Little Bit Of Help On Uk Visa Please

[londonboy12]

Apologies, as I was on this forum maybe nine months ago, asking some questions, but need some refreshing if possible.

I have had a girlfriend in Thailand for the last 9 months. I have phone cards, copies of phone statements, Bangkok Bank (London) receipts of money sent to her in Thailand, e-mail copies and pictures of us together on numerous visits to Thailand. She is currently living in Petchabun. She has perfect English. Her English is so good that many people think she is English on the phone. She has a university degree and has had her own business in the past.

I have a good job with a City Bank, I am 36, home owner, good salary, own car, never been in trouble with the law, no debts and money in the bank.

I would like to bring her to England, but am not yet ready to commit to marry to her. I would like to bring her to England on one of the types of visa that I have read about on this site:-

either (1) multi-visit visa

(2) 6 month visit visa

or (3) fiance visa

What are the differences? How easy are they to get and would she stand a good chance of getting one of them?

What is the time scale for the full application process? And can I specify a date for her to come back with me. I would like to go over in mid-February to start the ball rolling, then go back at Songkhran to bring her back in mid-April

Finally, if I married her only in Thailand to apply for the 2 year marriage visa, would she have any claim over any assets of mine in the UK? Would she have any claim over assets in Thailand that I have eg. if I bought a house in a company name?

Many thanks in advance for any replies.

[the scouser]

If you are not ready to commit to marriage, it is probably best if your g/f applies for a visit visa. This would give her a maximum of 6 months in the UK. It is unlikely that she would be given a 1-year multiple as a first visa. She should only apply for a fiancée visa if you intend to get married and settle in the UK. Should she treat a fiancée visa as a visit visa and not marry, she might find it difficult to get a subsequent visa.

Visit visa applications are currently decided on the day of application, so, unless things change, she'll be best waiting until nearer her intended date of travel before applying. Should she apply early, she can ask for the validity of the visa to be post-dated for up to 3 months.

Whether your g/f gets a visa will depend largely upon her circumstances in Thailand. She will have to display an intention to return to Thailand at the end of her visit and prove that either she can pay for it herself or, if you are paying, that you have the wherewithal to do so. She should also supply proof of the relationship and evidence of your ability to accommodate her during her stay.

I'm afraid I'm not au fait with the legal ramifications of marrying in Thailand and divorcing in the UK, but I would think that your g/f could still take half of whatever you have.

Cheers,

Scouse.

[londonboy12]

Many thanks Scouse. Perfect answers as usual and thanks for the time.

My question with regard to marrying in Thailand was if we married under Thai law. This would then (I believe ) make it easier to get a 2 year visa for the UK. I am not yet ready to commit to marrying in the UK. Basically, I don't want to put at risk half of my house, assets etc for a girl I know well (but not enough to trust her 100%). I would have the same hesitations over a farang girl! Bascially, I am a tight fisted Scottish b*stard!

But I am also thinking of buying a place in Thailand for investment purposes(holiday home in Phuket / Koh Samui). However, I would have a bit of hesitation of buying it at all if I though that by marrying her in Thailand, I may be putting this at risk. Better with my money in the Bank in that situation!

Any comments appreciated

[CarlBkk]

Hi Londonboy, firstly you can't be that tight-fisted if you've been transferring money to her during your short relationship! Nevertheless I'd advise against purchasing the house in joint names just yet - there are ways around that which keep your assets safe.

It's very doubtful your girlfriend will obtain a 2 year visa for her first visit, but then it depends on her social status, job, previous holiday destination visas etc.

My gf (now wife) obtained her first UK holiday visa (a 6 month visa) with letter from employer, decent salary coming into her account regularly and not mentioning she had a British bf at all. She came and went back to Thailand for over a year before we got married in Thailand and we've now come back to UK for a while on a 2 year visa:

Quick question for Scouser etc. - she has a 2 year multi-entry visa which entitles her to stays of up to 6 months, so is this is the same as we get in Thailand where she could leave the UK (or EU?) before her 6 months for a few days and re-enter to gain another 6 months...all without returning to Thailand?

[markuk]

Many thanks Scouse. Perfect answers as usual and thanks for the time.

My question with regard to marrying in Thailand was if we married under Thai law. This would then (I believe ) make it easier to get a 2 year visa for the UK. I am not yet ready to commit to marrying in the UK. Basically, I don't want to put at risk half of my house, assets etc for a girl I know well (but not enough to trust her 100%). I would have the same hesitations over a farang girl! Bascially, I am a tight fisted Scottish b*stard!

But I am also thinking of buying a place in Thailand for investment purposes(holiday home in Phuket / Koh Samui). However, I would have a bit of hesitation of buying it at all if I though that by marrying her in Thailand, I may be putting this at risk. Better with my money in the Bank in that situation!

Any comments appreciated

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i belive (and i may be wrong) that once married you are married no matter where it was done.

[the scouser]

Quick question for Scouser etc. - she has a 2 year multi-entry visa which entitles her to stays of up to 6 months, so is this is the same as we get in Thailand where she could leave the UK (or EU?) before her 6 months for a few days and re-enter to gain another 6 months...all without returning to Thailand?[/b]

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

From your description it sounds as though your g/f has a multiple entry visit visa valid for 2 years. She can stay, as you say, for up to 6 months at a time. I would be careful, though, as although the visa is valid for 2 years, it's purpose is not to enable the holder to effectively live in the UK for that time. If it becomes apparent to an immigration officer that that is the case, your g/f might face some awkward questions.

Londonboy is referring to the spouse settlement visa which is valid for 2 years and allows you to live in the UK for that length of time. If he registers his marriage at the amphur in Thailand, to all intents and purposes he is considered to be married in the UK, too. So, Londonboy, it's not as straightforward as being married in Thailand and not in the UK.

Cheers,

Scouse.

[GU22]

i belive (and i may be wrong) that once married you are married no matter where it was done.

You are not wrong! Since the end of the 19th century, UK law recognises any marriage that is legally recognised in the country where it took place. So, marrying in Thailand means that you are legally married in the UK as well, with all the rights and responsibilities that brings.

londonboy12,

All visit visas are multi entry, although the ECO may restrict this if there is some reason to doubt the applicant but not enough to refuse. Similarly, although the minimum visit visa is for 6 months, if there is some doubt in the ECOs mind the applicant may be asked to sign an undertaking to return within a shorter period. Whilst this undertaking is not legally binding, breaking would display that the applicant is not totally trustworthy and so may make future applications difficult.

Whilst visit visas can be valid for up to 10 years, the maximum stay allowed on each visit is 6 months. But, as Scouse says, if this is a first application she is not going to get anything longer than the standard 6 months.

A fiance visa is issued for one purpose only; so the holder can travel to the UK to marry a UK citizen. If she were to return to Thailand without marrying and then apply for another visa this would probably be refused, unless she can show a very good reason why she did not marry you the first time.

A spouse visa is issued to a spouse, so you would have to marry in Thailand first.

She has a university degree and has had her own business in the past.

Is she working now? To get a visit visa the ECO must be satisfied about 3 criteria:-

1) Is the reason for the visit genuine? You have lots of proof of the relationship, so should be ok on this one.

2) Can the applicant be supported and accommodated during the visit without using public funds, either from their own resources or by a sponsor? From what you have said, you should have no problems showing that you can.

3) Will the applicant return to Thailand, or at least leave the UK, when, or before, the visa expires? This may be the problem. Does she have a job? Does she own property? What reason can she show to prove that she will return?