Visitors Visa Valid For Longer Than 6 Months

[Phil_ne_uk]

My girlfriend got her first V V early last year and she has visited the UK now on two different occasions last year during her first 6 month visa and returned to Thailand each time! We have known each other for almost two years now. She is about to apply for her second V V. what are the chances of her getting a V V valid for say 2, 5 or 10 years?? As she’s returned to Thailand twice now without problems I cant see why they shouldn’t give a longer V V.

I would be interested to know have many applicants managed to get a visitors visa valid for longer than 6 months?

Does anyone know, from experience perhaps, how many visas do the British embassy expect you to have had previously before they will issue a visa for a longer duration? 2, 5 or 10 years.

Thanks in advance. Phil

[GU22]

Well, I've had a look through Diplomatic Service Procedures - Entry clearance but can't find anything specific, and Guidance - Visitors (INF 2) merely says

How long will my visa be valid for?

With a visit visa you can usually enter and leave the UK any number of times while the visa is still valid. The Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) may occasionally limit a visa so that it is valid for only one or two entries. You cannot stay for longer than six months on each visit. Visit visas can be valid for six months, one year, two years, five years or ten years. You can apply for a visa valid for any of these periods. The ECO may decide to make your visa valid for a shorter time than you have asked for, for example if you are not a regular traveller or have never visited the UK before.

(My emphasis)

Whether 2 visits on the one visa would make someone a regular traveller, I don't know.

They would take other factors into account as well, e.g. circumstances in Thailand, relationship to and location of any sponsor, reason for requiring a longer term visa etc.

I do know of Brits living in Thailand, and elsewhere, who have successfully obtained ten year visas for their Thai partners, but I don't know how many 6 month ones they had before they got the longer term one.

No matter how long the visa is valid for, two important points to remember:-

She cannot spend more than 6 months in the UK on any one visit.

If it appears that she may be spending more than 6 months out of any 12 in the UK, then the IO at her port of entry could refuse her entry.

Hopefully someone who has done this will be able to advise further.

Edited May 16, 2006 by GU22

[the scouser]

In my days as a visa officer, the visit visa with the longest validity was 5 years. There were no rules governing when it was appropriate to issue one, rather each case was judged upon its own merits. Having said that, each individual visa section will also have their own policy, dictated by local circumstances.

Scouse.

[Phil_ne_uk]

Thanks for the info GU22 & Scouse, it'll be interesting if anyone posts any further info from personal experience also.

Cheers, Phil