hello,

Myself and my Thai wife are planning a 2 week trip to the UK for xmas 2014.

We both live and work in Thailand.

Has anyone applied for a UK tourist visa lately?

Can you offer any advise at all? in regards to are we best doing it all ourselves or

can you recommend a really good visa agency.

Many thanks

Chris

Proof that it's a genuine visit, evidence of affordability and reasons to return home at the conclusion of the trip.

Loads of people have successfully applied and a number have posted on here, have a read through the posts.

As you are both living in Thailand, and no doubt you can prove so, you are half way there.

http://www.vfs-uk-th.com

Have a read of UK Visit Visa Basics and then feel free to ask any follow up questions you may have here.

Unless there are complications, such as a previous refusal, you should be able to do it all yourself without the need for an agent. However, if you do want to use one; be careful. There are many visa agents in Thailand whose competence ranges from excellent to none at all!

Whilst I know of many of the latter, the only agents in Thailand I know for sure to be competent, professional and honest are the forum sponsors; Thai Visa Express (click on their ad to the right).

BTW, what is your nationality? If you are the national of an EEA country other than the UK then different procedures will apply.

Really no need for an agency, especially considering your circumstances it should be no problem at all. Proof of your marriage, her employment status in Thailand, assets (hers or joint), funding for the trip and accommodation in UK should be sufficient. That's about what I did for my wife's application, all presented in a nicely indexed folder to make it easy for them, which reminds me I need to dig it all out again for next years trip.

Just noticed that you say

Myself and my Thai wife are planning a 2 week trip to the UK for xmas 2014.
(My emphasis)

Is that right?

If you meant 2013, then I'm afraid you have probably left it too late as it is unlikely that her application will be processed in time. The official advice is to allow at least three weeks.

If you are -planning well ahead and do mean 2014, then bear in mind that visit visas start on the day they are issued and are valid for 6 months; although you can ask that the start be post dated for up to three months. So don't apply too soon.

Also remember that procedures etc. are subject to change, so check back closer to the time of her actual application.