UK Tourist Visas

[Eric_Olthwaite 0]

I'm looking to bring my teerak (not a bargirl, if it makes any difference) to Blighty for a couple of weeks. Read some past threads here & in other places, been on the FCO website etc, but I'm still a bit unclear about how to prove I can support her during her stay; surely I'm not expected to send all my bank details, etc? Maybe I should just buy her a one-way air ticket and get her to practice saying "Asylum" ? Any advice very gratefully received.

[mike100 0]

Not easy,

 

Even though my Thai wife lived in the UK for six months on a spouse visa before we relocated to Los, last time she applied for a tourist visa for us to visit my elderly parents we were turned down.

 

Our three properties are in her name, (two leased to me) but the rejection was on her not needing a job and the possible failure to return home to Thailand. Tried to explain the she doesn’t need to work to no avail.

 

It seems to be pot luck. A friend over recently met a BG and applied for a tourist visa on his second trip a few weeks later, and was approved without hesitation. Mind you, he works for the UK government and had a nice letter from them, which possibly had something to do with it.

 

Originally when we got the first visa, they wanted proven details of all my finances, letter from my employer, a photograph of every room in my 4 bedroom house, all her qualifications translated into English, records of telephone bills and emails for six minths, photographic records of us both with her family, and her (then) job references. Even then we just scraped though after being turned down on the first interview.

 

Worth looking at the Thai UK website. They gave me a lot of help and support in getting my TG’s first visa.

 

http://www.thailand-uk.com/

 

Good luck, and go for it.

 

Mike.

[Eneukman 1]

May also be worth looking at and posing the same question on http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/

 

Alan

[cybers1b 8]

Hi,

 

I can not answer your question exactly regarding the situation with UK, but Visa regulations for any EU country are not that different anyway. As far as proove pf support is concerned, you will indeed need tpo provide details on your montly income, the embassy will do a check on your name i terms of creditworthiness. A one wat ticket is the best way to ensure that she does NOT get a visa, she must hold a valid return ticket.

 

It does in fact not matter at all if she is a Bargirl or not. A friend of mine tried to bring his long time girlfriend to Austria for a short holliday. Since he has no property or links to Austria at all anymore, the Visa was denied. This girl holds a Masters Degree and has a good enough paid job but that was not enough to convince the consular section of the Embassy that she surely does not want to stay in Austria illegaly.

 

I have heard that UK regulations are even more strict then Austrian even though I can not personally confirm that.

[Gus 97]

A friend of mine who has property in France took his TG there, said it was a lot easier than UK

[Marky 0]

I brought my TG to England Oct 2003 on a fiancee visa. This was difficult and time consuming. I am not an expert and things change but I believe obtaining tourist visas is exceedingly difficult. Research well before submitting an application as a first refusal may prejudice subsequent attempts. If you want some chance of success the fiancee is probably the way to go, but be warned these things are not easy. Good luck.

[nidnoyham 30]

Your first visa is like your first million- the hardest.

 

The first thing to remember is that it is your GF who is applying. All you do is sponsor her in writing. To do this you must show wage slips for at leas 3 months, up to date bank ballances, showing enough to support her during her stay and reason for her visit.

 

I was lucky last year, because I had photos to show mg GF and daughter together in LOS, this was a good show of family contact, even so they wanted a copy of my daughters Passport to prove I was her father. As it happened Lucy graduated last year, giving the GF a reason for travel. If you have anything like that it would help.

 

Length and type of contact time, ie letters, e-mail, phone bills will be needed.

 

Most important of all- dont tell any lies on application form, dont make up a job- they check, ask her straight if she has applied for a visa anywhere else in the world and been refused- they check. If you put a mates name down as freind in the U.K- they check.

 

I have heard that they are tightening up on Fiance visa, want to know where and when marriage to take place.

 

A freind has just come back after failing to get a tourist visa, he is going for the 6 month Fiance, not sure how it is different. They still want proof of length of contact.

 

Anyway give it a go, but try to remember all paper work to be photocopied 'cos they keep it all on record, thats your/her passport/ bank statements etc.

 

Oh and one last thing, has she got a passport ?

[Eric_Olthwaite 0]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. My teerak got her passport last week and we're definitely going to try for the tourist visa, but I'm still rather confused about exactly how to provide evidence of my financial status; can I submit it directly to the embassy? Apart from the obvious dangers in giving out too many details, I'm worried that she'll think I'm stinking rich (far from it, at least by Western standards) and get unrealistic expectations about the kind of life I can offer her here, if we decide to settle down. Anyway, thanks again for all the help fellas. Much appreciated.

[nidnoyham 30]

Eric, the only way to prove your ability to finance her trip, will be from up to date paperwork. Get your Bank, Building society to confirm your balance in writing.

 

Now, none of this needs to be seen by your lady, keep it all together in an envelope, it is private and need only be seen by the appropriate persons. As I say all paperwork will be kept by the Embassy for their records, so copy any you want back- in private.

 

When filling in the application form, take the path of open honesty, rather than make it look better than it is. For instance, I put my GF's employment as Farmer, earning 1000 Bht a month selling fruit at market, so that is not a stumbling block.

 

Reason for travel gives you a bit of freedom, wedding etc, but just say why you want her in U.k. with you- Good Luck, and get to Embassy early 6-630am