Uk Visit Visa (Check My Checklist Please?)

[bifftastic]

Hi,

I'm heading to Thailand in a couple of weeks. I'll be marrying my g/f (we've been in a committed relationship for 2 years) when I'm there.

We would also like to apply for a visit visa for the UK so that she can see my country and learn about where I grew up.

I intend to settle in Thailand in the future but I think it's important for her to come here and experience the culture I grew up in.

I think I know what we need to supply for the application but I have a couple of questions regarding what I need to bring with me.

Long post from me, mine are seldom brief but I would appreciate any advice regarding the application.

Seeing as we will be married when we submit the application, am I right in thinking it should be a Family Visit Visa she applies for?

I have records of money I've sent to her over the last couple of years (Western Union receipts and a history report from Moneybookers)

We have photos of us together, dating from 2009, although most of them are NOT date stamped, would this be a problem? Some of them are in a photobook which does have a date on it.

We don't have phone records, although I can print off a history report from the phone company I currently use, this however, does not go all the way back to 2009.

There's no real email traffic between us, as she doesn't have a computer and we speak on the phone every day.

I'm reasonably confident that we can show a genuine and subsisting relationship, although any advice on this part of the application would be most welcome.

With regard to the financial part of her proposed visit, I can show bank statements from the last six months and payslips to show that I am capable of supporting her during her visit and that she will not need recourse to public funds.

Accommodation during her visit; I'm slightly concerned that the room I rent may be too small. It wouldn't actually be too small but it's possible that the ECO may regard it as such.

I'm thinking of staying with friends for her visit as they live closer to where I grew up and have a room that is more suitable for a couple.

Does anyone have any advice regarding this?

I was thinking of including a letter from these friends inviting us both to stay with them, whilst mentioning that my place is a bit small and further away from family members. Should I include room sizes and a description? Or am I thinking too much about this aspect of the application and should just stick with my place?

Now the tricky subject of 'reason to return'

We've been dealt what could be a blow in this regard, we've purchased a small house in Chiang Saen, it was going to be in her name but the nice people at the land office wouldn't sign it over until I was present, which shot a hole in our plans...that was the subject of another thread so I won't go into that again on this one, suffice it to say that for various reasons, the Chanote is now in her sister's name, and will remain so for at least 6 months.

My g/f does work, but it's cash in hand work she takes in at home from a local textile factory. Her main occupation is taking care of her kids and her extended family (cooking/washing/childcare etc. for those that work in the fields all day)

I will, in my sponsor letter, make it clear that we aren't fully decided on where we will settle and that we would not jeopardise any future applications by breaching the terms of a visit visa, should one be issued. I can get a letter from the factory outlining the nature of her work and saying that they will offer her work in the future, but that, I feel, won't carry much weight as she isn't actually employed full-time by them.

I'm not sure that we will be able to show enough reason to return and am wary of applying now. I don't want her to be refused.

All opinions welcome, on the VISA APPLICATION issue

The whole 'Chanote in the sister's name' thing has been pretty much done to death thanks and, quite frankly, I'm sick and tired of even thinking about it

So, my checklist;

From the UK;

My bank statements

My payslips

My proof of money sent to her (Western Union and Moneybookers)

Copy of my passport (showing ID page and visa stamps in and out of Thailand)

My sponsors letter

Records of having used the voip phone company

Letter from either my landlord or my friends

From Thailand;

Her equivalent proof of finances (Western Union and Moneybookers)

Her visa application (obviously)

Copy of her passport (current and previous)

Copy of our marriage certificate (translated into English)

Photos of us together

Letter from her employer?

One more thing, the application form needs to be completed in English, she doesn't read English very well so I'll be filling that out, are there any issues regarding that, that we need to be aware of?

Also the presentation of the application, I was thinking of presenting all her documents in one folder and all mine in another. Any advice on the best way to do that would also be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your replies, I would like to get everything as ready as possible before my trip. Once we're up in the boonies things will get very busy with the wedding and the arrival of 'farang yuh yuh' and I don't want to leave anything out!

