Visa For My Thai Wife

[woralak]

I am british age 64, was married to my wife in Sept 2007 at the local Amphur (Chiang Khong/Chiang Rai), i would like to take her to the UK in May of next year for a 2/3 month holiday, what type of visa would she need, we may also like to visit family in Germany and Spain, will she need a certain type of visa to do this.

As you can appreciate living so far away from Bangkok i would like to make sure that we have all the necessary documents what is required before we make the trip, can anyone please tell me what we would have to bring with us, if there is a list of documents required could someone please post them on TV or pm me.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

[phomthai]

For a 2-3 months UK visit your wife will need a UK visit visa. See the pinned topic below:

http://www.thaivisa....it-visa-basics/

For Germany and Spain she'll need a Schengen visa...

Since you're a Brit, get the UK visit visa first from the British Embassy, though you actually go via their agent VFS in Bangkok.

Unfortunately for reasons best known to the British Embassy you won't know the result of the visa application until your wife gets her passport back...which makes it slightly harder to plan the next stage, ie Schengen visa application submission, especially when you're not based in BKK

You do get a sms advising that your passport is ready for collection but that's about all...whinge whinge but how difficult would it really be for them to add a Yes or No to that sms!...and yes I appreciate that the sms comes from VFS but it really ain't rocket science and would actually significantly improve the quality of the service that they provide and would allow people some planning time even if only another day or so...

Anyway, then I would suggest getting the Schengen visa via the German embassy, again in BKK. If recent postings on thaivisa are anything to go by the Spanish are a pain n the proverbial and believe in making life very difficult. I suspect the German route may be easier and more efficient though I don't have any personal experience with them.

UK visa takes about 1 week. Don't know about German embassy but Mrs Phomthai had her Schengen visa from the French embassy in a week.

Use the exact same supporting documents, including invitation letters from UK, Germany and Spain, for both visas and mention both visas in your letter of support.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[bifftastic]

Hi worra mate

Hope you're well?

She needs a Family Visit Visa.

As for the documents you will need, well, there's quite a few mate!

The UKBA will need to see evidence of four main criteria.

That the relationship is genuine (marriage certificates, documents from your house, phone/internet bills etc. anything that shows you living as man and wife together in Thailand)

That the money is there to finance the trip. This can be your money, her money, or both. (bank statements going back for the last 6 months)

That there is adequate accommodation in the UK for her visit. (an invitation from whoever you'll be staying with is apparently enough, but I went for a tenancy agreement plus a letter from the landlord saying it was ok for the wife to stay with me there)

That the visitor (your wife) will return to Thailand after her visit is over. (For you, seeing as you both live in Thailand, that should be covered by the evidence that you provide for the 'genuine relationship part)

She will need her passport plus copy, copy of her ID card, bank statements if some of the money used for the trip is hers.

You will need to be her sponsor and write a covering letter saying something like "my wife and I have lived together for x amount of years, we married on the <insert date> and live together in the house in picture 'A' (it would be good if the picture showed you both as well as the house) we would like to visit mr and mrs whoever it is in the UK from the 32n'd of february to the whenever you want to come back"

We have a stable life in Thailand and will both be returning together, please see attached documents as evidence of our relationship.

Outline the reasons for the visit and say how long you will be staying.

You'll need copies of your passport pages (to show them that you are a UK citizen, you need to sign and date the copies) 6 months bank statements/pay slips pension letter etc. to show that you have the money for the trip.

There might be some things that I've left out (bit tired after work!) but I'm sure others will be along to help out if I have!

You should be ok mate, as long as you have evidence to back everything up. It's a bit of a pain but fairly straight forward.

For the visit to Germany and Spain, unfortunately she will need another visa for that! (but only one!) It's called a Schengen visa and seeing as you'll be going to Germany first, you can apply to the German Enbassy in bangkok. They told me that my wife would need to apply in person after she had received the visa for the UK.

All she would need to take with her was a copy of your passport, your marriage certificates and a translation of them into German. Oh and her passport of course!

The person also gave me a list of accredited translators that the German embassy accept.

Here's the email address of the German Embassy

[email protected]

Good luck,

Biff

[woralak]

For a 2-3 months UK visit your wife will need a UK visit visa. See the pinned topic below:

http://www.thaivisa....it-visa-basics/

For Germany and Spain she'll need a Schengen visa...

Since you're a Brit, get the UK visit visa first from the British Embassy, though you actually go via their agent VFS in Bangkok.

Unfortunately for reasons best known to the British Embassy you won't know the result of the visa application until your wife gets her passport back...which makes it slightly harder to plan the next stage, ie Schengen visa application submission, especially when you're not based in BKK

You do get a sms advising that your passport is ready for collection but that's about all...whinge whinge but how difficult would it really be for them to add a Yes or No to that sms!...and yes I appreciate that the sms comes from VFS but it really ain't rocket science and would actually significantly improve the quality of the service that they provide and would allow people some planning time even if only another day or so...

Anyway, then I would suggest getting the Schengen visa via the German embassy, again in BKK. If recent postings on thaivisa are anything to go by the Spanish are a pain n the proverbial and believe in making life very difficult. I suspect the German route may be easier and more efficient though I don't have any personal experience with them.

UK visa takes about 1 week. Don't know about German embassy but Mrs Phomthai had her Schengen visa from the French embassy in a week.

Use the exact same supporting documents, including invitation letters from UK, Germany and Spain, for both visas and mention both visas in your letter of support.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Many thanks Phomthai, it all sounds a bit coplicated and a bit scary but i'll give it a go, not sure if we will do the German and Spanish visits as that sounds like it could end up being a bit of a nightmare, i'll post any results on the British visa when and if i get any.

