Uk Visa Refused/ What's the next step

[GreenLDN]

Hi all,

 

I'm looking for some advice as how to proceed after my application to get my girlfriend to the UK on a Visitor visa was refused.

 

For some background, we started chatting on a dating website around November 2016 and we met in January 2017 and spent nearly a month together.

 

We have pictures of the trip and obviously the stamps in my passport to prove I went to Thailand, the only issue being that as we became serious, we both agreed to delete our accounts on the dating website and as such have no evidence of that first contact.

 

I thought i'd covered all the bases on our visa application but to quote the letter of refusal,

 

"I note you have declared savings of £700 but these assets are not confirmed by any supporting documentation and I am not satisfied such a sum is available to you. Based on this, I am not satisfied you have demonstrated that you have economic ties to Thailand and I am not satisfied you will leave the UK at the end of your proposed visit."

 

"Given the above, I am not satisfied your personal financial circumstances demonstrate that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit and that you are genuinely seeking entry as a visitor. Your application is therefore refused under paragraph V4.2 (a) and (c)"

 

 So this was down to money that she had in her bank account at the time of application, that most of was used by the time her meeting at the visa office took place (it took nearly a month to get an appointment)

 

So what is the best way to proceed ? If we just do another application, is the first application taken into consideration?

 

Her account now has around 14,000 bt in credit, should we declare this? Does this really represent economic ties? 

 

Should we maybe use a visa company this time?

 

Any advice would be appreciated 

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dbrenn]

14000 Baht is not much and is hardly a reason to travel back to Thailand. 

 

Are there any other reasons why she must come back to Thailand? Does she have a job here?

[GuiseppeD]

Quote

I note you have declared savings of £700 but these assets are not confirmed by any supporting documentation and I am not satisfied such a sum is available to you.

There's your answer.  

[theoldgit]

Your girlfriend needs to satisfy the ECO that she would return home at the conclusion of her visit, if she has 14,000 THB in her account then yes of course she should declare it, as well as the source of her savings.

 

She should provide evidence of her ties to Thailand, living arrangements, employment and the like, and how she's going to fund her trip.

 

If you're intending to pay for the trip then you need to explain why and provide evidence of affordability.

 

The use of an agent is a personal choice, there isn't really a need as the requirements are the same so using an agent for straightforward isn't really necessary, that said some people like the comfort that they feel using an agent brings. If your girlfriend does use an agent make sure they are properly qualified and not one of the numerous cowboys lurking around making unsustainable promises.

 

You might find this pinned topic helpful UK visit visa basics

[Tony M]

It's difficult to give a complete answer as we have no idea what was said in the original application, and what evidence was submitted. I suspect that there were a few reasons for refusal, but you gave the ECO an easy option in not providing any evidence of the applicant's savings.  If you re-apply, with evidence of the savings, then it is likely that the ECO might try to find other reasons to refuse.  I mean no criticism in saying this, but getting a visa is not as simple as just applying for it.   Areas of concern to the ECO will include some of the following :

 

You haven't known each other very long, so how are you demonstrating that the relationship is genuine ?

 

The applicant has some savings but where did they come from ?

 

Is she employed ?  If so, does she have leave from her job ?

 

If she is not employed, how is she supported ?   If she is supported by you, then you will need to provide evidence of that.

 

If you support her, how was she supported before you met her ? Did she work ? If so, what did she do ?  

 

Does she have any assets (land, property,) or ties ( family, job, etc) that would encourage to return to Thailand ?

 

There is a lot more I could point out, but I'm sure you get the flavour ?

 

As you can see, there is more to it than just submitting an application, but the ECO found a very easy option to refuse.  The refusal will be taken into account in any new application, and you will have to say why no evidence of her savings was submitted.  ECOs will say that each application is treated on its merits, so he may well use any one of the above reasons to make a new refusal out of the application.  He shouldn't, as he is supposed to put all reasons for refusal in the refusal notice, but ECOs often "find" new reasons to refuse that they should have mentioned in the first refusal.  As there is n o right of appeal against the ECO's decision, he can pretty much do what he likes, and keep taking your application fees.

