How much savings need to be shown for thai wifes UK v visa

[nitnoymoy]

Hi I am helping a retired friend apply for a 6 month uk visit visa she has been granted a v visa twice before,they own a house,which he has paid for in Thailand but put in her name,he now is only on his single persons uk pension but wishes to bring her again for a 5 month holiday to his flat in the uk,is there a set amount of savings that they need to show to be in with a chance of a repeat visit visa being granted

[7by7]

There is no minimum amount of money required for a UK visit visa; but applicants do need to show that the trip is affordable.

The money for the trip can come from the applicant, the sponsor or a third party. Anyone who is contributing to the cost of the trip needs to provide evidence of their ability to do so; e.g. bank statements, pay slips.

You and your friend may find UK visit visa basics helpful.

[theoldgit]

A number of off topic posts removed.

The OP has come to this forum for advice, can we please just stick to giving meaningful replies.

Thank you

[PattayaPhom]

31/07/12 didn't criteria specify 65K sterling or salary/pension/income of 18,300 per annum ...or was this for longer term visa other than tourist

[Pik]

Ask British Embassy in Bangkok

https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-bangkok

how about your friend going to thailand on holidays . oh i see, she is looking for new income opportunities

[theoldgit]

31/07/12 didn't criteria specify 65K sterling or salary/pension/income of 18,300 per annum ...or was this for longer term visa other than tourist

Not for a visit visa, only for settlement.

[bigyin]

The main issue with a 5 month stay will be convincing the ECO at the Embassy that she will return to Thailand. I think this is what will need to be addressed most carefully.

[laislica]

Money, money, money and no possibility of her overstaying.

Prove that you have plenty coming regularly.

If the Thai lady has property in Thailand, show proof.

If she has a job, show that she will be able to resume her work on return to Thailand.

Although you may give contact details for her sponsors, the Officer will not make contact.

If the officer has a problem understanding anything you will likely be refused.

They use terms like " on the balance of probabilities, we believe that the applicant will not have sufficient funds and will overstay or require help from the UK Government" etc. etc.

Would be good to have health insurance at least to the level of the NHS and show proof.

Do not expect the officer to seek further information, they are busy and understaffed.

Be totally truthful, almost answer all questions almost before they are asked.

Since she has visited for a similar term before, refer to that as an example of her intentions.

Good luck.

[superal]

The main issue with a 5 month stay will be convincing the ECO at the Embassy that she will return to Thailand. I think this is what will need to be addressed most carefully.

Totally agree . My fiancees tourist visa application was refused on those grounds , despite the fact that she owns her own house and business but only small

savings . I acted as the sponsor / guarantor and my son who is in the UK police force gave supportive references . I thought that the application was immaculate

but the UK border agency stated in their " visa refused " reply letter , " We have doubts that she will return to Thailand because of negative financial commitments "

or words to that effect . I complained to the UK Border agency inspectorate who looked at my case and told me to reapply and that there should be a more

favourable outcome next time , however the moment had passed of the UK family get together and I was not prepared to throw another 400 pounds away .

I have married friends living here in Thailand who have visited the UK one year on a tourist visa but were refused the following year because of something petty.

On the other hand I have another friend whose Thai girl friend had no money or job but they secured a UK tourist visa . Pot luck or maybe who you know ?

[bigyin]

For a tourist visa they don't really care whether the Thai applicant has money or not. The sponsor has to have money, there has to be a suitable place to stay and the over riding evidence that the Thai applicant will leave the UK at the end of the visa. The ECO is only really worried about 2 things for a visitor visa....no recourse to public funds and leaving at the end of the visa.

[theoldgit]

bigyin, on 23 Feb 2015 - 15:27, said:

For a tourist visa they don't really care whether the Thai applicant has money or not. The sponsor has to have money, there has to be a suitable place to stay and the over riding evidence that the Thai applicant will leave the UK at the end of the visa. The ECO is only really worried about 2 things for a visitor visa....no recourse to public funds and leaving at the end of the visa.

That's not strictly true.

