Return ticket needed for UK tourist visa ?

[Pete Beale]

Can my Fiance who will be my Wife at time of travel enter UK with a tourist visa on a one way ticket ? Reason for doing so is we'll go back to Thailand when her 6 months is up and apply for settlement visa, cant do that until the end of the financial year next april and am thinking of buying a return for her from UK which is cheaper than vice versa.

[steve187]

returns are cheaper in the uk,but would you know the date for the return before you apply for the settlement visa, i tried to change my return ticket to go back to the UK and Qatar wanted more for the change than i paid for the return ticket. in my opinion it wouldn't look good turning up in the UK with a single

[theoldgit]

Your wife can enter with a one way ticket, or at least present herself to the UK Border with one, if the Border Force Officer asks for sight of the return ticket and she doesn't have one she will need to satisfy them that she has the means to buy one and that she intends to leave the UK as stated in her application.

If she's pulled aside for secondary examination she needs to point out your reasoning, which is perfectly valid. Are you travelling together?

[jimn]

I can see your reasoning Pete, but why take the risk just to save a few pounds. You don't say if she has obtained a visa yet. The ECO when you apply for a visa could want to see an itinerary showing intended return date as intention to return. Although not necessarily required it would in my opinion be better if she has a return ticket as she is less likely to be grilled by the border officer when entering the UK, if travelling alone this can be intimidating for some.

[bobrussell]

Without a return ticket the questioning may well be more robust!

Thai tickets may cost more but tend to be more flexible if you chose to change travel dates. UK bought cheap tickets often have major penalties if you try to change them, some cannot be changed at all!

[fernweh126]

I believe you need to have a strong case that you will return to Thailand after your visit in the UK. A return ticket is one of the important items that will strengthen your case to get a visitor visa.

[Richard W]

The OP shouldn't buy a ticket for his wife until she gets her tourist visa. We don't know if she has one yet - I have a feeling his girlfriend is heading for a 'no reason to return' visit visa rejection. I hope I'm wrong.

[7by7]

Indeed; in fact the official advice from UKVI is not to purchase any tickets until the visa has been issued.

However, as theoldgit says above, on arrival at a port of entry to the UK immigration may ask a visitor to show a return or onward ticket dated within the term of the visa or evidence that the person seeking entry has the means, from their own resources or another persons, with which to purchase one.

Edited October 16, 2014 by 7by7

[Pete Beale]

The plan at the moment is that she'll be travelling to UK with me in Feb on tourist visa have 6 months there and then travel back to Thailand together in July to apply for settlement. She has already been to UK this year on a tourist visa. I guess I could get her a one way ticket BKK - LHR and also a return LHR - BKK/BKK - LHR ticket before travelling, but would prefer to get the latter at a later date really. Planning to have about a month in Thailand in July/August in order to make the settlement visa so should be enough time to know the return date if all goes well with application.

Edited October 16, 2014 by Pete Beale

[jimn]

The plan at the moment is that she'll be travelling to UK with me in Feb on tourist visa have 6 months there and then travel back to Thailand together in July to apply for settlement. She has already been to UK this year on a tourist visa. I guess I could get her a one way ticket BKK - LHR and also a return LHR - BKK/BKK - LHR ticket before travelling, but would prefer to get the latter at a later date really. Planning to have about a month in Thailand in July/August in order to make the settlement visa so should be enough time to know the return date if all goes well with application.

Best of luck luck Pete, but just some advice from me speaking from personal experience. (1) Put as much effort in your 2nd visa application as you did your first. Don't assume that because the 1st one was granted so will the 2nd. ie finance, accommodation, relationship and strong reason to return. (2) Ensure that over a 12 month rolling period that your lady will not have spent or be asking for a visa that would mean she was spending more than 6 months in the UK. They are really strong on this as they see it as trying to settle in the UK but on a General Visa. (3) Apply in plenty of time and if you can afford it apply via the fast visa service, saves all the worrying and if it is refused you have time to address the issues in the refusal letter. (4) As 7by7 and others have said don't buy a ticket before you know outcome of application. (5) When you do personally I would get a return ticket, if you use BA for example the difference in LHR - BKK and BKK - LHR is hardly any different.

Edited October 16, 2014 by jimn