Uk Fiance / Settlement, Some Questions

[unobeano]

OK

I have some questions which i hope someone might be able to help with, as we approach submission day im feeling alone and nervous...

1. My partner has taken the BULATS English test, They have provided loacally issued result certificates, and the main one is being sent from Cambridge in the UK. Ive been told this can take up to 3 weeks. Do we need to wait for the UK issued certificates or are the ones from Vantage-Siam enough?

2. My partner has been in the the uk for the last 6 months with me. He had planned to return to thailand at the end of July and work at the beginning of august, We extended his stay a couple of weeks, but during this time he had to have an operation in the UK as a result he stayed until October. (All documented and paid for) He now isnt working as hopefully he will be settling in the UK. How much detail do the ECO's want about employment for a settlement Visa?

Those are my two main questions at the moment, thanks for any help or advise given

Uno

[phomthai]

Welcome to the board...

1. We submitted the BULATS certificates as we were a bit tight on the timescales with Christmas coming up etc but hopefully we've covered this off in my support letter by offering to submit the Cambridge certificate if the ECO wants to see it. If you're not in a hurry and can wait the 3 weeks then probably best to do so as it's 1 possible hurdle less to avoid

2. Explain the situation re trip, job & operation etc and should suffice, don't try to hide anything. People do fall ill on their travels so nothing strange in that and your partner has good reason for not getting a job in that he's planning to relocate to UK....stick to the facts and IMO you should be ok

Good luck

[7by7]

Indeed, his employment status in Thailand is somewhat irrelevant as, obviously, any job he has there will end when he moves to the UK to live.

If he isn't working, simply say so.

As visitors to the UK are not allowed any NHS treatment except initial emergency treatment in an A&E department, make sure that you include evidence that the treatment he received in the UK was paid for.

I would also explain why he stayed longer on his visit than originally stated.

[unobeano]

thanks for the quick responses.

7x7 in the VV application he was due to start work on 1st Aug, obviously with the extension and operation he couldn't start then. Do i need to include evidence from his employers that they were happy for him to start at a later date, or just say, currently he is unemployed. He isn't now going to start work again.

Thanks

[7by7]

As said, he should explain why he extended his visit, and say that due to this he was unable to start his new job on the date mentioned in his visit application. It wont hurt to say that the employer was happy to postpone his start date and include evidence of this; indeed it may help his credibility. ECOs, obviously, have their suspicions aroused if information in a visa application contradicts what was said in a previous one without any explanation.

Say that as he has now decided to apply for settlement there is no point in his starting the job, even though the employer kept the position open for him.

[unobeano]

7by7

thank you for your comments

This is my covering letter, if you have time, i'd appreciate your comments

Dear Sir/Madam

Re: Visa (Fiancé) application for XXXXXXXXXX

I am writing this letter in support of my partner’s application for a Fiancé Visa that will allow my partner XXXXX XXXXX to come to the UK so that we may register our Civil Partnership and for XXXXX to then settle in the UK with me at my home. We have both recently returned to Thailand after spending 6 months together in the UK.

About MMMMM MMMMM (Sponsor)

My name is MMMMM MMMMM and I am, and always have been, a citizen of, and resident in, the United Kingdom.

See Supporting Documents

Section 1

1. Birth Certificate for MMMMM MMMMM
2. Passport ID for MMMMM MMMMM

Our Relationship History

I met XXXXX when shopping at the 7/11 on Soi 1 in Pattaya, on April 10^th 2010. We started chatting in the store, exchanged phone numbers and later that night after chatting on the phone we arranged a date. After the initial date we agreed more dates and that’s how really our relationship began.

I was due to leave Thailand on 8^th May and our relationship was already very strong, so I extended my entry visa first by 7 days at Jometien Immigration and then 15 days by doing a visa run to Cambodia on 11^th May, this meant we had more time to be together. After the initial visit I then travelled to Thailand to be with XXXXX on another occasion last year July 27^th – October 9^th. The time we spent together we just simply did the things normal couples do, get to know each other, talk about the future and what each other wanted for the future. Out of this a very strong relationship has grown. On my visits XXXXX and I visited many places in Thailand together and met XXXXX’s family plus we also met my extended family in Pattaya. I have included with this letter, photographs of our time together that are not merely holiday snaps but a reflection of particular periods of times of our relationship.

Whenever I stay in Thailand myself and XXXXX stay together, the first time we stayed together was at my brother and sister in laws home at [ADDRESS] Pattaya. We stayed there at my brother’s home from the 20^th April until May 25^th when I returned back to the UK. After I had returned back to the UK XXXXX then went back home to the place he rented with a friend on Soi Bongkot, Pattaya.

On my second visit to Thailand we both felt something more permanent was better for XXXXX and me. Therefore we jointly rented an apartment at [ADDRESS] in Pattaya on the 29^th July 2010. The contract we had for the apartment joint names. We terminated the apartment once XXXXX had been issued a Tourist Visa to the UK.

