Tourist visa for Thai wife query

[jimbob333]

Me and my wife want to travel to England mid July for my friends wedding in early August 2016,(We are both living in Bangkok,she is Thai and I am English)

As I understand we can start the process 3 months before expected flight date,what happens if we apply for visa,and say flights are full so we delay our journey by two weeks or so,how strict are they in keeping to the date we expect to fly?

Eg we apply middle of April to fly say July 19th,but we have to change flight to July 30th,does this cause problems?

cheers

[bobrussell]

You can request a delay in the starting date of the visa. A couple of notes of caution! They don't always listen so check the visa when it is issued and remember you cannot travel before the start date of the visa!

Most visit visas are processed within a few days, so there should be plenty of time to book flights. You are advised not to buy tickets before a visa is processed.

As long as travel arrangements are roughly in line with the stated ones there will be no problems with the dates. If the length of stay differs greatly eg: plan to stay 3 weeks, then actually stay 3 months, this should be explained in future applications to maintain credibility!

If you both live in Thailand and can demonstrate this in the application, then a visa should be very straight forward.

[7by7]

Further to the above:

The visa will be valid for 6 months from the date it is issued or the requested start date, whichever is the later. But as Bob says, if you do request a specific start date check immediately the passport is received back; mistakes cannot be rectified later. Remember, though, that as Bob also says, if you do request a specific start date that it cannot be used before that date.

It will be valid for 6 months and multi entry, and can be used to enter and remain in the UK at any time and for any duration until it expires; as long as the holder leaves the UK on the date it expires at the latest. Though, as Bob says, staying longer than originally stated or making a second or subsequent visit may cause credibility problems in the next application; especially if one has said that this visit is time limited due to work or other commitments. So why one did so and how one was able to do so should be briefly explained in that subsequent application.

If, once it is issued, you do delay your flight to a date later than stated in the application this should, again as Bob says, not cause you any problems.

There is an extremely low possibility that UK immigration may ask about this on entering the UK, but a brief explanation such as that in your OP, flight availability, should satisfy them.

UKVI say that they aim to process visit applications within 15 working days, and most of the time in Bangkok they do manage this. However, you will be applying at a busy period so maybe allow a bit more time; but three months ahead seems excessive to me. Up to you, though; better to be safe than sorry, I suppose!

You may find UK visit visa basics helpful; it is a bit out of date but the essentials haven't changed.

See also Standard visitor visa from UKVI for more details and how to apply etc.