planning and collecting evidence for visa success to uk.

[pumpjack]

hi guys,

i have been with my thai gf just about 3 years now though we broke up for a while , she went to europe briefly with another guy but came back shortly after ( long story ) . anyway we are now together and have spoken about our long term plans and hope to marry one day. i have some evidence of our relationship from 2013-14 on facebook messages and line messages and a few pictures with her mum up country etc. i plan on taking her in and out of thailand to border countries such as laos and vietnam to collect even more evidence. she has spoken about coming to uk or ireland where i also lived in dublin. i have a few questions hoping perhaps i will get a few answers which i need, im not lazy and i have been doing some googling and sending enquiries to various embassies this morning but would just like to get some info from the experts on here or any other guys who have done same.

would she be able to take a holiday to say spain ( canary islands ) or even dominican republic or colombia. these are places i have been and still want to go and i think she would appreciate them more than going to asian countries.

another thing, do thai people even like it here in uk or ireland and why ? i cannot understand why they do , i cant stand the place not just the crappy wet cold weather but the people and the lack of nice scenery, i live in the city by the way so not much to do or see apart from looking at empty wharehouses , shut down factories and grey skies.

i am hearing that entry into uk will be getting even tougher now since also we are out of EU.

what are your thoughts and what steps should i take. i have substantial savings but have just become unemployed ( worked 15 years offshore.

[7by7]

A lot depends on your plans and the type of visa required.

For a visit to the UK see Standard visitor visa. Note that this will currently allow her entry to the RoI as a visitor, provided she enters the UK first, under the Irish short stay visa waiver programme. This is due to end at the end of October 2016; but may be extended.

To live in the UK as your spouse or partner see Apply to join family living permanently in the UK. It doesn't matter that you are not currently living in the UK, if you intend to travel with her to the UK to live then you will be classed as so doing. Pay particular attention to the financial requirement; especially as you do not currently live in the UK.

Entry to the UK may get tougher for other EEA nationals if the UK withdraws from the EEA freedom of movement agreements; but this wont affect non EEA nationals, e.g. Thais, who aren't covered by this; unless they and their British spouse/partner have been living in another EEA state and now wish to return to the UK. But as we don't know what will happen regarding the UK and EEA freedom of movement, it's all speculation anyway.

Don't know much about Irish visas, visit or settlement; suggest you start with the INIS visa information pages.

For travel to Spain, including the Canaries, she will need a Schengen visa. Have a look at the pinned Schengen visa FAQs.

Can't help with The Dominican Republic.

As to whether or not she will like living in the UK or RoI; the only way to find out is to try.

My wife has been living in the UK for 15 years and settled in very well; as have most, if not all, of our Thai friends.

Having read through the information in the above links, feel free to ask any further questions you may have.

Edited July 22, 2016 by 7by7

[pumpjack]

thanks, i am actually in uk living though could at some point go to ireland as i have work there long term but that is in future.

do i apply for shengen for her or does she apply alone herself ?

so a shengen it is to spain. ive read the pinned thread above, does anyone want to add on the shengen what i need to do considering im unemployed but have savings. she is in thailand i am in uk.

thankyou

Edited July 22, 2016 by pumpjack