UK settlement visa questions...

[mistephenso]

Hi All,

My wife and I are planning to move back to the UK with our daughter in a few months' time and I have a couple of questions about the settlement visa questions that we need to answer. Hopefully someone can help!?

First off, some background information:

My wife (Thai national) and I (UK national) will have been married for 5 years next month. We have a 19 month old daughter and I spend my time between Thailand and the UK.

We met in the UK about 8 years ago, lived together for about 2 years there and have spent the past 5 and a half years with my wife in Thailand and myself flying back and forward between the two. We have a house in Northern Thailand, where I stay when we are here together and I stay at my parent's house back in the UK when I/we am/are there...

I meet the financial requirements for the settlement visa and my wife has already passed the English language tests without issues.

My questions are as follows:

1) The UKBA website states that we must show evidence that 'we have met'. What do I need to do to prove this in my situation? Does the fact that we are married, have a daughter, and have spent time in both the UK and Thailand together already (I have had several year's of Non-O visas and my wife has had multiple visas for the UK) provide sufficient evidence for this point? i.e. will a marriage certificate and visa proof be enough?
Or do I need to provide pictures and/or any other evidence to prove to the person who is reviewing my wife's application that we really have met? If so, what would I need without making it 'overkill' for them (we have a LOT of photos, etc...)?

2) We will be staying with my parents for the first couple of months back in the UK, while we look for a house to buy for ourselves. Do I need to provide a floor-plan, or anything like that to prove that the house is big enough for all of us?
FYI, it is a large 4 bedroom house; my wife, daughter and myself will have our own bedrooms (one for my wife and I, and one for my daughter) and a bathroom while staying there. Do I need to prove room sizes/space available...?

3) One of the application questions asks where 'I' am currently living. At this moment in time, I am in Thailand and I will be staying here until my wife goes for her interview next month (then I will return to the UK for work).
Do I state that my current address is our house in Thailand, or should I state that my address is my parent's address in the UK - as I mentioned above, I share my time between the UK and Thailand, and I am officially a permanent resident in the UK. I just don't want them to think that we are lying on our application, when we state the last time we saw each other was very recently!?

Any advice would be much appreciated - I would like to make sure we get everything just right!

Many thanks in advance,

M

[mistephenso]

Sorry, one other thing I forgot to mention before...

My wife's passport will expire in 8 months time, so will we have problems applying for a settlement visa if it means we have to switch the visa into a new passport in the near future??

We tried to apply for a new Thai passport for her recently in Chiang Mai, but they are unable to process any applications while the protests are going on in Bangkok apparently?

We were told that there are only 2 offices in Bangkok that are currently able to process new Thai passports at the moment. Given that they have a high backlog and we wouldn't be able to get my wife's passport back before we are due to apply for the settlement visa, can anyone also advise whether this is going to cause further problems?

Can we apply for her visa and then switch it to her new passport when it comes through? Is this actually possible and how much does this cost if we can...?

Many thanks again,

M

[kittaya]

It is best to renew her passport before applying for the visa.

[mistephenso]

It is best to renew her passport before applying for the visa.

Thanks kittaya - this is what I thought would be best too... However, are you stating this from experience or is it just a recommendation from yourself?

As I mention above, we are NOT going to be able to get my wife's passport renewed before our allotted visa application interview next month. We thought we would be able to do this, but due to the protests in Bangkok this is now not going to be possible!?

Is there a rule that states how much time must be left on a passport before applying for settlement in the UK? Normally, they say that you are not allowed to enter the country unless you have at least 6 months left on your current passport - is this the same rule for applying for a visa?

If we apply for a new Thai passport for my wife now, we will have to wait to apply for the UK visa (missing our current appointment). Ideally, this is not something we want to do. We want to get back to the UK as soon as possible really...

Many thanks,

M

[kittaya]

The rule states within 6 months of the expiry date, but if you visa is granted 3 months later it could be denied.

The passport renewal takes only 1 week. I would suggest you to postpone your interview date until the new passport is ready. Why take the risk when you can be 100% sure.

[mistephenso]

The rule states within 6 months of the expiry date, but if you visa is granted 3 months later it could be denied.

The passport renewal takes only 1 week. I would suggest you to postpone your interview date until the new passport is ready. Why take the risk when you can be 100% sure.

