Another Uk Visa For Girlfriend Topic

[Baboonboy22]

Sawadee kup!

I've been reading through loads of posts trying to find answers to my questions, but thought it best to just ask them.

Right... My girlfriend and I are currently in the process of gathering and preparing all the information needed for her to come to the UK on a visitor visa, for the full 6 months. We have been together for other 9 months now.

I have been to see her twice this year since we have been together, so I have a load of photos of the two of us. We have emails, I've recently been saving our msn messenger conversations. We speak to each other on the phone everyday (using a international phone card) which can be backed up by the phone bills, on those bills it shows the 5-10 text messages a day. I've been in the same job for other 4 years now.. have all the pay slips, bank statements are all there. I have no debts. I am still living with my parents.. but I have their full support, they can provide, council tax bills for proof of address, bank statements, pay slips and they own their own house.

My GF has recently moved to another part of Thailand and is currently working in a top resort as a tour operator and on reception, and has been there since March/April of this year. Her work will be happy to provide her with a statement of her employment and as a reference. She can provide pay slips, bank statements.. she does not have a lot of savings due to the recent move, but I will be accommodating and supporting her for the full length of her visit.

She will want to return to Thailand for reasons such as, to further her career in the travel industry, as that is what she really wants to do and where her interests lie... and we all know the UK isn't exactly based on tourism.. plus the weather in the UK should be enough of a reason why anyone would want to return to Thailand. She also has family there.

She doesn't own any property or land.

I have yet to write my sponsorship letter.. due to not really knowing where to start or how to word it.. but thanks to Ling Men's help he has provided an example.

My questions are:

1. Are the reasons of return good enough?

2. Is there any documentation / proof that I have left out, that anyone thinks would help the application?

3. How much and what information will she need from her employers for the embassy to be happy?

4. Would there be a problem in her wanting to stay for the full length of the visa?

5. If an interview is required, what sort of questions will be asked? and what sort of personal information will she need to know about me?

6. We do have an age gap.. I am 24 she is 31.. will that be an issue?

Errrr... I think that's it... hehehe.... apologies for the essay.

Absolutely any help and advise anyone could give would be more than appreciated. I've read and heard of a lot of horrible stories where people are refused over the silliest and smallest of things.. and my girlfriend and I do not want to be one of those cases.

Kop koon kup

[vinny]

She hasn't been working long in her current job. A six-month holiday may show a lack of commitment to her job and not sufficient reason to return.

See also Uk Visa For My Thai Gf, Advice needed on applying for a UK visa for my Thai Girlfriend

[ling men]

My comment would be, six months is a long visit and will raise the eyebrows of the ECO. Reason to return is the hardest to prove and staying away for six months will make any reason to return less believable.

Away from the visa, six months is a long time for her to come over to a completely new country, culture, climate, language etc.

You seem to have the main bases covered but you will want to add a bit about her plans whilst she’s here. I put in some print outs from local tourist websites. I also put in a quote for flights on the dates stated.

Make sure you look at the checklist and have paperwork for everything in it. Even if its just a print out from a website, it shows you have thought about it.

Bet of luck

[atlastaname]

I think you will be refused if you submit the application you have outlined , BUT i think you could very easily get approved if you just make some small modifications.

You are nearly there as you say , but with some fatal flaws. To answer your questions in the order you asked them,

1) No they are not if you stick with the 6 months idea . Forget about the weather comment, and forget about her family. These are emotional things and the Embassy discount all emotion . Facts are what they want. If you ask for a reasonable 4/5 weeks then she does have much better reason to return . A letter from her employers wil help but as vinny says, she hasn't worked there long so to me its still only 50/50 after you have reduced the time asked for . Its 0/0 if you don't !!

2) You should enclose a letter from your parents inviting her to stay with them and documentation to show they own the property and that there is enough room for you all to stay there. Also a letter from her employers saying her job will be held for her whilst she takes her 4/5 week holiday.

3)Sorry , already answered above plus what you have already said you have of course.

4)YES

5)I could write an essay about the sort of questions they could ask . You have to use your brain here a little , its common sense stuff this. What should she know about you? The answer is everything you would expect your girlfriend to know , your name would help , your birthday , how old you are , what is your employment and where. Where do you live ... this is basic knowledge she ought to know. I'm sure you know about her , make sure she knows about you.

6)Of course not , thats not a gap , more a blip.