The ECO will of course need to be satisfied that the visit is affordable, and in the event that an applicant is being sponsored then yes they will need to be satisfied that it's reasonable for the sponsor to do so and, also yes, affordable. You need to bare in mind that not all visit visas are sponsored, I suspect that most aren't, posts on this forum aren't necessarily indicative of the number of applicants who are sponsored against those that aren't.

You are also correct that the applicant will need to convince the ECO that they are likely to leave the UK at the conclusion of the visit, to do that the applicant will need to prove their ties to their own country, that could well be a job which would probably result in money in the bank. An ECO could be forgiven in thinking that an applicant with zero Baht in the bank is looking for a better life in the UK and may be doubtful that that they have sufficient reasons to leave the UK.

[laislica]

For a tourist visa they don't really care whether the Thai applicant has money or not. The sponsor has to have money, there has to be a suitable place to stay and the over riding evidence that the Thai applicant will leave the UK at the end of the visa. The ECO is only really worried about 2 things for a visitor visa....no recourse to public funds and leaving at the end of the visa.

You make it sound so easy, but in reality, since the UK only has a 6 month visa with a 6 month use by, how do you convince the ECO?

They offer a settlement or a general visitor and that's it!

I moved to Spain and transferred my social security resources pension to Spain in 2004.

Married a Thai in Feb 2013, registered her as living in Spain as my wife, got a Spanish Foreigners ID plus full NHS cover. We applied for a general visitor visa in October 2013 for a two to three week trip to introduce her to my daughters and meet our new Grandson. We have a car in Spain and said we would drive over.

It was rejected as they said they felt she was not sufficiently tied to Spain, on the balance of probabilities, would overstay and need financial assistance from the UK Gov! BAH!

When we return to Spain this summer, I will probably drive to Calais and see if we can enter on her Spanish ID. She entered Gibraltar on it last year and according to 7 x 7, she should be allowed to enter.

If we decide to try, I will let the forum know how we got on.

I would love to here your tips on what to put in the visa application.

Cheers

EDIT

We have property in Spain, non in the UK, two houses in Thailand in my wife's name and they were informed of this.

At the time I was 72 and she 52, both retired. I have a full single persons state pension which they pay direct to my bank in Spain, and a private pension paid into a UK bank. I pay my taxes in the UK and gave them my Nat Ins No.

Despite answering all their computerised demeaning questions, it seems that we failed to volunteer additional information that would convince them that it was a genuine application.

I don't suppose it would have helped to say that the reason I left the UK is because it is too full of immigrants already, it is too cold and wet and miserable and I will never return full time Ever! LOL

Edited February 23, 2015 by laislica

[eastendanto]

The bottom line as many of you have correctly pointed out....is that if you give ECO any room to manoeuvre out of a reponse to one of their questions then they will and you will get "on the balance of probabilities blah blah blah ........" response and your money down the toilet. Having been caught out a couple of times myself in the past and don't bother complaining as it is waisted breath again as I have learned the hard way.

The trick is to not give the ECO any room to go down that path. You mention that your friends girlfriend has had 2 previous applications for a visit visa granted .... was she with your friend any of those times or did she visit with someone else? If with your friend maybe look at the previous applications as the questions may have changed a little but not wholesale and if she passed twice before what has changed now?

The savings whilst not mandatory to declare will help his lady friends application. if he has savings then he can provide statements of savings plus his Pension income, this is to show that he can support the lady whilst she is in the UK and that she will not become a burden on the UK state benefit system or any UK state systems e.g. NHS, housing etc....

Whilst not good to hear the UK Border Agency is far more stricter on letting people in from outside the EU. This has gradually been getting harder for several years now and mainly due to the EU immigrants/freeloaders etc... completely draining the UK state benefit resources and overloading the infrastructure of those government systems. People who genuinely want to come on a long term holiday from outside the UK (and require a visa) are the ones who get to jump through all the hoops before they can gain a visa....because our EEC cousins have been given carte blanche to decimate our services gratis of our own government for years, twisted and unfair but hey they opened that door and the horse has well and truly bolted.......so they have to make some sort of token effort to make sure us minions are happy that our borders are not open to all and sundry!!!