Rgds

Wora.

[woralak]

Hi worra mate

Hope you're well?

She needs a Family Visit Visa.

As for the documents you will need, well, there's quite a few mate!

The UKBA will need to see evidence of four main criteria.

That the relationship is genuine (marriage certificates, documents from your house, phone/internet bills etc. anything that shows you living as man and wife together in Thailand)

That the money is there to finance the trip. This can be your money, her money, or both. (bank statements going back for the last 6 months)

That there is adequate accommodation in the UK for her visit. (an invitation from whoever you'll be staying with is apparently enough, but I went for a tenancy agreement plus a letter from the landlord saying it was ok for the wife to stay with me there)

That the visitor (your wife) will return to Thailand after her visit is over. (For you, seeing as you both live in Thailand, that should be covered by the evidence that you provide for the 'genuine relationship part)

She will need her passport plus copy, copy of her ID card, bank statements if some of the money used for the trip is hers.

You will need to be her sponsor and write a covering letter saying something like "my wife and I have lived together for x amount of years, we married on the <insert date> and live together in the house in picture 'A' (it would be good if the picture showed you both as well as the house) we would like to visit mr and mrs whoever it is in the UK from the 32n'd of february to the whenever you want to come back"

We have a stable life in Thailand and will both be returning together, please see attached documents as evidence of our relationship.

Outline the reasons for the visit and say how long you will be staying.

You'll need copies of your passport pages (to show them that you are a UK citizen, you need to sign and date the copies) 6 months bank statements/pay slips pension letter etc. to show that you have the money for the trip.

There might be some things that I've left out (bit tired after work!) but I'm sure others will be along to help out if I have!

You should be ok mate, as long as you have evidence to back everything up. It's a bit of a pain but fairly straight forward.

For the visit to Germany and Spain, unfortunately she will need another visa for that! (but only one!) It's called a Schengen visa and seeing as you'll be going to Germany first, you can apply to the German Enbassy in bangkok. They told me that my wife would need to apply in person after she had received the visa for the UK.

All she would need to take with her was a copy of your passport, your marriage certificates and a translation of them into German. Oh and her passport of course!

The person also gave me a list of accredited translators that the German embassy accept.

Here's the email address of the German Embassy

[email protected]

Good luck,

Biff

Hey Biff, all good mate apart from from this headache with the visa, i'll pm you.

Cheers

Wora.

[7by7]

Unfortunately for reasons best known to the British Embassy you won't know the result of the visa application until your wife gets her passport back...which makes it slightly harder to plan the next stage, ie Schengen visa application submission, especially when you're not based in BKK

You do get a sms advising that your passport is ready for collection but that's about all...whinge whinge but how difficult would it really be for them to add a Yes or No to that sms!...and yes I appreciate that the sms comes from VFS but it really ain't rocket science and would actually significantly improve the quality of the service that they provide and would allow people some planning time even if only another day or so...

The reason is confidentiality. The result of a visa application is (rightly, IMO) treated as confidential between the entry clearance section at the embassy and the applicant. Passports etc are returned to VFS in sealed envelopes and they do not know the result.

It may not seem important if the application is successful; but would you really want a refusal and the reasons for such to be available to any one at VFS, and couriers if used, to read?

I wouldn't.

Woralak,

From the circumstances as your have described them you should have no difficulty in obtaining a UK family visit visa for your wife.

As the spouse of an EU citizen, a Schengen visa will be even easier to obtain; and free. I would recommend applying for this to the German embassy as they seem more conversant with the regulations pertaining to spouses of EU citizens than the Spanish! Remember to read the application form and guidance carefully as most of the questions and requirements don't apply to family members of EU citizens.

[georgecombey]

Hi there,

In the US that would be a Fiancee visa or a green card through marriage. I don't know what are their equivalent in UK immigration.

[woralak]

Unfortunately for reasons best known to the British Embassy you won't know the result of the visa application until your wife gets her passport back...which makes it slightly harder to plan the next stage, ie Schengen visa application submission, especially when you're not based in BKK

You do get a sms advising that your passport is ready for collection but that's about all...whinge whinge but how difficult would it really be for them to add a Yes or No to that sms!...and yes I appreciate that the sms comes from VFS but it really ain't rocket science and would actually significantly improve the quality of the service that they provide and would allow people some planning time even if only another day or so...

The reason is confidentiality. The result of a visa application is (rightly, IMO) treated as confidential between the entry clearance section at the embassy and the applicant. Passports etc are returned to VFS in sealed envelopes and they do not know the result.

It may not seem important if the application is successful; but would you really want a refusal and the reasons for such to be available to any one at VFS, and couriers if used, to read?

I wouldn't.

Woralak,

From the circumstances as your have described them you should have no difficulty in obtaining a UK family visit visa for your wife.

As the spouse of an EU citizen, a Schengen visa will be even easier to obtain; and free. I would recommend applying for this to the German embassy as they seem more conversant with the regulations pertaining to spouses of EU citizens than the Spanish! Remember to read the application form and guidance carefully as most of the questions and requirements don't apply to family members of EU citizens.

Hi 7by7

Many thanks for the info i will check out the German embassy for sure, since last i posted i sent an email to VFS info service, they replied with some helpful info but said to wait for three months before i intend to travel to the UK, then apply for my family visit visa for my wife, at least this gives me enough time to get all the necessary doc's together, i want to travel in May so i will start the process in Feb, will keep you posted.

Thanks again for your time.

Rgds

Worra.