Cheers,

Biff

[jonnyscot]

Hi Biff, yes it would be the family visit (i believe VAF1B Form) as you are married, I would imagine the reason to return would be your main worry, as she has part time work I cannot advise how this would affect things as my wife was in full time work when she applied, but maybe depending on how "understanding her boss was and how presentable the letter,, It would be good to have some photos of the room and house you will be staying in and if it is your friends certainly a letter from them,, I would also include a copy of their rental/mortgage or deeds to show there are no landlord restrictions regarding "guests" staying there, I would also suggest you explain your plans for your future in your sponsor letter as well as in her application request including details about the house purchase explaining why its in her sisters name, also you should be able to show transfer of funds for the purchase of the house confirming your future plans which may help in "reason to return", in addition to what docs you have in your checklist we also included a quotation for comprehensive medical insurance,, although not necessary I always believe little things like these make good impressions overall.

hope all goes well

[theoldgit]

One thing you haven't mentioned bifftastic is the proposed duration of your wife's holiday, if your wife wants to convince the ECO that it's a genuine visit and not a way to try and circumnavigate the requirements for a settlement visa, especially as you will have just married, then it's important, in my view, that the holiday is of a duration that might normally be accepted as a holiday.

What you propose doesn't seem unreasonable but in your covering letter you might wish to outline your plans for your future in Thailand, whilst employment and property might be regarded as reasons to return, your relationship and your plans for the future might go a little way to convincing the ECO that it's a genuine visit visa.

[bifftastic]

Thanks for the replies folks

Yes, I will be able to show transaction records for the house purchase in Thailand, and will explain why it's in her sister's name at the moment.

I will include the length of the proposed visit (it will be for about three weeks, maybe a month maximum) I see what you're saying there OG, a visit should be just that, a visit, not a six month sabbatical!

With regard to showing title deeds for my friend's house, how exactly is this done? I know my friends will be happy to write a letter inviting us to stay with them but what do they need to do to get a copy of the title deed? I've no idea where to start with that and don't want them to have to jump through any hoops on my behalf.

I'll include some photo's, good idea.

I'm hoping that the evidence of a subsisting relationship and an outline of our plans for the future will convince the ECO that we do not intend to breach the terms of the visit visa, we don't seem to have any other 'concrete' reason to return.

I'm slightly encouraged by the fact that a family visit visa has the right of appeal if refused but, obviously, would prefer to have a successful initial application!

[theoldgit]

I can add that I have never had to ask friends we have stayed with in the UK for anything more than a letter inviting us to stay, never had a problem with a tourist visa.

Maybe you should book a stay at a Hilton Hotel, not fogetting to include the deeds for the hotel.

[bifftastic]

I can add that I have never had to ask friends we have stayed with in the UK for anything more than a letter inviting us to stay, never had a problem with a tourist visa.

Maybe you should book a stay at a Hilton Hotel, not fogetting to include the deeds for the hotel.

Thanks for that

[thecatman]

"We have photos of us together, dating from 2009, although most of them are NOT date stamped, would this be a problem? Some of them are in a photobook which does have a date on it."

No dates...not a problem

[bifftastic]

Thanks, I imagine the photo's will not be a major part of the application? Just some additional proof that we have actually spent time in the same place?

I'll be including some of the wedding and the house in Thailand but don't want to overdo it in terms of photo's. I'm mindful of the fact that an ECO will have a certain amount of time for each application, I imagine there's a balance to be struck between having enough information and overloading the application with too much paperwork?

[thecatman]

Thanks, I imagine the photo's will not be a major part of the application? Just some additional proof that we have actually spent time in the same place?

I'll be including some of the wedding and the house in Thailand but don't want to overdo it in terms of photo's. I'm mindful of the fact that an ECO will have a certain amount of time for each application, I imagine there's a balance to be struck between having enough information and overloading the application with too much paperwork?

Others may agree with you there, but I actually think more along the lines of 'give them everything you've got and more'.

I've never heard of anyone being refused for submitting too much evidence.

We submitted over 300 photos!! All with a location and date description, in 2 large albums, so if the ECO didn't need to see them he could simply skip them and put the albums to one side.

Others I know have submitted far less evidence than what we did and been successful, I just wanted to give ourselves every chance we could.

[bifftastic]

Thanks, I imagine the photo's will not be a major part of the application? Just some additional proof that we have actually spent time in the same place?

I'll be including some of the wedding and the house in Thailand but don't want to overdo it in terms of photo's. I'm mindful of the fact that an ECO will have a certain amount of time for each application, I imagine there's a balance to be struck between having enough information and overloading the application with too much paperwork?

Others may agree with you there, but I actually think more along the lines of 'give them everything you've got and more'.