There is always the option of getting one of the many Visa application specialists to process the application for your friend (again make sure if you go this route that you pick one that is recommended or has a good track record), but this will entail your friend having to stump up money for the service......

Good luck with your friends lady's application

Edited February 23, 2015 by eastendanto

[bigyin]

Very good point theoldgit. Someone needs to have the money and if it is the Thai applicant then that is fine. What I really meant was that per se they are not looking for the Thai applicant to have money...as long as someone has which brings me back to my point that they are concerned about any recourse to public funds.

Sorry laislica I did not mean to make it sound easy. It is extremely stressful. I did a visitor visa for my wife and step daughter last year and will be handing in their settlement visa applications in Bangkok on Friday. For the visitor visa the evidence required is quite straightforward if not always easy. Someone needs to show that there is money in the UK to pay for the visit and convince them that the applicant will leave at the end of the visit. They clearly felt that your 8 months in Spain at that time was not long enough perhaps and that there was not enough evidence that the money was there in the Uk to pay for any emergencies. You do need to give more than just answers to the computerised questions and a letter from you detailing everything you said in your e mail with a supporting letter offering accommodation from whoever you would be staying with in the UK. Proof of your marriage and the genuineness of your relationship would also help and your letter could make it clear that you have left the UK and have no intention of returning detailing the properties you and she hold. I said that last year in my letter but now we are planning to return. If they are convinced that you have left the UK for good and that you and your wife are genuine and that there is money available then there should be no reason to refuse a visitor visa. It has been said before here by people more expert than I that they are not looking to reject people but they have to be convinced first. Hope this helps but no one is an expert really as every circumstance is different.

[laislica]

Very good point theoldgit. Someone needs to have the money and if it is the Thai applicant then that is fine. What I really meant was that per se they are not looking for the Thai applicant to have money...as long as someone has which brings me back to my point that they are concerned about any recourse to public funds.

Sorry laislica I did not mean to make it sound easy. It is extremely stressful. I did a visitor visa for my wife and step daughter last year and will be handing in their settlement visa applications in Bangkok on Friday. For the visitor visa the evidence required is quite straightforward if not always easy. Someone needs to show that there is money in the UK to pay for the visit and convince them that the applicant will leave at the end of the visit. They clearly felt that your 8 months in Spain at that time was not long enough perhaps and that there was not enough evidence that the money was there in the Uk to pay for any emergencies. You do need to give more than just answers to the computerised questions and a letter from you detailing everything you said in your e mail with a supporting letter offering accommodation from whoever you would be staying with in the UK. Proof of your marriage and the genuineness of your relationship would also help and your letter could make it clear that you have left the UK and have no intention of returning detailing the properties you and she hold. I said that last year in my letter but now we are planning to return. If they are convinced that you have left the UK for good and that you and your wife are genuine and that there is money available then there should be no reason to refuse a visitor visa. It has been said before here by people more expert than I that they are not looking to reject people but they have to be convinced first. Hope this helps but no one is an expert really as every circumstance is different.

Having thought, quite wrongly, that I had a right to take my wife to visit the country of my birth for a holiday, I simply answered their questions as fully as I could. I did include extra info BUT, I had no idea that I could or even should add PDF's to show my income, bank balances etc. Our marriage had been "recognised" by the Brit Consul in Malaga as part of the Spanish requirement to get her registered as a resident. It is 15 pages long.

Now that time has passes and my daughter, husband and baby visited us there is no urgent need to visit the UK.

Also, I am advised that, due to my wife's status in Spain, the UK should not be able to prevent her from simply showing up at the border with me and entering.

I am loath to throw more good money after bad! To provide the biometric data, the fee was 114 Euro + 1,200 Km round trip + two nights in a hotel in Madrid + expensive eating out! two wasted days!

The point I am trying to bang home to anyone who wishes to obtain a visitor visa to the UK is that they should do as you say, provide details of bank balances, copies of Tambian Baan with a translation of what it means.

However, I note that the application form has changed since we applied and it is a paper application, not online.

It offers Tourist amongst others.

Importantly, it says they want the original of documents and does not say how/when they will be returned - a nightmare!

