Long Tourist Visa Visit From Thailand To Oz

[zidaney]

Hi,

I am an Australian living in Australia. I have a thai fiance who is living in Thailand.

I am still having trouble deciding whether or not to apply for a fiance visa or to get a tourist visa in the meantime for her to travel here before we apply for a fiance visa.

I was firstly wondering if she was to apply for a tourist visa for example for one a week stay, and if approved she would have a 3 month, 6 month or 12 month stay approved. Instead of returning at the end of the one week, she would stay here longer (but return before the expiration of her visa).

Does anyone have any ideas on if this would work? I probably haven't explained myself too clearly, so please ask any questions.

She has been denied a first tourist visa application coz at the time of application she worked at home only and she wasn't being paid. Will being rejected have any effect on a second application? She now has a teaching job (but she's only worked there for 3 months).

I'm a little worried about applying for a fiance visa as I have little to no money saved. Also, I have visited her in thailand for a week, but she hasn't visited here. We've been together for about a year and a half, but only have evidence of some MSN chats and some SMS messages. We contact each other every day via SMS, email or phone, but I obviously can't prove this. I fear that we won't have enough proof for the fiance visa.

I hope someone can help with my situation. Unfortunately I fear another negative outcome if we were to apply.

[gburns57au]

Hi,

I am an Australian living in Australia. I have a thai fiance who is living in Thailand.

I am still having trouble deciding whether or not to apply for a fiance visa or to get a tourist visa in the meantime for her to travel here before we apply for a fiance visa.

I was firstly wondering if she was to apply for a tourist visa for example for one a week stay, and if approved she would have a 3 month, 6 month or 12 month stay approved. Instead of returning at the end of the one week, she would stay here longer (but return before the expiration of her visa).

Does anyone have any ideas on if this would work? I probably haven't explained myself too clearly, so please ask any questions.

She has been denied a first tourist visa application coz at the time of application she worked at home only and she wasn't being paid. Will being rejected have any effect on a second application? She now has a teaching job (but she's only worked there for 3 months).

I'm a little worried about applying for a fiance visa as I have little to no money saved. Also, I have visited her in thailand for a week, but she hasn't visited here. We've been together for about a year and a half, but only have evidence of some MSN chats and some SMS messages. We contact each other every day via SMS, email or phone, but I obviously can't prove this. I fear that we won't have enough proof for the fiance visa.

I hope someone can help with my situation. Unfortunately I fear another negative outcome if we were to apply.

Take a look at the immigration site to decide what you want to do in regard to which type of visa you want her to apply for. The long stay tourist visa can be granted for stays of 3 and 6 months There is no shorter visa available. A 12 month multi entry with stays of 3 months at a time can also be granted. the cost for all of these visas is AUD$70. A fiance visa requires you to marry within 9 months of the visa being granted after which she will have to apply for a further visa.

Even if she wasnt working she could have got a visa IF you were sponsoring her, IF you dont sponsor her then she would need substantial savings before even a tourist visa would be granted.

Being refused once will have a bearing on a second application, but this can be offset by having a better application with good documentation.

Why cant you show proof of contact ?....e mails can be saved and printed off, Phone bills will show calls made, your mobile phone provider can supply SMS and phone records if you ask them.

There are many threads here in regard to tourist visas and the spouse and fiance visas....have a read through them to gain some good information and as I said before....go to the immigration site and read through that as well.

[zidaney]

Thanks for your reply gburns57au.

I understand that you can't get shorter visas than 3 months. What I was saying is that I have very little money so I was trying to get her to tell the embassy that she will be here for a one week holiday since she wouldn't need much money to show the embassy since it's only a short trip. If it's approved then she wont return on the designated return flight, she would stay here for approximately 2 months. I would like to know if that's possible to do.

Alternatively, if I was to sponsor her for the tourist visa would I need a lot of money saved up in my account to show the embassy? Or would they just look at my rate per week?

The problem with proof of contact is that i made all my phone calls via the cheap calling cards so there is no way to prove the calls I made apart from showing the numbers on the phone bill that you dial on the card...

If i apply for a fiance visa will I need a large amount of money saved in my bank account to show I can financially support her? or again will they just look at weekly income?

[Pink Mist]

where do you live mate, a lot of guys live here and a phone call might work too

[zidaney]

bronco, I live in Melbourne.

"a lot of guys live here and a phone call might work too"

I'm not sure what you mean...

[Pink Mist]

research the archives on TV that works but sometimes if you can make contact with someone in your hometown can be good too, I live in Adelaide and am not far away as far as a call goes.

Sometimes after researching old posts a reassuring call from somebody at home can help too

[gburns57au]

Thanks for your reply gburns57au.

I understand that you can't get shorter visas than 3 months. What I was saying is that I have very little money so I was trying to get her to tell the embassy that she will be here for a one week holiday since she wouldn't need much money to show the embassy since it's only a short trip. If it's approved then she wont return on the designated return flight, she would stay here for approximately 2 months. I would like to know if that's possible to do.

Alternatively, if I was to sponsor her for the tourist visa would I need a lot of money saved up in my account to show the embassy? Or would they just look at my rate per week?

The problem with proof of contact is that i made all my phone calls via the cheap calling cards so there is no way to prove the calls I made apart from showing the numbers on the phone bill that you dial on the card...

If i apply for a fiance visa will I need a large amount of money saved in my bank account to show I can financially support her? or again will they just look at weekly income?

To sponsor a visitor to Oz you dont need a great amount of savings in the bank....you will need to show that you earn enough to support her during her stay here. This can be done by showing payslips, tax records etc....a letter from the boss would help too. The same applies for the spouse and fiance visas. With a spouse or fiance visa, if you are on a low income, they may ask for an Assurance of Support.

