UK Visa To Open Resteraunt Please Help

[Normal Man]

Hey Guys I really need some advice.

Basically i am a British Citizen living and working legally in thailand for the past 6 years. I have been living to my Thai partner for 5 years.

We would like to move to England and start a Thai resteraunt with my partner as Chef (she has no formal qualifications but is already cooking food in a resteraunt in Thiland (very well).

I have enough money to start a resteraunt (20,000 + pounds). But i have no job to go back too in England (at the moment). I also do not have the required saving 62,000 pounds to get a visa on savings alone for my partner.

Basically i want t know what options i have. I get abit confussed when i read peoples posts then find out they have been talking rubbish the whole time. So please if you do not know dont post.

Would it be best to get married before trying to get a visa? Would i deffinitly have to get a job in the UK first? (this would mean leaving my partner in Thailand for about 6-12 months before i see her again) which i dont really want to do.

Please if someone has any ideas let me know.

[7by7]

To obtain a visa to come to the UK and start a business your wife will need to score at least 75 points under Tier 1 of the Points Based System.

From what you have said, she doesn't; but you can calculate her points here.

She may qualify under Tier 2, but not having any formal qualifications may be a problem and you/she will need to find an employer in the UK to sponsor her.

That's the bad news; the good news is that if she enters the UK as your spouse or unmarried partner (for the different requirements for each, see here) then she will be able to work immediately, and so could set up her restaurant. But I think your estimate that she could do so with just £20,000 is a wee bit optimistic!

However, as you say, for her to apply for settlement visa as your spouse or unmarried partner you will need to satisfy the financial requirements; which you say you don't.

So you need to return to the UK and find a job paying at least £18,600 pa.

She can either remain in Thailand until you have been in that job for at least 6 months, or she could apply for a visit visa so she can spend that 6 months in the UK with you.

But; if she does apply for a visit visa she will not be able to apply for settlement in the UK; she will have to return to Thailand to do so.

She will also need to convince the Entry Clearance Officer in her application that she will do this and does not intend using the visit visa to get into the UK and then stay there.

While in the UK as a visitor she cannot work; even unpaid.

[dazk]

20 k plus would be no where near enough to open a restaurant in the uk you would blow that on rent and deposit of a shop in a good location

[media]

I think you may find that £20.000 is not enough to start a restaurant in Thailand let alone in UK unless your lucky to find a building thats already got the kitchen all set up.
Your wife will have to get some basic cooking qualifications (NVQ) to be able to cook for thew public in UK

[Jay Sata]

I know several people who have tried what you are proposing and failed. Your partner is no doubt used to cooking for Thai's but that is not the same as producing a good menu to suit western tastes every day.

Pubs and restaurants are business with a high failure rate so I'd hang on to your money.

I'd get married and move back to the UK and get a job. You are probably looking at the best part of a year to sort all this out and get your partner here. I'd budget £5k for the whole operation so that leaves you a lot less for the restaurant.

[2yearvisitvisa]

I have enough money to start a resteraunt (20,000 + pounds). But i have no job to go back too in England (at the moment). I also do not have the required saving 62,000 pounds to get a visa on savings alone for my partner.

Well, rethink the plan. You cant start a restaurant for 20k. And cooking in a local Thai restaurant doesn't mean you can run a business and you also don't appear to have any sector knowledge.

If the reason is just to go back to the UK then get married and get a job and do it via that route.

[Kevin1908]

I have enough money to start a resteraunt (20,000 + pounds). But i have no job to go back too in England (at the moment). I also do not have the required saving 62,000 pounds to get a visa on savings alone for my partner.

Well, rethink the plan. You cant start a restaurant for 20k. And cooking in a local Thai restaurant doesn't mean you can run a business and you also don't appear to have any sector knowledge.

If the reason is just to go back to the UK then get married and get a job and do it via that route.

I have more chance of winning the Euro Millions Lottery than finding any premises with A3 planning consent where I live. A real shame as the place is screaming out for a Thai restaurant.

[MrZM]

If you have £20,000 plus to invest.

Look for a shop in Thailand with small rent.

Buy everything you need, ie tables and chairs, cookers etc from a second hand auction.

Probably cost you less than 100,000 baht.

Make it appeal to westerners and then see how it goes.

If it fails in Thailand, you will know it would never work in the UK.

[David48]

To the OP.

My job for 5 years was to advise SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) to assist with their Businesses and Business Plans etc.

I have to add my voice to the chorus above of that ... to try and enter the restaurant trade as a novice start-up is fraught with danger.

The biggest danger is the loss of your capital ... your initial 20,000+ pounds.

You may hear of one start-up that did brilliantly and be inspired by this ... but you don't hear of the other 9 that failed.

Being a good worker doesn't make you a good Boss ... being a good (unqualified) cook, doesn't make you a Chef or, more importantly, a Business Owner.

Have a read of this posts here ... he has run, and continues to run a Restaurant

If we served authentic Thai food in our restaurant here in Australia we wouldn't make any money.

Unfortunately it's not what customers want. In fact, we're about to remove larp and Thai salads from our menu because nobody ever buys them.

We could still do 75% of our current turnover by selling cashew chicken, padthai and spring rolls only.

This is what has happened over a couple of decades here - Thai food is becoming as much Thai as Chinese is Chinese.

Maybe take the time to send him a PM with some questions. He's a nice guy and will hopefully have the time to reply to you.

So, while your partner may produce the tastiest dishes ... she won't be selling Thai Food to the Thai Palette ... and if she tries (initially) ... it is a defiantly a recipe for failure ... pun intended.

OH ... about the Visa ... no idea.

But good luck with that.

.

[meatboy]

I think you may find that £20.000 is not enough to start a restaurant in Thailand let alone in UK unless your lucky to find a building thats already got the kitchen all set up.

Your wife will have to get some basic cooking qualifications (NVQ) to be able to cook for thew public in UK

beside the basic cooking qualifications she will also need hygiene qualifications and not just the basic ones.my wife was a catering supervisor and believe me without yrs.of study knowing the causes of food poisoning ect.i couldnt even pronouce the words never mind remember them.20k wouldnt even get you a kitchen unless you mean one burner stove and a wok.

you would be better off setting up here,there are plenty of franchise noodle bars she could try,yet trying to find one where there is not already a dozen or more is virtually imposible.and she needs to find somewhere far away from family if she wants to make a profit as they and friends will eat for free.find a decent job in the uk.get married if she is prepared to move with you,if she's not afraid of hard work learn english and she will find a job where someone else pays the wages.so your dream is doomed to fail.

[diyer]

I can only agree with the above comments.

Why not bring your wife to the UK on a Visitor Visa and both find out what your up against.

Thai food is presented differently in the UK to suit the British palate.

£20K wouldn't even employ the staff you'd need.

[Ace of Pop]

I can only agree with the above comments.

Why not bring your wife to the UK on a Visitor Visa and both find out what your up against.

Thai food is presented differently in the UK to suit the British palate.

£20K wouldn't even employ the staff you'd need.

Not only the U.K., i enjoyed Thai Food untill i came here.

[koknia]

I had a small restaurant for a few years. You need to take into consideration that you won't open your doors and turn a profit. It will take time, you need to have a comfortable cushion to get through the initial period.