my girlfriend obtained her tourist visa at the second attempt and she has been to the UK twice ( once for 5 weeks and the second time for 8 weeks), this visa expires 2/4/13, 2 days after we travel back to Thailand.

can anyone advise if we can apply for a second tourist visa while we are in Thailand or do we need to wait a few months? also how easy is it to get a second tourist visa?

many thanks

Edited March 13, 201313 yr by dixy1964

She can always apply; but may not be successful.

Although it is not an actual rule, the convention is that a visitor should not normally spend more than 6 months out of any 12 in the UK. This is to stop people using visit visas to live in the UK.

I'll let you work out how long she should wait before applying again.

Each application is treated on it's own merits and in her next application she will need to show that she again meets the criteria for a visitor. Although, obviously, having visited the UK before and complied with the conditions of her visa then this is a point in her favour.

However, if applying soon after returning from a visit she should explain why she needs to visit the UK again so soon.

Also, if she has spent longer in the UK with this visa then she said she would in her original application, although she has not broken any rules she should explain why and how she was able to do so; especially if in her original application she used work as a reason to return to Thailand.

In addition to the reply to the reply from 7by7, the ECO will probably look closer at the ties to Thailand and her stated reasons to return if she asks to visit The UK too often in a short period of time.