Your idea of her applying for a weeks stay and then staying longer is workable in principle....she only has to show intended length of visit on the application. She doesnt need to show an airline ticket or itinerary for the visit as part of the application (and considering she has been refused once then I wouldnt buy a ticket until approval has been given). But once approval has been given then she can stay for the length of the visa, so long as she returns prior to the expiry date....However IF you state categorically that she will be staying only one week in the application and then change after she arrives, it may be considered in a bad way. You are best to not say anything about length of visit except for the part on the application that asks about the intended length of visit.

If you send them the phone bill with those numbers highlighted then that would be acceptable, You can tell them in a supporting letter that you have been using those methods to contact her.

[zidaney]

Thanks guys for your replies, it as helped a lot. I have been very busy of late, so I haven't been able to get on for a little while.

Based on our situation we've decided it would be best for us to apply for a fiance visa.

How important is it for my fiance to have a job if applying for a fiance visa? Do they look at that as something positive in her application or would it not make much of a difference? If it is beneficial for her to have a job i'm guessing she would need proof of employment. Is this correct?

Cheers.

[gburns57au]

Thanks guys for your replies, it as helped a lot. I have been very busy of late, so I haven't been able to get on for a little while.

Based on our situation we've decided it would be best for us to apply for a fiance visa.

How important is it for my fiance to have a job if applying for a fiance visa? Do they look at that as something positive in her application or would it not make much of a difference? If it is beneficial for her to have a job i'm guessing she would need proof of employment. Is this correct?

Cheers.

Not important at all...the fiance visa means she can stay here for 9 months from the grant of the visa...Usually most people who come here on a fiance visa will apply for the spouse visa after the marriage and before she leaves the country.

[zidaney]

So if she doesn't have a job at the time of her application for a fiance visa it makes no difference? My first inclination would be that immigration wouldn't look too kindly on someone unemployed...

Also, in regards to finance, apart from needing to have the cost of the airfare to OZ and the $1340 for the visa application, how much more money is required? Does she need to have anymore money than that or will they simply look at my income to ensure I have enough to provide for her here if she is approved?

[neverburi]

Thanks for your reply gburns57au.

I understand that you can't get shorter visas than 3 months.

We applied for a tourist visa for sister in law for 3 months,however visa only granted for 1 month

we had it changed in aust numerous times and she ended up staying 9 months.this was a few years

ago maybe times have changed.

NB

[Jockstar]

They look at a reason to return to LOS. So if she has a job and a letter from employer. Then this is a reason to return.

[zidaney]

Thanks guys for your replies, it as helped a lot. I have been very busy of late, so I haven't been able to get on for a little while.

Based on our situation we've decided it would be best for us to apply for a fiance visa.

How important is it for my fiance to have a job if applying for a fiance visa? Do they look at that as something positive in her application or would it not make much of a difference? If it is beneficial for her to have a job i'm guessing she would need proof of employment. Is this correct?

Cheers.

Not important at all...the fiance visa means she can stay here for 9 months from the grant of the visa...Usually most people who come here on a fiance visa will apply for the spouse visa after the marriage and before she leaves the country.

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So if she doesn't have a job at the time of her application for a fiance visa it makes no difference? My first inclination would be that immigration wouldn't look too kindly on someone unemployed...

Also, in regards to finance, apart from needing to have the cost of the airfare to OZ and the $1340 for the visa application, how much more money is required? Does she need to have anymore money than that or will they simply look at my income to ensure I have enough to provide for her here if she is approved?

[gburns57au]

So if she doesn't have a job at the time of her application for a fiance visa it makes no difference? My first inclination would be that immigration wouldn't look too kindly on someone unemployed...

Also, in regards to finance, apart from needing to have the cost of the airfare to OZ and the $1340 for the visa application, how much more money is required? Does she need to have anymore money than that or will they simply look at my income to ensure I have enough to provide for her here if she is approved?

They will be looking at you supporting her after she arrives...so they will look at your income as you will be sponsoring her, If you are a low income earner, an Assurance Of Support can be lodged by other members of your family, friends etc...they just want to know that she wont be a drain on the public purse...You can read sbout the AOS on the Immi site.

The only other money she will need is the cost of the Medical and the Police Clearance and also associated costs with getting certified copies of documents..etc...Oh and the service fee at the VFS office.

Jockstar.... he is looking for a fiance visa so a reason to return doesnt apply.

Neverburi....Even up until this year they could issue a visa for less than 3 months for a tourist visa, However it seems now that they issue 3 months or 12 month multi entry visa depending on the application

[zidaney]

gburns57au you're a legend.

Thanks for the info. I'm starting to believe we can put a good application together soon, oending her availability from work...

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is the VFS office?

Also, you may have been asked this several times, but how do you know so much about all types of visas in different countries? Your area of knowledge is impressive on top of whatever you do for a living...

[Old Croc]

gburns57au you're a legend.

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is the VFS office?

Also, you may have been asked this several times, but how do you know so much about all types of visas in different countries? Your area of knowledge is impressive on top of whatever you do for a living...

VFS Ltd are the private company who run the visa application office in Bangkok VFS

Burnsie is a legend with great knowledge of Oz visa rules .

[gburns57au]

Aw shucks guys.....

Zidaney....Just from personal experience initially but then a few friends here in Perth started asking for help with Visa applications so I started reading up a bit on it and also talking to others who have gone through the process...I aint no expert and have made a few errors along the way but you learn from errors.

but thanks for the vote of confidence guys...