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/255355/vaf1a.pdf

See also Supporting Documents required

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/343241/2014_08_Visitor_Documents.pdf

Edited February 23, 2015 by laislica

[poweratradio]

There is no minimum amount of money required for a UK visit visa; but applicants do need to show that the trip is affordable.

The money for the trip can come from the applicant, the sponsor or a third party. Anyone who is contributing to the cost of the trip needs to provide evidence of their ability to do so; e.g. bank statements, pay slips.

You and your friend may find UK visit visa basics helpful.

A letter of Invitation with you assuming all liabilities will do it.

[warrimurf]

The first time I took my wife to UK it cost Bt30,000 to have an agency do the paperwork. We thought it was a dreadful rip off fee so next time we applied on our own. All the details, finances, tickets length of stay, four weeks and reason for visiting were the same.

Wife owns a LARGE house and a small one a very new car and plenty of money in the bank.

We got turned down as not being believed we would return.

So we are going to live on the run in UK ?? How stupid is that I don't have a UK passport either.

Tickets all paid and sorted already and departure date is closing in fast by now so we went to another agency to handle the papers.

They said someone just being bloody minded.

Paid the agency and got the visa two days before departure.

Explain that one

[crazydrummerpauly]

Very good point theoldgit. Someone needs to have the money and if it is the Thai applicant then that is fine. What I really meant was that per se they are not looking for the Thai applicant to have money...as long as someone has which brings me back to my point that they are concerned about any recourse to public funds.

Sorry laislica I did not mean to make it sound easy. It is extremely stressful. I did a visitor visa for my wife and step daughter last year and will be handing in their settlement visa applications in Bangkok on Friday. For the visitor visa the evidence required is quite straightforward if not always easy. Someone needs to show that there is money in the UK to pay for the visit and convince them that the applicant will leave at the end of the visit. They clearly felt that your 8 months in Spain at that time was not long enough perhaps and that there was not enough evidence that the money was there in the Uk to pay for any emergencies. You do need to give more than just answers to the computerised questions and a letter from you detailing everything you said in your e mail with a supporting letter offering accommodation from whoever you would be staying with in the UK. Proof of your marriage and the genuineness of your relationship would also help and your letter could make it clear that you have left the UK and have no intention of returning detailing the properties you and she hold. I said that last year in my letter but now we are planning to return. If they are convinced that you have left the UK for good and that you and your wife are genuine and that there is money available then there should be no reason to refuse a visitor visa. It has been said before here by people more expert than I that they are not looking to reject people but they have to be convinced first. Hope this helps but no one is an expert really as every circumstance is different.

Having thought, quite wrongly, that I had a right to take my wife to visit the country of my birth for a holiday, I simply answered their questions as fully as I could. I did include extra info BUT, I had no idea that I could or even should add PDF's to show my income, bank balances etc. Our marriage had been "recognised" by the Brit Consul in Malaga as part of the Spanish requirement to get her registered as a resident. It is 15 pages long.

Now that time has passes and my daughter, husband and baby visited us there is no urgent need to visit the UK.

Also, I am advised that, due to my wife's status in Spain, the UK should not be able to prevent her from simply showing up at the border with me and entering.

I am loath to throw more good money after bad! To provide the biometric data, the fee was 114 Euro + 1,200 Km round trip + two nights in a hotel in Madrid + expensive eating out! two wasted days!

The point I am trying to bang home to anyone who wishes to obtain a visitor visa to the UK is that they should do as you say, provide details of bank balances, copies of Tambian Baan with a translation of what it means.

However, I note that the application form has changed since we applied and it is a paper application, not online.

It offers Tourist amongst others.

Importantly, it says they want the original of documents and does not say how/when they will be returned - a nightmare!

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/255355/vaf1a.pdf

See also Supporting Documents required

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/343241/2014_08_Visitor_Documents.pdf

Prepare a really good folder over a period of time, with every possible supporting document and every kind of proof of the durable relationship, and reason/s to return to Thailand etc...and the vast majority of THOROUGH applications are successful. Most that fail have at least one weak area in them.

