Visa For My Tgf And Baby To Visit Me In Uk

[happyman]

I really need some help on this one!!!!!!!!!

I have a Thai gf and baby son who is aged 2 months. They live about 1 hour from Surin and on the border of Cambodia.

I want them to come and visit me in June 07 so that they can come to my daughter's wedding. It is also my son's 1st birthday in July. I would like them to stay for maybe 3 - 6 months.

I am a police officer with 16 years service. Unfortunately I do not own my own home, I live in a Housing Association flat and have done so for 6 years. I am in contact with my gf twice a day by phone. I use International phone cards as this is a much cheaper way for me to call her. But the backlash to this is that the phone companies cannot provide me with documentation proving who I have been calling from the phone card. My gf does not have ready access to a computer as the nearest one is over an hour away so e mail contact is mimimal.

I have a copy of my son's birth certificate which is translated into English. I also have proof that my son is mine as I have undertaken DNA testing ( I had to do this due to the amount of comments I got about 'how do you know he is yours' etc). My gf has never worked in the sex industry.

I also have the proof that I have been supporting my gf and the baby.

I am in the fortunate position of being able to retire when I am 55 (I am 46 now). I will definitely be moving and settling in Thailand when I retire. I do not want to uproot then to come and live over here when I will be moving over there in 9 years time.

All I want is for them to come to my daughter's wedding and for my gf to meet my family and for my parents to be able to see their grandson.

I have tried to research this on the internet but there is such a minefield of information out there.

I need help on what type of Visa I will need to apply for and what supporting documentation I need etc. Basically everything I need to do and do I stand a realistic chance of getting them over here????

Thanks in advance

[GU22]

As they are coming to visit, then they will both need a visit visa. Even though the boy is definitely yours, then he will still need a visa, unless you can register him as British and get a British passport for him. The simplest way to do this would be to travel to Thailand and marry his mother. You could then register his birth at the embassy. The process takes about 8 weeks. If you do not wish to marry her, you can still apply for British nationality for you son at the Home Office, but it can take up to 6 months and there is no guarantee that the application will succeed. (See Consular Birth Registration, Notes on British nationality.)

From what you have said, a visit visa should be relatively straightforward. The following will give you most of what you need:-

Guidance for Visitors Visa Applications

Guidance - Sponsors

Visit Visa checklist

Any further questions, feel free to ask.

I use International phone cards as this is a much cheaper way for me to call her. But the backlash to this is that the phone companies cannot provide me with documentation proving who I have been calling from the phone card.

Explain this in your sponsor's letter, and include the cards. You may also be interested in Call 18185, 4p connection charge and then 1p per minute ti Thailand; fixed lines and mobiles. Plus an itemised monthly bill.

I do not want to uproot then to come and live over here when I will be moving over there in 9 years time.

I can understand that, but if you were to marry and they came settle in the UK with you, then 3 years later they would both qualify for naturalisation as British. Then you could all visit the UK as often and as long as you wish. (Both Thailand and the UK allow dual nationality, so she would not be giving up her Thai citizenship, nor any rights that gives her.)

Forgot to add, visas can only be post dated for a maximum of 3 months. If they are not coming until next June, then to gain the maximum time in the UK they shouldn't apply until March at the earliest.

Edited September 6, 2006 by GU22

[the scouser]

As they are coming to visit, then they will both need a visit visa. Even though the boy is definitely yours, then he will still need a visa, unless you can register him as British and get a British passport for him. The simplest way to do this would be to travel to Thailand and marry his mother. You could then register his birth at the embassy. The process takes about 8 weeks. If you do not wish to marry her, you can still apply for British nationality for you son at the Home Office, but it can take up to 6 months and there is no guarantee that the application will succeed. (See Consular Birth Registration, Notes on British nationality.)

The law changed on 1 July this year and British fathers are now allowed to transmit their nationality to children born abroad and out of wedlock, providing that:-

1. The father is a British citizen "otherwise than by descent"

2. The father can demonstrate that the child is his (this can be achieved by either being named on the birth certifcate or by a DNA test, and the OP has both).

It appears that the embassy has not updated their website to reflect the new legislation and, as the OP's son was evidently born post 1/7/06, he might well be British and not require a visa.

Cheers,

Scouse.

[vinny]

See also Baby Born One Day Too Soon For A British Passport, ......left without citizenship.

Unfortunately, the British Embassy have not yet updated their Consular Birth Registration webpage to reflect the better changes in the Law relating to unmarried UK fathers and their children born on or after 1 July 2006. However, the Home Office have updated their information on Legitimacy and Meaning of "parent" (Chapter 6: General Information, Annex F: Explanation of terms, section 22).

As Scouse said, if you are British otherwise than by descent (eg born in the UK) and your child is born outside the UK on or after 1 July, 2006, then your child is British under section s2(1)(a) of the British Nationality Act, as amended.

With regards to a Thai passport, see Documents required when applying for a Thai passport. The application will have to be done in person at one of the passport offices as fingerprint (or toeprint for babies) and photograph have to be taken on site.

Edited September 6, 2006 by vinny

[happyman]

Thank you very much for all your help and information