UK Visa for long term Thai GF visiting my UK family (VAF1B)?

[Saltwater]

Hello all again,

Long story short, I have been living in Thailand with my Thai girlfriend for nearly 3 years now studying Thai language. I am half thai half english and have been looking after Thai grandparents here but for visa reasons took ED-Visa while looking after them. Now I am actually sorting out my Thai nationality and passport to be able to stay in Thailand permanently and so need to go back in person to the Thai Royal Embassy in London with my parents (who live in the UK) to complete the applications. During this time, I would like to bring my long-term girlfriend along with me for a visit and know it's a big job getting her a UK Visa.

3 questions, is she eligible for applying for a Visiting Family Visa form VAF1B, as we are visiting and living with my parents (my Dad being Thai) for the duration, and do we have a civil partnership as we have lived together for 2+ years? OR does she still apply normally for a General Visitors Visa(friends) form VAF1A?

Second is after applying online (https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk here right?), who will contact who to arrange an appointment for my girlfriend to interview in Bangkok? A visa interview or immigration ECO interview? Bit confused there.

Third question is just some general advice, I know there is a sticky about this, but I know you guys are very helpful and appreciate the feedback and assistance.

Just some facts

- We have plenty of evidence of our long term relationship.

- GF left her 2 year respectable job last November 2014 to change careers from sales, though instead studied Japanese classes up until now, so we thought good timing in-between jobs.

- GF actually has her name on land and properties here in Thailand, though she has minimum savings.

- My Thai Dad can be the sponsor living in UK, and we will be living with him and my Mother, all food and expenses accommodated. My own finances can help also? My Dad can send any documents we may need this end.

- GF will visit just 2-3 weeks ish I think, giving time for travelling and my reason for visiting back to UK/London.

Thank you all so much, all my topics are always responded with help.

[theoldgit]

First of all going by what you have said, your girlfriend would be able to apply for a General Visit Visa or a Family Visit Visa, the burden of proof is the same and there is no longer any advantage of one over the other as there is no longer any right of appeal for a Family Visit refusal.

As you are in a long term relationship, are travelling together and staying with family then a Family Visit Visa would probably be more appropriate.

She needs to satisfy the ECO that her visit is genuine, affordable and that, on the balance of probabilities, she will return to Thailand at the conclusion of the trip.

After she has submitted her online application and paid the fee she will be directed to the appointment page to lodge the hard copy of her application, her supporting documents and have her biometric details captured. There is no interview by an ECO, or anybody, the decision is made on the evidence submitted. If the ECO has a query they could decide to telephone the applicant, but that's highly unlikely.

The most important things to satisfy the ECO are the reasons to return and affordability. At the present moment she is between jobs, so she needs to convince the ECO that she has suitable ties to her own country, what are her plans for the future? The fact she owns land will help, so include that. You are living together so add evidence of your commitments in Thailand, you need to satisfy the ECO that you will return.

Yes your father can act as sponsor, you already seem to have a grip on the requirements, but a covering letter will help, it's vital to prove that you both have a life in Thailand and can afford to live her, so yes, give details of your finances.

[thaiguzzi]

Make sure she has at least 200k in her bank book. They can be complete c##ts at Visa4UK. We planned on a holiday to the UK for a month at the end of this month. Me, my dual nationality (Brit-Thai) 9 year old son, my Thai wife of 10 years, and my 18 year old step daughter. Son has been many times with me, wife visited for a holiday in 2007 (6 month visit visa - stayed for 6 weeks), step daughter never been. My father sponsored the whole shebang with supporting documentation inc payment of all return flights and accommodation. Wife showed a total of 43 rai of land in her name, housebook, 8 year old 4 door pick up truck log book, college letterhead paperwork re step daughter etc etc. Visa refusal for lack of money in both of our Thai bank books (under 50k each) !!!

I don't even think they read my father's supporting paperwork. C##ts, as i said before. Won't make any difference, but he is so pissed off he's taken it further with his local mp, just as a matter of principle, 3 out of 4 of us travelling as a family of 4 have English sir names for Chissakes.

[theoldgit]

There is absolutely no point in ensuring the applicant has 200,000 Baht in their bank account, in fact it could be counterproductive as the ECO could begin to wonder how a person in the circumstances the OP describes has that amount of cash on deposit.

The ECO could be forgiven for wondering if the 200,000 Baht had been placed there to make a false impression, being fully aware that the 200,000 could be taken out as quickly as it was put in.

