Uk Visitor Visa By Post

[Captain Haddock]

I've been married to a Thai for nearly two years, had a daughter 7 months ago and hoping to go to the UK in March. I've successfully applied by post to the British Embassy for a UK passport for my daughter, and now I'm hoping to apply for a visitor visa for the wife. Both of them have Thai passports.

My sister's getting married in March, we have the wedding invitation and sponsor's letter/6 month's bank statements from my dad, and I have a letter from my Thai emloyer to prove they want me back, so this is definitely a family visit for just two weeks.

However, this "reason to return" business is worrying me. My wife has no property, and no job, as she is a full-time housewife. I've been supporting her financially since we've been married via my Thai wage.

I see that there's a small box for "any other supporting info" on the application - what's best to concentrate on here? We've absolutely no interest in returning to the UK, but for the fact that my only sibling is getting married. I can see how an ECO could view her as having no assets, but then again, this is a valid family occasion necessitating our visit to the UK.

Is this going to be a problem with gaining the visa, or am I worrying needlessly?

[silomfan]

Assuming you are staying with your dad whilst in the UK ,you may want to get together some evidence just showing his accomodation is large enough for you all to stay there . Or if not staying there some info on where you will be staying.

Re reason to return i think you have a great case because you actually work in Thailand and you are travelling for the purpose of being at your sister's wedding . Sounds like you have worked in Thailand for quite a while so you have a firm reason to return therefore your wife does too.

As long as all your paperwork is consistant really can't see a problem. Should be a formality.

SILOMFAN

[the scouser]

Yes, based on what you've said, I can't see how the ECO could refuse the visa.

Scouse.

[scubamatt72]

I had a very similar situation to you. I applied for my wife's first Uk visit visa by post last week (we live / work in Phuket). Sent it off, with lots of supporting evidence and sent it by EMS with a bankers draft for 3790 Baht (3750 for visa, 40 baht for return postage). Later in the week I sent email asking if it had arrived, and then after 2 days, as I had had no reply I resent the same email. I recieved a reply a couple of hours later that the visa had been granted and the passport - with visa - would be returned the following Monday.

The main difference to your situation is that my wife does work (she works in the same school as I, and I included the school calender showing that we were travelling during the school holidays.)

If you send me an email ( [email protected] ) I can send you teh list of document and my letter if you wish.

Cheers

(And cheers to Scouser and GU22 for their advice in teh previous few months)

[Captain Haddock]

Cheers for the advice, guys. I hope to be able to sleep a little better tonight!

The sponsor letter does point out that we'll all be staying in my father's house, and that there is one bedroom for my wife and I; another for the baby to sleep in, so we've hopefully covered that angle. No house deeds though, as the folks are still paying off the mortgage and don't have access to those. Hope that won't complicate things. Having read the posts on this forum it just seems that any little thing can be enough to upset the ECOs...

I'll let you know how I get on!