Answered2 years ago
What is the process and cost for bringing a Thai girlfriend to the UK for a 4-week holiday?
Hi Looking for good information, I'm interested in bringing thia girl friend to the UK for a holiday maybe 4 weeks, what is the process and cost, thanks
Answer summary
To bring a Thai girlfriend to the UK for a holiday, she needs to apply for a UK tourist visa. It's crucial to provide proof of her intention to return to Thailand, which could include employment letters, property ownership, or financial statements. The process generally involves applying through VFS, as the UK embassy has outsourced the visa application process. Costs can vary significantly based on whether an agent is used; fees might range from around 5,000 to 30,000 baht, depending on the services required. Accurate documentation is key, and while approvals can be straightforward for some, others have reported difficulties. Hence, gathering substantial proof of your relationship and facilitating her return plans is essential.
93 repliesnewest first
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Chris *********
She would need to demonstrate that she will return to Thailand. Having a job, having children there, owning property etc is good and it will cost about £100 or use. If you think this would be difficult to demonstrate why not holiday together in a third country like turkey.
Knocker *******
Fly her to france and get a dinghy across!! It's cost me just under £10k for my wife doing it all properly and by the book!!! Almost 5 years now and she will get her Passport soon
Kim ****************
OP@Knocker ******
it's a piss take letting all those illegals in, 😡
Bal *********
Tom ************
Not easy if your partner is from farming community where bank statements and proof of employment is non existent. Tried twice 20k per time wirh agent and still got refused.
Osian ********
Its not cheap, and far from guaranteed, and application fee is lost if refused, my gf was refused in 2004, 2005 and finally on 3rd attempt, having put a property in her name and stuck a wod of cash in her bank account they let her come in 2008, and its only got harder and more expensive since. The good news is, once you're successful, each year after is plane sailing, as long as she didn't over stay i guess
John *********
Sounds like all you lot in here do is argue,i though Thailand was for fun…chill out😇😇🥰
Paul *********
I did 4 tourist visas for my now wife. Lots of paper gathering yes. Word your sponsorship letter well. Key thing they want to know is you will cover all her costs during the visit including NHS. A plan to visit places, Stonehenge, London etc and that you will ensure she returns back before the visa expiry so not to jepodise future applications. Good luck.
Kim ****************
OP@Paul ********
hi did you use a agency, she asked in thialand and was told *****
bahtPaul *********
@Kim ***************
no. I did it all the in the UK, then DHL paperwork to my then GF. Booked hotel next to visa center, booked visa center.First one was a bit of a headache but each year I got better as I had folders and templates already in place. After the first visa I could demonstrate my GF met the visa requirements for the 2nd.
Paul *******
Take photos together outside hotels. Visit and photo with her family. Build up proof of relationship.
Get hotel receipts in both names.
Get hotel receipts in both names.
Henrik *****
Ask in a UK visa group, to get the most exact and correct answers.
Sometimes it can be that the European party has not familiarized itself thoroughly enough with Thai conditions, such as holidays, where in Thailand it is common to only have less than 2 weeks of holiday per year, and when you are then invited to Europe for 3 months, it corresponds to 6 years of vacation that is burned off in one go, which there are probably not very many employers (not even European ) who will give, with a guarantee that there is a job to return to.
In addition, there are the social conditions where it can be difficult for a family to cope if 3 months' income disappears, plus there must be an amount corresponding to around 10 months' income in the bank account, plus travel costs.
Therefore, go slow and invite the Thai on a 2-4 week vacation, which will be the vacation of their life, to travel that long and that far away on vacation.
Sometimes it can be that the European party has not familiarized itself thoroughly enough with Thai conditions, such as holidays, where in Thailand it is common to only have less than 2 weeks of holiday per year, and when you are then invited to Europe for 3 months, it corresponds to 6 years of vacation that is burned off in one go, which there are probably not very many employers (not even European ) who will give, with a guarantee that there is a job to return to.
In addition, there are the social conditions where it can be difficult for a family to cope if 3 months' income disappears, plus there must be an amount corresponding to around 10 months' income in the bank account, plus travel costs.
Therefore, go slow and invite the Thai on a 2-4 week vacation, which will be the vacation of their life, to travel that long and that far away on vacation.