I've never heard of anyone being refused for submitting too much evidence.

We submitted over 300 photos!! All with a location and date description, in 2 large albums, so if the ECO didn't need to see them he could simply skip them and put the albums to one side.

Others I know have submitted far less evidence than what we did and been successful, I just wanted to give ourselves every chance we could.

Ok, cool, thanks for that. I won't hold back on what I regard as being evidence of our relationship then.

[rawhod]

"We have photos of us together, dating from 2009, although most of them are NOT date stamped, would this be a problem? Some of them are in a photobook which does have a date on it."

No dates...not a problem

I must disagree...

The refusal comments from the ECO in our application included, "you included photo's, but they were undated"

I had gone to the trouble of identifying the date and location of every photo and written them on the reverse side. Because the were in a photo book the reverse side was not on view. The ECO presumably didn't look on the backs "because I didn't point this out to him"...pathetic...

[thecatman]

"We have photos of us together, dating from 2009, although most of them are NOT date stamped, would this be a problem? Some of them are in a photobook which does have a date on it."

No dates...not a problem

I must disagree...

The refusal comments from the ECO in our application included, "you included photo's, but they were undated"

I had gone to the trouble of identifying the date and location of every photo and written them on the reverse side. Because the were in a photo book the reverse side was not on view. The ECO presumably didn't look on the backs "because I didn't point this out to him"...pathetic...

Sorry rawhod, I was a little vague in my previous answer. The OP stated that his photos were not 'date stamped' by this I presume he means that they do not have the dates printed on either the front or the back like some photos do when they are returned from the lab. (although you can do this yourself online now).

To this I was replying no problem. Yes, I do agree that it is best to (as you and I both did) date the photos yourself (with a small description if you like).

Although I would find it hard to believe that a visa would be refused solely on grounds of not doing this.

By this I mean, I'm guessing the main reason for your refusal was something slightly more important and the ECO then went on to point out other flaws in your application. I'd be interested to know.

Sorry bifftastic, we've gone slightly off track here....back to your opening post now

[theoldgit]

The refusal comments from the ECO in our application included, "you included photo's, but they were undated"

I had gone to the trouble of identifying the date and location of every photo and written them on the reverse side. Because the were in a photo book the reverse side was not on view. The ECO presumably didn't look on the backs "because I didn't point this out to him"...pathetic...

You can lead a horse to water..............

I just added a line in my covering letter saying that it was difficult prove the dates of photos, which I print on paper and include in a folder, but that they equated the the relevant dates in my passport. I have never sent more than a handful of photos of us together, explaining that they were indicitive our time together. I have certainly never sent 100's, but everyone will have different experiences evidence of what has worked for them.

[VisasPlus]

"We have photos of us together, dating from 2009, although most of them are NOT date stamped, would this be a problem? Some of them are in a photobook which does have a date on it."

No dates...not a problem

I must disagree...

The refusal comments from the ECO in our application included, "you included photo's, but they were undated"

I had gone to the trouble of identifying the date and location of every photo and written them on the reverse side. Because the were in a photo book the reverse side was not on view. The ECO presumably didn't look on the backs "because I didn't point this out to him"...pathetic...

Your application cannot be refused on the grounds of not producing photos, dated or undated, as there is no requirement in the immigration rules to provide any photos at all. There will have been other, more persuasive, reasons for refusal, I think.

I get quite angry when I see refusal notices that include such things as - " as evidence of relationship you have produced your sponsor's holiday photos", especially when this occurs in a settlement application. I consider such comments as sheer arrogance on the part of the ECO as, more often than not, such photos are a record of a relationship covering a period of time, not merely " holiday photos". Sorry - getting on my high horse, again !

[bifftastic]

"We have photos of us together, dating from 2009, although most of them are NOT date stamped, would this be a problem? Some of them are in a photobook which does have a date on it."

No dates...not a problem

I must disagree...

The refusal comments from the ECO in our application included, "you included photo's, but they were undated"

I had gone to the trouble of identifying the date and location of every photo and written them on the reverse side. Because the were in a photo book the reverse side was not on view. The ECO presumably didn't look on the backs "because I didn't point this out to him"...pathetic...

Sorry rawhod, I was a little vague in my previous answer. The OP stated that his photos were not 'date stamped' by this I presume he means that they do not have the dates printed on either the front or the back like some photos do when they are returned from the lab. (although you can do this yourself online now).