[mercman24]

wow sounds like a lot of hassle, i was thinking of taking a thai lady friend (note friend) i dont know her financial status, but i have got 1 mill in bangkok bank and 6 mill in the uk, was thinking of going for 10 days in july for british super bikes and visit some old mates. having second thoughts now. i live in Bangkok (retired)

[theoldgit]

wow sounds like a lot of hassle, i was thinking of taking a thai lady friend (note friend) i dont know her financial status, but i have got 1 mill in bangkok bank and 6 mill in the uk, was thinking of going for 10 days in july for british super bikes and visit some old mates. having second thoughts now. i live in Bangkok (retired)

It's really not that difficult, the vast majority of visit visa applications are approved.

Your friend is the applicant and it's up to her to satisfy the ECO that she will return to Thailand, by proving her ties to her home country.

If you're paying for the trip, and thus sponsoring her, then you will need to satisfy the ECO that it's reasonable for you to do so and affordable, that part wouldn't seem to be an issue.

[thaiguzzi]

Sorry. disagree. My wife has had my sir name for 10 years, is the mother of my son, been there before, and supplied all relevant paperwork, EXCEPT sufficient funds in her and mine Thai bank accounts. The reply looked like they had not even read the sponsor's (my father) supporting letter. And did not even attempt to contact him by phone/email.

[bigyin]

Sorry. disagree. My wife has had my sir name for 10 years, is the mother of my son, been there before, and supplied all relevant paperwork, EXCEPT sufficient funds in her and mine Thai bank accounts. The reply looked like they had not even read the sponsor's (my father) supporting letter. And did not even attempt to contact him by phone/email.

This is a very strange reason to refuse a visitor visa as the money is required in the UK and not in Thailand. I applied last year for visitor visas for my wife and step daughter. She had about 20 baht in her bank account and I live month by month on mine so there wouldn't have been much and visa was granted. But I have a monthly pension paid into my UK bank account so I could prove that I could fund the trip. I am pretty sure there are a lot of visitor visas granted where neither the applicant nor the sponsor have substantial funds in a Thai bank account.

[LostDemocracy]

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wow sounds like a lot of hassle, i was thinking of taking a thai lady friend (note friend) i dont know her financial status, but i have got 1 mill in bangkok bank and 6 mill in the uk, was thinking of going for 10 days in july for british super bikes and visit some old mates. having second thoughts now. i live in Bangkok (retired)

6 mill in UK. Pounds or baht?

[Jonmarleesco]

VAF1A, I should think. Certainly what I have used for my long term partner over several visits, with my family in the UK, and always staying with my eldest son.

They will tell you IF an interview is needed; it might not be, though as a first-time visitor, it probably will.

If you're using your father as a sponsor, then you will need various documents and evidence from him. Girlfriend's property documents also helpful.

A brief letter from you, summarising the salient points of your relationship, visit, etc., will do no harm, either.

[7by7]

Sorry. disagree. My wife has had my sir name for 10 years, is the mother of my son, been there before, and supplied all relevant paperwork, EXCEPT sufficient funds in her and mine Thai bank accounts. The reply looked like they had not even read the sponsor's (my father) supporting letter. And did not even attempt to contact him by phone/email.

From what you have said, it appears your father was supplying the finances for the trip. Did he provide evidence, such as bank statements, to show that he had sufficient funds to do so?

If not and all they had to go on was your Thai bank accounts, which you say did not have enough money in them, then of course they are going to refuse on affordability.

As theoldgit says above, it is rare for the ECOs to contact the applicant; let alone anyone else.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure all the necessary evidence is included to enable the ECO make a decision. If vital evidence is missing, it is not up to the ECO to go chasing after it.

[7by7]

Saltwater, for your partner to qualify as a family visitor you and you she will need to show that you have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least the 2 years prior to the application. (BTW, you'd be classed as unmarried partners, not civil partners. In the civil partnership is a legal registration, like a marriage, between two people of the same sex.)

Therefore it may be simpler to go for a general visit visa.

As theoldgit says, as the right of appeal for family visitors has been abolished, there is no real difference between the two.

You may find UK visit visa basics and Family Visit Visa or General Visit Visa (depending on which you go for) helpful.

To apply, start here.

[thaiguzzi]

7by7, nice Avatar (Space Ritual i believe). Still pissed off, should have married a Somalian or Syrian...

[Mister Fixit]

VAF1A, I should think. Certainly what I have used for my long term partner over several visits, with my family in the UK, and always staying with my eldest son.

They will tell you IF an interview is needed; it might not be, though as a first-time visitor, it probably will.

If you're using your father as a sponsor, then you will need various documents and evidence from him. Girlfriend's property documents also helpful.

A brief letter from you, summarising the salient points of your relationship, visit, etc., will do no harm, either.

Nope, VFA1B - family and friends. Although they seem to have melded to two types together now, so see what 7x7 says as it's all changing/changed.

And the on-line application form has changed too - they now ask you the date you expect to arrive in the UK AND the duration of your stay, so it looks like no more automatic six month multi-entry visas ...

