Hi to all,

Just joined this forum after having scoured it in depth for a couple of weeks. Lots of interesting posts here and a real treasure.

I have recently met a Thai girl who lives in Germany. I live in the UK and have been over to Germany a couple of times to see her. She currently has a German Visa (but Thai passport) that allows her to stay as a resident in Germany until end of next year. This Visa is also valid for the other Schengen countries (Belgium, NL, Italy, Spain...etc). However the UK is not part of the Schengen area (as with most things we always have to be different and difficult). I wanted to know if my GF can get a UK Visa to visit me in the UK:

- What type of Visa should she get? I believe the tourist visa is probably the most suitable.

- What documents would she need to support her application? Would I need to provide anything?

- She is currently seperated (but not divorced) from her husband in germany. Does this make a difference?

- Where would she have to apply for the Visa (in Germany or through UK immigration in UK) and how long does it usually take?

- What is the length of the VISA and can she reapply for a new one once it expires?

- Any rough idea on the price?

- Anything else I should know?

Thanks for your replies.

PS I live in London. Have a fixed income and place of residence and am a UK national.

She can apply for a UK visitor visa at the British Consulate-General, Düsseldorf. She should provide the required documents for Visit applications with the appropriate fee. See also guidance notes for Visitors and Sponsors.

Thanks Vinny!

- She is currently seperated (but not divorced) from her husband in germany. Does this make a difference?

When assessing her application, the visa officer will have to be satisfied that your g/f intends to leave the UK at the end of her visit. As she is separated from her husband, this does detract from her incentive to return to Germany. Does she have any other reason to go back there? Does she have a job, for example?

Scouse.

Nope had a job in Germany. If anything she would go back to Thailand. Could this be a problem?

The visa officers at the consulate in Duesseldorf are still bound by the same immigration rules as their colleagues at the embassy in Bangkok and what would concern me is that your g/f gained short-term residency in Germany, presumably on the basis of her marriage, which has now broken down. In addition, she has no visble means of support in Germany and the visa officer might conclude that she has nothing for which to return there.

I know little about German immigration law, but another factor which you will need to establish is whether your g/f will be able to re-enter Germany on her residence permit, when the purpose for its issue no longer applies.

Scouse.