Applying For Spouse Visa From Lao By Post

[wayner]

Hi there

Just spent some time getting all the documentation ready for my wife's (Lao national) spouse visa for the UK.

Is anyone familiar with this regarding applying by post?

I'm aware that this is a THAI visa forum but the UK isn't represented in lao, so we have to deal with the embassy in BKK.

Like I said we,ve got everything together, just waiting to send it off.

Does my wife have to post her passport to the embassy with the application?

Does she have to send payment for the visa as a check or is cash ok?

Does she HAVE TO or is it BETTER to send all supproting documents with the application?

She's been here (UK) before supported by myself, is it possible that they could be satisfied and grant a visa without an interview?

There's the TB test now to consider, we were hoping that she could do that shortly before the interview. Any thoughts on this?

Any help would be marvellous.

Cheers

Wayne

[the scouser]

Wayne,

According to the notice on the UK embassy website, only those applicants who are in Thailand need take the TB test. I would therefore contact them before you submit the application to clarify this point. Should your wife need to undergo the TB test, I would have it done before you submit the application as you don't want it refused on a technicality. However, also enquire whether your wife may have the test done in Vientiane.

Additionally, as your wife has already been to the UK, presumably with you as a sponsor, I believe that she stands a better than average chance of being issued the settlement visa without undergoing a full interview providing that the requirements of the rules appear to be met. Indeed, it is possible that the embassy might issue the visa purely on the basis of the papers submitted, rather than drag her down from Laos for a 10-minute chat. I'd therefore submit the supporting documentation with the application.

The embassy accepts either cashier's cheques or postal orders for payment. How the logistics of this work when you are in Laos, I don't know. Perhaps you are best asking the embassy of that, too.

Cheers,

Scouse.

[wayner]

Thanks again Scouse

Not used to the embassy replying quickly but I'll ask about the TB/Lao thing.

Still not sure if she needs to post her passport with the application though. Anybody know?

[the scouser]

I would, just in case they decide to issue the visa on the papers. I'd enclose a return EMS (or Lao equivalent) envelope for its return.

Scouse.