Visit to the UK - requirements

[h5kaf]

I left Thailand after 12 years to return to the UK so that my daughter would get a British Education. My Thai wife and I then divorced. Our daughter has UK citizenship but my step daughter (who is Thai and now at university in Malaysia) wishes to visit for a 2 week holiday during her spring break. I am prepared to pay for her air fare and all other expenses for her visit.

Could someone please advise me what she needs to do to obtain the necessary entry documentation for the UK. Also how much this will cost, and can I pay from here for her?

Thank you.

[derator01]

Probably best over in the Visa forum. Topic Moved.

[CharlieH]

The visa application can be done online, and paid for online. An appointment for processing at the Border Agency can also be booked at the same time.

However she will need to print out the completed application and hand it in for processing together with supporting documents and then biometrics will betaken at the same time.

Full information as to documents, appropriate visa type etc are all available via The British Embassy website and links contained therein.

[theoldgit]

In addition to the previous advice it's worth pointing out that whilst you can make and pay for the application the application from the UK, it's your step daughters application and it's she that needs to satisfy the Entry Clearance Officer that her application is genuine, the trip is affordable and that she is likely to return home at the conclusion of the visit. You will need to provide certain documents which she will need to hand in at the Visa Application centre in either Bangkok or Malaysia.

If you are sponsoring the trip then you will need to explain that it's reasonable for you to do so, it's not unreasonable as she's your stepdaughter, you will also need to provide details of affordability, so bank statements and the source of your funds. As she's staying with you provide details of the accommodation available to her, all this can be summed up in a covering letter, though she will need to submit hard copies of your bank statements.

Your stepdaughter will need to provide her reasons to return to her home country, be that Thailand or Malaysia. Her university studies should be fine, she should indicate how long she has been studying and provide evidence about her future studies, including the fact that any fees have been paid, also include the Universities holiday dates. Also include any other ties in Thailand/Malaysia, including her accommodation and finances.

She should write a covering letter indicating the purpose of the trip and her plans whilst she's on the UK, and detailing her travel plans.

As has been said, you can make the application online and pay the fee, which is currently US$136, but she must print off a hard copy of the application form and make an appointment at the Visa Application Centre in either Bangkok or Malaysia to hand in the hard copy of the application, all the supporting documents and have her biometric details captured.

Applications should be made in the home country, though as she is studying in Malaysia she could apply there, but bare in mind she would be without her passport whilst the application is being processed.

The details for the application process are here http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/thailand/ for Thailand, and here http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/malaysia/vfsglobalintroduction.html for Malaysia.

She can apply three months before her date of travel.

[7by7]

See also:

UK visit visa basics (note that some of the links in that are now out of date; but the essentials are the same)

Standard visitor visa from UKVI

[h5kaf]

Old Git and 7by7 - Thank you for this. Very clear.

[theoldgit]

Off topic and inaccurate post removed, together with responses.

[SantiSuk]

"she will need to submit hard copies of your bank statements". This can include copies printed from your online banking facility, but make sure that your name and account number are visible on the prints.

You can state that you have assisted in the preparation of the application as her sponsor and in that event the covering letter summarising the strengths of the claim and referring to the solidity of your resources to finance the visit can be from you (styled perhaps as a letter of invitation) so that she does not need to prepare her own case in letter form. I have done this succesfully for several visits of my Thai family (redacted version of a letter attached to give you some ideas but obviously it needs tailoring to your circumstances).

If your stepdaughter is under 18 she will also need to include the written consent of her mother (unless you are her sole legal guardian, which seems unlikely from how you style her): best to also get that on the same sheet as a signed copy of the mother's ID card.

You will have to coach your stepdaughter on the contents of the application so that she is not fazed if and when the immigration officer starts asking pointed questions

Sponsor letter for Ann and Kat UK Visa 2012 REDACTED VERSION.doc