Gaining a UK Visa for Thai G/F

[Tinker]

This is my first posting, so be gentle with me.
I have a Thai girlfriend and would like her to come and visit me in the UK, maybe for a month or two. Can anyone advise me as to best way of gaining a tourist visa for her. My understanding from a few friends is that it is very difficult to do this, so any hints and tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Wanderlust]

Tinker,
Welcome to the board! Getting a visa for a Thai girlfriend can be done, so don't be too negative; however I must emphasise that it is mostly down to who she is and what her background/employment record is like, and more importantly if she can back that up. The two biggest criteria are whether they believe it is a genuine relationship and that she intends to return to Thailand after the visit. Now I am not making any assumptions about your girl here, but if a bar girl with limited English ability, few or no educational qualifications, no bank account and no proof of work history applies then it is highly likely she will get turned down, although if she is already married to her man then this can change things. Essentially the more paperwork she can provide to back up her application, the better; a sponsor letter from you helps, as does a return ticket, but the emphasis is on the applicant's character, which is often assessed in an interview, so her appearance and demeanour will also affect her chances - turning up in a sexy revealing outfit will not go down well for example. The chances are that she will be interviewed by a well educated Thai so any lack of class (in a Thai sense) will be picked up on. So make sure that both the initial application is properly done and backed up, and your girlfriend is well coached, if necessary. There are companies in Bangkok that will assist in preparing the application to make sure everything is correctly done, but if her face doesn't fit then even the most perfect application in the world won't help. You really have to make an honest assessment of her, considering the things I have mentioned, to know whether it is worth attempting. One other thing worth noting - if she already has a passport and has travelled abroad that can be a good thing, depending on where she has been and why. If she has previously been given a visa by a Western country and obeyed the regulations (i.e. didn't overstay) then that is a very good thing.
Good luck with it, and if you can, let us know what happens as I am sure it will be useful information for others.

[richard]

Tinker

I did it but I needed to be there with her

They needed proof of her home or land ownership
They needed to know about her family and children
They needed to know whether she had money (in her name) here in Thailand
They need to know that you have been together for some time


They then checked my passport and then interrogated her alone with a Thai translator

I paid the money and she got the visa

That was some years ago (5 years)so things may have changed

The biggest hassle was when we got to Heathrow. They interrogated us both and whether she spoke English and if I spoke Thai. When I said a little they retorted 'Well how do you communicate?' I bit my tongue and refrained from saying the obvious

They really need to know that she has ties (no pun intended) that ensure she will return home and not disappear into the nightlife scene in the Uk

Had friends who tried it remotely without being here in Thailand and they failed and no reason is given

Sounds very negative I know but things may have changed

Hopefully other forum members may be able to enlighten you

Good luck and post back to let us all know how it goes

ps Dont know know whether it was relavent but after checking my passport they said 'Used to work for the British goverment in Africa'

Cheers

[caller]

A couple of things from WL's post. Do NOT buy a ticket before a visa is granted. Do NOT use a visa agency. I have pm'd you.

[richard]

Tinker

Wanderlust is right. Appearance counts a lot If she looks demure and limits the make up it helps

Same for us when we apply for visas or visa renewals. Dress up. It impresses them and counts for a lot. AND always be polite!!!

Seen guys thrown out of immigration because they had no shirt on or a sleeveless t shirt on

Thais are very dress conscious and status conscious

At immigration I always wear longs (no Shorts) and clean white shirt and shoes

Sound a bit like sucking up, but it is Thai culture and we MUST abide if we are to live in their country

[caller]

Richard,

Most visas are granted without interviews now and that only happens when the embassy has a query. Unless specifically needed to be seen, should an interview be required, Tinker won't even be allowed into the embassy grounds! Only the applicant is interviewed.

The times they have a changed!

The trick is to get the application right in the first place. New immigration rules have introduced tough penalties for those found cheating, such as a 10 year ban on future applications, hence why I say don't use a Thai based visa agency.