Put everything in order in a file and index it . Write a covering letter leaving out the jokes and the emotions and keep it to the point and factual . The letter ling men posted was really very very good. Adapt it to your circumstances.

From what you have written above you will fail, no doubt in my mind, but just a little thought and you have a very good chance of success.

[paully]

Are the resort she's working at happy to state in their letter that your GF will be welcomed back there with a guaranteed job after the 6-month holiday in the UK? Unlikely. She needs more evidence to show that she will return to Thailand - this is her problem for a full 6 month visit.

Edited November 17, 2006 by paully

[Baboonboy22]

Just want to say thank you to everyone for your advise so far. (Even though it's a bit of a kick in the nuts.. as my girlfriend and I kind of had our hearts set on spending 6 months together)

I can understand fully in what your all saying.

So basically for her visa application to be successful she needs to:

Only stay in the UK for up to 1 month and have a written guarantee from her work to say she will still have her job when she gets back.

(For the other things suggested that I need to do .. I had already thought of, I just forgot to put it in my first post (e.g. a letter from my parents saying they are happy for my GF to stay, some ducument showing they own the house, a print out of a quote for the flights and a short list and print outs of the things we will do when she's here).

[Baboonboy22]

Out of curiosity.. If she was to get a visa and originally said it would be for just a week / 2 week holiday, but ended up staying for longer (within the 6 month visa), would that be a big problem for future applications?

Or if she were to get a work permit whilst over here, and could stay for longer, basically would she be allowed to stay longer than first quoted?

[atlastaname]

1 month is a reasonable suggestion, its not compulsory. You are asking them to give her a visa to visit you , bearing in mind she works in Thailand . Don't you think around 1 month is about the most a visit for a Thai lady who works in Thailand should be thinking of visiting the UK for ? Any more and they will rightly assume her job is of no consequence to her.

Look we all know what you want here, you quite reasonably want to live with your girlfriend , but the rules do not make that very easy. So you are trying to get round them by intending her to overstay what she originally told them. You are actually obtaining a visa by deception. We know that here , luckily they don't ...yet!!

But if you say 2 weeks and she stays 6 months then she won't be breaking any laws but they will most likely view that in the same way as i outline above, and then you may find , in the worst case scenario, that she will be refused everytime in the future under the general grounds of refusal. Its not that likely , but it IS possible.

In my opinion , as i said in my last posts, for you to succeed you have to forget the idea that you have of her staying here 6 months , which is your real intentions, and stick to the rules, however gaulling that may feel, and go for a shorter more believable period. And make sure she sticks to it and returns when she says she will. Then you can get another one , although you would in reality have to leave it for at least another 6 months to apply and have a good chance .

And as for the work permits comments , what are you thinking here?! God almighty, if anyone from the Embassy could read your above posts she would be blacklisted from the UK forever. You are all but saying you both intend to deceive to get this visa.

If you really want her to have a future in the UK start by doing it right this time , and next time , and eventualy when you are ready you can apply for a fiancee visa and then you will get what you want . Just be a bit more patient.

[Mahout Angrit]

Out of curiosity.. If she was to get a visa and originally said it would be for just a week / 2 week holiday, but ended up staying for longer (within the 6 month visa), would that be a big problem for future applications?

Or if she were to get a work permit whilst over here, and could stay for longer, basically would she be allowed to stay longer than first quoted?

You've had some good advice already, just remember all the UK authorities are concerned about is that she will come back to Thailand and she has enough money (from sponsors if necessary) to use while in UK. Definitely ask for a stay of 3 or 4 weeks only, she will be given 6 months from the DATE THE VISA WAS ISSUED on arrival anyway so legally she's then OK to stay in UK until that expiry date.

From my experience (sponsoring a Thai step daughter) there was no problem to get the second Visa as she's proved to have honoured her word and returned. In fact the second one was got through the post. The age gap should be no problem, the older the lady the better as there's less likely she'll find a reason to run off while in UK.

Think it unlikely she'll be able to get a WP in UK and change her Visa type while in the UK.

Good luck

[GU22]

Think it unlikely she'll be able to get a WP in UK and change her Visa type while in the UK.

Not unlikely; impossible.

BB22, as already said you have to be realistic. You have to present a credible case to the ECO. No one is going to believe that having just started her job her employer is going to give her 6 months off. Would you?

