UK Visit Visa - Sponsor needs to be resident of the UK?

[thelongshoot]

Hello. I am in the middle of applying for my girlfriends visit visa to the UK and I am sponsoring her. I stupidly thought that i just needed to supply a letter confirming that I am sponsoring her, with details of reltionship, history, elaborate on the application form answers etc.... I have just found out that i do actualy need to complete the "Sponsorship Undertaking" form SU07/12

It says on the form that i must be a UK resident. I am not. I have lived in Thailand for 12 years on various different visas, currently Tourist Visa. I have no official address in the UK, apart from my sisters OLD address on my driving license i cant think of how to get around this.

And as for national insurance number.... Jesus, no idea! How the heck do i find that?

We have already sent off the on line application off. Would it be better for me to pull out as a sponsor and let her apply without a sponsor?

Jesus we have out appointment tomorrow, i feel bloody annoyed at myself for only just realizing this crucial bit of info. Am I buggered now?

[theoldgit]

No that form isn't required if you are sponsoring a visit visa, or even a settlement visa.

A covering letter is fine, detailing your relationship and why you are providing sponsorship and your ability to do so, and of course the covering evidence.

Your time in Thailand and ongoing relationship could help satisfy the ECO of her reasons to return.

Don't worry.

[thelongshoot]

Ahhh, breath out lol. Thanks so much Old Git, appreciate that! Iwill crack on as I was and finish this letter.

Just while you are here can I ask one more thing? Im unsure how much information to give on the covering letter regarding our relationship, and my history in Thailand. I have wrote 5 rather big paragraphs on these 2 subjects and cant help but feel like i have gone way over the top? Is that overkill? One paragraph on each should be fine?

[theoldgit]

Being in a similar position to yourself I go through the same when my girlfriend applies for a visit visa, she's now on her third with the most recent being a two year visa.

I try to keep the covering letter short, a page and a half at the most.

The fact we live together, and have done so for eight years, speaks volumes, so I don't need to go into too much detail about our past.

I just summarise our life here and our plans for the trip. She also does a brief note almost mirroring mine, but with a slant from her perspective.

[thelongshoot]

Thats great, thanks. I will shorten mine down a little and keep my fingers crossed. Thanks again!