I'm far from being an expert on UK visa rules, but I know a place where expert advice is available and everything needed to get the visa is provided and I'm not talking about a Thai based forum.

[richard]

Thanks caller

As posted my application was 5 years ago and we all know rules change by the day here

[Big Boy]

I agree with what Caller has said - don't buy a ticket beforehand. I believe the advice from the British Embassy actually says the same.

You are starting along an emotional journey - remain positive and don't get downhearted. Tell nothing but the truth, and make sure your girlfriend is singing from the same hymn sheet.

Rehearse the interview the best you can. If its of interest, I could probably dig out some example interview questions.

Personally I've successfully applied for 7 visas, with no refusals. However, I know of many that have failed - again, if you are interested, I can let you have copies of a couple of Embassy refusals. These could be useful in showing you how petty the embassy can be.

Be sure you are applying for the right visa. I've known people refused because they haven't shown enough commitment - reading between the lines they are saying a fiance visa would have been more appropriate. This would give your lady 6 months in the UK, during which time you can both decide what you really want to do.

Whatever you decide, be aware it will not be cheap.

[dtaai-maai]

There are companies in Bangkok that will assist in preparing the application to make sure everything is correctly done

You don't need to pay someone, Wanderlust has just given you a whole bundle of very good advice for free. But I do agree with the poster who said don't use a 'visa consultant' (see above)- it's often a rip-off. And don't buy the ticket in advance, unless:
a. you're not worried about the money
b. you're told that that is the only way she'll get the visa

The two opposite ends of the spectrum are:

a. the successful 30ish business lady from Bangkok who speaks passable English - piece of cake
b. the 19-year-old bar girl you've just fallen for - dream on.

There's a whole grey world between the two, but if you're talking about a couple of weeks visit the best advice I could give anyone is just be yourself and tell the truth.

They interrogated us both and whether she spoke English and if I spoke Thai. When I said a little they retorted 'Well how do you communicate?' I bit my tongue and refrained from saying the obvious

Doesn't seem a particularly unreasonable question to me, and if 'the obvious' was what I think it was, you were probably very wise to keep your mouth shut, Richard. That's often quite a good move.

The visa doesn't guarantee entry to the UK, the holder still needs to satisfy the immigration officer that he/she meets the requirements of the Rules.

[Wanderlust]

UK visa applications in Thailand (and possibly everywhere) are not handled directly by the Embassy any more - there is a completely separate agency that acts as a buffer and (I believe) effectively interviews every applicant to some extent while going through the paperwork submitted. I don't know this for a fact, but I think many applications don't even get seen by Embassy staff now as they are weeded out at this preliminary stage, and I also think this cuts down on the number of Embassy interviews required. At the new offices handling the applications, only the applicant is allowed inside - no sponsors, relatives or anyone else.
The others are right that you shouldn't really buy the air ticket but a reservation with the return date on it might help. As far as the visa agencies go, they are useful if the applicant does not have her boyfriend/sponsor present in Thailand while she is putting the application together but obviously there are good and bad ones. The application form and required accompanying paperwork is a minefield for many applicants attempting it alone, particularly if their English is not that good.

[lomuamart]

It may have changed over the past 20 months or so, but I thought that visas were still handled by The Embassy. The outsourcing of the application proceedure is done at a separate office and when I was there they were simply making sure that the form was correctly filled in - we'd made a couple of small errors, such as asking for a visit visa when it should have been a family visit and not putting in how much money was available to my wife whilst in the UK (husband's paying for everything!!). We just slapped in 500 pounds.
The applications then go off to The Embassy for clearance or otherwise. Any refusal should be accompanied by a written reason(s) why from an Entry Clearance Officer. The reason for the outsourcing was that The Embassy wasn't big enough to cope with all the people applying.
Again, a new one to me is that a sponsor isn't allowed into the clearance centre. They hadn't been allowed into The Embassy for some while before the move because of the overcrowding.
As I say, it was a while ago that we applied. Although my wife got her visa within three days, our circumstances were different to the OP's.