OK, thank you...

Passport renewal only takes 1 week during 'normal' circumstances - ALL government offices that can renew Thai passports apart from 2 in Bangkok (Bang Na and Bin Gau) are unable to do so now because of the protests.

The absolute fastest they can get a passport to my wife is, apparently, at least 2 'working' weeks. That is not guaranteed either!?

Looks like we need to change our appointment, which is a pain due to the fact my wife has booked time off work and we already have flights to Bangkok, etc, etc...

Any ideas on my other questions??

Many thanks,

M

[Tony M]

Are you sure that you have an "allotted visa application interview" appointment ? I don't think you can have made an appointment at the visa application centre for one month's time, as they only book appointments up to 5 days ahead. Normally, there is no interview anyway, only a date to submit an application.

[kittaya]

It has been like that for a while. I thought you said you had already made an appointment?

The interview is just the submission of the application and biometrics.

[theoldgit]

The rule states within 6 months of the expiry date, but if you visa is granted 3 months later it could be denied.

The passport renewal takes only 1 week. I would suggest you to postpone your interview date until the new passport is ready. Why take the risk when you can be 100% sure.

That's not correct, there is no need to have six months validity on the passport and neither is there a need to transfer the visa vignette to the new passport.

That said, in normal times it only takes a week to renew a passport, trouble is these aren't normal times.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[mistephenso]

Thanks all, we are now heading down to Bangkok tomorrow to try and get a passport sorted out for my wife before mid-February... And yes, you are correct about it not being a 'formal' interview/appointment (as I previously thought). It is just a time-slot to put our application in!

So does anyone have any idea about my original questions, or do I need to try and get through to someone at the UKBA? To recap:

1) The UKBA website states that we must show evidence that 'we have met'. What do I need to do to prove this in my situation? Does the fact that we are married, have a daughter, and have spent time in both the UK and Thailand together already (I have had several year's of Non-O visas and my wife has had multiple visas for the UK) provide sufficient evidence for this point? i.e. will a marriage certificate and visa proof be enough?
Or do I need to provide pictures and/or any other evidence to prove to the person who is reviewing my wife's application that we really have met? If so, what would I need without making it 'overkill' for them (we have a LOT of photos, etc...)?

2) We will be staying with my parents for the first couple of months back in the UK, while we look for a house to buy for ourselves. Do I need to provide a floor-plan, or anything like that to prove that the house is big enough for all of us?
FYI, it is a large 4 bedroom house; my wife, daughter and myself will have our own bedrooms (one for my wife and I, and one for my daughter) and a bathroom while staying there. Do I need to prove room sizes/space available...?

3) One of the application questions asks where 'I' am currently living. At this moment in time, I am in Thailand and I will be staying here until my wife goes for her interview next month (then I will return to the UK for work).
Do I state that my current address is our house in Thailand, or should I state that my address is my parent's address in the UK - as I mentioned above, I share my time between the UK and Thailand, and I am officially a permanent resident in the UK. I just don't want them to think that we are lying on our application, when we state the last time we saw each other was very recently!?

Many thanks,

M

[bobrussell]

I would suggest a copy of your childs birth certificate with your name as father would be a good start! This is a high tech world but pretty good evidence you met (at least once!).

Joking aside a good letter explaining the situation, marriage certificate etc plus a few photographs would help. I cannot see an application being refused based on this criterion alone if you supply basic information!

A letter from your future landlords (parents!) confirming willingness to provide accommodation (again explain in the sponsors letter). Evidence of ownership such as copies of the deeds or land registry certificate is not a bad idea.

The sponsors letter is key to dealing with these elements together with reasonable evidence is all the ECO is likely to need. Don't bog him or her down with trivia but cover all the points effectively.

If you can cover the financial requirements effectively the rest is commonsense. Provide a simple but thorough history of the relationship.

If you are already living and working in the UK use the UK address but again explain property information in Thailand to allow the ECO to build up a full picture.

Be totally honest and upfront and there will be no risk of accusations of lying. Misunderstandings can happen but this is not the same. ECO's are not there to catch you out but their job is to ensure the applicant meets the visa requirements.

