am trying to sort settlement visa for my wife and step son to come to the uk.we have been married for 5 years have 2 children together who both have uk and thai passports.what visa should i apply for my step son and do i need to do anything before applying .my stepson has my wife family name although his thai father is on the birth cert he left when the child was 6month old and has never been heard of since that was 8yrs ago.any info or help on how and whats req would be of great help cheers

Moved to the correct forum

OP: My wife was deserted by her son's father. A part of the visa process (Australia) was having two Thai neighbours written statements, with a copy of the ID card that the father deserted her and the child and he was not contactable. The letters were taken to the Amphur who then provided a formal statement for the Embassy processing officer, a permanent resident visa was granted.

Just check if the same process is in place for the UK visa application.

The biggest problem with applications from children either accompanying or joining their parent ( usually their mother) in the UK is proving that the parent has sole responsibility for the child. If the child currently lives with the mother, and they are applying together for visas, then it should not be too difficult to prove. It does require good documentation to back the visa application up.

If you need any assistance, please contact Paul at the Thai Visa Express office ( click on the avatar on the left).

Have a read of UK Settlement Visa Basics, which should answer most of your questions.

Feel free to come back if you have any further questions.

Have a read of UK Settlement Visa Basics, which should answer most of your questions.

Feel free to come back if you have any further questions.

hi cheers am coming to thailand next week to try and sort visa for wife and step son i have completed a seperate visa application for them both and meet the financial requirements .and hopefully have all my supporting documents, my wife has done the uk english test in 2012 getting a A1 in speaking and A2 in reading and listening . i am confused about the life in uk test but understand this can be done in the uk later. can you confirm if this all sounds correct thanks

What date did she take the test & where did she take it ?

For UK Immigration purposes they should not be generally older than 2 years.

What date did she take the test & where did she take it ?

For UK Immigration purposes they should not be generally older than 2 years.

took test at vantage saim bulats test center in bangkok on 27.04.2012 is on approved test centers list

For her later in UK applications, FLR, ILR and even citizenship, an expired certificate showing the appropriate grade (A1 for FLR, B1 for ILR and citizenship) or better is acceptable.

But, for her initial settlement visa application in Thailand the certificate must still be valid when she submits the application and the test must have been taken within the last 2 years.

The reasoning being, I guess, that if in the UK and using her English it will improve, but if still in Thailand she may not be using it and so lose it..

So she needs to submit her application before her certificate expires or the 2nd anniversary of her test; whichever is sooner.

For her later in UK applications, FLR, ILR and even citizenship, an expired certificate showing the appropriate grade (A1 for FLR, B1 for ILR and citizenship) or better is acceptable.

But, for her initial settlement visa application in Thailand the certificate must still be valid when she submits the application and the test must have been taken within the last 2 years.

The reasoning being, I guess, that if in the UK and using her English it will improve, but if still in Thailand she may not be using it and so lose it..

So she needs to submit her application before her certificate expires or the 2nd anniversary of her test; whichever is sooner.

cheers will get a move on