How to Get a UK Visitor's Visa for your Thai Loved-one.
Posted by
patrick
Applying for and obtaining a UK visitor's visa for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is very stressful, especially the first time. It is also harder for some people to get in than others. Unfortunately, here as elsewhere, money counts and people from poorer countries have to provide evidence that they will not be a burden on the state. This applies to Thais It may appear that the embassy staff are against you at times. This is not true, they are doing their jobs: they are looking out for the interests of the British people and it would benefit you not to get personal with them.
Please remember that if you are successful in obtaining a UK visitor's visa in Bangkok, it is valid for multiple entries into the UK over a period of six months. However, the embassy is loathe to give a UK visitor's visa to a Thai the first time round as they know that not many Thais could afford to stay there that long without working. So you will be asked to state when you will arrive and when you will leave. You have to sign this note and it will be stapled into your passport. You must aide by this self-inflicted limitation, although your visa is sill nominally good for six months.
Your UK visitor's visa strenuously forbids you from claiming any money from the state, free help from the hospitals or doctors or working. It is not a work-permit! Many Thais are refused a UK visitor's visa because they dither when asked why they want to visit the UK. You must be clear about why you want to go there. If it's to visit a friend or lover, say so. It really is not a problem. But you must be prepared to prove your relationship. It must have lasted at least 6 months although this is not really 'official government policy'.
So, how do we provide proof of a 'continuous long-standing relationship'? well, it's not that hard if it is true. Keep photos, mementos, hotel bills, bus tickets, ATM receipts, phone cards, letters and such like. Don't exaggerate how long you have known each other besides the stamps in his passport there are other ways of becoming suspicious too. Do you know the names of any of his family? Do you know what he does for a living or where he lives? Is his father still alive? Get the picture? You must prove to a doubting Thomas that you are having a relationship (of over six months to be safe). They have seen many Thais try it on over the years.
After collecting the proof, it is time to get the Uk visitor's visa application form (VAF) from the embassy in Wireless Road, Bangkok or its website (Google it). Their website is very useful actually; especially for detailing what you should enclose and how much the fee is (about 75 these days). don't forget the sponsor's letter.
So the sponsor is very important here. It is really up to your sponsor whether you get your first UK visitor's visa at the first attempt. He has to guarantee that he will take care of you and provide you with somewhere to stay and the embassy staff will have to be convinced that he is up the job.
Your sponsor will have to prove that he has sufficient funds to support you. This can be a letter from his employer or a letter from his bank. If he has offered you accomodation, he must prove that he has somewhere for you to stay. A lease, letter from the mortgage provider or from the council will suffice. Marriage or divorce does not seem to be an issue for rejection, but some seemingly weird things are:
"the applicant for a UK visitor's visa has never been abroad before " this is a very simple matter to remedy, just go to Burma, Cambodia or Laos for a short trip.
"the Thai person applying for this UK visitor's visa does not have strong socio-economic ties to her country of origin" They don't believe that you have enough to return to Thailand for. A letter from your boss, doctor, solicitor or village elder, your house book; proof of children or living parents and proof of property are all very useful.
Take your time over the application - if you get it wrong, it'll cost you at least six weeks before you can reapply. Consider why you really want to go to Britain. They will ask you and you don't want it to come as a surprise. The answer may seem obvious to you now, but in the embassy you may not feel comfortable giving it. Above all, behave like a lawyer and provide irrefutable evidence for everything you say.
Make sure you know the answers to questions about your sponsor: about his family, town and work. You will be alone in the embassy, but don't let that make you nervous. Some questions will be in English, but if you get stuck it's not a problem, just speak Thai.
Tip: ask for a longer stay than you need because the visa runs from the day it's granted and you will have to book flights. You could be delayed coming back too. If you have to cancel you UK visitor's visa, don't arrive back on a Friday unless you want a few nights in Bangkok.
The best advice you'll ever get is: don't lie in the embassy. The staff are trained to spot liars and you will be refused a UK visitor's visa point blank.
Please remember that if you are successful in obtaining a UK visitor's visa in Bangkok, it is valid for multiple entries into the UK over a period of six months. However, the embassy is loathe to give a UK visitor's visa to a Thai the first time round as they know that not many Thais could afford to stay there that long without working. So you will be asked to state when you will arrive and when you will leave. You have to sign this note and it will be stapled into your passport. You must aide by this self-inflicted limitation, although your visa is sill nominally good for six months.
Your UK visitor's visa strenuously forbids you from claiming any money from the state, free help from the hospitals or doctors or working. It is not a work-permit! Many Thais are refused a UK visitor's visa because they dither when asked why they want to visit the UK. You must be clear about why you want to go there. If it's to visit a friend or lover, say so. It really is not a problem. But you must be prepared to prove your relationship. It must have lasted at least 6 months although this is not really 'official government policy'.
So, how do we provide proof of a 'continuous long-standing relationship'? well, it's not that hard if it is true. Keep photos, mementos, hotel bills, bus tickets, ATM receipts, phone cards, letters and such like. Don't exaggerate how long you have known each other besides the stamps in his passport there are other ways of becoming suspicious too. Do you know the names of any of his family? Do you know what he does for a living or where he lives? Is his father still alive? Get the picture? You must prove to a doubting Thomas that you are having a relationship (of over six months to be safe). They have seen many Thais try it on over the years.
After collecting the proof, it is time to get the Uk visitor's visa application form (VAF) from the embassy in Wireless Road, Bangkok or its website (Google it). Their website is very useful actually; especially for detailing what you should enclose and how much the fee is (about 75 these days). don't forget the sponsor's letter.
So the sponsor is very important here. It is really up to your sponsor whether you get your first UK visitor's visa at the first attempt. He has to guarantee that he will take care of you and provide you with somewhere to stay and the embassy staff will have to be convinced that he is up the job.
Your sponsor will have to prove that he has sufficient funds to support you. This can be a letter from his employer or a letter from his bank. If he has offered you accomodation, he must prove that he has somewhere for you to stay. A lease, letter from the mortgage provider or from the council will suffice. Marriage or divorce does not seem to be an issue for rejection, but some seemingly weird things are:
"the applicant for a UK visitor's visa has never been abroad before " this is a very simple matter to remedy, just go to Burma, Cambodia or Laos for a short trip.
"the Thai person applying for this UK visitor's visa does not have strong socio-economic ties to her country of origin" They don't believe that you have enough to return to Thailand for. A letter from your boss, doctor, solicitor or village elder, your house book; proof of children or living parents and proof of property are all very useful.
Take your time over the application - if you get it wrong, it'll cost you at least six weeks before you can reapply. Consider why you really want to go to Britain. They will ask you and you don't want it to come as a surprise. The answer may seem obvious to you now, but in the embassy you may not feel comfortable giving it. Above all, behave like a lawyer and provide irrefutable evidence for everything you say.
Make sure you know the answers to questions about your sponsor: about his family, town and work. You will be alone in the embassy, but don't let that make you nervous. Some questions will be in English, but if you get stuck it's not a problem, just speak Thai.
Tip: ask for a longer stay than you need because the visa runs from the day it's granted and you will have to book flights. You could be delayed coming back too. If you have to cancel you UK visitor's visa, don't arrive back on a Friday unless you want a few nights in Bangkok.
The best advice you'll ever get is: don't lie in the embassy. The staff are trained to spot liars and you will be refused a UK visitor's visa point blank.
About the Author:
Do you need to get a UK Visa for a Thai? We can help you on our free website called UK Visas for Thais.
Posts
Post a Comment