If you and her want a long visit so she can meet your family, strengthen the relationship and see how she adapts to life in the UK, then this is what you must tell the ECO. You have to ensure that the ECO accepts that the relationship is genuine and the reason for the visit is genuine. This depends on how long you've known each other, how often you have visited her and how long on each visit. Provide evidence of how often you have phoned each other, e-mails etc. You must convince the ECO that the relationship is genuine and that she does intend to return to Thailand at the end of the visit to apply for settlement.

If all she wants is a holiday before returning to work, then ask for a reasonable period, as already said to you.

The standard visit visa is for 6 months, and if she says that she wants to stay for 1 month and then changes her mind and stays the full 6 months she would not be an overstayer or be doing anything illegal. However, unless she had a very good reason for doing so, it would cause a huge hole in her credibility and could cause problems for future visit applications. Not so much because she stayed longer than she said, but because she said she had to return for her job.

Many people make the mistake of trying to concoct a story that they think will sound good to the embassy. Don't fall into this trap, decide what it is you want to do, and at all stages of the application process tell the truth.

[Mahout Angrit]

Think it unlikely she'll be able to get a WP in UK and change her Visa type while in the UK.

Not unlikely; impossible.

The standard visit visa is for 6 months, and if she says that she wants to stay for 1 month and then changes her mind and stays the full 6 months she would not be an overstayer or be doing anything illegal. However, unless she had a very good reason for doing so, it would cause a huge hole in her credibility and could cause problems for future visit applications. Not so much because she stayed longer than she said, but because she said she had to return for her job.

My step daughter stayed longer than she requested but she worked in the dive industry which is seasonal so it was quite feasable that she decided to stay longer because she liked it and could stay because it was off season in Thailand and her employer didn't need her for that period. She did return to her job, but was never asked about it on susequent application and as I said previously she then had no problem applying for a visa the following year by post.

However I agree, don't try to trick, the Tourist visa you are applying for states catorgorically that Work is prohibited and no recourse to public funds so forget any idea to work.

The letter from your gf's employer could say that she would be re-employed on return without stating a date or time.

Do not at any time or the gf in the interview suggest you are thinking of staying in the UK if you find you like it there. Stick to the fact that you want to visit your boyfriend, his home and parents and experience his way of life.

It may not apply as you dont say but if your gf has a child (most Thai women of 31 have!) it would be best to declare it as maybe a long time later you want to bring your "child" to the UK to visit but you've previously said you dont have one. If she denies she has then you face the problems later but if she declares a child for this visit she will have to show how the child is being looked after while she's away.

[Baboonboy22]

Hi all, just to reply to some of your concerns. My latest questions were ONLY out of curiosity, as I read some threads from other members regarding staying longer than their intended stay. My girlfriend and I do not want to in any way jeopardise our future together, we love each other too much to risk the chance of something going wrong.

As for the Work Permit question... I only asked this because I have been told that if my applicant were in the UK and later decided they wanted to work or gain some work experience they would require a WP, which can be applied for whilst in the UK.

All of this is insignificant now.. as she will only be coming over for just under 2 weeks, and will return straight to Thailand. She loves her job, and due to it being high season she can go home and earn a lot more money.

She will have a written guarantee from her employer for her job to be held when she returns after the 2 weeks.

We are completely serious about our futures together.. and we don't want to run into any problems with future applications.

(atlastaname - Your reply sounded very concerned, I promise you this was only a question and a thought. My girlfriend and I are not stupid. We realize the consequences of deception, but we are not the kind of people to do that. Yes we originally thought she could stay for the six months, but as this is not possible, we have to accept that. At the end of the day, I would rather her be here for 2weeks legit, than not being able to stay at all. And I thank you greatly for all your comments).

And thank you to all others who have commented on my case. If I could virtually buy you all a drink I would

Kop koon kup

[Mahout Angrit]

All of this is insignificant now.. as she will only be coming over for just under 2 weeks, and will return straight to Thailand. She loves her job, and due to it being high season she can go home and earn a lot more money.

She will have a written guarantee from her employer for her job to be held when she returns after the 2 weeks.

Kop koon kup

Shame after all that after she recovers fom jet lag she'll only get a few freezing days to check out UK. No suitable clothes (unless you have a sister the same size) A bit of a baptism of ice don't you think?

