Settlement Visa Special Circumstances For Deaf Person

[kendo]

We have just met this nice couple in the supermarket, now the Thai girl got chatting away to my wife and her fella told me his girlfriend was here on a holiday visa and is going back in October.

He told me that his girlfriend loves the UK and doesn't want to go back. They are thinking about marriage and a settlement visa but this could be problematic because his girlfriend is almost deaf and uses lip reading to help with her communication.

When back in thailand they are going to get advise from a visa agent, they have already spoken to one dodgy one that told them for 5,000 baht he can get a pass certificate for the oral spoken test.
I advised him under no circumstances to go down that route because if you get caught out you will have massive problems in the future with visa applications.

I made a point of telling him that it would be illegal to discriminate against someone with a disability and to maybe seek legal advise before making any visa applications.

Advise please is their a policy for visa applications for people with disabilities, this girl can speak limited English and is hard of hearing and not completely deaf will they make any special circumstances for a visa applicant on a individual case by case basis.

I have exchanged phone numbers with this guy and told him i would ask the question on here, i also told him to join the forum as their is a visa expert on here.

Kendo.

[dtaai-maai]

I think his best bet is to go to the Citizens Advice Bureau and ask there.

[caller]

I think his best bet is to go to the Citizens Advice Bureau and ask there.

Unfortunately, due to the cuts, these are few and far between now!

I think his best bet would be to contact an IOSC immigration advisor here in the UK. This offers protection against all the wide boys in Thailand, all of whom are outside of the jurisdiction of the IOSC. A UK based advisor can provide all the assistance needed for a successful visa application from the UK.

List here:

http://oisc.homeoffice.gov.uk/how_to_fi ... n_adviser/

But they will still have to qualify on the basics for a SV - married or living together as man and wife for two years.

[kendo]

Yeah and they also now charge if you have the means to pay.

Kendo.

[Big Boy]

Why not go to Immigration? You must have one in a sea port like Southampton.

That's what I did when planning to take Mrs BB to the UK.

[STEVE G]

Is this the "Knowledge of language and life in the UK" requirement to remain in the UK?
If so, this Government publication has some details on page 13 covering deaf applicants;

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... 5.0EXT.pdf

Other physical conditions may prevent an applicant from meeting the requirement. You must consider how the condition would stop the applicant from taking the Life in the UK test or learning English. Each application must be considered on its own merits. For example, discretion may be appropriate where an applicant:
 is deaf
 is a person without speech, or
 has a speech impediment which limits their ability to communicate in the relevant language

[caller]

Kendo, I have added info to my post above.

[kendo]

Good responses here I think the lady would be exempt but I wonder if she would have to do a hearing test on top of the normal medical to prove she is hard of hearing.

Kendo.

[spc]

Hello. My Thai fiancé is 90% deaf and failed her A1 English test (by 2 points). I have been told that the need for the English test is going to be scrapped. an anyone confirm that this is true?

[caller]

I doubt very much that the need for an English test is going to be scrapped. It's a lynchpin of Govt. immigration policy, that those coming to settle in the UK must have the basics of the language as a very minimum. It won't change if a new Govt. is elected next year.

Who told you they are going to be scrapped?

[caller]

Out of curiosity, does she use a hearing aid?

[spc]

A visa service office in Thailand. Owned by an English guy

[pharvey]

Certainly not scrapped as yet and my understanding is it's not going to be. The Long Haired General is going through the visa process for the UK and the English test is certainly a must have at the moment.

[caller]

A visa service office in Thailand. Owned by an English guy

You'd be better off getting the advice of a registered and regulated immigration advisor in the UK. The guy in Thailand is telling you what you want to hear. If he's based in Pattaya, avoid.

See this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=27795
[Mod Edit] Threads merged.

[Khundon1975]

This is on the Chiang Mai British consulate site, so maybe they have staff available in BKK who can help.

"Access for deaf or hard of hearing visitors

Hearing loops are not installed.
Minicom and textphones are not installed.
Staff do not use sign language, but Thai sign language interpreters can be arranged.
Hearing dogs are welcome.

Contact us

If you need to visit us or use our services and feel that they may be inaccessible to you, please contact our staff at Tel: +66 2305 8333, address your query and our staff will facilitate access for you".

Maybe, try phoning the British embassy in BKK and ask for their advice. As this problem must have come up before.

Good luck.