XXXXX arrived in the UK on 12^th May 2011 and was due to leave on 28^th July. However, we extended his holiday by a month. Ensuring his employers were happy. Unfortunately a week into the extension XXXXX was taken ill and had his appendix removed on 14^th August 2011 at Frenchay Hospital Bristol. During his stay in hospital he picked up an infection and in total was in hospital for a total of 6 days.

His recovery was slow, so we took the decision to return to Thailand on October 24^th. Which gave XXXXX some extra time to recover.

We supplied copies of XXXXX’s Passport and Visa and my contact details to the overseas visitors office at Frenchay Hospital. [payment for hospital care will be paid £3700]

It was during this time I asked XXXXX to become my civil partner, and he accepted.

At this stage in our lives it is more practical for XXXXX to join me in the UK rather than me join him in Thailand. I am able to provide for XXXXX both financially and offer a home for us to both live in.

We have now informed his employers that he intends to settle in the UK and will not be returning to work.

We are currently both in Thailand to submit this application.

Supporting Information

Copy of Passport entry and exit stamps – MMMMM MMMMM

Room Receipt and contract for the apartment we rented.

Letter from MMMMM MMMMM’ Sister In Law confirm we stayed at her house in Pattaya

Communication evidence for time we have been apart. Emails / facebook

Skype Telephone Records

Standard mail

May 28th 2010 – July 29^th 2010

October 9^th 2010 – May XX 2010

Birthday Cards

Photos of both my time in Thailand and XXXXXs time in the UK.

Details of where we will live in the UK

The address of my home where we will both live is [ADDRESS]. I purchased the property in 2003 and have a mortgage with Halifax.

The property is a three bedroomed detached house with lounge, kitchen, 2 bathrooms and conservatory. Attached is a self-contained Annex where my father lives. XXXXX and I would live exclusively in the main house.

Supporting Evidence

Mortgage agreement and statements from Halifax

Photographs of the property

Council Tax bill

Utility Bills

Land Registry Details

Employment Status

Whist in the U.K. I am currently employed as an I.T. Manager for [CO NAME] on a self-employed basis. I have included also a copy of my last set of personal accounts. This gives me a monthly salary of XXXX GBP, which in turn gives me a comfortable standard of living. After essential expenditure I have approximately 1000 GBP of disposable income, this allows me to financially support XXXXX and also have a good standard of living.

Supporting Evidence

Original HSBC Statements

Copy of 2010 & 2011 Accounts

Contract between MMMMM MMMMM & [CO NAME]

Letter from Managing Director of [CO NAME] – Stephen MMMMM

Letter from Accountants – [CO NAME]

HM Revenue & Customs Self Assessment Statement

The future

XXXXX and I have been realistic and booked a preliminary ceremony to held at [registry office] for our Civil Partnership on April 10^th 2012.

We cannot book a firm date until we give Notice of Civil Partnership, 17 days prior to the ceremony. This of course is dependent on the visa being granted and XXXXX being in the UK.

Following the partnership XXXXX will apply for further leave to remain.

Supporting Info

Preliminary booking and enquiry form from Registry Office

Should there be any other information you require please contact either XXXXX or myself.

Yours sincerely

MMMMM

Contact Details :

[7by7]

Just popped in for a quick look before going away until Sunday, so can't give too much of a reply, I;m afraid.

The letter looks fine, with all the points covered. However, you may want to consider précising it a little bit, especially the relationship history.

[bobrussell]

Make sure that you provide receipts for the NHS treatment or details of the insurance company paying for the treatment. So called "NHS debtors" are a bit of a hot potato in the UK at the moment and I suspect the ECO may be watching this aspect carefully! It sounds from your post but not from the letter (it says will be paid not has been paid) that you have this fully covered!

It has been decided by the powers that be that anyone owing over £1000 to the NHS will be refused permission to re-enter or extend their stay in the UK until paid in full. Confirmation that the bill has been paid will be a big plus in any application. I doubt this is law yet!

[unobeano]

Make sure that you provide receipts for the NHS treatment or details of the insurance company paying for the treatment. So called "NHS debtors" are a bit of a hot potato in the UK at the moment and I suspect the ECO may be watching this aspect carefully! It sounds from your post but not from the letter (it says will be paid not has been paid) that you have this fully covered!

It has been decided by the powers that be that anyone owing over £1000 to the NHS will be refused permission to re-enter or extend their stay in the UK until paid in full. Confirmation that the bill has been paid will be a big plus in any application. I doubt this is law yet!

Thanks for that. I have a certified receipt and letter from the cashiers office showing "Paid in Full" £3,795 (i cant beleive i didn't get travel insurance!!)

Online application made today Appointment booked for the 10th ....