Advice regarding U.K. Visa for Thai National.

[Jackketch]

Hi there, long time listener, first time caller.

 

I'm looking for some advice regarding securing a U.K. Visa for my Thai girlfriend of about a year. 

The end goal would be settlement in the U.K

 

I'm 25 years old and have been living unemployed in Thailand for just over a year now off of just over £12k savings. Previous to moving to Thailand I was working self employed as an Electrician on a sub contractual basis. 

 

My girlfriend is currently a school teacher with a small shop that combined, earn about 40k baht. 

 

 I've currently looked at two visa types but have encountered problems. 

 

Fiancé/ settlement visa: 

I have had no income for the past year and although it would be easy for be to return to work, (and meet the financial requirements).

This would practically require 12 months apart and wouldn't help me in the short term. (As I understand, I require 12 months of accounts to secure this visa as opposed to 6 because I will be self employed).

 

My father is in very good standing financially and can offer to fully sponsor the both of us and allow us to live in his large house until I can prove my own finances but I've been told by a Visa agency that Fiancé visas cannot be sponsored by a 3rd party. 

 

Tourist visa: 

I had the idea I could bring my girlfriend on a 6 month tourist visa (initially sponsored by my father) until I can receive and prove my own finances and then move on to a finance visa. I know I would still need a further 6 months financial proof (being self employed) but at least it would break this time up and I could visit a couple of times.

 

The problem is that my girlfriend would have to leave her job and I've been told she would never satisfy the "reason to return" criteria for a 6 month visa without a letter from her employer. The only time she can receive holiday time from her job is during the school Holidays in April for 1 month. 

Obviously we could just ask for 2 weeks but then stay for 6 months, but I wouldn't want to harm the chance of future attempts at visas.

 

 

Her only asset is some land worth about 1.5 million baht and has no children. 

 

She has been to the U.K. Once before for 2 weeks on a tourist visa a couple years ago with permission from her employer. 

 

 

I was hoping to see if anyone could offer some advice or insight on our situation, it seems as we don't really have any options left available to us.

 

 

 

 

[rasg]

4 hours ago, Jackketch said:

I'm looking for some advice regarding securing a U.K. Visa for my Thai girlfriend of about a year. 

The end goal would be settlement in the U.K

 

I'm 25 years old and have been living unemployed in Thailand for just over a year now off of just over £12k savings. Previous to moving to Thailand I was working self employed as an Electrician on a sub contractual basis. 

 

My girlfriend is currently a school teacher with a small shop that combined, earn about 40k baht. 

 

 I've currently looked at two visa types but have encountered problems. 

 

Fiancé/ settlement visa: 

I have had no income for the past year and although it would be easy for be to return to work, (and meet the financial requirements).

This would practically require 12 months apart and wouldn't help me in the short term. (As I understand, I require 12 months of accounts to secure this visa as opposed to 6 because I will be self employed).

 

My father is in very good standing financially and can offer to fully sponsor the both of us and allow us to live in his large house until I can prove my own finances but I've been told by a Visa agency that Fiancé visas cannot be sponsored by a 3rd party. 

 

Tourist visa: 

I had the idea I could bring my girlfriend on a 6 month tourist visa (initially sponsored by my father) until I can receive and prove my own finances and then move on to a finance visa. I know I would still need a further 6 months financial proof (being self employed) but at least it would break this time up and I could visit a couple of times.

 

The problem is that my girlfriend would have to leave her job and I've been told she would never satisfy the "reason to return" criteria for a 6 month visa without a letter from her employer. The only time she can receive holiday time from her job is during the school Holidays in April for 1 month. 

Obviously we could just ask for 2 weeks but then stay for 6 months, but I wouldn't want to harm the chance of future attempts at visas.

 

 

Her only asset is some land worth about 1.5 million baht and has no children. 

 

She has been to the U.K. Once before for 2 weeks on a tourist visa a couple years ago with permission from her employer. 

 

 

I was hoping to see if anyone could offer some advice or insight on our situation, it seems as we don't really have any options left available to us.

As she has already visited here, presuming she returned in time etc, you shouldn't have any difficulty with her being granted a visit visa.

 

You need to prove that you can fund the trip, prove that you are in a genuine relationship and that she will return home at the end of the trip. You, or your dad, can sponsor her.

 

Requesting a six month holiday is unlikely to be successful imho. Ask for a month and it will most likely be successful. She will be unable to work while she is here but she will be given a six month multi entry visa. If you choose to go that route and she stays longer you will have to explain in the next visa the reason why she didn’t go back to Thailand when she had a job and a business to go back to.

 

Fortunately a Settlement visa doesn't require a reason to return and my wife did exactly that with no problems 18 months ago.

 

I am self employed too and you will need your last set of accounts from your accountant showing a minimum income of £18600. You will need a full set of bank statements for the period, validated by your bank if they are printed from the Internet. You will also need your SA302 from the tax man. For my wife's settlement visa I paid my tax six months earlier than I needed to. For my wife's FLR they actually supplied me with the SA302 even though I hadn't paid the tax for the period. It was handy as I had a visa to pay for along with NHS surcharge...

 

You are looking for a visa that doesn't exist just as we were. A sort of interim visa that is more than six months that is not a marriage visa. We simply went the marriage route as we didn’t want to be apart. I have never heard of a father being able to sponsor his future daughter in law but somebody wiser than me will come along and let you know definitively.

 

Be very careful about visa agencies. Unless they are OISC accredited don't touch them with a bargepole...

 

Edited June 6, 2017 by rasg