Oz Tourist Visa For Wife

[Smithson]

My wife is applying for a tourist visa to Australia. She visited Australia with me 2yrs ago, we were granted the visa on the second attempt after being denied on the first.

Here's her situation:

- 25 yrs old, Recently married, although we've been together for 6-7 years

- Self employed, with 6 employees all making social security payments.

- Plenty of money going into her account over the past 2 years, although not much has been saved as it's all going back into the business.

I've lived here for over 10 years myself and currently hold a work permit.

Most of all we'd like to know what supporting documents are needed and how does one go about getting them 'certified' over here.

Thanks!

Edited November 29, 2006 by Smithson

[gburns57au]

My wife is applying for a tourist visa to Australia. She visited Australia with me 2yrs ago, we were granted the visa on the second attempt after being denied on the first.

Here's her situation:

- 25 yrs old, Recently married, although we've been together for 6-7 years

- Self employed, with 6 employees all making social security payments.

- Plenty of money going into her account over the past 2 years, although not much has been saved as it's all going back into the business.

I've lived here for over 10 years myself and currently hold a work permit.

Most of all we'd like to know what supporting documents are needed and how does one go about getting them 'certified' over here.

Thanks!

For a tourist visa you dont really need a lot of documentation....

Photos of you and her together in Thailand and Oz...Letters that you have written each other...phone records...A stat dec or at least a letter from you outlining your level of support and guarantee that she will abide by the conditions of her visa if granted.

You should only need to certify copies of documents if you intend to apply for a spouse visa at a later date....But if you include copies of your passport, work permit etc...then it may pay to certify them...someone at your local Amphur office should be able to assist with certification.

The important issue you have to address is how she is to be supported financially and generally while she is in Oz....If you are sponsoring her you will need to show proof of income...if she is applying on her own accord then she will need to show savings.

Another issue that may arise is...if you are married already why not make a Spouse visa application ???....you may need to include a covering letter or a stat dec explaning why you are only applying for a tourist visa.

[Mighty Mouse]

Whatever documents you used for your first successful tourist visa, submit similar documents this time.

You would now have proof of marriage, she would have a business license, she has a bank account showing a pattern of savings and spending, you have a work permit for Thailand...use these to your advantage.

A covering letter/s stating that you both need to return to Thailand for business reasons, on a specific date, will support the application and serve to assure the authorities that you won't overstay the visa.

If Thailand is now your main place of abode, a spouse visa application may be a waste of time and money, unless of course you intend to move to Oz permanently in the near future.

You shouldn't need to get any documents certified for a tourist visa.

[Smithson]

My wife is applying for a tourist visa to Australia. She visited Australia with me 2yrs ago, we were granted the visa on the second attempt after being denied on the first.

Here's her situation:

- 25 yrs old, Recently married, although we've been together for 6-7 years

- Self employed, with 6 employees all making social security payments.

- Plenty of money going into her account over the past 2 years, although not much has been saved as it's all going back into the business.

I've lived here for over 10 years myself and currently hold a work permit.

Most of all we'd like to know what supporting documents are needed and how does one go about getting them 'certified' over here.

Thanks!

For a tourist visa you dont really need a lot of documentation....

Photos of you and her together in Thailand and Oz...Letters that you have written each other...phone records...A stat dec or at least a letter from you outlining your level of support and guarantee that she will abide by the conditions of her visa if granted.

You should only need to certify copies of documents if you intend to apply for a spouse visa at a later date....But if you include copies of your passport, work permit etc...then it may pay to certify them...someone at your local Amphur office should be able to assist with certification.

The important issue you have to address is how she is to be supported financially and generally while she is in Oz....If you are sponsoring her you will need to show proof of income...if she is applying on her own accord then she will need to show savings.

Another issue that may arise is...if you are married already why not make a Spouse visa application ???....you may need to include a covering letter or a stat dec explaning why you are only applying for a tourist visa.

When we applied the first time we included photos of us together over the years, photos of her with my parents when the visited and a cover letter from me. There were no phone records or letters to each other as we've always been together here. There were bank records showing a good history of savings and a copy of her business registration (although no tax had been paid). Surprising she was denied the first time, which is why I'm going trying to get all the info this time.

Things should be OK now, I just wanted to check first.

[Mighty Mouse]

What was the official reason given for the refusal of your first t/v?

[Niloc]

We are in a similar situation, married three years, no kids.

My wife is a very straight lady, she has two grown up children and one grandchild.Her brother is the local headman and the family owns property all over including the 2 million baht house we bought last year.

Will I need to 'sponsor' her? She is my wife after all, I am responsible for her. We don't have any photos of us together (except wedding photos), I don't have a mobile phone and why would I ring her anyway? We live together in the same house.

She has a bankbook which shows 20K a month turnover for the last two years, she probably has savings too but I have never asked her.

I am going to Bangkok early in the new year as I need a new passport, could I organise her visa there on my own or would she need to be with me?

We are looking at about two months next March in OZ

Thanks for any information,

Colin in Pai

[Smithson]

What was the official reason given for the refusal of your first t/v?

