Settlement Visa With Defaced Passport

[Winders67]

Settlement visa with defaced passport

Hello all. I'm going to be apply for a settlement visa for my thai girlfriend to come to the uk. Which we have done once before but they knocked us back because of a new ruling coming just as we applied which was that we had to be together either in uk or Thailand over 730 days two years which we have now just gone over this amount of days. Anyway my question is last month I damaged my passport in the washing machine and some of the pages are smudged so I have had to get a new passport. The visa people last time checked my passport to prove the days we had spent together but now I can but some dates are smudged.

What do you think will this be another excuse.

Me and my girlfriend have just had a baby too which we will be bringing over to the uk.

I am a uk citizen.

[7by7]

I can't see it being a problem as all they want to see from your passport is your status in Thailand and how long you have spent together there; and they just want a certified copy anyway, not the actual passport.

Waiting until you have your new passport would not help, as that would not have any Thai stamps in it.

I am puzzled by you saying

they knocked us back because of a new ruling coming just as we applied which was that we had to be together either in uk or Thailand over 730 days two years

How long ago was this? The requirement for unmarried partners to have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years is not new; it has been so for many years.

[eriksen]

Interesting, so thanks to you wise ones out there, and I ask you kindly to reply, do you beleive that long time in LOS with a GF will strengthen the case for a visitors visa to vist Oz for a month? (we have been living together in a house in LOS for over 2 years now)

Thanks to all...

[Basil B]

Interesting, so thanks to you wise ones out there, and I ask you kindly to reply, do you beleive that long time in LOS with a GF will strengthen the case for a visitors visa to vist Oz for a month? (we have been living together in a house in LOS for over 2 years now)

Thanks to all...

The OP (Original Poster) was asking for advise on a visa for the UK, the rules applied for Australia are different from the UK, and although he did not state UK on the heading I think anyone with specialist knowledge of Australia probably will not read past where he states UK.

If you do not get an answer, best resubmit the question as a new topic, do not forget to mention Australia in the title.

[7by7]

Topic title amended to show country.

[Winders67]

Hello I'm sorry to confuse things I'm from the uk

When we applied last time for a settlement visa we did not no that we had to of lived together for over over years we used a visa company and they said they were sorry and they are not charging us for the next visa application.

My problem is may I make my self more clear is that I have my old passport which now as smudged pages for about 50% and my entry and departure dates now are hard to prove so is this going to be a problem to count up the two years I also now I have a new passport I have both.

Plus we've just had a baby which will get a uk passport will this help my case.

Regards ad thanks Chris

[necronx99]

Hello I'm sorry to confuse things I'm from the uk

When we applied last time for a settlement visa we did not no that we had to of lived together for over over years we used a visa company and they said they were sorry and they are not charging us for the next visa application.

My problem is may I make my self more clear is that I have my old passport which now as smudged pages for about 50% and my entry and departure dates now are hard to prove so is this going to be a problem to count up the two years I also now I have a new passport I have both.

Plus we've just had a baby which will get a uk passport will this help my case.

Regards ad thanks Chris

Certainly UK records are all computerized. Even if your passport is not legible their own records will show you as out of country?

[necronx99]

Interesting, so thanks to you wise ones out there, and I ask you kindly to reply, do you beleive that long time in LOS with a GF will strengthen the case for a visitors visa to vist Oz for a month? (we have been living together in a house in LOS for over 2 years now)

Thanks to all...

This is unlikely to help you get a tourist visa, it will most likely stop you from getting one as they will assume you are going to get married in Oz.

It may support an application for a fiance visa.

[theoldgit]

Certainly UK records are all computerized. Even if your passport is not legible their own records will show you as out of country?

I'm sorry but that's simply not true, UK Passport holders are not electronically logged in and out of the UK.

[necronx99]

Certainly UK records are all computerized. Even if your passport is not legible their own records will show you as out of country?

I'm sorry but that's simply not true, UK Passport holders are not electronically logged in and out of the UK.

I'll stand corrected, but really? That doesn't 'sound' right.

[Winders67]

I think you are correct on this the uk immigration don't have tracking of in and out countries yet.

So that is why I worry in that when the papers go through for the visa with passport it's now going to hard to prove that iv been with my girlfriend for more than two years.

[7by7]

UK immigration do not stamp British and EU passports into the UK, neither are British or EU passports scanned.

Very few passports are checked or stamped when leaving the UK, regardless of the nationality of the traveler. These exit checks were abolished some time ago as an economy measure; either by Major's government or Blair's, can't remember which.

However, the Thai entry and exit stamps in your passport will show when and for how long you have visited Thailand and therefore, presumably, your girlfriend.

[Winders67]

I'm sorry you are missing my point that is my passport is smudge 50% of the pages showing my entry into Thailand so I now have no proof of days spent with my girlfriend.

[necronx99]

I'm sorry you are missing my point that is my passport is smudge 50% of the pages showing my entry into Thailand so I now have no proof of days spent with my girlfriend.

From left field, but have you been getting consular or embassy support while you have been in LOS?

Are there any records the embassy could provide if so?

Lastly, how about Thai immigration, they must have soem record of your visas.

[chrishopkins53]

I am puzzled by you saying

they knocked us back because of a new ruling coming just as we applied which was that we had to be together either in uk or Thailand over 730 days two years

How long ago was this? The requirement for unmarried partners to have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years is not new; it has been so for many years.

Just curious, my wife applied in November 2010 just before the new English test requirement. Our letter explained we met in may 2009, started going out in September, started living together I'm April 2010 and got married in July 2010. So that's a lot less than two years whenever they started counting. Is it a specific rule?

Edited January 29, 2012 by chrishopkins53

[7by7]

The two years living together rule applies to unmarried partners, not spouses.

[bkk_mike]

Do you still have copies of your passport from the first application? (pre-smudged)

Alternatively, do you still have emails with your flight booking, itinerary, etc. Old photos with timestamps on them? receipt for travel insurance? Statement from the airline frequent flyer program?

The UK doesn't scan your passport on the way out, but they do run the magnetic section through the scanner on re-entering the UK (nowadays... a couple of years ago I'll admit they just looked at them).

Thailand would definitely have scanned your passport in/out, so you could ask Thai immigration if you're coming to Thailand.

Remember the baby will need the passport, and for that you'll probably need a photo of the baby while you're still in the UK as you'll need someone to certify it, and the application form, that's known you for two years...

Edited January 29, 2012 by bkk_mike

[Maestro]

The immigration bureau has a record of all your entries and exits over the past few yeas in its computer database. Perhaps your visa agent can check with them to see if they are willing to give you a printout with a signature confirming that it is a true and correct record.