whatever evidence you showed to the visa officer to prove your accommodation, show again to the Home Office (unless your accommodation has changed). If you've got some snaps of the wedding, then throw those in, too. Finish the job off with a covering letter generally outlining your circumstances and intentions now you are married.

DO NOT book flights to Thailand until your wife has her passport back and stamped. If your wife asks for her passport back before the application is decided it will be deemed withdrawn. You would not get your money back and your wife would then have to apply for another visa at the embassy in BKK.

Once your wife has her passport back, containing the 2-year stamp, you can book tickets in either her maiden or married name. I, personally, would do so using the name as it appears in her passport. This way, no other documents other than the ticket and passport are needed to check in at the airport.

Once you wife has the 2-year stamp, she doesn't need to worry about immigration until it's time to apply for her indefinite leave 23 months later. You may, however, care to get her a NINo which is another palaver.

Scouse.

[BIG SPUDS]

i understand what you are saying about waiting for the passport back , but i have to book well in advance for my job. as we get married in 2 weeks and send the passport/ letter off immedietly, this gives us 20 weeks which by then the passport will be back, right?

[the scouser]

Should, but not will. The alternative, should you choose it, is to leave the UK and apply for a marriage visa at the embassy in Bangkok (cost only £260). However, you would then have to hope your wife is allocated a short interview, otherwise the wait would be up to 20 weeks.

Scouse.

[BIG SPUDS]

on the phone waiting to speak to someone from the home office now

[the scouser]

If you are ringing Croydon, don't expect them to be able to speak English.

Scouse.

[BIG SPUDS]

They said a reply is given within 4 - 14 weeks (14 weeks being if the correct documentation is not supplied) Nothing has changed from the initial interview in thailand. The HO said can pay an extra 165 quid for answer same day,

Sh"t im worrying now because i have to book the tickets tommorrow or i loose the slot for all of us going back (8 of us all holidays have been booked from work) I think i am going to have to risk it, any idea why they would refuse it?

[the scouser]

Spuds, if you're willing to take the Home Office at their word, then book your tickets. It's not a question of whether or not the application will be refused, but rather how long it takes the Home Office to make the decision. Yes, you can pay £500 quid for an application in person (there's an office in Solihull).

Best of luck,

Scouse.

[samran]

Cost vs Benefit.

will paying an extra £165 for an express service be less expensive than the alternate airfare you will have to pay if you miss this slot? Will it be worth £165 pounds to you in foregone earnings if you can't take the holidays at the time that suits you?

If you answer yes to either of those questions, I'd shell out the 500 squid and get the extension done in person.

[Clive sorts]

Spuds

Good to hear you are still with us

Last month we did the FLR and we couldn't be without our passports for that long so we went to Croydon and we were done in a 3 hours. Its a few quid more but it is one less thing to worry about and we can travel at will now.

We brought with us to Croydon loads of documents which included bank statements, wage slips etc.. however the officer didn't need to see any of it, she said all the checking of my proof to support my Fiancee / Wife was done in BKK. She just looked through the application form, the passports and the marriage certificate.

Best of luck

Regards

Clive sorts

[BIG SPUDS]

cheers clive,

i spoke to one of my GF's friends husband last night, they just got married and sent the form off about 4 weeks ago. Recieved it monday so it looks like if straight forward 4 weeks it is. He too only sent pics, passport, fee and cert.

I changed my flight so i have until the end of december to pay which gives me time to make sure the passports come back. Have to pay for the flight 8 weeks before the end of Feb, so fingers crossed should be ok.