[lanng khao]

Do you have to show that you have employment waiting for you when you return?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[CharlieB]

Thanks all, we are now heading down to Bangkok tomorrow to try and get a passport sorted out for my wife before mid-February... And yes, you are correct about it not being a 'formal' interview/appointment (as I previously thought). It is just a time-slot to put our application in!

So does anyone have any idea about my original questions, or do I need to try and get through to someone at the UKBA? To recap:

1) The UKBA website states that we must show evidence that 'we have met'. What do I need to do to prove this in my situation? Does the fact that we are married, have a daughter, and have spent time in both the UK and Thailand together already (I have had several year's of Non-O visas and my wife has had multiple visas for the UK) provide sufficient evidence for this point? i.e. will a marriage certificate and visa proof be enough?

Or do I need to provide pictures and/or any other evidence to prove to the person who is reviewing my wife's application that we really have met? If so, what would I need without making it 'overkill' for them (we have a LOT of photos, etc...)?

2) We will be staying with my parents for the first couple of months back in the UK, while we look for a house to buy for ourselves. Do I need to provide a floor-plan, or anything like that to prove that the house is big enough for all of us?

FYI, it is a large 4 bedroom house; my wife, daughter and myself will have our own bedrooms (one for my wife and I, and one for my daughter) and a bathroom while staying there. Do I need to prove room sizes/space available...?

3) One of the application questions asks where 'I' am currently living. At this moment in time, I am in Thailand and I will be staying here until my wife goes for her interview next month (then I will return to the UK for work).

Do I state that my current address is our house in Thailand, or should I state that my address is my parent's address in the UK - as I mentioned above, I share my time between the UK and Thailand, and I am officially a permanent resident in the UK. I just don't want them to think that we are lying on our application, when we state the last time we saw each other was very recently!?

Many thanks,

M

Hi M,

1) Write a supporting letter explaining the course of your relationship. Not too detailed, but explaining as you have done here, where you originally met. The amount of time you have spent together, where this was and provide evidence. Provide your passport and point out the visa's/immigration stamps in the passports. Provide your daughters birth certificate with your name as father and point this out in the letter. Provide some photos over the years which are obviously taken at different times and places. If you have any joint bills from you time together, provide them. You'll obviously have to provide your marriage certificate as part of the evidence and this also proves you have met. Any old online flight bookings together that you can print out and include to show you travelled anywhere together, include them. Just provide overwhelming evidence of your relationship together.

Don't go for overkill, but make it evident that you have a genuine long term relationship and have now spent a substantial amount of time together in the UK and Thailand.

2) Provide a letter from your parents giving their permission for you to stay with them and stating that it is a 4 bed room house, with x reception rooms and you and your wife will have your own bedroom and your daughter her own bedroom. If you have a pic of the house, include it. In your supporting letter, re-state that you will be staying in your parents house for approx x months while looking to purchase your own house. Re-state, the house size, bedroom situation again.

3) Write what you have written here, that you divide your time between UK and Thailand and you are currently in Thailand until x date.

Remember that the person reviewing your wife's application has hundreds of these and needs their attention to be drawn to what is included in the application and the items of supporting evidence. You have a strong case and just need to point out the obvious to them, so they can see this. Remember, they only have the evidence you supply in front of them, they can't guess at things, so provide any info and evidence to prove your case and draw their attention to what it is and why you have provided it.

Hope it goes well for you both.

CB

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Edited January 22, 2014 by CharlieB

[mistephenso]

Thanks all, we are now heading down to Bangkok tomorrow to try and get a passport sorted out for my wife before mid-February... And yes, you are correct about it not being a 'formal' interview/appointment (as I previously thought). It is just a time-slot to put our application in!

So does anyone have any idea about my original questions, or do I need to try and get through to someone at the UKBA? To recap:

1) The UKBA website states that we must show evidence that 'we have met'. What do I need to do to prove this in my situation? Does the fact that we are married, have a daughter, and have spent time in both the UK and Thailand together already (I have had several year's of Non-O visas and my wife has had multiple visas for the UK) provide sufficient evidence for this point? i.e. will a marriage certificate and visa proof be enough?

Or do I need to provide pictures and/or any other evidence to prove to the person who is reviewing my wife's application that we really have met? If so, what would I need without making it 'overkill' for them (we have a LOT of photos, etc...)?