If it were me I get over to Thailand away from the cold myself this time, spend quality time with her (another string to your bow when you fire for the Visa) and get her to come to the UK in the summer when there are leaves on the trees. She will have longer time in the job so better prospect fo Visa and if you're lucky she may be impressed enough to make the move permanant.

With your hopes for you your future, what is a few more months to wait.

Anyway, whatever you do, wish you good luck and enjoy it.

[Baboonboy22]

When I provide a copy of my passport, do I need to get it certified? or is a copy as it is ok?

[vinny]

See also Uk Settlement Visa, sponsors "certified" copy of passport.

[Baboonboy22]

Sorry.. But do I still need to get the copy certified even if it's for a visitor visa?

[markr]

No you do not, just make sure you copy every page!

[Baboonboy22]

Does anybody know of any reportable online Thai travel agencies?

I will be going out there first and then coming back with my girlfriend. I have found a fairly reasonable flight for the time I want to travel, but I can only book flights that depart from the UK. So I want to find the same flight on a Thai travel agent website for her. Thanks

[ling men]

if your booking on Thai air or Emirates, you can book through Ebookers or something like that and choose any flight for her. You will receive E-tickets as well which saves sending them by post.

[Mahout Angrit]

Does anybody know of any reportable online Thai travel agencies?

I will be going out there first and then coming back with my girlfriend. I have found a fairly reasonable flight for the time I want to travel, but I can only book flights that depart from the UK. So I want to find the same flight on a Thai travel agent website for her. Thanks

I was advised by West East travel in Hammersmith that they could issue tickets outward bound on Thailand but it would likely be cheaper to buy them in Thailand. Ask them

http://www.westeasttravel.com/user/default.asp

As guide, but I've never used them, you can look at this site and maybe even contact them

http://www.saveflights.com/country/united-kingdom.html

[Baboonboy22]

When providing the documents for accommodation, what are peoples opinions on the best ones to give? Bearing in mind that my parent's mortgage is paid.

[markr]

A full copy of the title deeds to there house and a letter from them detailing that there is enough spave etc, and that they are happy for this to go ahead.

Mark

[ling men]

I stuck in a couple of bills as well, just to prove I live there. Maybe not required but wont do any harm

[markr]

Also I got my parents to write a letter of invitation stating they were looking forward to meeting her and they were happy for her to stay in our house, I also sent copies of there passports to prove there british citizenship, sounds like overkill but any sort of support for the both of you is good news..... good luck

Mark

[Baboonboy22]

Well.. it's pretty much all done. My girlfriend is sending off the documents in a day or two. Just wandering what the time scale is until we hear something. I've heard so many different things.. ranging from 3 months to 1 day. I highly doubt it would be a same day approval (would be nice though ), just thought I would ask to see roughly how long people had to wait.

Thanks again for everyone's advice.

[ling men]

If the paperwork is ok she might get a short phone interview in a couple of days. She will be asked questions about what you've put in the application (where you live, what age you are, what she will do during the trip etc.). If that goes ok she could get her visa in as little as 5 working days.

Good luck

[markr]

It really depends on how busy they are mate and whether she needs to be interviewed or not.

Once she has taken her docs to the VAC you can then track the application online using there website, my gf's papers were looked at in about three days but it took them over three weeks to interview her, so as i said, really depends on how much they've got on!

I wish you and your gf the very best of luck, hope it goes better than mine, if she does need to have an interview, spend plenty of time discussing it with her and try and build her confidence as much as possible, she'll probably be pretty ###### scared, but it's not that bad!

Mark

[mrbojangles]

It really depends on how busy they are mate and whether she needs to be interviewed or not.

Once she has taken her docs to the VAC you can then track the application online using there website, my gf's papers were looked at in about three days but it took them over three weeks to interview her, so as i said, really depends on how much they've got on!

Yeah it seems to have improved vastly since we did it last year. It took nearly 5 months then But that's all in the past now

Good luck with your application

[atlastaname]

You won't have to wait long. They are trying to decide all visit visas on the paperwork alone now, so in a few days after submission you will know if its been granted or if she is being called to interview. Even the interviews are being done relatively quickly now, only a few weeks wait not a few months like it used to be .

Let us know , good luck

[Baboonboy22]

Just a last minute question, (before it's too late), I don't need to have any of the documentation certified by anyone do I?

I know for some types of visas you do, I just want to make sure that for a visit visa you don't.