2Nd Uk Visit Visa For Thai Neice - Unaccompanied By Mother

[sjohnson1234]

Hello Gents

Any chance of some pointers:

Background:

I'm a 38 year old Brit and my wife (41) is a Thai though was naturalised as a Brit in 2012. Married since 2001, together longer.

My Thai neice and her Thai mother (my sister-in-law) visited us in the UK in 2011 for three months, both using a six month multi entry UK visa (C - FAMILY VISIT).

My neice's visa had the following addition:

C - VISIT - CHILD ACCOMPANIES

ONLY VALID IF ACCOM BY (NAME OF MOTHER AND PASSPORT NUMBER)

At that time, my wife and I were living in the UK and I was employed in the UK.

Current:

My wife and I are now living overseas and I work for a Dubai based company. We maintain a home in the UK, have - I guess - considerable UK based savings and investments, many times more, I think, that folks would need to show to sponsor a family visit visa.

We are hoping to apply for a visa for our neice and for my wife to return to Thailand, pick her up and fly directly to the UK where I will meet them. The hope is to have a 7 week holiday there over the summer. However, my sister-in-law will NOT accompany her as she is working full time.

My question is what supporting documents will we need to supply as part of the application given that she would be accomanies by her Aunt (my wife) and not her Mum. I really dont want the application to fail and screw up my holiday plans and - as expected - UKBA has not responded to an email.

Thanks Gents

Steve.

[7by7]

See VAT03 - Special visitor: Child visitors; which is the guidance issued to ECOs for assessing child visit applications.

Particularly VAT3.4 Parent / Guardian consent and VAT3.5 What are suitable travel, reception and care arrangements?

You will see that not all the information is relevant to your situation.

So, as well as the usual evidence of finances and accommodation, you will need a letter from her parent(s) consenting to the visit and details of her journey to the UK.

it is possible that someone from the visa section will phone the parents to confirm the letter; and if it's written in Englkish they will expect to speak to the parent in English!

Better to have them write it in Thai and include a translation, IMHO. The visa office do have Thai staff who can, and do, speak to people in Thai in such circumstances.

Edited May 13, 2013 by 7by7

[sjohnson1234]

Thanks for this:

What I dont understand is does the letter of conscent from her mum need to be attested by the Amphor or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Another aside, will there be issues boarding a BA flight if her Ma isn't with her?

Cheers

[7by7]

No and none that I'm aware of.

But maybe check with the airline on the second.

[sjohnson1234]

What I dont understand is does the letter of conscent from her mum need to be attested by the Amphor or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Also - and I think this about covers all my Qs - whats the deal with applying for a 5 year visa from BKK? My wife used to have a 10 year one (applied for from the Middle East) and its soooooo much easier than having to go through this ball ache every year or two

Thanks

[7by7]

First is question answered in my post above yours; no the letter does not need to be attested.

The same rules apply for long term visit visas in Bangkok as worldwide; but I doubt very much that they would issue one to a child; especially a child not traveling with their parent(s).

VAT1.4 Visa validity - What period for a multiple entry visit visa?

[sjohnson1234]

First is question answered in my post above yours;

Sorry - I dont see your answer. Can you be more specific?

What I dont understand is does the letter of conscent from her mum need to be attested by the Amphor or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

No and none that I'm aware of.

But maybe check with the airline on the second.

The same rules apply for long term visit visas in Bangkok as worldwide; but I doubt very much that they would issue one to a child; especially a child not traveling with their parent(s).

Why do you doubt it very much?

Thanks

Edited May 13, 2013 by sjohnson1234

[7by7]

I'm sorry, but how more specific can I be than saying 'No?'

I doubt that a child visitor would be issued a long term visit visa simply because they are a child and so would have difficulty in satisfying the requirements laid out in the link provided earlier.

There is, of course, nothing to stop you applying for a long term one for her, but I would point out the last paragraph in the section linked to

In all instances, if an ECO decides that a shorter validity of visit visa is more appropriate than the one applied for, the ECM should approve it and notes should be added to Proviso. In such cases, no refund (full or partial) is available. The ECO should ensure that clear explanatory information for the decision is provided in a covering letter when the passport is returned.

