U.K Toursits Visa Last Preperations.... Help

[jai kon thai]

Sa-wat-dee Khap fellas,

Been a lurker here on and off for a while now. And I duly bow to the knowledge of the Thai masters on here.

I come to you all with my hands out in seek of your help and knowledge about the last preparations of a u.k tourist visa. I have done the homework on this site which has been a great help. And am almost finishing the folder(s) of documents.

After discovering Thailand last Oct and like many men before me I was instantly hooked, lets just say that I have been back a few times since. It has seriously taken over my life I even talk quite a bit of Thai now. Going again in a few days to hopefully bring back the love of my life! Lol I know you guys have heard it 100 times before…… But this one is different, I swear it! Lol I have been the’ butterfly’ I have had the pleasure of a more than fair share. But this one is different. She does not work bar but as a waitress not that there’s anything wrong with bits from the bar. I’m 29 she’s 26, met her in June and spent almost three weeks with her. And we have spoken for at least an hour everyday day on the phone since.

1/ I know that ‘proving the relationship’ will be hard. As we only spent a short time together so all I can include on that front is print outs of my online Lebara calls, four months of hundreds of calls which I hope they accept? And I will also have at least ten or fifteen photos of us on different days out and stuff.

2/ Were in Bangkok do we need to go? Is it The UK Visa Application Centre, 2nd Floor, Regent House, 183 Rajdamri Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 ? I have also addressed my letter here. Can anyone recommend a hotel nearby? I heard of people queing at 6am, so checking in the hotel over the road you can see when to nip down. Does anyone know this hotel?

I am currently printing out copies of everything so theres two folders, is this right? They keep all the copies but verify everything there and then. Will they verify all the copies, even the copies of passports and her baan book?

3/ I understand I’m supposed to do the application online, is this right? You cant just turn up with a print out anymore then? Also is there lengthy waiting times, if I submit an application can I do it within a couple of days and we can make our way to Bangkok

4/ Is there any site I can go to and print out a quote for travel/medical insurance for her and suggested travel dates just to include within the folder?

I will give you a brief insight into what I’m including, I got a lot of the info from searching this site. And I’m going to take the over board approach and bulk it up as I know the ‘proving the relationship’ will be hard. It will include a Covering letter begging to let my bit of skirt enter saying she knows she cant work and she wont jeopardise future visits bla bla, a letter from her boss. Hers and my passports, her Baan book (not sure if phi chai and nong chai’s names are on it aswel though) Pictures of us. My job, four good years accounts (good gross and net for my age) with SA302’s, pictures of me at work, print outs from my website, a few statements from the tax man, showing how much they bloody have off me! bills for the business, invoices recently sent out. About ten months personal statements showing at least a few grand throughout. Memorandum of sale of my house, pictures of my house in and out, bills from the solicitor, mortgage offer, valuation report, letters from the completion, register of title and plan, mortgage stament, voters register, council tax bill, gas and electric bill, home insurance, TV licence.

I’m going to take her to get a medical soon as I land and hopefully include this. Also get her passport photos done.

Also I must be crazy, as I’m hiring a car from Bangkok and driving to buriram to meet the family this holiday!. So any advice there would be handy.

Thanks in advance for any help, its really appreciated. I will keep you all posted on the outcome.

[RAZZELL]

Quote from the OP: "It will include a Covering letter begging to let my bit of skirt enter"

Charming

If you have met your "gf" once for 3 weeks and she works as a waitress in an "entertainment" zone I think your chances are slim.

Perhaps when you grow up a bit you might stand a better chance.

RAZZ

Edited November 9, 2013 by RAZZELL

[wooloomooloo]

My job, four good years accounts (good gross and net for my age) with SA302’s, pictures of me at work, print outs from my website, a few statements from the tax man, showing how much they bloody have off me! bills for the business, invoices recently sent out. About ten months personal statements showing at least a few grand throughout. Memorandum of sale of my house, pictures of my house in and out, bills from the solicitor, mortgage offer, valuation report, letters from the completion, register of title and plan, mortgage stament, voters register, council tax bill, gas and electric bill, home insurance, TV licence.

Blinking heck, it's only a visit visa. There's bulking up the application and then there's overkill.

Why would you need to submit your passport? A photocopy will suffice.

There is a strong possibility of refusal, there always is, particularly as you've only met the once, nearly twice.

Rather than submitting redundant documentation, concentrate on the positives of your relationship and reason to return.

[RAZZELL]

My job, four good years accounts (good gross and net for my age) with SA302’s, pictures of me at work, print outs from my website, a few statements from the tax man, showing how much they bloody have off me! bills for the business, invoices recently sent out. About ten months personal statements showing at least a few grand throughout. Memorandum of sale of my house, pictures of my house in and out, bills from the solicitor, mortgage offer, valuation report, letters from the completion, register of title and plan, mortgage stament, voters register, council tax bill, gas and electric bill, home insurance, TV licence.

Blinking heck, it's only a visit visa. There's bulking up the application and then there's overkill.

Why would you need to submit your passport? A photocopy will suffice.