There WILL be an interview needed, even if just for biometrics and to be sure she knows your surname! :-) No offence, but they asked my Mrs that both times.

It's a piece of p!ss - I've done 2, the first took 5 days, the second, 9 days and she had hardly a bean in the bank ...

However, what with the advent of the new regulations on 24th April (thread elsewhere on here) it looks like they are tightening up.

Edit - both times, my younger brother did a sponsor letter and didn't have to show bank statements, just his and his wife's passport photo pages, 2 utility bills, a letter confirming his employment and the sponsor letter.

Oh, and although we are now married, we weren't then and I wrote a letter explaining the relationship, when it started, that we'd been living together as man and wife for X years and photos of my Mrs's business etc.

Edited March 11, 2015 by Mister Fixit

[ronaldo0]

I have all but given up trying to take my wife to the uk for a holiday.

I applied 3 years after we were married, i was paying for everything and stated this on the application,owned a house fully paid for,had 100k in bank plus many stocks and shares worth several hundred thousand and they turned her down as she could only get 3 months bank statements not 6 due to time frame.

Second attempt.

She has a job that pays 32000bht month, had 1.2 million in her bank for over 9 months,my mother wrote letters and gave signed copies of passport saying she was expecting us for a visit, wrote out full travel plans, had my passport and signed copies.DENIED!!!

Reasons for denial were ,they didnt believe we were married! Despite my wife having our wedding certificate with her and us being married for over 7 years!! They said there was no proof we even lived together.Quite how i am meant to fix that im not sure?? Take pics of us eating every day??

Said she didnt have enough funds for a return ticket! How much does a plane ticket cost?? Not 1.2 million bht i know that!! Obviously never looked at her bank statements which covered the last year of her accounts.

No information about my funds or my visa status! None of which was asked for but they had my passport and could have looked at it if they really wanted to know!! The reply from the complaints office was that the information on their website is a guide and not really what they want as far as giving proof etc!! I asked them if i should give them proof of everything i have done since being born as how the hell am i meant to guess what they want exactly !!

Next time i try will be last if they say no!!

[thaiguzzi]

Exactly ! It seems some sail through with bare minimum paperwork, and others have all the paperwork req'd, and more besides and get a refusal. There is no logic or reason to it, except some office worker (i presume they are Thai rather than Brits who decide yeah or neah) has got out of bed the wrong side. My wife was devastated, she was so looking forward to a month in the UK. She works her t#ts off, and this would have been her first holiday in 5 years.

[ronaldo0]

Yip. I know of 2 of my my wifes friends who got married and within a month were in the UK living on a 6 month holiday visa and heve been there now for several years on the same type of visa and have been back here for holidays and returned to the UK no problem.

These women hardly worked nevermind having money in their banks and their husbands have the type of illegal job you cant put down on an application form.

The letter i got back from my complaint to the uk government about my wifes refusal came from Vietnam!!!

Says it all!!

[7by7]

7by7, nice Avatar (Space Ritual i believe).

Yes.

Still pissed off, should have married a Somalian or Syrian...

Why? The immigration rules are the same for all non EEA nationals. Even those who do not require a visit visa in advance, such as Americans, still must abide by the same rules and requirements and can be refused entry by immigration if they don't.

VFA1B - family and friends.

Sorry, VAF1B is for family only; friends come under general visitors and should use VAF1A.

And the on-line application form has changed too - they now ask you the date you expect to arrive in the UK AND the duration of your stay, so it looks like no more automatic six month multi-entry visas ...

Standard UK visit visa is still valid for 6 months and multi entry; at least that's what my sister in law was given on 27th Feb.

However, immigration on arrival in the UK will have access to the online form and may ask the visitor how long they intend to stay, and if their answer doesn't match what was in the application, expect more questioning!

[brewsterbudgen]

VAF1A, I should think. Certainly what I have used for my long term partner over several visits, with my family in the UK, and always staying with my eldest son.

They will tell you IF an interview is needed; it might not be, though as a first-time visitor, it probably will.

If you're using your father as a sponsor, then you will need various documents and evidence from him. Girlfriend's property documents also helpful.

A brief letter from you, summarising the salient points of your relationship, visit, etc., will do no harm, either.

Nope, VFA1B - family and friends. Although they seem to have melded to two types together now, so see what 7x7 says as it's all changing/changed.

And the on-line application form has changed too - they now ask you the date you expect to arrive in the UK AND the duration of your stay, so it looks like no more automatic six month multi-entry visas ...

There WILL be an interview needed, even if just for biometrics and to be sure she knows your surname! :-) No offence, but they asked my Mrs that both times.

It's a piece of p!ss - I've done 2, the first took 5 days, the second, 9 days and she had hardly a bean in the bank ...

However, what with the advent of the new regulations on 24th April (thread elsewhere on here) it looks like they are tightening up.