The official reason given was that she didn't have anything to gaurantee she would come back. Apparently the business registration didn't count because she hadn't paid tax yet. Because we weren't married I couldn't sponsor her. Her savings record was very good, but we used the bank book and not a certified copy from the bank.

The woman who took the application of us was extremely rude, basically ignoring us and not really answering questions properly. If she had of answered the questions we would have known to get the proper bank statements.. I filed a complaint at the embassy and the next 2 times we went in she wasn't working behind the counter.

When we applied the 2nd time the woman was very helpful and we got the visa no problems, the only difference was the bank statement and a letter from my mother to say she'd be staying with us.

I think we were just unlucky the first time.

[gburns57au]

We are in a similar situation, married three years, no kids.

My wife is a very straight lady, she has two grown up children and one grandchild.Her brother is the local headman and the family owns property all over including the 2 million baht house we bought last year.

Will I need to 'sponsor' her? She is my wife after all, I am responsible for her. We don't have any photos of us together (except wedding photos), I don't have a mobile phone and why would I ring her anyway? We live together in the same house.

She has a bankbook which shows 20K a month turnover for the last two years, she probably has savings too but I have never asked her.

I am going to Bangkok early in the new year as I need a new passport, could I organise her visa there on my own or would she need to be with me?

We are looking at about two months next March in OZ

Thanks for any information,

Colin in Pai

You will need to sponsor her if she has no savings....The embassy need to know that she will have sufficient support before they will issue a visa.

You need to show that you have known the applicant for a reasonable period of time, so you need to supply documents to show that....the problem with being married is, as I said before, They may want to know why you are not applying for a spouse visa, so address this in the application.

She will need to go in to lodge the application, after all she is the applicant. They may want to ask her something in regard to the application when it is lodged to ensure the application is filled out correctly.

[Mighty Mouse]

Thanks Smithson.

It is always important, with a tourist visa application, to provide a valid reason for the applicant to return to Thailand..

It is also important to provide evidence that the applicant has sufficient funds, or the sponsor has sufficient funds, to financially support the applicant during their stay in Australia.

Judging by the information you have supplied in this thread, you shouldn't have any problems next time.

It's an interesting point that Graham has raised about being asked why they are applying for a tourist visa rather than a spouse visa.

I would tell them to mind their own @#$#@% business. It's the embassy's job to process the application before them, not to question a Thailand based applicant about their choice of application.

Your covering letter must give a valid reason for returning to Thailand and you must be able to show that sufficient funds are available for the trip.

Niloc/Colin in reverse...I like that,

Married for three years...no need to prove relationship for a tourist visa.

If she has sufficient money in the bank to support herself for the duration of her stay, no need for you to sponsor her, however, if you intend to travel with her, it may be advisable to provide a supporting covering letter with her application, stating that you will assist financially if required.

Again, provide a valid reason for her to return to Thailand.

[Niloc]

Thanks MM. if you had needed to provide as may names/passwords for computer systems as I have over the years, you would use every combination you could think of with some guarantee of remembering it!!

I believe I can make application for a visa in Chiang Mai so I will try that first before buying an extra flight ticket to BKK, My wife doesn't want to go to Bangkok and I don't blame her, I am only going because my passport is so full there is nowhere to put a re-entry stamp!

I will compose a covering letter which will have them in tears, photocopy my three Thai bankbooks and my debit card and get the missus to write a letter saying how much she will miss her grand-daughter.

Looking forward to the Greek cake shops in Lonsdale St and a decent Vietnamese soup followed by a souvlaki... Melbourne - eating capital of Australia.

Thanks everyone...

Colin

[thommo46]

My wife is applying for a tourist visa to Australia. She visited Australia with me 2yrs ago, we were granted the visa on the second attempt after being denied on the first.

Here's her situation:

- 25 yrs old, Recently married, although we've been together for 6-7 years

- Self employed, with 6 employees all making social security payments.

- Plenty of money going into her account over the past 2 years, although not much has been saved as it's all going back into the business.

I've lived here for over 10 years myself and currently hold a work permit.

Most of all we'd like to know what supporting documents are needed and how does one go about getting them 'certified' over here.

Thanks!

Hi,my friend is in Bangkok at the moment and is heading home on the 3rd dec.He is an immigration agent and has a very good success rate.His web site is www.auslinkmigration.com As I wish to do the same in the near future,from some of the stories he has heard it is recommended to have all bases covered for things to work in your favour as this task could turn out to be a MAMMOTH journey.

thommo

[Mighty Mouse]

Looking forward to the Greek cake shops in Lonsdale St and a decent Vietnamese soup followed by a souvlaki... Melbourne - eating capital of Australia.

MELBOURNE !!!!!

If I knew you were heading to Melbourne I wouldn't have offered you advise. Just kidding.

Don't forget to buy some lamingtons and stock up on Vegemite.

[gburns57au]

It's an interesting point that Graham has raised about being asked why they are applying for a tourist visa rather than a spouse visa.

I would tell them to mind their own @#$#@% business. It's the embassy's job to process the application before them, not to question a Thailand based applicant about their choice of application.

Good way to be treated with disdain and possibly increase rejection risk...

