Could anyone please advise me if my girlfriend ,who is living in Thailand,

is able to work and live in the UK without getting married straightaway.

She wants to move to the UK and try to find a job first, but we want to get

married in a years time, when she has settled down.

Is it therefore possible for her to get a work visa for a certain amount of time and

then getting married ?

Thanks

It all depends on what type of visa she has. Some visas allow the holder to work, e.g. spouse visa, student visa, work permit. Others don't, e.g. visit visa, fiance visa.

Application forms and guidance notes will give you the details of what type of visas are available and how to apply and qualify for each.

Generally speaking, your g/f can't just decide that she wants to work in the UK and get a visa that allows this. However, if she is a university graduate, who has experience of graduate-level work, she might qualify under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.

Should she be accepted under this scheme, she doesn't need to find work before going to the UK. Instead, she would be allowed to stay for 2 years during which time she would be free to seek employment.

Scouse.

See also UKVisas' Chapter 17 - Entry for employment: work permits and Chapter 18 – Entry for non-work permit employment.

Generally speaking, your g/f can't just decide that she wants to work in the UK and get a visa that allows this. However, if she is a university graduate, who has experience of graduate-level work, she might qualify under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.

Should she be accepted under this scheme, she doesn't need to find work before going to the UK. Instead, she would be allowed to stay for 2 years during which time she would be free to seek employment.

Scouse.

Oh Scouse, you tease!!

Kidding.

Minimum salary for an over 28 year old Thai based applicant is GBP 20K, and for an under 28 year old, it is circa GBP 12K (in addition to all those things you mention above). The more money you earn the better though.

However, I do happen to know the first two people from Thailand who have a HSMP. Both women as it turns out.

Oh Scouse, you tease!!

If I gave the full game away, where would I get my customers?

Scouse.

Hi Vinny,

Thanks for your reply.

So by the looks of it me and my gf dont need to get maried if she wants to work in the UK.

She just needs to apply for a work permit.

Is this right?

Thx M

See also Coming to the UK - Entry Clearance, Schemes and Programmes.

br37,

Unfortunately, it's not as simple as just applying for a work permit, and away you go. In order to get a work permit, your girlfriend will need to have been offered a job, and her application will then be considered. However, generally speaking, work permits are only issued to those performing specialised tasks for which indigenous labour is in short supply.

I don't know what your girlfriend's standard of education is or whether she has any specialised skills, but she won't get a permit which allows her to work in the local Thai restaurant as a waitress.

Scouse.

br37,

You seem to be asking the same questions that were answered in your previous thread on this matter.

Hi Scouse,

Thanks for your response. She doesnt have specialised qualifications, altough she studied

hotel management in Switzerland. So i guess the only way to get around this is to get married to

her.

Hope to hear from you

Don't marry her merely to get her a visa!!!!!!

Only marry her because you love each other and want to spend the rest of your lives together.

I do want to spend the rest of my life with this person. So marriage would be the only solution to get a visa.

No, marriage would be the way to show your commitment to each other.

I am concerned that you have been looking for any way of getting a visa for her other than marriage. Now that you know that is impossible you say "marriage would be the only solution to get a visa."

But it's your life.

How ridiculous is it that this person has to marry his g/f in order for her to come to the UK!!

If she wanted to come as a visitor, she could. But she doesn't, she wants to live and work here.

Atlastaname, do you ever read the threads you hijack?

Flame post deleted.

Please abide by the forum rules.

Scouse.

This post was originally in response to the deleted post.

Well, If you could give me other ways of her getting to the UK and were she is entitled

to work and live here than please could you advise me some ways without having

to get married.

Thanks

No, marriage would be the way to show your commitment to each other.

I am concerned that you have been looking for any way of getting a visa for her other than marriage. Now that you know that is impossible you say "marriage would be the only solution to get a visa."

But it's your life.

Well, If you could give me other ways of her getting to the UK and were she is entitled

to work and live here than please could you advise me some ways without having

to get married.

Thanks

No, marriage would be the way to show your commitment to each other.

I am concerned that you have been looking for any way of getting a visa for her other than marriage. Now that you know that is impossible you say "marriage would be the only solution to get a visa."

But it's your life.

- defacto (if you have two years under your belt living together already in a relationship akin to marriage).

- Highly Skilled Migrant Permit. Check it out. Her course in Switzerland may qualify as a postgraduate course, which would count alot towards this permit.

- Further educational study. Work permited part time during semester and full time during vacations and summer holidays. During this time, you live together, building up the requisite 2 years defacto time together needed so you can apply for a partner visa.

Well, If you could give me other ways of her getting to the UK and were she is entitled

to work and live here than please could you advise me some ways without having

to get married.

Thanks

Marriage and a spouse visa would give her the right to live and work in the UK. You said in your other thread that you have been together for two years. If her reason for wanting to come to the UK is to live with you, why don't you simply get married?

Perhaps if you told us why she is so desperate to live and work in the UK, but not so she can be with you, we would be able to give you some specific advice.

Following on from Scouse's, GU22's and samran's suggestions, see also

13.14 Unmarried and same-sex partners and how they qualify

Information about the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme

Chapter 12 - Entry for studies

It might be a stupid question, but why can Austalian ppl get a work permit here in the UK and

why is it so difficult to get a work visa for a Thai girl

It might be a stupid question, but why can Austalian ppl get a work permit here in the UK and

why is it so difficult to get a work visa for a Thai girl

Not too silly.

There is a reciprocal agreement between the UK and Australia for Working Holiday Visas. This allows people aged between 18 and 30 to live and undertake work which for a period of up to two years. Work in this case, should not be career advancing.

The second thing to remember is that Australia is a nation of migrants. Many of them are/were British or from EU countries. As such, their children benefit by getting citizenship by decent of their parents former countries, and thus have the automatic right to work anywhere in the EU, including the UK.

Britain also allow grandchildren of British nationals to come and work in the UK, as long as that grand child is a Commonowealth national.

Also, there is the Highly Skilled Migrant Permit, which is targeted towards young proffessionals, so it is quite easy to get it, especially if you are white collar and under 28.

It is worth noting though. Thailand and Australia now have a working holiday agreement.

I have to say though, as scouse will probably confirm: UK immigration love to give Aussies a bit of a hard time when coming to the UK.

I have to say though, as scouse will probably confirm: UK immigration love to give Aussies a bit of a hard time when coming to the UK.

Surely you wouldn't seek to deny them their little bit of fun in an otherwise mundane job?

Scouse.