Visa questions re 9 months in UK as dependent or indvidual

[arjunadawn]

Hello

I hv US passport. My wife has Thai&US passport. We reside in Thailand. She will be attending post grad in Cardiff in 3 months. I want/require to accompany her.

I have mixed understanding of the process. She will be granted a visa to study, Tier 4. Her current US passport may not arrive in time to process the visa application. I am unsure if she will travel on UK or Thai visa but was told I may accompany her as dependent if:

1. Proof of Marriage

2. TB proof (?)

3. Some certain evidence of banked funds.

A. On US Passport can I simply join her for x months, go in and out, and remain for the next 3 months? Her total school is approximately 9 months.

B. Do I require proof of vaccination/TB PPD. etc?

C. I lieu of banked funds I receive a generous gov pension (for which I am on Thai retirement extension). Is this possible evidence for UK in lieu of banked funds, if even required?

We placed funds in a bank account for her which must remain for 28 days prior to UK visa application for study. Currently I cannot equal that in a separate account as well. I had thought we needed to travel on same country passport to be dependent travel; she says no, only proof of marriage required. Short of visiting the UK embassy twice, does anyone have any knowledge of such a process? Thank you.

[7by7]

It doesn't really matter which passport your wife uses to apply for her Tier 4 visa.

If you want to spend the entire 9 months in the UK with her then you will need a visa.

See a TB certificate.

Obviously, your US passport allows you to enter the UK as a visitor without a visa for up to 6 months at a time.

However, there is a convention that a visitor should not spend more than 6 months out of any 12 in the UK. Doing so may be viewed as de facto residence.

So you could be refused entry by UK immigration unless you can satisfy immigration that you have an acceptable reason for spending so much time in the UK as a visitor.

[arjunadawn]

Wow, this is a super answer. I will begin chasing down the things you mentioned today. Thank you very much; really! I am grateful. We have to pull this together quickly.