Advice Sought For Thai Wife To Come To The Uk On A Settlement/spouse Visa

[paulsmith4465]

Hi my name is Paul from the U.K. it’s my first post on the site. Firstly I would like to thank all the Thaivisa forum members for taking time to read the posts and sharing help and advice with other members, its greatly appreciated an so very helpful, again thank you all.

My situation is that I live in the UK my financial situation is good, I own two houses without any mortgage, I live in one and rent out the other one, I have enough savings, salary, pension and rental income to satisfy income requirements.

My Thai wife of two years has been to the UK on two Visit Visas and complied with all the requirements i.e. she didn’t overstay. She has experienced life in the U.K. and although she finds it much colder, food different etc etc. she would like to settle here with me, I’m so happy about that.

She now wants a spouse Visa which is I think 30 months, before when we arranged the visit visa we used an agency, they were very good, and got the visit Visas.

I’m considering doing the spouse visa application myself because the agent wants about £900 for the fee plus the visa application fee which is about £800, I know it’s not rocket science to make the application, if you have the time to do it, but there can be many pitfalls if you don’t get everything correct, if you don’t get it right it would be refused, but I understand you can make an appeal if necessary, and that would just drag things out, so it may be better to use an agent.

Are there any step by step guidelines on how make an application from the UK? given that I can’t go to Thailand to make the application for her, also I won’t be in Thailand if they want to interview us both regarding the spouse visa application, I would be available in the UK for a telephone interview if required by the ECO.

My wife has all the previous documents with her in Thailand, photos, telephone records, copies of the deeds to my houses, my financial verification, marriage certificate and translation, etc etc, which she submitted for her previous applications.

I have been advised that to make a settlement Visa, via an agent, I must supply original documents i.e Deeds to my houses, Original marriage certificates and translations into English, Bank statements, birth certificate, divorce papers from my previous marriage etc etc. If they got lost somewhere in transit I would be a nightmare for me trying to get replacements.

Before when I posted the copied documents to the agent I blanked out on my bank statements some numbers of my bank sort code, and account number, if I must post the originals and knowing what the Thai post service is, i.e. they will not get there, or the agency have all the information to make it easy for identity fraud, I may as well give them my Debit card number with the pin code, I feel that it would be very dangerous to give out all this information as originals, perfect for I.D fraud.

My wife has passed the A1 English test, so that’s OK, what would be the anticipated time scale for the application process for the spouse visa, before for the visit visa it was very quick, about one week.

Again many thanks to all who contribute give their experiences and advice to this forum, very helpful.

Thanks

Paul.

[bobrussell]

If you follow the pinned topic at the top of the visa and migration main page you will get much of what is needed!

It sounds as if your wife's application should be straight forward. You can fill in the application form in the UK and can either be printed out in Thailand by your wife or in the UK and sent with the documents. The form itself is very step by step.

I sent my papers (at that time copies were OK for much of the time) tracked and it took about 4-5 days to get there. Keep copies in case of loss!! It can be a bit nerve wracking when the Post Office finish tracking in the UK. I have to say they have never lost anything of ours in the past. All of the documents are replaceable at a push. For most people in the UK house deeds are usually lodged with the bank and not available to send anyway so it may be possible to send other, not so critical original documents to show property details. Land registry details would be one possibility, available on line nowadays.

Expect to wait for several months! Check the thread on settlement processing times on the forum and add your wife's details to the list!

Best of luck but it really is not that difficult if your situation is straight forward (and you have enough income!!).

[ThaiVisaExpress]

You can do the application yourself. Many people do, but many people also use agents for a variety of reasons. If an agent has quoted you 900 GBP, then I think he might be ripping you off somewhat.

Do not send original Title Deeds. A copy is acceptable ( if you have access to the Deeds), but you can download a Title Register from the Land Registry website for 4 GBP which the UKBA accept. Some of the other documents you mention are required in original form, and translations of some are required too ( marriage certificate, for instance). For ease of mind, I would send important documents by DHL, or another courier, but that is my opinion only.

If we can assist you further, please let us know.

[Satcommlee]

I don't think you should waste money with visa agents, unless the fee's are reasonable, 900 quid seems scandalous.