There is a strong possibility of refusal, there always is, particularly as you've only met the once, nearly twice.

Rather than submitting redundant documentation, concentrate on the positives of your relationship and reason to return.

I supplied nearly all of the above too.

Reason to return, length of relationship and amount of time "physically" spent together will be the stumbling block.

RAZZ

Edited November 9, 2013 by RAZZELL

[wooloomooloo]

Reason to return, length of relationship and amount of time "physically" spent together will be the stumbling block.

I met my wife online and visited her three months later for two weeks. Returned to visit her three months hence and married five months thereafter and submitted settlement visa application a week after marriage.

We evidenced six weeks together over eight months from our first physical meet and successfully obtained my wife's settlement visa, no questions asked. Obviously, my wife didn't require to document reason to return.

Reason to return will always be the biggie and worth channelling the energies towards the nitty-gritty.

There's no specific rules as to how long is a piece of string. If you're both confident and comprise a robust application, what's the worst that can happen.

Just don't waste time with valuation reports and waffle.

[RAZZELL]

Reason to return, length of relationship and amount of time "physically" spent together will be the stumbling block.

I met my wife online and visited her three months later for two weeks. Returned to visit her three months hence and married five months thereafter and submitted settlement visa application a week after marriage.

We evidenced six weeks together over eight months from our first physical meet and successfully obtained my wife's settlement visa, no questions asked. Obviously, my wife didn't require to document reason to return.

Reason to return will always be the biggie and worth channelling the energies towards the nitty-gritty.

There's no specific rules as to how long is a piece of string. If you're both confident and comprise a robust application, what's the worst that can happen.

Just don't waste time with valuation reports and waffle.

Exactly

RAZZ

[theoldgit]

I see that 7by7 is beavering away as I write, so I will be brief, he is far more patient than I.

First of all you need to bear in mind that this will be your girlfriend's application, it's her that needs to submit the fully evidenced application for a visit visa, it's her that needs to convince the ECO that the proposed visa is genuine, affordable and that, on the balance of probabilities, she will leave the UK at the end of her visit.

Just a couple of further pointers, I'm sure your "bit of skirt" comment was meant in jest, but it's not funny, people on here are happy to share their knowledge and experience, but you need to show that your serious.

You talk about getting to the Application Centre early in the day, as a long time lurker you will know that the submission of applications is by timed appointment, you will only be admitted a short while before, so there is no points arriving at 06.00.

As others have indicated there is no point overwhelming the ECO with too much information, most of what you describe isn't at all necessary, and I doubt if it will be looked at.

After 7by7 responds, feel free to come back with any relevant questions.

[7by7]

1) If the application is based upon your relationship, then you need to provide evidence of that relationship. When showing contact you only need to show that the contact has been made, not the contents of it; e.g. phone records showing when you called each other, e-mail headers but not the contents.

2) She does, indeed, submit her application form and supporting documents and have her biometrics taken at the UK Visa Application Centre.

Applicants can no longer turn up and wait, but must make an appointment online first.

The VAC are not involved in any way with the decision making process, so whilst it wont effect her application if your supporting letter is addressed to them, to be strictly correct it should be addressed to "The Entry Clearance Office, British Embassy, Bangkok." Although I have always simply addressed mine "To Whom It May Concern."

The VAC will not verify copies and return the originals to her. They will send both sets to the embassy. She does not need copies of everything, but embassy do not guarantee return of original documents unless the applicant has also included a copy.

Every person I have sponsored for a UK visa lives or lived in Bangkok, so I don't know about hotels near the VAC.

3) All applications in Thailand must be made online. The procedure is:-

1. Complete the application form and book an appointment at he VAC.
2. Print out application form and applicant signs it.
3. Take signed print out and supporting documents to appointment with VAC to submit and have biometrics taken.
4. VAC forward application package to embassy, where decision is made.

Processing times vary according to demand. It could be next day, it could be longer; they aim to process 90% within 3 weeks of the application, but do say it could take up to 12 weeks!

The latest figures for Bangkok show that 97% of general visit visas issued in September were processed within 15 working days.

4) Can't help with the travel insurance, other than to say that although it is highly recommended, it is not a requirement for her visa.

Suggested dates of travel? When she wants to come!

You may find UK visit visa basics helpful.

[jai kon thai]

Hey guys,

Thank you so much for your help regarding obtaining the visa for my girlfriend. im pleased to say that the application was application was successful. and she is currently staying with me now in the UK. im so gratefull to everyone that helped me. especially 7by7.

i did research from this site, and it helped me alot. also, come on fellas it was only a joke about the 'bit of skirt' this girl is the love of my life. and i love her to bits! i know that when not in los that we can all be a bit grumpy at times but surley you know i was only joking! theres no way i would of gone through all this stress if i was not serious about this girl.

i honestly do not think that i went over board with the documents, i felt it important to prove that i can look after and suport this girl. and that she is of the honest and respectable type.

<snip>

Edited December 19, 2013 by theoldgit
Flame removed, and no need for the last patronising comment