Edited February 23, 2015 by crazydrummerpauly

[Paul888]

The first time I took my wife to UK it cost Bt30,000 to have an agency do the paperwork. We thought it was a dreadful rip off fee so next time we applied on our own. All the details, finances, tickets length of stay, four weeks and reason for visiting were the same.

Wife owns a LARGE house and a small one a very new car and plenty of money in the bank.

We got turned down as not being believed we would return.

So we are going to live on the run in UK ?? How stupid is that I don't have a UK passport either.

Tickets all paid and sorted already and departure date is closing in fast by now so we went to another agency to handle the papers.

They said someone just being bloody minded.

Paid the agency and got the visa two days before departure.

Explain that one

If that is true, and the applications were identical in every way it is outrageous and you should ask for an explanation (after the trip of course!)

[7by7]

There is no minimum amount of money required for a UK visit visa; but applicants do need to show that the trip is affordable.

The money for the trip can come from the applicant, the sponsor or a third party. Anyone who is contributing to the cost of the trip needs to provide evidence of their ability to do so; e.g. bank statements, pay slips.

You and your friend may find UK visit visa basics helpful.

A letter of Invitation with you assuming all liabilities will do it.

A sponsor's letter in which they confirm that they will cover all the costs of the trip is not enough on it's own.

As said, whoever is contributing towards the costs must show that they have the means with which to do so.

A lot of misinformation has been posted in this topic, as well as some horror stories.

Obviously, it is impossible to comment on any refusal without knowing the full details; including what was said by the ECO in the refusal notice; and this is not the place to go into individual refusal.

Nitnoymoy, one fact to reassure you, and anyone else reading this who has recently applied, or is about to apply, for a UK visit visa in Thailand; consistently over 95% are granted.

From over 10 years of being involved in forums such as this, where I have read of many refusals and the reasons for same, and from my own experience of having applications both refused and accepted, I would say that of those who are refused, at least 99% are refused because the applicant simply did not qualify or they did qualify, but failed to show that they did. The latter includes applicants who have submitted reams and reams of paperwork making it impossible for the ECO to find the relevant documents in the very limited time they have to process each application.

Obviously, being human ECOs are subject to error; but I reckon that accounts for no more than 1% of refusals, if that.

If an application is refused, the ECO must issue a refusal notice detailing all the reasons for refusing.

[laislica]

There is no minimum amount of money required for a UK visit visa; but applicants do need to show that the trip is affordable.

The money for the trip can come from the applicant, the sponsor or a third party. Anyone who is contributing to the cost of the trip needs to provide evidence of their ability to do so; e.g. bank statements, pay slips.

You and your friend may find UK visit visa basics helpful.

A letter of Invitation with you assuming all liabilities will do it.

A sponsor's letter in which they confirm that they will cover all the costs of the trip is not enough on it's own.

As said, whoever is contributing towards the costs must show that they have the means with which to do so.

A lot of misinformation has been posted in this topic, as well as some horror stories.

Obviously, it is impossible to comment on any refusal without knowing the full details; including what was said by the ECO in the refusal notice; and this is not the place to go into individual refusal.

Nitnoymoy, one fact to reassure you, and anyone else reading this who has recently applied, or is about to apply, for a UK visit visa in Thailand; consistently over 95% are granted.

From over 10 years of being involved in forums such as this, where I have read of many refusals and the reasons for same, and from my own experience of having applications both refused and accepted, I would say that of those who are refused, at least 99% are refused because the applicant simply did not qualify or they did qualify, but failed to show that they did. The latter includes applicants who have submitted reams and reams of paperwork making it impossible for the ECO to find the relevant documents in the very limited time they have to process each application.

Obviously, being human ECOs are subject to error; but I reckon that accounts for no more than 1% of refusals, if that.

If an application is refused, the ECO must issue a refusal notice detailing all the reasons for refusing.

and sadly, all they have to say is "On the balance of probabilities......."

[laislica]

The first time I took my wife to UK it cost Bt30,000 to have an agency do the paperwork. We thought it was a dreadful rip off fee so next time we applied on our own. All the details, finances, tickets length of stay, four weeks and reason for visiting were the same.