Edit - both times, my younger brother did a sponsor letter and didn't have to show bank statements, just his and his wife's passport photo pages, 2 utility bills, a letter confirming his employment and the sponsor letter.

Oh, and although we are now married, we weren't then and I wrote a letter explaining the relationship, when it started, that we'd been living together as man and wife for X years and photos of my Mrs's business etc.

I didn't think interviews were held for UK Visitor Visas - maybe a clarifying phone call but not an interview.

Without being able to see the reason for refusals, it's impossible to make sensible comments on individual cases.

[thaiguzzi]

Can anyone tell me if the staff at Visa4UK who actually make the visa decisions, ie granted or refused, are Thai or British nationals? Thanx.

[ronaldo0]

Can anyone tell me if the staff at Visa4UK who actually make the visa decisions, ie granted or refused, are Thai or British nationals? Thanx.

As far as i know the bangkok people look at the information and do the interviews then it is passed on to the UK for the decision. Edited March 14, 2015 by theoldgit
Inappropriate remark removed.

[theoldgit]

Can anyone tell me if the staff at Visa4UK who actually make the visa decisions, ie granted or refused, are Thai or British nationals? Thanx.

As far as i know the bangkok people look at the information and do the interviews then it is passed on to the UK for the decision.

No, that isn't the case. Visa applications are processed, and decided on, in Bangkok by Entry Clearance Officers either from the UK or locally employed here in Thailand. Training to be an ECO is standard across the globe and, because of the security vetting required, only certain nationalities are qualified to be ECO's, Thai people are not eligible.

[ronaldo0]

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Can anyone tell me if the staff at Visa4UK who actually make the visa decisions, ie granted or refused, are Thai or British nationals? Thanx.

As far as i know the bangkok people look at the information and do the interviews then it is passed on to the UK for the decision.

No, that isn't the case. Visa applications are processed, and decided on, in Bangkok by Entry Clearance Officers either from the UK or locally employed here in Thailand. Training to be an ECO is standard across the globe and, because of the security vetting required, only certain nationalities are qualified to be ECO's, Thai people are not eligible.

Acording to vfsglobal the decision is made by UK visa and immigration staff.

[theoldgit]

Acording to vfsglobal the decision is made by UK visa and immigration staff.

Yes, based in Bangkok.

[bigyin]

Yes, theoldgit is correct as usual. The decision is made in Bangkok but not by the staff at The Trendy Building. Equally there is no interview when lodging the application. They check your documentation to make sure certain basic requirements are there and do the biometrics but neither of these things could be construed as an interview. My wife was there 2 weeks ago and they were actually quite helpful.

[7by7]

Indeed. basically the procedure is:-

1. Complete and submit online form, pay fee online, make appointment with VFS to submit signed hard copy of form, supporting documents and have biometrics taken.
2. Attend above appointment with above documents.
3. VFS forward everything to British embassy where the ECOs, employed by UKVI, are based.
4. ECO makes decision, passport etc. returned to VFS for collection by or forwarding to applicant.
5. VFS notify applicant of receipt of passport etc.; applicant collects passport or awaits delivery, depending on the option chosen by them. Note that, for data protection and privacy reasons, passports are returned to VFS in sealed packets and no one outside the Entry Clearance section at the embassy will know the decision until the applicant, or their appointed representative, receives and opens that packet.

Addendum; the Entry Clearance Section does employ local, Thai, staff; but only in clerical roles. They are not involved in the decision making in any way.

Edited March 14, 2015 by 7by7

[oldgent]

kind of feel for the office workers doing the same thing all day everyday.

presentation of the paperwork in my mind would also be of importance.

or maybe they have to fail a certain %

[Jaggg88]

Standard UK visit visa is still valid for 6 months and multi entry; at least that's what my sister in law was given on 27th Feb.

However, immigration on arrival in the UK will have access to the online form and may ask the visitor how long they intend to stay, and if their answer doesn't match what was in the application, expect more questioning!

My friend and his Thai wife are coming to the UK on the 21st March for 3 weeks and she has been given a 6 month visa. He enquired if they could stay longer than the original 3 weeks and was told she can stay as long as the visa is valid.

[Upnotover]

Standard UK visit visa is still valid for 6 months and multi entry; at least that's what my sister in law was given on 27th Feb.

However, immigration on arrival in the UK will have access to the online form and may ask the visitor how long they intend to stay, and if their answer doesn't match what was in the application, expect more questioning!

My friend and his Thai wife are coming to the UK on the 21st March for 3 weeks and she has been given a 6 month visa. He enquired if they could stay longer than the original 3 weeks and was told she can stay as long as the visa is valid.

Of course she can stay longer, but the next time she applies she will have to explain why she did so.

[thaiguzzi]

Thanx for the replies, applying again this week. With even more supporting documentation.