Thai Wife's UK Visa Application Refused.

[HHTel]

I find it incredible that the power of refusal lies with some 'pen pusher' who, without evidence, can decide whether to allow someone to visit or not.

I have a friend who has received her second refusal to visit the UK. The reason for the first refusal was given as "We're not convinced that your sponsor has sufficient funds to support you".

I went through her 2nd application.
She submitted deeds to her house (valued at 4 mill) and fully paid for, documents showing ownership of her car along with a couple of motorbikes, bank statements. Proof of family ties etc etc.
She's a degree holder (Bsc) as well as several diplomas. Her reason for the visit was that she was married to a Brit for 17 years before he died and she never got the opportunity to visit his home country. Her 2 teenage sons can get a British passport (father being English).
She works freelance for schools and government offices and submitted copies of invoices, backed up by her bank statements. I could see no reason why her application would be refused.

It was refused for the 2nd time. The reason given was "She doesn't have permanent employment so we don't believe she has enough reason to return to Thailand at the end of her visit". She was applying for a 2 week visit.

She's always worked freelance and makes more than she would with a 'permanent job'.
So now she's 'forced' into taking a job with a 'boss' for much less money and applying again in a year or so. She has ample funds to support herself irrespective of her sponsor's finances.

If she arrived on England's shores in a rubber dinghy, she would be put up in a hotel for free. It's ludicrous. Whereas Trump openly closes the US borders, it seems that the UK are closing their borders by stealth. Applications are viewed firstly to find a reason for refusal rather than a reason to approve.
Regardless of supporting evidence, the reason to refuse comes down to "We don't believe her!".

[Dannie Boy]

I think between your post HHtel and Losts, it highlights the total chaos within UK immigration - clearly genuine visa applications get turned down and yet the country is awash with illegals and some dubious immigrants. I’m by no means a racist, but as Lost points out, in many areas of London and other big conurbations, indigenous white Brits are in the minority and it’s getting worse year on year. I normally visit the UK every year, but even between one years and the next, I’ve noticed the demographics changing.

[Green Nomad]

Update: At last success, a few days ago my wife received her passport back from VFS with a nice 180 day multi visa in it. In hindsight should have asked for a 1 year, but was unaware she was going to get given a multi. However, we will hopefully be living in Thailand come March and may not need a trip to UK. We would like a longer visit though at some point once I am retired to include some time in Scotland but that will be applied for under quite different circumstances to this one. We had to really lay it on thick with the paperwork, the key for us here was a letter from my company confirming my wife is a resident with me in Saudi. Good luck to anyone else now going through the application process.

[Big Boy]

Good news. From my experience, after the first visa, subsequent visa are a formality.

[Green Nomad]

: Thanks BB

[pharvey]

Good news indeed and as BB says, getting the 1st Visa certainly puts you in a good position . I would take advantage of it though and not leave it until you have a longer Visa at a later date - not utilising an approved Multi-Entry Visa may be frowned upon.....