Wife owns a LARGE house and a small one a very new car and plenty of money in the bank.

We got turned down as not being believed we would return.

So we are going to live on the run in UK ?? How stupid is that I don't have a UK passport either.

Tickets all paid and sorted already and departure date is closing in fast by now so we went to another agency to handle the papers.

They said someone just being bloody minded.

Paid the agency and got the visa two days before departure.

Explain that one

If that is true, and the applications were identical in every way it is outrageous and you should ask for an explanation (after the trip of course!)

and there is the rub.

How do you "talk to an FCO?

For some visa's you are not even permitted to ask for more detail.

The best you get is that " you may reapply, correcting any perceived errors"

For others you may send in your comments and be told they are very busy and you may have to wait up to a year before your case is review.

I'm waiting 16 months, still no reply.

So pay again and hope. The FCO's are understaffed and they cannot engage in any discussions.

Tough on us, their customers.

[theoldgit]

and sadly, all they have to say is "On the balance of probabilities......."

And whilst that catch all response is often part of the reply, the ECO has to, and usually does, explain how they reached that conclusion. That response on its own wouldn't suffice.

[laislica]

and sadly, all they have to say is "On the balance of probabilities......."

And whilst that catch all response is often part of the reply the ECO has to, and usually does, explain how they reached that conclusion. That response on its own wouldn't suffice.

Indeed.

But how much better if the questions in the applications were more specific and got them the information that they need to be convinced it's a genuine application where the applicant will not need to fall upon the resources of the Government nor overstay etc.

Why not ask for a bank statement showing a minimum amount per day of intended stay?

Why ask for full contact details of the friends and family the applicant intends to stay with if they have no intention to contact them?

Since re-visiting this subject (inspired by this thread) I am now aware that the application system changed in about October 2013 and United Kingdom Visas & Immigrations (UKVI) have replaced the Border Control group.

Contact access is much better and easier. Though I must say, it is still too easy to get into a Ground-hog day loop!

I asked a question on their email form.

Got a reply within the one day service offered but.

The question was not answered.

"May I kindly inform you that you should be able to submit your supporting

document along with your application when you are visiting the visa

application centre for your biometric data taken and submitting your

application in hand. For the detailed information about a UK visa

application procedure in Spain, please refer to the links provided below."

As you can see, I was advised to email back using the exact same form that I had used in the first place, and why would we need to provide biometric data when it is already on the ID Card as stated?

Not really so different than before then?

The question?

A Thai lady married to a retired British man who has lived full time in Spain since 2004.

She has a Spanish ID Card with photo and fingerprint and husbands Spanish resident number.

Spends more than 180 days per year in Spain to maintain her residency.

Has full NHS and EIHC cover.

Does she need a visa to enter the UK with her husband?

How can we send a copy of the ID Card so they can look at it?

My expectations?

They would ask us to email an attachment of the ID Card and then give a ruling.

[mickyboy]

The main issue with a 5 month stay will be convincing the ECO at the Embassy that she will return to Thailand. I think this is what will need to be addressed most carefully.

Totally agree . My fiancees tourist visa application was refused on those grounds , despite the fact that she owns her own house and business but only small

savings . I acted as the sponsor / guarantor and my son who is in the UK police force gave supportive references . I thought that the application was immaculate

but the UK border agency stated in their " visa refused " reply letter , " We have doubts that she will return to Thailand because of negative financial commitments "

or words to that effect . I complained to the UK Border agency inspectorate who looked at my case and told me to reapply and that there should be a more

favourable outcome next time , however the moment had passed of the UK family get together and I was not prepared to throw another 400 pounds away .

I have married friends living here in Thailand who have visited the UK one year on a tourist visa but were refused the following year because of something petty.

On the other hand I have another friend whose Thai girl friend had no money or job but they secured a UK tourist visa . Pot luck or maybe who you know ?

quote money talks

[laislica]

The first time I took my wife to UK it cost Bt30,000 to have an agency do the paperwork. We thought it was a dreadful rip off fee so next time we applied on our own. All the details, finances, tickets length of stay, four weeks and reason for visiting were the same.

