i have been living in thailand for the past 9 months on a tourist visa (back to england a few times) and have a house here with my girlfriend

I want to go back to england and take her with me
if she likes it, then i want her to stay with me in england

I am finding the visa thing all a bit confusing as the situation that i am in has not come up on any previous forum

the trouble is, is that i dont have somewhere to live in england or have a job in either as i really live here now

when i get back i will be able to get a job and sort things out but dont want her to stay here all by herself for a few months while i get on my feet

i can get my sister to put us up in her house until i find my feet again in england

how much money would she need in her bank account for a 6 month visa to england and how the hell would i explain that to the embassy in bangkok

am i allowed in the interview that she has to have at the embassy or does she have to go in alone?

does she actually need a sponsor if she has enough money to look after herself?

there must be many english people in Udon who take a holiday to england with their wife/GF?
hopw do you get around it?

Good luck EssexGaz the visa idea in any country l think is hard without the right paperwork .
Been there done that.........Still doing it.......My wifes next stage is Australian passport.....three years into it still needs to wait 1.3 years , so we got told today at there office.
Yep paper work after paper work.

I recently obtained a visa for my gf to go to the UK later this year.

I used Squires agency here in Udon to do all the paperwork. Gf went down to BKK had interview and had Visa about 10days later.

Regards sponsor. I just provided one bank statement in my name and a hand written letter. Gf had to provide all of her bank statements, but as I was sponsoring her I cannot help with info about your gf sponsoring herself. Wouldn't have thought that was possible, but you never know.

Gaz,
I found the following on the UK Border Agency web site

What supporting documents should I include with my application?
You should include all the documents you can to show that you qualify for entry to the UK as a visitor. If you do not, we may refuse your application.

As a guide, you should include:

* bank statements, payslips, or some other evidence to show that you can pay for the trip and that you have enough money to support yourself and any dependants without working or getting any help from public funds, and
* evidence that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit (for example, a letter from your employer).

If you are visiting family or friends you will need:

* a letter from your sponsor (the person you are visiting) explaining your relationship with them and the purpose of your visit, and
* a copy of the bio-data page (the page containing their photograph) of their UK passport or, if they are not a UK national, evidence of their immigration status in the United Kingdom.

If your sponsor will be supporting you during your visit, or paying for the cost of the visit, you will need:

* payslips, bank statements, or some other evidence to show that they have enough money to support you.

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply ... sitors#Q10

Also note the following (from UK Thai embassy web site

The UK Border Agency and the British Embassy, Bangkok work in partnership with a commercial organisation, VFS.

You can find out whether you need a visa and how to apply through VFS website. VFS also provides information through an e-mail and telephone enquiry service, the number is +66 (0) 2 800 8050 and all costs are in Thai Baht. All the information provided is supplied and approved by the UK Border Agency.

http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/visas/

The VFS web site seems sadly lacking in any information about what you need.

http://www.vfs-uk-th.com/applying.aspx

Hope that helps (no personal experience, sorry). It does seem to have got even more convoluted now though. First time I have ever said this (as I have a general dislike of visa agents) but the route Galee suggests might save you a lot of pain..

Sorry Gaz I just re-read your original post & there is one other thing I should say.
The above is for her to get a tourist visa. It lasts for 6 months, after that (as far as I am aware) she MUST leave the UK. For example you cannot get married while she is there on the tourist visa. In order to do that I believe that you have to apply for a "marriage" visa - I believe both of you are interviewed by the Embassy in that case.
Finally I must apologise for my remarks about VTS & learn to read their web site more carefully. There is a list of supporting documents needed for every sort of visa imaginable on their web site. You do have to download (Adobe documents) the specific one you want so I haven't actually looked, but here is the page..
http://www.vfs-uk-th.com/documents.aspx#download

Essexgaz, Firstly, Do NOT use any agent of any kind because of the following :-
They all rip you off
They cost an arm and a leg
Most do not know what they are doing
Its easy and simple to do it yourself.

After reading this and you want help, private message me and I will do my best to help you as I have done this 3 times already (with the same person !!!! of course)

You do not need to put any money in her account, you must write a letter to VFS stating that you will be her sponser and will be liable for all her expenses.
You will need to show that your relationship is strong and that you have not just met her, you must show evidence of being together,e mails, letters postcards photos.

You will need to show them that you have an income and also you will need to show them bank accounts, they are looking for financial stability.

Before I attempted to take my wife (then you was girlfriend) to the UK, I tooke her to Singapore and Hongkong, visa on arrival, as this demonstrates travel and the fact that she returned to Thailand.

Best bet is to get a tourist visa , she may not like it in the UK, also the settelement visa is expensive currently 36,000 baht I believe. tourist is 4, 400 I think.

It would also help your GF,s case if she has assets such as property or a car in her name ...................

She has to go to Bangkok to submit the application form and to be interviewed, you cannot attend.

Good luck

And if she has children proof of and photo's a must. There are few Women in the world who would not return home to their Children, good luck.

Good information letigger but you wrote "You will need to show them that you have an income ", the OP stated he didn't have any income, i.e. no job or home in the UK and was asking whether his Sister could act as sponser...Would she (the Sister) merely write the sponsorship letter herself and provide bank statements, wage slips etc.

Kudjap, Past income is sufficient, you can be economical with the truth !!!
As regards the sponsor, no he has to be the one responsible for her, for example if she stays beyond her allocated time in the UK, he will have to pay fines and costs etc etc,.
He will have to show his bank statements (last 6 months) which I believe is not a problem.
I have already had private contact with Gaz and trying to assist him If I can.

The big question as I understand, has always been will she return, especailly the Uk visa.
So many have failed to return that just because children are involved does not mean they will return, we all know I am sure of many Thai ladies who will quite happily leave their children with mum and dad in odrer to get what is percieved to be a better life.
Unfortunately the Embassies know that too.
Now the way around that is not so easy, with so many countries trying to get their immigration under control and with the UK having SUCH A WONDERFUL welfare system, they are even more reticent to grant visa's.

Sorry to put a damp squid on things , and I hope seriously that you are succesful, but it is getting harder and harder and I have been told that any g/f of under 12 months could have a hard time unless they are business women.
I have even known some Rotarian children get refused just for a visit.

So good luck .