What To Do ? - Uk Holiday For Visa For Thai National

[josephinebloggs]

Ladies and Gents, please help.

Looking to get my Daughter's Mum a Visa to visit the UK for Xmas and bring my Daughter ( Daughter has a UK and Thai passport ).

Her Mum and i are not married.

I believe i have enough this end ( the UK ) in order to put together a decent sponsorship style thing showing where's she's staying etc and with regards to Thailand and the UK Embassy wanting proof that Mum will return, she has a Car in her name that she's paying off, my Daughter is schooled there in a good, decent school and we rent a decent House in her name, she has around 20k going in and out of her Thai Bank Account each month but that's about it.

It would just be a 3 week holiday then both would return to Thailand as he little one goes back to school.

What would be my first steps ?

Involve an Agent or get her to go and start the process herself with the Embassy ?

What sort of costings are involved in total ?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[tw25rw]

She doesn't need to go near the embassy. Start the ball rolling online. Get the paperwork together. And start drafting a polite, informative letter detailing how they will get by and why they won't overstay because they have a life to go back to and that they don't want to jeopardise future visa applications but overstaying this time.

Don't waste your time/money with agents. It's easy if you are thorough and have the right motivations.

[theoldgit]

Basically your girlfriend will need to convince the Entry Clearance Officer that the visit is genuine, affordable and that she will leave the UK at the end of her visit, ie she will not use the visit to remain in the UK with you and the child.

There are plenty of topics on here from people who have successfully applied for visas in similar circumstances, and there are also pinned topics at the top of the page which have a wealth of advice.

Outline the details of the proposed visit, a Christmas and New Year holiday isn't unreasonable, especially for a short length of time. Give proof that the visit is affordable, if you're paying then supply proof in bank statements and maybe wage slips. Not unreasonable for a husband to pay for his wife's trip, but in your sponsors letter you might want to outline the reasons you are living apart and your joint plans for the future, don't make the letter too long.

Give some evidence that the relationship is subsisting, phone and email logs and details of any time you have spent together, but don't overwhelm with photos.

The most important thing is her reason to return, long term house rental and car purchase are indicative of her life in Thailand, maybe details of the child's school, does your girlfriend work? if so provide proof.

At the end of the day the ECO's are not looking to refuse applications, but it's up to you two to provide the evidence they need.

The use of an agent is a matter of choice, I agree that they are not necessary but some people like the comfort level they provide, especially when one partner is overseas. There are two good agents who advertise on this forum, Visa Plus and Thai Visa Express both based in Pattaya, they are both above board and have a good track record, they would both offer initial advice free and have clear pricing structure.

Have a read through the other threads and come back if you have any questions.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/thailand/?langname=UK%20English

[josephinebloggs]

Nice one Chaps, thanks very much.

I'm personally actually not in the greatest position financially and as there are no wrong motivations IE It's only a Xmas visit, i was thinking about getting my Sister who has her own successful business and own house to be the sponsor and go down that route.

She's obviously the little one's Aunt, comes to visit Thailand twice per year etc too.

I've personally only been back in th UK myself for a couple off months and am not in a position yet to give much support to longer term documentation here really.

The Sister thing wouldn't be an issue would it ?

[beano2274]

No issue, I used my uncle on a previous visit for my Thai wife.

He supplied proof of residence and that it could accommodate us, a letter

of invitation and a copy of his photo page from his passport to prove his

permission to reside in the UK.

In the end I stayed at my mums with my wife, although it was packed with my

brother and his wife and kid, I phoned UKBA and informed them, they did not

seem interested.

[7by7]

You will be the sponsor as you're the reason for the visit; the person she will be visiting.

The sponsor should write a supporting letter outlining the history of the relationship, the reason for the visit at this time and any plans sponsor and applicant have for their future.

However, there is no reason why your sister cannot provide third party financial support and accommodation.

Finance can come from the applicant's resources, the sponsor's, a third party's or any combination of these. Whoever is contributing to the finances should provide evidence of their ability to do so,6 months bank statements are best, and if a third party say why they are doing so.

Accommodation can be in a hotel or similar, staying with the sponsor or staying with friends or family of the applicant or the sponsor. If staying in a private household the person offering accommodation should write an invitation letter briefly describing the property to show that at least one room is available for the exclusive use of the applicant; although sharing with their sponsor or a friend or relative of the same sex is fine. It will help if the person offering the accommodation supplies proof of ownership or a letter from their landlord granting permission for the visitor to stay; whichever is applicable

Quotes from UK Visit Visa Basics.

Note that it is you, the sponsor, who needs to provide evidence of your permission (if not a British citizen) or right (if a British citizen) to reside in the UK; the person offering finance and/or accommodation does not need to do so.

Edited September 15, 2012 by 7by7

[lekatai]

Surely-given the details the OP has given,he should apply for a "Family visit visa" and not just a tourist visa,if he has been in a relationship with his daughters mum for the qualifying period(which I believe is defined as "a relationship akin to marriage for at least two of the three years immediately preceding the date of application"-or words to that effect)Does this type of application still have the right of appeal if the application is refused,whereas a simple tourist/visit visa does not?

[josephinebloggs]

Thanks Lekatai, i'll have a look into the Family Visit Visa then and if anyone has info on it, feel free to chime in..

Thanks again.

[7by7]

Lekatai, the OP doesn't apply for anything; he's a British citizen and living in the UK. His girlfriend may qualify for a family visit visa, if they were living together before he returned to the UK and can show that the separation is short term and temporary.

VAT2.2 What is a family visitor?

Unmarried partner where the couple have been in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least the 2 years before the day the application is made and the relationship is genuine and subsisting.

The key qualification is living together. If you have been living in the UK and only visiting your girlfriend then she does not qualify as an unmarried partner, even though you have a child together.

Whether applying for a family visit or a general one, essentially the same evidence is required; except for a family visit you need to demonstrate that she does qualify for such. If you were married then all you'd need is your marriage certificate. As you are not married then evidence that you have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least the two years prior to her applying.

The only advantage of applying for a family visit visa over a general one is that a family visit can be appealed if refused. But as you want them to visit for Christmas and as the appeals procedure can take several months, this may not be that important to you.

[josephinebloggs]

Lekatai, the OP doesn't apply for anything; he's a British citizen and living in the UK. His girlfriend may qualify for a family visit visa, if they were living together before he returned to the UK and can show that the separation is short term and temporary.

I think you took what he wrote too literally and i didn't read it as if Lekatai was insinuating he meant that i was applying for anything.

Thanks for the responses anyway Chaps.