2) We will be staying with my parents for the first couple of months back in the UK, while we look for a house to buy for ourselves. Do I need to provide a floor-plan, or anything like that to prove that the house is big enough for all of us?

FYI, it is a large 4 bedroom house; my wife, daughter and myself will have our own bedrooms (one for my wife and I, and one for my daughter) and a bathroom while staying there. Do I need to prove room sizes/space available...?

3) One of the application questions asks where 'I' am currently living. At this moment in time, I am in Thailand and I will be staying here until my wife goes for her interview next month (then I will return to the UK for work).

Do I state that my current address is our house in Thailand, or should I state that my address is my parent's address in the UK - as I mentioned above, I share my time between the UK and Thailand, and I am officially a permanent resident in the UK. I just don't want them to think that we are lying on our application, when we state the last time we saw each other was very recently!?

Many thanks,

M

Hi M,

1) Write a supporting letter explaining the course of your relationship. Not too detailed, but explaining as you have done here, where you originally met. The amount of time you have spent together, where this was and provide evidence. Provide your passport and point out the visa's/immigration stamps in the passports. Provide your daughters birth certificate with your name as father and point this out in the letter. Provide some photos over the years which are obviously taken at different times and places. If you have any joint bills from you time together, provide them. You'll obviously have to provide your marriage certificate as part of the evidence and this also proves you have met. Any old online flight bookings together that you can print out and include to show you travelled anywhere together, include them. Just provide overwhelming evidence of your relationship together.

Don't go for overkill, but make it evident that you have a genuine long term relationship and have now spent a substantial amount of time together in the UK and Thailand.

2) Provide a letter from your parents giving their permission for you to stay with them and stating that it is a 4 bed room house, with x reception rooms and you and your wife will have your own bedroom and your daughter her own bedroom. If you have a pic of the house, include it. In your supporting letter, re-state that you will be staying in your parents house for approx x months while looking to purchase your own house. Re-state, the house size, bedroom situation again.

3) Write what you have written here, that you divide your time between UK and Thailand and you are currently in Thailand until x date.

Remember that the person reviewing your wife's application has hundreds of these and needs their attention to be drawn to what is included in the application and the items of supporting evidence. You have a strong case and just need to point out the obvious to them, so they can see this. Remember, they only have the evidence you supply in front of them, they can't guess at things, so provide any info and evidence to prove your case and draw their attention to what it is and why you have provided it.

Hope it goes well for you both.

CB

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Excellent - thanks very much for this...! And thank you to everyone else who took the time to reply as well (I have been without internet for a few days, hence the slow response). It is much appreciated...

Also, just to let people know (if anyone else is in a similar situation), we decided NOT to get my wife's passport renewed before applying for the visa - she will have 8 months validity when we do put in the application the week after next. There were several reasons for this:

a) The problems in Bangkok have effectively shutdown all provincial passport offices and meant that there are only 2 places left open for Thais to renew their passports at the moment - because of this, it is very difficult to get an allotted time to renew your passport in the 2 remaining offices (Pin-Klao and a temporary place at Bang Na). We got there at 7am last Friday, only to be told that all of the 1800 places had been filled for the day by 6am?! They said we would need to get there at 4:30am on Monday to guarantee a place in the queue...

b ) Because of the above, we were not guaranteed to get my wife's new passport before we wanted to put the application into VFS. According to them, the passport numbers MUST match on the online application form and anything you hand in; so we decided to wait and apply later.

c) VFS... The people we spoke to there were very helpful and categorically stated that the expiration date on the passport does not matter for a visa application. You must, however, have at least 2 spare pages in your passport for the visa and exit/entry stamps!

The "6 month" rule is apparently only looked at by the UKBA when entering the UK - we would simply apply for a new passport after applying for the UK visa and then take both passports with us when going to the UK (the old one with the visa and the new one with the required validity to get into the UK).

Thanks again for the responses. I am getting everything ready for applying now!

Fingers crossed and all that...

Cheers,

M

Edited January 29, 2014 by mistephenso

[7by7]

Do you have to show that you have employment waiting for you when you return?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Unless you are meeting the financial requirement by means other than earned income, e.g. cash savings, then the sponsor needs to show that they have a definite job offer in the UK paying at least the required income and starting within three months of their return to the UK.

Edited to add link.

Edited January 29, 2014 by 7by7