[Wanderlust]

lomu,
I was there last July for my wife's application, along with our (then) 2 month old baby, and they wouldn't even let the baby in! As I said, they do a sort of surreptitious interview while checking the papers over, from what she told me, and I suspect that a lot of no hoper applications don't even get to the Embassy; it's not a criticism and I actually think it is quite sensible really if that is what they do. I also think it is likely that the staff that check the paperwork would add their own notes to the application regarding appearance, behaviour etc, particularly if it was very inappropriate. I really just wanted to stress that it is important to get every aspect of the process as right as possible, even if it may be ultimately unnecessary.

[richard]

Hi Guys

Useful input

My posting was based on experiences several years ago

I know changes must have happened as the Governments of the world are trying to cut down staff and costs in embassies

A friend of mine who has a business in BK, specialises in Visa and legal issues

He applied for a piece of the cake but when analysing the data found he did not have the staff to handle the volume

Plenty of agents but it boils down to picking right one

Still think you need to go armed to the teeth with piles of documentation for every eventuality and of course be well dressed and polite

ps I can understand the reason for dependents having to stay away. The place used to be heaving with bodies who were only hangers on and superfluous to any enquiry or application

pps Also got your point about immigration on entry. Frustrated at the time thinking 'well has been cleared by the embassy' but I guess a double take is not unreasonable with todays circumstances

[Tinker]

Hi Guys
Thanks for all the great advice. On the downside my girlfriend was a B/G for about 9 months, which doessn't helps matters. She is aged 30 and does have a child aged 2, which may help as this would show the commitment for her to go back to Thailand.
I suppose I need to make a decision as to whether I mention the fact to immigration that she was a B/G or try to hide it.
I think the other thing I should mention is that my G/F is now living back in her native village with her family and I am supporting her via monthly payments, therefore she is currently not working. Not sure how this would be viewed by immigration!
I have met her family and can prove this with photo's and hotel reservations locally, again this may or may not be of some help.
I am due to visit her again in June, so I think we will have plenty of things to discuss.
Thank's again to all of you, I have found all of the "Do's and Don'ts" very helpful.

[lomuamart]

Thanks for that, WL. Worth bearing in mind if there's a next time.
To come back to the OP, there's a lot of useful info already. As has been stated, the three main areas of concern to The Embassy are:
Is the relationship genuine? Get as much evidence as possible. Letters between you, copies of emails, copies of telephone calls etc. The longer you can show you've been together, the better. Also copies of your visas to Thailand to see her (or entry stamps will assist).
Will she be be a burden on the state? Detailed financial evidence from the two of you will be necessary. If you're sponsoring her, then The Embassy like to see 6 months bank statements and salary/wages slips from you. You'll also have to satisfy them that she's got somewhere to stay. Photos of the place. copy of lease, title deeds will help.
Will she return to Thailand? I would reckon that this is the most usual reason given by The Embassy for a refusal and it's really nebulous. Naturally, if the g/f's got employment, a letter from her work saying that she's got her job when she gets back is more than useful. Evidence of her savings and any property she owns will also be helpful. There aren't any set rules here.
I had an old g/f turned down three times years ago. Once in the form of a reply from the Foreign Office to my MP. Things that I thought were important at the time probably worked against her - ie she had 3 children, "so of course she's going to come back". Not so. Embassy looked at it that there might be another 3 mouths to feed in the UK.
I'd reiterate what others have said. Be honest. I tell you, ECOs are past masters at catching people out and if there's any doubt about anything the chances are that she'll be refused.
I don't mean to be negative, just be prepared. It's your and your g/f's responsibility to have everything "in order" for the ECO to make a decision.
Also take a look at The British Embassy's website. There's some useful advice on that.
Good luck.