Fiance Visa?

[PHILLUK]

Hello everyone, I met my girlfriend in october this year and have to say it was love at first sight! I have visited Thailand several times before as three of my U.K freinds live there so i was not expecting this to happen to me!

She was working as a waitress in a restaurant when i met her, she is also at university and finishes her degree end of feb 2007.

We tried for a visitors visa for christmas but were unsuccesfull, i now know why having found this forum, also the letter from the embassy explained why. I was too cavalier and i did not provide enough documents.

I went to see her instead for a week 15th- 23rd dec, needless to say it was hard to leave!!

We are going to try again in march after she finishes her degree. We have talked about marraige and she would like to live in the U.K but is it to early to apply for a fiance Visa or should we try a visitors Visa again first?

Another concern i have is that at the end of Feb 07 she has no job because she allready has finished her p/t waitress job to concentrate on her studies! She has a good reason to return though because she has a 4 year old daughter!

We obviously want her daughter with us too but now i'm confused which would be the best way forward for us.

Any reply's are welcome, thanks, phill

[vinny]

A fiancé visa is for people intending to marry in the UK within the validity of the visa (six months). If she just wants to visit first and return to Thailand afterwards, then apply for a visitor visa.

[GU22]

The first thing you have to decide is if you want to marry sooner or later. If you both definitely want to marry and settle in the UK asap then there is no reason why you shouldn't apply for a fiance visa, or even marry in Thailand and apply for a spouse visa.

However, if still unsure then a visit visa may be best at this stage.

The main stumbling block for many when applying for a visit visa is the 'Reason to Return.' Unfortunately, as many Thais travel abroad for work leaving their children with relatives, having a daughter is not sufficient reason. However, many people in your position have satisfied this requirement simply on the strength of the relationship.

Basically, if the ECO is satisfied that the relationship, and so the reason for the visit, is genuine then they will also be satisfied that she would not want to jeopardise a future settlement visa application by overstaying or otherwise breaking the conditions of a visit visa.

If you decide that you both definitely do want to marry and settle in the UK then you have two options; a fiance visa or a spouse visa.

Fiance visa.

Allows entry for up to 6 months. During that time the marriage must take place and she then applies for Further Leave to Remain, she cannot work until she has FLR. FLR lasts for 2 years at the end of which she applies for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Current costs.

Visa; £260

FLR; £335 by post, £500 same day in person.

ILR; £335 by post, £500 same day in person.

Spouse visa.

You marry in Thailand and then apply. The visa lasts for 2 years and she can work. At the end of the 2 years she applies for ILR. This cuts out the FLR stage and so saves that fee.

Whether she comes as a fiance or a spouse, her daughter can apply at the same time, or at a later date. The fees will be the same as for her mother. However for her to be granted a settlement visa, as well as you showing that there is adequate financial support and accommodation for her, her mother must produce either a sole custody order issued by an Ampur or a court, or the father's death certificate.

As well as the relevant parts of embassy and VAC websites, the following may be helpful to you:

Chapter 9 – The maintenance and accommodation requirements

CHAPTER 13 - SETTLEMENT : FIANCÉ(E)S, PROPOSED CIVIL PARTNERS, SPOUSES, CIVIL PARTNERS, UNMARRIED AND SAME-SEX PARTNERS

Chapter 14 - Settlement entry for children

Edited December 31, 2006 by GU22

[PHILLUK]

The first thing you have to decide is if you want to marry sooner or later. If you both definitely want to marry and settle in the UK asap then there is no reason why you shouldn't apply for a fiance visa, or even marry in Thailand and apply for a spouse visa.

However, if still unsure then a visit visa may be best at this stage.

The main stumbling block for many when applying for a visit visa is the 'Reason to Return.' Unfortunately, as many Thais travel abroad for work leaving their children with relatives, having a daughter is not sufficient reason. However, many people in your position have satisfied this requirement simply on the strength of the relationship.

Basically, if the ECO is satisfied that the relationship, and so the reason for the visit, is genuine then they will also be satisfied that she would not want to jeopardise a future settlement visa application by overstaying or otherwise breaking the conditions of a visit visa.

If you decide that you both definitely do want to marry and settle in the UK then you have two options; a fiance visa or a spouse visa.

Fiance visa.

Allows entry for up to 6 months. During that time the marriage must take place and she then applies for Further Leave to Remain, she cannot work until she has FLR. FLR lasts for 2 years at the end of which she applies for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Current costs.

Visa; £260

FLR; £335 by post, £500 same day in person.

ILR; £335 by post, £500 same day in person.

Spouse visa.

You marry in Thailand and then apply. The visa lasts for 2 years and she can work. At the end of the 2 years she applies for ILR. This cuts out the FLR stage and so saves that fee.

Whether she comes as a fiance or a spouse, her daughter can apply at the same time, or at a later date. The fees will be the same as for her mother. However for her to be granted a settlement visa, as well as you showing that there is adequate financial support and accommodation for her, her mother must produce either a sole custody order issued by an Ampur or a court, or the father's death certificate.

As well as the relevant parts of embassy and VAC websites, the following may be helpful to you:

Chapter 9 – The maintenance and accommodation requirements

CHAPTER 13 - SETTLEMENT : FIANCÉ(E)S, PROPOSED CIVIL PARTNERS, SPOUSES, CIVIL PARTNERS, UNMARRIED AND SAME-SEX PARTNERS

Chapter 14 - Settlement entry for children

Thanks very much GU22, thats very helpfull, one more question! these company's who gaurantee Visa's are they any good? how do they gaurantee it?

[Mahout Angrit]

Thanks very much GU22, thats very helpfull, one more question! these company's who gaurantee Visa's are they any good? how do they gaurantee it?

They can't guarantee you a successful application, the decision is with the ECO at the embassy. Spend some time browsing this forum to see others experiences with agencies. Don't waste your money, if you do what has been said and you provide what is required you can do it yourself.

[GU22]

I agree with the above.

Any so called agent who claims to be able to 'guarantee' a visa is lying. Avoid.

Everything you need to know can be found out by reading the official sites and asking here; all for free.

[PHILLUK]

Ok guys thanks very much