If you have funds, you might want to look at using an agent.  There is no need to do so if you are confident about a new application, but most agents (in Thailand) will offer a "no visa, no fee" service. You will need to pay the Embassy visa fee, but if the application is refused you will not pay any more. If the application is issued, then you also pay whatever balance you have agree with the agency. If you do want to go down the agency route, then I would recommend using an OISC registered agent. That means they are also registered to give immigration advice in the UK. There are only two registered agents in Thailand, and one (Thai Visa Express) sponsors this forum.

[7by7]

3 hours ago, Tony M said:

most agents (in Thailand) will offer a "no visa, no fee" service. You will need to pay the Embassy visa fee, but if the application is refused you will not pay any more.

I would say "reputable agents," Tony. We both know of at least one agent who offers this, but then finds any excuse he can not to honour it!

[Tony M]

6 minutes ago, 7by7 said:

I would say "reputable agents," Tony. We both know of at least one agent who offers this, but then finds any excuse he can not to honour it!

 

Indeed, 7x7.    Hopefully the OP, if he wants to use an agent, will do some checks before signing on the dotted line !

[7by7]

14 hours ago, GreenLDN said:

"I note you have declared savings of £700 but these assets are not confirmed by any supporting documentation and I am not satisfied such a sum is available to you. Based on this, I am not satisfied you have demonstrated that you have economic ties to Thailand and I am not satisfied you will leave the UK at the end of your proposed visit."

 

"Given the above, I am not satisfied your personal financial circumstances demonstrate that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit and that you are genuinely seeking entry as a visitor. Your application is therefore refused under paragraph V4.2 (a) and (c)"

 She needs to show that she has sufficient funds to cover all the costs of her visit; with the appropriate evidence. They will not simply take her word for it.

 

These funds can come from her, you (her sponsor), a third party or any combination of these. Whoever is contributing to the costs needs to provide evidence that they have the funds available, e.g. at least three months bank statements, and if a third party say why they are doing so.

 

She also needs to show that she will, on the balance of probability, return to Thailand, or at least leave the UK, at the end of her visit; as outlined by Tony M above.

3 hours ago, Tony M said:

The applicant has some savings but where did they come from ?

 

Is she employed ?  If so, does she have leave from her job ?

 

If she is not employed, how is she supported ?   If she is supported by you, then you will need to provide evidence of that.

 

If you support her, how was she supported before you met her ? Did she work ? If so, what did she do ?  

 

Does she have any assets (land, property,) or ties ( family, job, etc) that would encourage to return to Thailand ?

 

There is a lot more I could point out, but I'm sure you get the flavour

Of course, again they will not take her word for it and she will need to supply appropriate evidence, such as a letter from her employer confirming a leave of absence and that her job will be kept open for her return.

[rasg]

19 hours ago, GreenLDN said:

Her account now has around 14,000 bt in credit, should we declare this? Does this really represent economic ties? 

 

Should we maybe use a visa company this time?

No it doesn't. When I helped my, now, wife to apply for her first visit visa back in June 2015 she had almost no money basically living from week to week and sending money home to her family. We supplied no bank statements or any other financial info at all apart from details of her salary and the fact that she was paid cash every month. By all means tell them she has some money in the bank but explain that you are financing the trip as her sponsor and the money isn't needed for the trip.

 

The best reason to return imho is a job and a letter from her boss showing that she will have a job to return to when she goes home. Asking for any more than a month is also not a good thing to ask for as an ECO simply won’t believe that a company would allow a longer holiday.

 

There is no real reason to use a visa company. You have already gathered most of the info.

[GreenLDN]

I'd just like to thank everyone for their responses to my initial post here.

 

I appreciate the time taken and all the advice given.

 

I'll be sure to keep you up to date of what happens with this in the future.

 

Thanks again everyone