(My emphasis)

[sjohnson1234]

Thanks for this:

What I dont understand is does the letter of conscent from her mum need to be attested by the Amphor or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Another aside, will there be issues boarding a BA flight if her Ma isn't with her?

Cheers

I'm sorry, but how more specific can I be than saying 'No?'

No and none that I'm aware of.

But maybe check with the airline on the second.

Ah, I see now - the 'no' in the first of two sentences was the answer to my first wuestion. You then went on to answer the second question with a 'none that I am aware of' in that same sentence. Got it. Thanks.

I'm sorry, but how more specific can I be than saying 'No?'

No need to apologise, I am grateful for the advice. In answer to your question though, perhaps consider separting your responses, to multiple questions, into separate sentences.

Thanks 7by7.

In all instances, if an ECO decides that a shorter validity of visit visa is more appropriate than the one applied for, the ECM should approve it and notes should be added to Proviso. In such cases, no refund (full or partial) is available. The ECO should ensure that clear explanatory information for the decision is provided in a covering letter when the passport is returned.

(My emphasis)

To be honest, I didn't trall through the link, so much irrelevent info. I was just asking you why you thought that way - your opinion, so to speak.

As for refunds etc, I'm not too bothered about the money. I think UK visas are very fairly priced and the ballache of applying every year or two, far outweights the small cost of visas (and potentially being issued with a 6 month visa byt paying for a 5 year one)

Edited May 13, 2013 by sjohnson1234

[7by7]

Current prices in Thailand:-

• 6 months; 3680 baht
• 2years; 12788 baht
• 5 years; 23506 baht
• 10 years; 33902 baht.

Wish I could afford to risk 9000 baht (£200) plus on the chance that a child might be successful in a long term application!

BTW, Child visitors; How to apply may be useful to you.

[sjohnson1234]

Current prices in Thailand:-

• 6 months; 3680 baht
• 2years; 12788 baht
• 5 years; 23506 baht
• 10 years; 33902 baht.

Wish I could afford to risk 9000 baht (£200) plus on the chance that a child might be successful in a long term application!

BTW, Child visitors; How to apply may be useful to you.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess. For me, the ballache of applying every year - such as filling in forms, waiting in for DHL pick ups, applicant dragging to BKK, awaiting ECO decisions before I can finalise my personal travel plans far outweight a few baht, time is money and all that. I think we will go for the 5 year visa and state in the cover letter that if its not possible, then 6 months will have to do.

I will ask the Mrs to review the link when she does the paperwork to apply. At least now I can offer her some oversight, so thanks for the info 7by7.

Edited May 13, 2013 by sjohnson1234

[sjohnson1234]

form VAF1A if you want to come as a tourist or to visit friends

form VAF1B if you want to visit family

Last question, I hope....

As my wife and I are now non-resident in the UK, should our neice be applying for a family visit visa - because she wont be 'visiting' us in that sense of the word as we dont live there. Rather, the 3 of us will be going to the UK for a holiday....

[sjohnson1234]

Hi

Bump

Any ideas regards my last post above gents?

Thanks

[bobrussell]

As far as I know the child visit visa covers this. She is a child and is visiting the UK! The exact circumstances can be documented in a covering letter.

7 weeks holiday during the summer holidays will not be unexpected but it helps to get confirmation/permission in writing from the school even if it coincides with vacation dates. It helps to get the school to confirm the date the child is expected back at school (reason to return!).

Not sure how old your niece is but BA's website:

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/childinfo/public/en_gb

[sjohnson1234]

Good idea, I'll bell her teacher tomorrow and ask her to write a letter (Thai school terms are not the same as Brit, so July is terms time).

Shes 4.5.

That link is for children travelling alone

Cheers

[bobrussell]

Good idea, I'll bell her teacher tomorrow and ask her to write a letter (Thai school terms are not the same as Brit, so July is terms time).

Shes 4.5.

That link is for children travelling alone

Cheers

Sorry lapse of concentration! Misread the post 'Ma not accompanying her' as 'travelling alone'.

[sjohnson1234]

The school told me today that the max was 30 days however, they would give my Mrs the curriculum and books and she could home school her for 7 weeks which is fine by us.

Submitting the app in a weeks time.

Thanks for all the input chaps.