By covering it in your letter, you answer the question before it is asked...

Let us all remember that when dealing with the Embassy and its agencies that it pays to be polite and respectful at all times.

[Mighty Mouse]

There aren't any interviews for tourist visas.

If the VFS receiving officer is happy with the application, it is processed accordingly.

I can't believe that an Australian official would telephone the applicant to ask such a question.

If the embassy rejected a tourist visa application on the grounds that the applicant is married, living in Thailand and therefore should have applied for a spouse visa just to visit Australia, their decision would be appealed immediately.

What grounds are there for such a decision? None that I can think of.

[Niloc]

MM, you have me worried now, I thought a spouse visa was for when you wanted to take your wife to live with you in Australia. I only want to take my wife for a visit so she can see where her falang husband comes from and attend a wedding. We are only going for a month then it is back home to beautiful Pai.

Should I apply for a spouse visa or is a tourist visa the right one?

[Mighty Mouse]

You apply for a tourist visa.

It is up to you if you want to follow Grahams suggestion.

I have never heard of anyone having to explain why they did not apply for a spouse visa when all they want to do is tour Australia before returning home to Thailand.

[TizMe]

My missus was rejected on her first application, primarily because she had never registered her business.

Since registering and paying her taxes she no longer has any problems. I believe that the first tourist visa is always the most difficult to get. Subsequent applications should be easier as long as there was no overstay on the first visit.

Just make sure that all questions on the application are answered and all supporting documentation is provided.

[Smithson]

A word about sponsorship.

To sponsor someone to Australia you need to be married or blood relative. You also need to put up a bond of around AU$5000 - $15,000. Someone at the embassy told me that the government is likely to for the full $15,000, which you get back when the person returns. I think if they overstay a single day you forfeit the lot.

Who is the person who actually decides to approve the application? Is it the person behind the counter who accepts the application?

When we applied the first time the officer was really horrible, basically ignoring us and not making eye contact. The second time the woman was really nice, we explained that my wife had been declined the first time and I asked for an interview if there were any questions, because I spoke Thai she said there would be no need for an interview, more or less saying the application would be approved.

I had a friend who applied for his GF, she didn't even go to the embassy, only had B7k in the bank, he didn't dress well, used a BS letter of employment and was granted the visa.

So it seems we were quite unlucky.

[gburns57au]

There aren't any interviews for tourist visas.

If the VFS receiving officer is happy with the application, it is processed accordingly.

I can't believe that an Australian official would telephone the applicant to ask such a question.

If the embassy rejected a tourist visa application on the grounds that the applicant is married, living in Thailand and therefore should have applied for a spouse visa just to visit Australia, their decision would be appealed immediately.

What grounds are there for such a decision? None that I can think of.

It is now common for the embassy to call the applicant prior to a tourist visa being issued, Who is to say that this issue would not brought up and if it had a bearing on the result...that is why I advised him to cover the issue in the application.

The phone calls are made by the embassy's Thai staff and not an Aussie official.

[gburns57au]

A word about sponsorship.

To sponsor someone to Australia you need to be married or blood relative. You also need to put up a bond of around AU$5000 - $15,000. Someone at the embassy told me that the government is likely to for the full $15,000, which you get back when the person returns. I think if they overstay a single day you forfeit the lot.

Who is the person who actually decides to approve the application? Is it the person behind the counter who accepts the application?

When we applied the first time the officer was really horrible, basically ignoring us and not making eye contact. The second time the woman was really nice, we explained that my wife had been declined the first time and I asked for an interview if there were any questions, because I spoke Thai she said there would be no need for an interview, more or less saying the application would be approved.

I had a friend who applied for his GF, she didn't even go to the embassy, only had B7k in the bank, he didn't dress well, used a BS letter of employment and was granted the visa.

So it seems we were quite unlucky.

You seem to be mixing a few things up.

I believe that you are talking about a Family visa...where someone who has already migrated here sponsors another relative to come here....

This bond does not apply to spouse/fiance/interdependancy visas...the only time any financial guarantee is required for these visas is if the sponsor has insufficient income to support the applicant. Immigration may then ask for an Assurance of Support to be submitted....This is done through Centrelink and anyone can give the assurance....No money is given upfront.

A tourist visa requires that the applicant has sufficient funds to support themselves or a sponsor with a reasonanble income to support the applicant.

Your speaking Thai would have no bearing on interviews...there is usually no interview for a tourist visa, however the applicant may be questioned on the phone in regards to the application. For a migration visa it is usually the normal procedure for the applicant to attend the embassy for an interview. The sponsor may be called to the embassy or to Immigration in Oz if further information is required from them.

[Niloc]

I have downloaded and printed the visa application form 48R and part F Employment status does not offer and options for my wife. Does she tick 'Unemployed' or does she put something like 'Home Duties' or 'Sex Slave' in the 'Other' category ?

[Mighty Mouse]

You stated in an earlier post that your wife's family owns a lot of property. If your wife gets rental income from this property, she could be self-employed or she could classify herself as a property investor/landlord etc.

If not, unemployed or home duties would answer the question.

You can always elaborate on her financial position with an explanation in the covering letter.