What is the best visa option for a UK national married to a Thai citizen to visit the UK?

She is married…. Not random tourist. She have right to move to her family. Visa is issued by target country. They ask about marriage, who covers expenses and where she lives. Husband can provide invitation with explanation. I think its not different much from Shengen visa system. Best is find some UK embassy page and read

I've had no issues for a visa. First time, don't come for 6 months. In the letter, she's visiting for 4 weeks or so. My wife had a terrible immigration history before, and I was extremely doubtful they would let her in. But it was super easy, barely an inconvenience. We were open aboout her immigration history, by presenting her old passport, which included the Malaysian Black Listing. The agent tried to get me to write flowery begging letter like some poor sap, who went into a detailed description how he met his wife, everytime he visited Thailand, met th family etc. I did none of that. Simple A4, stated my salary, enclose P60, copy of mortgage statement, purpose of visit, where she was staying and stating I would be responsible for all costs. She has a small business that makes sod all money, but I made sure she got it registered properly, and had a business bank account. She doesn't have a house, not even a rented place (lives in the shop), grown up daughter. They didn't care that she had no money as such. I have never shared photos, nor emails nor any other messages between us. Applications aren't considered by a British official; its outsourced to VFS in India, who process 3.2 million applications a year, 80% of tourist applications are granted, so that means 90,000 applications are made from Thailand each year. VFS are, overall, processing 6 applications per minute. They must use automation as part of the screening. I decided to make the introductory letter curt, concise and to the point, with no information that was unnecessary to the application. When your does go through UK passport control, she will be mildly grilled, such as asking her why she is here, first time in UK, where is she staying, very friendly, and they don't mind if she gets stuck. Hot tip, use the family line. Through super quick.

Rubber boats: the UK's most popular visa program 🌊😂

Hope this helps

Perfect advice there Osian .

Just get a 3 week or 2 week holiday tourist visa for her. Don't even say your together. Put funds in her bank to cover holiday. Book hotel . Return flights.itinery of what She wants to do. No problem.

Dual citizenship

Tourist visa first then merry visa for a long time

Write a letter, sign it stating you will be paying for the whole trip , add in a pdf file of you current bank account showing adequate liquidity, add a copy of your own passport

"please" and "thank you" will help

I did the visa application for my girlfriend… it’s super easy. Puts Thai immigration to shame 😅

Tourist visa...best to draught a letter out to explain where ur staying...& who with...dates leaving..dates returning.. finances..etc...I did the same for my ex partner...when she came to the UK...Upon entering the UK...Immigration wanted to see as proof!

UK national?? 😆 🤣

Tv i believe

just a tourist visa, my wife visited I think 2007 quite a lot of paper work you need to sponsor her prove you have money and some where she can stay. 2008 my wife came to live with me in the UK thats a completely different ball game cost thousands, she now has a British passport works and looks after me as im retired now. If you plan her to stay in the UK get her to France buy a dingy and tell her to through her pass port away, she will get a house rock and roll and save you thousands. last bit i hope you have as much luck as I have had

Thai visa express company pattaya are good

I brought my Thai gf to the UK last year for a month it was quite easy to get the visa but I don't message people who hid behind a false profile

Its easy just proof of your income and proof you supported previous . 6 month conversation history and pictures. I agree with Henry duriant

Bring family to Thailand. Why mess with UK visa?

Hi try yourself and will be turned down i tried twice by self with no success and waited ages for reply , went through agent and got in less than a week they no exactly how to apply correctly

Been there done that 6 months holiday visa twice than 2and half year marriage visa than after 5 year can apply for definite leave to remain returning home after each visa

Best to visit the uk gov website.

You can obtain visas for various durations of stay.

The longer the visa the more you pay.

You will need to make sure your paper work is in order.

Things like bank account history.

Flights (although not needed it helps)

A letter of invitation.

The more information to can provide the better.

While it may seem overwhelming in the first instance.

Once the documents are ready a visit to the VFS office will be needed for documentation submission and also for bio metric data taking.

Good luck man👍🏻

The UK visa for Thai citizens seems very challenging. On the other hand the Schengen visa drops all finincial requiments as long as you have a EU passport

A Standard Visitor visa for the UK allows tourism, visiting family/friends, or short-term studies for up to 6 months. Applications are made online, costing £135, typically with a 3-week decision time. Visitors from certain countries may need a £20 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead of a full

Terry Bill McGinty The page is literally called 'Thailand Visa Advice'

Not a plain tourist visa

It's an easy process , my Thai husband just had his second one approved and in 7 days.

So you must fill in the application online , once completed and all documents attached you submit it. Then it takes you to the VFS website where you book your appointment for biometrics and hand discounts to be checked .

They submit it , then you wait for the email . It's now an E-Visa

The important thing is to show enough evidence that she can fund her stay, show photos that you have know each other for a while. If staying at families homes they must send a letter to confirm address and that you're staying there. If hotels attach receipts in her name not yours. I hope that helps

One thing I would do whilst in uk is to get her to take the English test A1

Like people have said the most important thing is to convince them that she will go back to Thailand. I found a convincing thing was to book flights to another destination for a holiday after the date she was to leave the UK .

