A friend of mine wants to bring a his Thai girlfriend to the UK for a holiday on a 6 month tourist visa, he has paid a visa agent £750 to sort this out.
He has been told that she will probably only get granted 3 weeks as they are clamping down but would be granted longer on future visits.
My question is does anyone have experience of this or know any more than this, my friend is a director of an engineering company so the ability to support is know issue but their is around a 15 year age gap.
Comments and advice please.
Kendo.
Is Bangkok a place or a nasty injury.......Eric Morcombe.
As always, it will hinge on how long they can prove the relationship has been going on, funds to support her in the UK and most importantly a reason why she would want to return to Thailand - this is the one where most fall over.
Big Boy is absolutely correct it has little to do about the assets/wealth of the UK national but the need to satisfy the UK Govt that the Thai will return to Thailand and not sponge on its welfare system ( millions seem to do so though!).
So this lady could have a job in Thailand and is taking leave, and also has assets in business, house, land etc so that there is a good reason for her not wanting to stay too long, and she will need proper documentary evidence to support her statement.
There is more information required but IMO if she does not have the evidence to satisfy the return question it is a waste of money applying.
Courage is grace under pressure and when circumstances change you change your mind.
He met her last year and has been back in April and had a two week holiday with her and done the meet the parents and family bit. He is also booked to go out again in June for another two weeks.
As already stated he has a good job and well enough money to support her whilst here in the U.K.
He has asked me if he would be better off going for a settlement visa i.e fiance visa, i told him to carry on with the tourist visa route and let her come over and make sure you really are compatible and then decide the next steps for their future.
Kendo.
Is Bangkok a place or a nasty injury.......Eric Morcombe.
BB's advice is correct - good reason to return to Thailand and not overstay in UK need to be proven to their satisfaction.
Proof of employment,bank account, land/vehicle/ business /property ownership in Thailand all help to ensure a successful application. Even then the 6 month visa may have special 'conditions' applied such as a shorter duration or reporting to Embassy upon return.
If the restrictions are followed then subsequent applications should become easier.
Edit : Fiancee and Settlement (marriage) visas are less discretionary provided the other requirements are met as proving return to Thailand are not applicable.
Last edited by chopsticks on Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I've seen the 3 year old child card played, and fail miserably. The UK Embassy ask what sort of woman would leave her 3 year old child behind while going on a 6 month (or shorter period) holiday.
I have also seen Fiance Visa applications more readily accepted, and they will always grant you 6 months. There is no commitment to marry - the girl can return to Thailand at any time within the 6 months. However, she does not have to prove a reason to return.
kendo wrote:In theory could my mate use a fiancee visa for 6 months let the girl go back and then at a later date get another fiancee visa.
Kendo.
Might be pushing it to try and get another one for same applicant unless there was a good reason why the marriage could not be finalised during the first 6 months. Also would be an expensive alternative to the cost of a tourist / visitor visa.
If he's got 750 to waste paying a visa agent, I do hope he's gone to one in the UK who is recognised and registered with the UK Home office and not a cowboy operating in Thailand?
Yes it's a Thai one i wish his nephew a good friend mine would have told him we could of helped him, i as i have done the fiancee visa thing albeit a long time ago and things change! quickly.
Kendo.
Is Bangkok a place or a nasty injury.......Eric Morcombe.
I'm fairly sure that's who a couple of friends of mine have hired previously (against my advice). Both friends were quite cocky because they were 'guaranteed' success.
Friend 1 - the application kept failing, and he had to keep paying for more evidence and re-submission. It virtually bankrupted him, but he did get the visa after many years of trying.
Friend 2 - the application failed. They requested a whole lot more things (including stuff that had already been supplied - standard letter stuff really), together with re-submission and admin costs. He told them where to go, and wrote it off as a bad job.
If it's the same company, they are located in an adjacent office to the visa agency, and claim to be part of the organisation.
