What Visa Would My Friend's Friend Need To Apply To Come To Uk

[iceburn]

I hope someone here can help / confirm what I am telling my friend's best friend bee to do. Since I advise her, the best thing for her to apply is a fiancee visa which is what I did for Olga (Russian) in 2000. (now happily married, living in uk and she got British citizenship.) But she feel that in Thailand it is different (more difficult) and after being advised (by the company who now take documents and drop them at embassy, to apply for a tourist visa, which got turn down) she now been advised by them to get married in Thailand and apply for a wife visa. But I was always under the impression it was better to apply for a fiancee visa (easier and quicker to get.) than a wife visa does that still apply? Or have it all change since I and my other friends has done it throughtout the world? Also is Thailand so different to Russia, Urkaine, Malaysia, Oman, etc? Anyway a little background of their case is posted below.

"Andy have known his wife since October 2005, and have visited her every couple of months since then. They had a Muslim wedding in April 2006 but are not registered. And applied for a tourist visa for her to visit the UK in June. This was refused 4 days before she was due to travel. They had provided everything they could think of, 6 months bank statements, 6 month payslips, phone records, e mails a letter from her employer and so on. She is a well educated woman, having studied at degree level in Australia. Has a good job for a english company out there and speaks perfect english. Andy ended up going back out there in June, during the time there, her parents signed over to her a plot of land in Bangkok and deposited a large amount of money into her bank account. We have now re-applied for a tourist visa for her, but hold out little hope of getting it. We would like to settle in the UK. Basically what im hoping for is some advice on the following.

If the tourist visa is successful, can they get married in the UK and a apply for a settlement visa from there, or does she need to go back to Thailand. (have told them if come over on tourist visa can't convert it to settlement visa.) Can she apply for a settlement visa as fiancee or is it better for Andy to go back and for them to register and then apply for settlement visa as a wife. Any help that be offered would be greatly received, as the embassy have been of little help in the matter."

On a side note my best friend who I have invited her to come to UK is now worried about her tourist visa thinking she will have as much difficulties but (I hope I am correct) I am telling her you won't get into the same problem cause Olga and I are inviting you and you only coming to visit, so do not require as much stuff like photocopy of every single page of a passport and prove that we met etc..?

[the scouser]

If your friends' intention is to settle in the UK, then they should not be applying for a visit visa, but, rather, a settlement visa (either fiancée or, if married, spouse). Should Bee enter the UK on a visit visa, she will not be allowed to marry (unless this provision was requested) and, generally speaking, would be expected to leave the UK before 6 months elapses.

Scouse.

[iceburn]

If your friends' intention is to settle in the UK, then they should not be applying for a visit visa, but, rather, a settlement visa (either fiancée or, if married, spouse). Should Bee enter the UK on a visit visa, she will not be allowed to marry (unless this provision was requested) and, generally speaking, would be expected to leave the UK before 6 months elapses.

Scouse.

Thanx for the reply and agree should apply (which I think they will do now) for a settlement visa. But is there a difference between them (expect of course the obivous part of one you get married in uk and other you are already married.) Does one take longer or less likely to be granted? Or are they both in all purposes go through the whole system. When Olga and I did it, we just caught the wave before it all change ie one year temporary leave to remain before can apply for perm leave to remain no language requirement (her english is much better than my in fact I think I would fail the test if I did it ) and could visit the home office for visa (oh and no fee). Back than at least "unoffically it was a fact it was better to apply for a fiancee visa than a wife visa if you want to stay together as a couple cause the wife visa took so much longer to process.

[the scouser]

Other than the difference you mention and that a fiancee visa allows you to live separately until such a time as you marry, there is no difference between either that or a spouse settlement visa.

It is, however, cheaper to marry in the foreign country and seek a spouse visa, as this obviates the need to seek an extension from the Home Office, should you have entered on a fiancee visa.

Scouse.