EU & UK tourist visa applic. for Thai partner

[RichieKaen]

I'm an Australian national going to Spain for my sons wedding at the end of September with my Thai partner who has been to Australia a no. of times on tourist visas.

We'd also like to visit the UK and possibly one or two other EU countries over a four week period.

From my enquiries it looks like she'll need an EU visa for Spain and a separate one for the UK.

Can anyone please advise a reputable visa agent in Khon Kaen or Bangkok so I might minimise the chances of getting dudded?

Thankyou in advance for any help offered.

[Donutz]

Most applicants can apply for Schengen, UK, Ozzie etc. visas without help of an agent to help organizing the paperwork. If an applicant reads the instructions of the embassy carefully and follows these and presents an organized application you should be just fine applying yourself. The OZ visas certainly will help in showing that there is close to zero risk of overstay etc. The sticky topics on this forum provided some useful hints aswell.

 

But if you insist on an agent for other reasons (such as prefering them taking some of the burden off organizing the application from you) that is fine. I would not have a clue about reputable KK or BKK based agents though. A dead give away wouod be that a good agent tells you that an agent is not really required and a bad one insisting that you neee them because they have some sort of special influence (they dont!).

[RichieKaen]

Thanks Donutz. 

Yes, I'm back to Oz for the next month or so and wanted an agent to make it easier because of my absence. 

If it comes to it though, I'll apply your reasoning to weed out the bad from the good agents :).

[nong38]

The UK visa can be done on line then you pay when you submit and it, make an appointment at the Trendy building, I think its Sukumvit soi 11 or 13 in that area anyway, overhead railway stop with 10 minutes easy walk.

I was thinking of taking the g/f to France last year and would have needed a schengen visa and I was of the opinion that I would have had to apply at the French Embassy, on the strength of that I would apply for a schengen visa at the Spanish Embassy if thats where you are going to be mainly. The UK is not in the schengen area. Hope that helps, dont bother with an agent but you might get some help from some of the more senior experts on tips and advice that may be helpful, good luck and enjoy the trip.

[7by7]

As Spain is your first and main destination in the Schengen area, she should apply to the Spanish embassy.

 

You may have read various horror stories about them; but these stories are all about them not applying the rules regarding the spouses of EU nationals correctly. As you are Australian, you should not encounter such problems.

 

Once issued, your partner can use her Schengen visa to travel to any and all Schengen countries.

 

As said, the UK is not in the Schengen area, so she will need a separate visa for that.

 

She cannot apply for both at the same time, though. She will have to ap0ply for one and once that is processed and she has her passport back apply for the other.

 

The UK advise allowing up to three weeks to process a visit visa application; I think it's about the same for the Spanish. So allow at least 6 weeks.

 

To ensure each application is processed in time she needs to get her skates on.

[RichieKaen]

Thanks for the helpful advice nong38 and 7by7 and yes, I'd overlooked having to apply for one after the other so, as you say, will definitely have to get the old skates on!!