Morning lads and a happy new year to all

Me and the gf are looking at getting married in Thailand in feb,and then apply for the settlement visa.at the moment my gf is with me in the uk on a holiday visa but will return to Thailand next week. She will then visit the uk in April for a family holiday,will there be any problems applying for the settlement while she is on a holiday visa or what would happen if the settlement got approved before our family holiday,will she be able to still travel on the holiday visa??

Also undecided about using a visa service,as previous we have done holiday visa ourselves any thoughts??

Regards

Annnick

Does she already have a visit visa for April?

There is no reason why she cannot apply for settlement whist she still holds a valid visit visa; though she cannot apply in the UK, she must apply in Thailand.

If her settlement visa is approved before she travels for the holiday in April, then she simply uses that to enter the UK and not the visit visa.

However, if you intend to have the holiday before she settles in the UK then you should either wait to apply for settlement until after the holiday or apply before and ask for the start of the settlement visa to be post dated, which it can be for up to three months, until she has returned to Thailand from the visit; explaining why you are doing so in the application.

Note, though, that her passport will remain with the embassy during the processing of her settlement visa, so she will therefore be unable to visit the UK during this time.

Whether to use a visa agent or not is your choice; but I suggest that you read this first.

Does she already have a visit visa for April?

There is no reason why she cannot apply for settlement whist she still holds a valid visit visa; though she cannot apply in the UK, she must apply in Thailand.

If her settlement visa is approved before she travels for the holiday in April, then she simply uses that to enter the UK and not the visit visa.

However, if you intend to have the holiday before she settles in the UK then you should either wait to apply for settlement until after the holiday or apply before and ask for the start of the settlement visa to be post dated, which it can be for up to three months, until she has returned to Thailand from the visit; explaining why you are doing so in the application.

Note, though, that her passport will remain with the embassy during the processing of her settlement visa, so she will therefore be unable to visit the UK during this time.

Whether to use a visa agent or not is your choice; but I suggest that you read this first.

Thks for the advice and link mate

Yes we already have the visa for April,we are looking at applying after the holiday due to the fact you pointed out about the passport and don't wanna risk it. My only query now is after we get married my gf will change her passport to take my name? The visit visa stamp is in her old passport so will she be able to travel to the uk with her old passport or new passport stating she married now or both?

When she changes her passport her old one will be canceled. However, the visa inside it will, assuming it hasn't expired, still be valid. So she should show both the old and the new one when checking in for the flight and at UK immigration. I would also recommend she has her marriage certificate and an English translation of it with her in case she needs to show why and how her name has changed.

Alternatively, she could wait until returning to Thailand after the visit before changing her passport.

A word of warning, though. Waiting times for UK visas in Bangkok at present are quite quick; even settlement. However, over the last few years demand for all types of UK visa in Bangkok has started to increase from around March; with a consequent increase in processing times. Applying later in the year could mean a wait of as much as three months for her visa!

See UK Settlement Waiting 2011

When she changes her passport her old one will be canceled. However, the visa inside it will, assuming it hasn't expired, still be valid. So she should show both the old and the new one when checking in for the flight and at UK immigration. I would also recommend she has her marriage certificate and an English translation of it with her in case she needs to show why and how her name has changed.

Alternatively, she could wait until returning to Thailand after the visit before changing her passport.

A word of warning, though. Waiting times for UK visas in Bangkok at present are quite quick; even settlement. However, over the last few years demand for all types of UK visa in Bangkok has started to increase from around March; with a consequent increase in processing times. Applying later in the year could mean a wait of as much as three months for her visa!

See UK Settlement Waiting 2011

Thanks for all the info mate much appreciated

Visa waiting times are not that quick at the moment we have several applications awaiting decisions from November.