Norman *******
Tell her make her way to France and let her get on a bout cheap as chips
Shane ***********
Contact me , my wife does this for a job in the UK
Laurie ******
A lot
Steve *********
Do it yourself on website. Yoh need show she will return after visit , have letter from her employer , if she owns home prove it. Show you have enough money to support her, don’t waste money on agent
Paul ********
Send her to Calais and all will be sorted!
Rikki ********
You will probably have to pay under the table to get her here...... Otherwise it will be nearly impossible.
Kev *********
Whilst it's a 6 month visa that's issued, that's the validity period during which time the applicant can visit. IT DOES NOT MEAN THE APPLICANT CAN AUTOMATICALLY STAY 6 MONTHS. If applicant applies for a 3 week visit they can stay 3 weeks within the 6 month period. Staying longer COULD result in an arrest for overstay. Anyone who wishes to contradict this should know that I have personal experience of this.
Kev *********
@Rikki *******
Not true. There is no route for paying under the table!Michael ********
@Rikki *******
WTF you on about, trying to bribe someone will likely get you lifetime ban. Stupidiest advice of the day so farRikki ********
That's how things are done in Thailand stupid......... I lived there for 20 years
Kev *********
@Rikki *******
maybe in Thailand and for Thai processes there maybe alternative ways, but not for UK. In my opinion anything other than the official route could lead to problems. Don't forget, even if you did get a UK visa via 'who you know', there is another check at border control in UK.
Andrew *********
@Michael *******
money aways gets most people out of trouble in s/e asia.Kev *********
@Rikki *******
Another incorrect statement. The Entry Clearance is NOT done by Thais. Moreover, a visa is not issued by the embassy. It is done through the consulate I believe and is a clearance from UKBA. Decision making has been moved to Delhi.Michael ********
Rikki ********
Don't bother with him Andy...... He had a go at me as well because I told him the same thing..... The embassy and the agencies are all run by Thais now.
Andrew *********
@Michael *******
Simply said money talks .. Did not say i recomended it and who is talking about the embassy ? Many ways to skin a cat my friend if you know the right people but money has always worked and always will . Its who you know not what you know and in my 36 years in Asia i definitely do.Michael ********
@Andrew ********
So you recomend it for the BRITISH embassy. P.S Been in Asia over 30 years i know what works and what doesnt and embassy is not on the list of what works
Andrew *********
Best bet is go to france and get one of those boats over they leave every day
Des *******
Andy must be busy advising his 'connections'
William must be busy doling advice with his sheer ignorance of terms of asylum seeking...
William must be busy doling advice with his sheer ignorance of terms of asylum seeking...
Des *******
Pattaya losers all
Des *******
Andy you've fallen silent...
Des *******
I rather thought Andrew wouldn't vanish
Ray ********
@Andrew ********
yeah and don't even need a passport
William ******
@Andrew ********
yes, just shows how unbelievably correct you are. All the exaggerated fuss & palaver for a bonafide decent law abiding Thai citizen to come to the U.K. for a holiday accompanied by a U.K. resident & guarantor, yet, illegal immigrants from anywhere & risk element Countries can flock over here in rubber boats unchallenged, hundreds a day & then no expense spared looking after them, when there’s hardly any NHS dentists & the NHS is on its knees.
All disgusting, this Country is the Worlds dumping dustbin.
Bill ********
Welcome to the USA.....
Richard ********
@William *****
th NHS is on its knees due to tory underfunding for 14 years. Let’s keep the facts.Richard ********
@Andrew ********
First, Labour borrows less than the Conservatives. The data shows that.And second, Labour has always repaid debt more often than the Conservatives and has always repaid more debt, on average.
Or, to put it another way, the Conservatives are the party of high UK borrowing and low debt repayment contrary to all popular belief.
Source
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*******
/24/the-tories-have-always-borrowed-more-than-labour-and-always-repaid-less-they-are-the-party-of-big-deficit-spending/Please post data like this in future if you wish to put forward an argument. As you can see by the empirical data, your silly picture is completely and utterly wrong.
Richard ********
@William *****
with all due respect, you commented that the NHS is on its knees. I was merely pointing out that the reason for that is the serious underfunding over the last 14 years by the Tories. Not by asylum seekers, which are not ‘illegal immigrants’. But that’s for another conversation if you wish to go there too.William ******
@Richard *******
I suggest you research your facts. & look back at the disastrous results that successive Labour Governments have always caused. Spend, spend, spend, talk, talk, talk, & never anything to show for it. They’re a disaster & always have been. Now the NHS is virtually finished, private health care will become the norm, as is dentistry.Des *******
@Andrew ********
the irony of a wannabe immigrant moaning about immigrants....prat.
