Child Visa Application

[Deano1000]

Are Thai children (10-year old ) exempt from the English language requirement under Appendix FM?

[7by7]

Children under 18 are exempt from the language requirement.

[Deano1000]

Children under 18 are exempt from the language requirement.

Thanks, 7by7. Is the exemption specifically provided for under the Immigration Rules, as I do not appear to be able to locate it?

[7by7]

Not specifically mentioned as an exemption, but it is not listed as a requirement in the relevant part of the rules; Para 301. Whereas in other parts, spouses for example, it is.

Although the only place it is mentioned in the guidance is in Prove your knowledge of English for citizenship and settling. This does not mention the initial visa, but it would be perverse in the extreme were an English test required for the initial visa but not for ILR!

[Deano1000]

Thanks 7by7.

[Deano1000]

Just to update those who may be interested, having applied for a settlement visa for my wife's daughter on 20 October 2015, she was granted a visa on 25 November 2015. Although our intended date of arrival for her was for a later date, the British Embassy contacted me and made me give an undertaking that I would have her on UK soil no later than 19 January 2016. My wife's brother and my wife's daughter's father were both contacted via telephone and interviewed. The school were even contacted and, having already spoken to my wife's brother, they contacted him again a few days later to check that my wife's daughter was still with him. It would seem that including a signed letter from my wife's daughter's father, in which he confirmed he had had no responsibility or control/direction over his daughter's life and that he did not want her with him and his wife, was not detrimental to her cause. I can only assume it added weight to the Por Khor 14. The stress and anxiety is now over, and I am looking forward to 2.5 weeks in Thailand shortly. Thanks again for everyone's input. You have been a great source of advice, encouragement, and understanding.

[TCA]

Just to update those who may be interested, having applied for a settlement visa for my wife's daughter on 20 October 2015, she was granted a visa on 25 November 2015.

My wife's brother and my wife's daughter's father were both contacted via telephone and interviewed. The school were even contacted and, having already spoken to my wife's brother, they contacted him again a few days later to check that my wife's daughter was still with him. It would seem that including a signed letter from my wife's daughter's father, in which he confirmed he had had no responsibility or control/direction over his daughter's life and that he did not want her with him and his wife, was not detrimental to her cause. I can only assume it added weight to the Por Khor 14. The stress and anxiety is now over, and I am looking forward to 2.5 weeks in Thailand shortly.

Great news Deano, congratulations. Relief all round I'm sure. You've definitely earned your break.

Interesting that the daughter's father was contacted. I'm about to start my wife's daughter's application, but it'll be "location unknown" as far as that goes. Talking of contact, I've got a quick question for anyone who has registered with the Visa4UK website for a child application:

When registering I'm adding my wife's daughter's details but under the Contact Details section, what did people put for Primary Phone Number?

https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/account/register

The girl has a mobile phone but not sure that's what they're after for a child application and not even sure that I want to be giving over that number anyway. Maybe her guardian/grandmother's number? Or should it be me and her mum's number even though we're in the UK?

[Deano1000]

TCA, thanks for your kind words. We were in a unique situation regarding my wife's ex-husband in that we had disclosed in my wife's visa application (made in January 2015) that my wife's ex-husband had initially opposed his daughter leaving Thailand and wanted her to live with him. Therefore, in my wife's daughter's application we had to explain that this had all been ego and that he had had no true intention of raising his daughter. Hence, he obliged in signing a Por Khor 14 and confirming in writing that he had had no direction/control over his daughter's upbringing and did not want her to live with him.

As for the Visa4Uk question, we put my wife's number here in England as the primary number. There is scope to put the number of who the child is living with in Thailand in any event.

[bobrussell]

Congratulations! Nice to see that the interests of the child are being considered. UKVI came in for a lot of criticism for ignoring this!

As far as a father who is absent and location unknown, this pretty much takes him out of the equation unless someone else makes a comment that leads to doubt in the ECO's mind. It is still necessary to demonstrate that nobody else has taken over responsibility (aunts, grandparents etc.). Generally not so tricky as having a spare parent lying around!

Put the contact phone number that suits you best!

[TCA]

As for the Visa4Uk question, we put my wife's number here in England as the primary number. There is scope to put the number of who the child is living with in Thailand in any event.

Put the contact phone number that suits you best!

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll give our UK phone number at registration and give any additional Thai numbers where appropriate in the form.