Assistance with UK visitor visa application

[Bilbo52]

Hello, I am posting this question on behalf of a friend who has returned to the UK. His gf has been rejected for UK visitor visa, largely due to length of relationship (he met her here in HH in Nov last year). He is back in April and has asked me to do a search on visa services in HH that may be able to help him with his re-application. Any personal experiences most welcome. In anticipation many thanks.

[Bristolian]

He must show reasons why she would want to return to Thailand I.e. Savings, home, land etc.

[dtaai-maai]

The nature of her employment will be fairly crucial too.

[caller]

In my opinion, he should put on hold any further application until he has returned from his next trip in April. How long is that for? Is it sufficient to deal with the concerns about the 'length of relationship'?

There's heaps of advice on the net about this and a visa agency will charge the earth with no guarantees of success and you'll still need to provide all the evidence, photo's etc, including in respect of the points mentioned above. Also try looking at Thailand-UK.com. Lots of guys there going through the same process at the moment.

[pharvey]

Speaking from having a Chinese GF/Wife, but I'm sure pretty similar ..... The whole issue is proving means of support - i.e. his or her funds, plus employment, and also the the fact that she will return to Thailand - i.e. employment, property etc. (rather than not stay in the UK)

A pain in the @rse, but he needs to provide as much paperwork as he can. His payslips for 3+ months (to act as sponsor), bank balance dating back 3 months or so, a letter from the gf's employer would be a huge benefit - theUK government insisted on this from my wife years ago.

Plain and simple - he needs to prove he will support her during her visit and that she will return to Thailand.

[Bilbo52]

Thanks for the advice, point taken about using a visa consultancy service that will charge a hefty whack. My mate has got money, the reason she got bumped is that the relationship was only about 2 months old when the initial application went in, and at that time he wasn't providing meaningful financial support and the old question about her returning to Thailand reared its ugly head. This girl used to work in a bar, now doesn't and doesn't have a job as my mate is supporting her. She doesn't own any property or land. When he comes in April the relationship will be about 5 months old. Is it worth submitting another application whilst he is here. He will be here for approx 3 weeks?

[caller]

Its already been said, but in the circumstances, a rock solid reason to return is going to be needed.

Unfortunately, its not unknown for Thai ladies to go awol once in the UK and that's the concern that has to be overcome.

[Big Boy]

I have heard that people have more success with a Fiance Visa. It shows more commitment, and the need to return is not necessary. However, I believe this opens a whole new can of worms these days with various tests having to be passed first.

[caller]

I believe this opens a whole new can of worms these days with various tests having to be passed first.

Not least the requirement to get married within the duration of the visa period!

[Big Boy]

Not if she just treats it as a visitor visa. She can stay 6 months without getting married, and then return to Thailand.

[caller]

Not if she just treats it as a visitor visa. She can stay 6 months without getting married, ans then return to Thailand.

But as you suggest in your earlier post, the applicant has to pass an English Language Test to qualify, plus TB testing, yet alone demonstrate that the planned marriage is genuine, which takes us back to the OP's friends problem. Also as one visa application has already been rejected, switching to another so quickly is bound to set alarm bells ringing.

[Big Boy]

I'm not disputing what you are saying - been there, done it. I only mentioned it because I've actually seen several people refused, where in the reasons given, it was suggested that showing of more commitment in shorter term relationships, a fiance visa is looked upon more favourably.

I've also read people reporting the same.

If I was being asked for advice, I'd say do everything the right way, and it is then impossible for them to trip you up. I only mentioned fiance visa because I've heard so many report that they'd had better success with shorter term relationships. Don't forget, some can already read and write Thai, so it's not such a chore.

[HHTel]

My experience is quite old (20 years). My gf (at the time) was refused twice. Hence I married her here and re-applied along with the marriage licence and hundreds of pics. She was refused again by British clerk who was not white (I know that's irrelevant!). I demanded to see the immigration secretary which was refused until I pointeed out that I was a British citizen in a foreign country and I could demand to see who I like! Met with him a couple of days later and he and his secretary interviewed her again. Gave her a visa and apologized as he could not understand why she had been refused.
Sometimes these 'public servants' away from London where they would be in the crowds travelling to work and are now here living in their ivory palace for a couple of years, give themselves more importance than they deserve and show they have the power over somebody's life!

[Big Boy]

Sometimes these 'public servants' away from London where they would be in the crowds travelling to work and are now here living in their ivory palace for a couple of years, give themselves more importance than they deserve and show they have the power over somebody's life!

Is it still those public servants? Does the decision get as far as them? I thought it was all done via an agency these days ............ or does the decision still go them for rubber stamping?

[richard]

HHTel, I agree

I spent a few years working alongside Embassy and ODA (Overseas Development Aid) in Africa and have to say that they are full of their own importance and revel in making a fellow Brit feel inferior. Furthermore the locally sourced staff employed by the embassy eventually acted like gods too. Diplomats don't really give a sh1t. It's about keeping your nose clean (don't say boo to a goose) for your 2 or 3 year stint and hope for promotion on your next move. A 'first secretary' was a personal friend and he was always telling me of the need to tow the party line if one was to progress in the Civil Service.

Many feathers were ruffled when the FO introduced 'fast track' student input into the service. They had not had the Civil Service 'sheep-dip' process applied and therefore used a little more common sense.