To this I was replying no problem. Yes, I do agree that it is best to (as you and I both did) date the photos yourself (with a small description if you like).

Although I would find it hard to believe that a visa would be refused solely on grounds of not doing this.

By this I mean, I'm guessing the main reason for your refusal was something slightly more important and the ECO then went on to point out other flaws in your application. I'd be interested to know.

Sorry bifftastic, we've gone slightly off track here....back to your opening post now

Mai bpen rai khap I just looked on the back of the photo's and there is a date stamp from the lab. So if this hadn't been mentioned i wouldn't have looked so now I'll highlight it just to make sure. I will also add a note with the photo's to the effect that they are supporting evidence of a long-term relationship.

I'm quite happy for this thread to wander about in all kinds of directions regarding applications. Everyone's experiences are valid, and useful. I will, as always, take advice as just that, advice. We will be filling in the application ourselves and, ultimately, it's our responsibility to provide the ECO with as much evidence as is pertinent to his or her decision.

Anyone got any thoughts or advice about the actual filling in of the form? As I said before, my g/f doesn't read or write English well at all, and I will be filling it in on her behalf.

Cheers,

Biff

[lekatai]

With regards to your last question,I've not long ago filled in the online application form for my wife for a Family Visit Visa.The last question asked on this is "have you used someone to help you fill in this form" or words to that effect.It also asks what language you communicated in when filling it in.You just put that you helped,your relationship,and the language you communicated in.No problem!

[bifftastic]

Nice one Lekatai, thanks

[thecatman]

Anyone got any thoughts or advice about the actual filling in of the form? As I said before, my g/f doesn't read or write English well at all, and I will be filling it in on her behalf.

Cheers,

Biff

I don't think that there is any issue with you filling in the form on her behalf, After all, agents fill them in for clients all the time.

I'd just say, be very thorough (double check passport number etc) and make sure she fully understands any questions you need to ask her in order to fill out the form correctly. If any particular questions are a problem, then come back on here and I'm sure someone can help.

You also mentioned the presentation of the documents. Now I don't think there's any right or wrong way of doing this but I did exactly as you mentioned, all by paperwork in one folder, all her's in another.

I found this pinned thread useful as a guide for how to set things out. This one is for a settlement visa, but the basics are the same (as far as document set up goes)

http://www.thaivisa....on-preparation/

[bifftastic]

Thanks Catman, useful link there I think I'll use it as a template.

Yes, I'll make sure she understands all the questions on the form, in case they want to ask her about her answers, I'll also get her to write down (in Thai) the questions and her answers, so she'll have a record of what's on the form.

Just for information's sake, I'm using a (free) service called dropbox.com to save all my documents in, so I can print them out again in Thailand if I lose any. The software provides a folder on your desktop which you just chuck things into and it uploads them to the site so you can access them from anywhere with an internet connection. This proved very useful when I lost my hotel booking vouchers before!

I think originals are required by the embassy as far as payslips and bank statements are concerned. They'll be in my hand luggage!

[rawhod]

"Visa Plus"...I agree wholeheartedly...

The refusal,of course, was based on a "balance of probability" of my GF returning to Thailand. No permanent job, no land, no property and no millions in the bank.

He also commented on our Emails being "very brief and formulaic"...my GF does not read or write English and had to use the internet shop manageress to read and write the emails, for which she was charged.

I thing the moral is...point everything out to the ECO, do not rely on them using any common sense.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

Some of the refusals are annoying I recently got a decision over turned when the ECO said you have no phone records, I cannot see this anywhere in the immigration rules neither. The applicant had already explained he used pay & go and records will take up to 3 months to retrieve.

However they did over turn the decision.

[bifftastic]

Bump!

So, does everyone reckon my list is pretty good?

I'm at the stage of finalising everything from the UK side of things, letter from the people we'll (hopefully) be staying with, sponsors letter etc.

So, if you wouldn't mind, a quick once over of this thread and a thumbs up/down would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Biff

[7by7]

Looks ok to me.

Although I suggest that you include an explanation of why, having just got married, she is only applying to visit the UK and not settle there with you.

[bifftastic]

Thanks 7by7, will do. Truth is, we're not sure where we want to, or can settle, so it's only right and proper, in my opinion, that she comes for a visit before we can make a decision together.

I'll make sure I explain that in my sponsors letter.

Cheers,

Biff