Visa Application For Girlfriend

[stevenh]

HI

I have been reading this site and it is extremely helpful. I just have a number of questions to ask regarding my girlfriends application for a tourist visa to the UK.

1) Do we have to tell the embassy what date she will return or is it good enough to simply say "she will be returning within the allowed 6 months?"

2) We can supply any prove that she will return as she is not working or going to school. However, she has a son and a family who need her help as her mother works on a farm and she has young sisters to be cared for. Is this good reason to return?

3) Also I work for the police I cannot possibly have any problems with her not adhering to the rules of the visa. Would this be seen as a suitable reference for the fact that she will return when she has to?

4) We have been in the relationship since Xmas and we can supply emails, some letters, phone bills and cards etc. However, we do not have many photos. I have photos from December and again when I visited her in March. Will these be enough evidence? Some of these photos are of her family and the embassy will be able to see I have visited her family.

We go to apply for the visa in 3 weeks and any help anyone can offer us would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Steven

[the scouser]

Steven,

To take your points in order:-

1. You can just say that your g/f will return within the 6 months, but the visa officer will be looking for something more tangible. It is therefore better to specify a given period.

2. Unfortunately not. From the visa officer's point of view, that your g/f comes from a subsistence-farming, village background and has family who are reliant upon her, gives her more incentive not to return.

3. It's worth mentioning, but don't expect it to be given too much weight. The visa officer might contend that it's not your bona fides which are under scrutiny, but your g/f's.

Just as a little aside, when my wife applied for her indefinite leave, her application included a letter from a serving immigration officer which confirmed that my wife and I had indeed been living together as husband and wife for the preceding 2 years. Even though my wife obtained her ILR, the counter manager (known to the IO who wrote the letter) made it known that this was in spite of the IO's letter rather than because of it. They have an aversion to what they perceive as influence peddling, even when none is being peddled.

4. Supply as much evidence of your relationship as possible.

[binnsy]

Hi

We are waiting for the outcome of my wifes application.We applied on 16 june as the previous person stated take all letters/photos/bank details/the list is never ending and be preparded for a long day there is a place next door to Regent House that does translation 500 baht an item.2000 baht for the TB test.i would advise going on to the web site and download the check list and supply as much as possible.

binnsy

[stevenh]

Thank you for the responses I've received already.

In light of Scouser's remarks is anyone able to provide justification for Nok going back to Thailand if granted a visa?

I know she will be returning but cannot think of any reason other than the wish not to jeopardise any future applications for a visa and the fact that her 18 month old son is in Thailand?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Steven

[GU22]

As I have said many times before, many people in your girlfriend's position have successfully obtained visit visas.

If the ECO is satisfied that the relationship is genuine and therefore the reason for the visit is genuine then they will feel that she would not want to put any future settlement application at risk by overstaying or otherwise breaking the visit visa rules.

So, provide as much evidence of contact as you can

Write a sponsor's letter outlining the history of the relationship, your future plans and the reason for her visiting the UK at this time (meet your family, see what the UK is like etc.).

Be realistic in the length of the visit. If you are saying that she will return because of her family and the farm, the ECO will want to know why she can be away for 6 months!

If the worst happens and she is refused, then at least the application will be on file and so when applying in the future (visit or settlement) it will show that the relationship existed at this time.

Best of luck.

[atlastaname]

Its all been said here. Everything you need to know . Definately make sure the length you apply for is reasonable for a vv in your g/f's position. 3-4 weeks sounds about right for this time.

She basically has no reason to return so you have to emphasise how you wouldn't want to jepodise any future visas applications by not abiding by this one . After that you are in hands of who you get on the day , which is very wrong but that is the system. Given your particular circumstances if you were seen by every ECO in the BE Bangkok on the same day i'm sure some would give and some would refuse. You have a fair chance , no better and no worse.