Wife owns a LARGE house and a small one a very new car and plenty of money in the bank.

We got turned down as not being believed we would return.

So we are going to live on the run in UK ?? How stupid is that I don't have a UK passport either.

Tickets all paid and sorted already and departure date is closing in fast by now so we went to another agency to handle the papers.

They said someone just being bloody minded.

Paid the agency and got the visa two days before departure.

Explain that one

If that is true, and the applications were identical in every way it is outrageous and you should ask for an explanation (after the trip of course!)

and there is the rub.

How do you "talk to an FCO?

For some visa's you are not even permitted to ask for more detail.

The best you get is that " you may reapply, correcting any perceived errors"

For others you may send in your comments and be told they are very busy and you may have to wait up to a year before your case is review.

I'm waiting 16 months, still no reply.

So pay again and hope. The FCO's are understaffed and they cannot engage in any discussions.

Tough on us, their customers.

So CORRECTION:

Since re-visiting this subject (inspired by this thread) I am now aware that the application system changed in about October 2013 and United Kingdom Visas & Immigrations (UKVI) have replaced the Border Control group.

Contact access is much better and easier.

When we applied, this change was in transition so maybe ge fell through the cracks?

[kimamey]

bigyin, on 23 Feb 2015 - 15:27, said:

For a tourist visa they don't really care whether the Thai applicant has money or not. The sponsor has to have money, there has to be a suitable place to stay and the over riding evidence that the Thai applicant will leave the UK at the end of the visa. The ECO is only really worried about 2 things for a visitor visa....no recourse to public funds and leaving at the end of the visa.

That's not strictly true.

The ECO will of course need to be satisfied that the visit is affordable, and in the event that an applicant is being sponsored then yes they will need to be satisfied that it's reasonable for the sponsor to do so and, also yes, affordable. You need to bare in mind that not all visit visas are sponsored, I suspect that most aren't, posts on this forum aren't necessarily indicative of the number of applicants who are sponsored against those that aren't.

You are also correct that the applicant will need to convince the ECO that they are likely to leave the UK at the conclusion of the visit, to do that the applicant will need to prove their ties to their own country, that could well be a job which would probably result in money in the bank. An ECO could be forgiven in thinking that an applicant with zero Baht in the bank is looking for a better life in the UK and may be doubtful that that they have sufficient reasons to leave the UK.

I believe from previous posts on this forum that one problem with sponsor funds is they aren't under the control of the applicant. The risk is that the sponsor who may be a bf and the applicant might have a disagreement and split up leaving the applicant without access to the funds. I've certainly heard of instances like these.

On previous occasions, before my marriage I made sure I gave my gf enough money to afford basic accommodation and living expenses until her return flight which was already paid for. She also had travel insurance so if anything happened between us she would still be able to cope financially until the end of her trip.

This obviously doesn't apply in all cases but it's something I found out on here and it's worth remembering if it might apply.

[bigyin]

This was certainly not an issue when I obtained a visitor visa for my wife last year...she was my girlfriend then so the above circumstance could have applied. I think if you can show that the relationship has some degree of longevity and seriousness then this would not be an issue. The ECO will always be looking closely at applications where the sponsor and the applicant don't live together and/or the relationship is relatively new.

[kimamey]

This was certainly not an issue when I obtained a visitor visa for my wife last year...she was my girlfriend then so the above circumstance could have applied. I think if you can show that the relationship has some degree of longevity and seriousness then this would not be an issue. The ECO will always be looking closely at applications where the sponsor and the applicant don't live together and/or the relationship is relatively new.

I think it would depend on the length and nature of the relationship. I think mine was a couple of years although the first year was via the internet so I could understand there being some doubt which is why I took the precaution of making sure my gf could be seen to have sufficient funds under her control.

One of the problems is that if the visa is granted you don't know if the evidence you have just scrapped through or was far more than you needed. The last one my wife got she had most of the evidence from previous years plus some up to date. I have visions of us in a few years wheeling in evidence boxes on sack trucks like some massive fraud trial.