The biggest obstacles you have already overcome because she has had 2 previous visa's

Providing you not hiding anything or trying to distort the truth, you should be fine with an honest, straight forward and open application.

Edited February 8, 2013 by Satcommlee

[MAJIC]

You most certainly can do your wifes Settlement Visa yourself.

I did my wifes Settlement Visa,with I might add, nervously and with doubts,expecting a letter at any time with some query I had missed,thankfully it went through without a hitch.

Having gained confidence,I next tackled my wifes ILR,again a pass result with no holdups or queries,

In the past month I have just got my wife UK Citizenship.We go in early April for the Ceremony and Certificate.

If you approach it in the right way,you can do it. Always remember You alone have all the answers,when you walk into an Agents Office, they don't even know your name,let alone what Visa you require,so you have to use your time to answer all the questions on the form,which they are being paid (by you) you are not being paid!

Take it bit by bit,start a folder with see through Pockets,Set up an Index,of Titles and Headings of all the relevent Pocket Catergories,and Religeously keep all your Bills,Documents,Certificates,and Utility Bills in the correct sections to avoid confusion.Check everthing page by page,and mark/label as completed,or label as pending further additions. When you think you have finally checked everything,in each section,then check it one last time,and if you are still doubtful ? another last check!

And finally have confidence in yourself,and don't forget,you have something to fall back on, i.e there will be a Checking Service somewhere in your area,for that final check,which is not too expensive.

The sense of achievement,having done it yourself is well worth the effort,the wife will also think she married a Superman,which isn't a wasted effort,in the respect department!

Good Luck.

MAJIC.

Edited February 8, 2013 by MAJIC

[theoldgit]

Paul

Plenty of good advice here, the application process is pretty straight forward and, as Thai Visa express indicates, many people successfully do it themselves. Likewise some people prefer the comfort of using an agent, though as TVE says the figure of £900 does seem in the high side.

I want to pick up on one thing you said in your OP, "I have been advised that to make a settlement Visa, via an agent, I must supply original documents", the documents required are the same if you do the application yourselves or if you use an agent.

[Somtamme]

We did ourselves too, successfully but choose to marry in the UK instead of Thailand. On granting of the visitor visa for marriage, and return journey to UK, it was explained by many people esp. agents I recollect that I had to purchase a return flight for my fiancée, rather than single ticket. I'm still unsure if this was actually required?

[ThaiVisaExpress]

We did ourselves too, successfully but choose to marry in the UK instead of Thailand. On granting of the visitor visa for marriage, and return journey to UK, it was explained by many people esp. agents I recollect that I had to purchase a return flight for my fiancée, rather than single ticket. I'm still unsure if this was actually required?

It depends what visa your fiancee had. If she went to the UK as a visitor, with the intention of marrying and then returning to Thailand, that would be different from a fiancee visa ( where she would marry in the UK, and then remain for settlement). If it was the latter, ie settlement, then no return ticket is required, as she would not be leaving the UK. If it was the former, a visit during which she would marry. then she is required to show that she intends to leave the UK at the end of her visit, and is able to do so. There is no legal requirement to have a return ticket, as not everyone who visits the UK is actually returning to where they came from. They might, for instance, be going on somewhere else, or leaving on a cruise, or whatever, so the law requires that they have, or can show, the ability to leave the Uk at the end of their visit. In many cases a return ticket will,of course, show that.

Edited February 9, 2013 by ThaiVisaExpress

[Jay Sata]

Like other replies I reckon you can easily do this yourself Paul.

I did ours 13 years ago and found it simple.

You appear to tick all the right boxes and should have no problem.

Good luck

[kamenrider]

I also agree you can quite easily do it yourself. Just take your time, perhaps do a draft first. If you/spouse have original documentation to prove income, accommodation, language and TB criteria are met it should be straightforward. I prepared our application recently and had a succesful outcome, processing took three calendar months including public holidays.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

What service are you getting from the agent are they for example :

1. Taking her for the A1 Test?
   
2. Taking her for X-Rays ?
   
3. Submission & collection of the documents ?