My Thai wife came to the UK 3 times on a 6 month visit visa before we got a spouse visa for her. She didn't work in Thailand, so I emphasised on the fact that I was her husband and sponsor and I paid for everything. We used an agent in Thailand because she doesn't use a computer very well.

I bought my wife to the uk on a 6 months tourist visa, after that we down the spouse visa route 33 months fiercely expensive, lots and lots of paperwork, I did it myself but man did I have a headache, worth it in the end, and now live in Thailand

She can apply for a spouse visa that will allow her stay for 2.5years i used a Thai agent health care cost is £3,400 visa application £2,000 then agent fee around £400 £1,000 for flight may be less good luck

I’ve just gone through this process. My first application was refused as they stated there wasn’t enough evidence of how she financially supported herself and not enough evidence of a reason to return to Thailand.

The absolute key is to demonstrate that:

1. She has the finances to support herself in Thailand. I am the sole financial provider but they completely ignored my very healthy financial evidence and made the decision solely on her. I provided detailed bank accounts etc etc.

2. A reason to return to Thailand. Despite the fact that my partner has a teenage child who lives with us they didn’t consider this strong enough evidence.

Provide as much photographic evidence as possible. This seemed to help massively with my second application. Photographs at work. With you, with you and the family. Outside the home. Never think you’re sending too much.

If you’re both staying with friends or family make sure that’s articulated in a letter from whoever it is. Again Immigration told me there wasn’t any evidence of her knowing my family.

When you write your sponsors letter you need to be absolutely clear on what you provide in terms of support, with evidence,

The reason we were visiting the U.K. was that my mother was terminally ill and only had months to live. UK immigration decided that wasn’t a believable reason!! Believe it or not.

For my second application I sent her diagnosis from the NHS. They are that brutal.

Both applications I had a decision within a week.

Good luck. I hope this helps you.

Not worth the hassle

All sounds very harsh - how come we can just rock up in Thailand and stay 60 days no questions asked but the other way around they have to give their whole life story ?

Terry Bill McGinty

Why are you in this group?

I’m a UK citizen and Just got a 6mth visitor visa to the UK for my thai wife. Approved in 3 days. Easy

Ask UK high commission

Standard Visitor Visa is what you need (short visit, up to 6 months). We've successfully processed similar UK sponsor cases from Thailand — and our pricing is much fairer than most agents: only a small document prep fee upfront, success fee only if approved. Free case check via website's link on my bio 🙌

Be aware a 6 month visa does not automatically mean she can stay 6 months. The application form asks 'how long do you plan to stay'. If you answer '4 weeks' that means she can stay 4 weeks during the 6 month visa validity period. I have known a Thai get detained by UKBA for staying longer than the time she stated on her application. No doubt someone will say I'm wrong, but be assured if you state one thing then do another, there's a chance you could face consequences.

Look on the UK Embassy website instead of asking stupid questions on Facebook ffs

The weather is irrelevant least of her concerns

Some interesting answers here and actually a bit confusing.

For the last 10 years I’ve been getting the long stay visa for my wife and we go for the 2 year Visa, very expensive but in our case worth it due to frequent visits. For this visa as stated she needs to prove her financial status, home ownership, family and work along with an invitation letter from my Son or Daughter.

My wife’s Thai friend recently applied for the same visa and was refused. She then went ahead with the tourist visa. Proof of funds, flights, hotel and was successful.

So in summary. The family visa is best if you want frequent visits and can meet the criteria. If not go for the Tourist visa.

After having 3 previous visits visas to enter the UK, 2x2 and a 1x 5 years. My friends Chinese wife has had her last 5 visit visa applications turned down ( all since COVID) in desperation they are now having to try for a spouse visa.

You will only get a standard 6 month visa

If you were legally married in Thailand ,she will have to produce the marriage registration and certificate, along with English translations.You also have to prove your address in Thailand that you intend to return to, with a rental agreement

You will have to sponsor her and prove sufficient funds for the duration of your stay , proof of accomodation in the UK , if you are staying with friends or family then they will need to give telephone numbers and email addresses.

I did it last year, it will take about a month to process

If you don't get a letter from her employer confirming her job, position and her return to work date, you will not be going anywhere.

There is only 1 , its a 6m visitor's visa. When applying 1 of the biggest things they are looking for is a reason she will return to Thailand (a safe bet), having children remaining in Thailand, having a job to come back to, having property like car and/or land/home in her name.

The more of the above the more successful your application, obviously the 1st is the hardest,once she visits and proves she's a reliable citizen the 2nd, 3rd visits are a lot smoother

A tourist visa be best for visit. Wife just got her 3rd one which is for ten years the first two were on scheduled trips. All info is on British goverment website