How To Obtain A UK Visitor's Visa For Thais.
Applying for a UK visitor's visa for a Thai friend to go to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland can be very stressful. I am also certain that it is more difficult for people from some countries than for others and Thailand falls into this latter category. This is because the staff are concerned about the applicant's ability to support him/herself when they originate from a Third World country. This is UK government policy and you must not hold it against the British embassy staff - they are only carrying out orders! It is worth your while remembering this when you speak to the embassy staff about a UK visitor's visa.
Note well: a standard UK visitor's visa for a Thai (or any other nationality) to the United Kingdom lasts 6 months and allows the recipient to enter and leave the country as often as he/she wishes. Usually, though, at least for the first visa, you will be asked to restrict the length of stay to what you specify in the interview. So, for example, if you say you want to go for two weeks, your six months visa will have a note pinned to it requiring you to leave after two weeks. You have to agree to this limitation in writing, although your UK visitor's visa is clearly valid for six months!
The visa also expressly forbids the Thai applicant access to any 'social benefits' such as social security, health care or pension rights. Be aware that many/most Thai applicants are refused their first attempt, because their submission is 'half-hearted'. If the stated reason is, say, to visit a friend or lover, the you really need to prove an on-going, long-term relationship of at least six months with your partner.
Let's think about providing that evidence of a long-standing relationship first of all. Most Thais that apply for a UK visitor's visa will need a sponsor - most often a lover of an employer. Don't be tempted to say you have known your sponsor for longer than you have, because he has entry stamps in his passport. This gives an indication of how long you could have known each other but it is not conclusive evidence. You will need to provide much more: try keeping all hotel bills, ATM receipts, mobile phone cards, menus, photos, letters, postcards etc. Anything that will help you establish that you are having an on-going long-standing relationship. It is far better if you can prove that the relationship is older than 6 months.
After having gathered all your proofs you can get the visa application form (VAF) from the embassy or its website, which is really very useful for explaining what should be enclosed with the form and what the fee is (3,800 Baht or thereabouts). This is your last real chance to make a good impression, so get it right. You will only get an interview if you make the application impressive.
This where the sponsor plays a pivotal role in getting that first UK visitor's visa for a Thai. As your sponsor, he has to be prepared to guarantee your well-being while you are in the UK and he will have to prove this to the embassy staff.
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 not been outside Thailand before " a piece of cake, eh? Just fly down to Malaysia for a short vacation to break in her new passport.
"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.
Don't rush into your application. If you get this wrong you will have to wait at least a month. Think about why you want to visit Britain. It may seem obvious to you now, but in front of an interviewer you may 'freeze'. Learn to prove everything you say. Treat it like a game and pretend you're a barrister for a day: provide incontrovertible, written proof.
Run through your story until you have it well-rehearsed (they will not want to see the sponsor and sometimes, he is not even allowed to wait on the embassy compound). The applicant for a UK visitor's visa will be required to attend an interview the first time and this can be held in English or Thai. The UK visitor's visa will normally be available for collection the next day.
Advice: if you want to stay in Britain for two weeks apply for four, because you don't have flights yet and you may be delayed on your return. Also, if you kneed to cancel your visa, don't fly back on a Friday, because the embasy is closed for the weekend.
No 1 Tip: don't tell lies to the embassy staff, they have heard it all before. If you're unsure of something, just say so.
Note well: a standard UK visitor's visa for a Thai (or any other nationality) to the United Kingdom lasts 6 months and allows the recipient to enter and leave the country as often as he/she wishes. Usually, though, at least for the first visa, you will be asked to restrict the length of stay to what you specify in the interview. So, for example, if you say you want to go for two weeks, your six months visa will have a note pinned to it requiring you to leave after two weeks. You have to agree to this limitation in writing, although your UK visitor's visa is clearly valid for six months!
The visa also expressly forbids the Thai applicant access to any 'social benefits' such as social security, health care or pension rights. Be aware that many/most Thai applicants are refused their first attempt, because their submission is 'half-hearted'. If the stated reason is, say, to visit a friend or lover, the you really need to prove an on-going, long-term relationship of at least six months with your partner.
Let's think about providing that evidence of a long-standing relationship first of all. Most Thais that apply for a UK visitor's visa will need a sponsor - most often a lover of an employer. Don't be tempted to say you have known your sponsor for longer than you have, because he has entry stamps in his passport. This gives an indication of how long you could have known each other but it is not conclusive evidence. You will need to provide much more: try keeping all hotel bills, ATM receipts, mobile phone cards, menus, photos, letters, postcards etc. Anything that will help you establish that you are having an on-going long-standing relationship. It is far better if you can prove that the relationship is older than 6 months.
After having gathered all your proofs you can get the visa application form (VAF) from the embassy or its website, which is really very useful for explaining what should be enclosed with the form and what the fee is (3,800 Baht or thereabouts). This is your last real chance to make a good impression, so get it right. You will only get an interview if you make the application impressive.
This where the sponsor plays a pivotal role in getting that first UK visitor's visa for a Thai. As your sponsor, he has to be prepared to guarantee your well-being while you are in the UK and he will have to prove this to the embassy staff.
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 not been outside Thailand before " a piece of cake, eh? Just fly down to Malaysia for a short vacation to break in her new passport.
"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.
Don't rush into your application. If you get this wrong you will have to wait at least a month. Think about why you want to visit Britain. It may seem obvious to you now, but in front of an interviewer you may 'freeze'. Learn to prove everything you say. Treat it like a game and pretend you're a barrister for a day: provide incontrovertible, written proof.
Run through your story until you have it well-rehearsed (they will not want to see the sponsor and sometimes, he is not even allowed to wait on the embassy compound). The applicant for a UK visitor's visa will be required to attend an interview the first time and this can be held in English or Thai. The UK visitor's visa will normally be available for collection the next day.
Advice: if you want to stay in Britain for two weeks apply for four, because you don't have flights yet and you may be delayed on your return. Also, if you kneed to cancel your visa, don't fly back on a Friday, because the embasy is closed for the weekend.
No 1 Tip: don't tell lies to the embassy staff, they have heard it all before. If you're unsure of something, just say so.
About the Author:
Do you want to get a UK Visa for a Thai? We have helped dozens of Thais get to the UK and we can help you on our free website called http://uk-visas-for-thais.the-real-way.com.
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