Phill *****
@Des ******
big difference between doing it legally and illegally. If you don't know that who's the real prat? As you can clearly read people have had their partners declined even a tourist visa while jumping through all hoops and driving everything. But yet we allow boat loads of men to enter as they please without a single checkDes *******
@Andrew ********
I live in Bang Phli near Suwannaphum (which you probably pronounce Suwannaboomi) you're welcome to come and find me with your ladyboy army and imaginary 'connections' prick,Des *******
@Phill ****
look up international asylum laws you ignorant pratPhill *****
@Des ******
wtf? Lay off the drugs and alcohol you make no sense.Andrew *********
@Phill ****
its illegal to enter any country without a passport Phill anyone with a brain knows this apart from idiots like DD. . i am still here in Asia as i have been for 36 years but i wont be replying online to this keyboard coward . This pest needs the personal touch only one person being outed hunted and floored in this story .Des *******
@Phill ****
or are you ladyboy loving Andrew hiding because he's been outedDes *******
@Phill ****
prove they're illegal dickDes *******
@Andrew ********
, oh dear, not another pensioner in the Dark side of Pattaya who's wed a bar girl now thinks he ' knows people ' but in your vivid imagination you've probably wed a hiso General's daughter living in a Langsuan penthouse...Des *******
@Andrew ********
why would I be surprised by the amount of people you 'know' in my 30 years experience of Thailand I've met more than enough no marks who wed bar girls, meet a few 'influential' folks up in whatever Isaan shithole their wife drags them off to, then they think they're 'well connected ' or on the cusp of becoming royalty.Andrew *********
@Des ******
are you still here ? I would drop it if i were you your like an annoying little pest . I hope to bump into you and you will be very surprised about the amount of people i know here you talk a big talk behind a key board i will ask around then we can really see how big your balls are .Des *******
@Andrew ********
I suppose you're quite the expert in what the ladyboys preferences are...Andrew *********
@Des ******
YOUR type go for the lady boys dont they and they would not be there for your humour thats for sure ...always know when a woke leftie is losing they pull the old grammer or wacist card . PratDes *******
@Andrew ********
* You're.You gammony types do struggle with grammar. The ladies seem to enjoy my company at parties though....
John **********
Very very difficult unless she owns a house , good career and money 💰 and even then
Paul *******
@John *********
I disagree. I did it last year, cost was around 5,000 baht. I had my parents write a letter explaining that we'd be staying with them.
I found the process fairly easy.
John **********
@Paul ******
my wife was turned down twice using different immigration agents even though she was employed , has more than enough money in the bank and I own my house
Colin ******
@John *********
John same happened to me agent conned us twice never againJohn **********
@Paul ******
it's very rare for for thai's to get approval .. most people who have partners will tell you that and have posted a lot about their troubles You lucked out. Just because you had parents sign something means nothing.... I'm a home owner with high income and she has money and a decent career and twice she was denied .
She has a 19 yr old son , a house and there was absolutely no reason to deny her and all we recieved was a generic letter which didn't even apply to our situation
Paul *******
@John *********
I didn't use an agent.
Lewis ********
You’d think it would be easy but it’s not.
I used an agent and it cost me around 15,000 baht for their fee and the visa fee.
I had to supply 6 months bank statements, a letter of sponsorship, proof of my employment and a letter / dated photos of how we met and proof of our relationship.
My GF had to send 6 months bank statements and also a letter telling her reasons for the visit and also reasons why she would be returning to Thailand, giving them proof of that
Documents then have to be scanned and signed and personally taken to Bangkok to UK immigration (contracted company) to be scanned onto their system and GFs passport handed in.
Visa was approved and came back within about 9 days.
She was given 6 month multiple entry
I used an agent and it cost me around 15,000 baht for their fee and the visa fee.
I had to supply 6 months bank statements, a letter of sponsorship, proof of my employment and a letter / dated photos of how we met and proof of our relationship.
My GF had to send 6 months bank statements and also a letter telling her reasons for the visit and also reasons why she would be returning to Thailand, giving them proof of that
Documents then have to be scanned and signed and personally taken to Bangkok to UK immigration (contracted company) to be scanned onto their system and GFs passport handed in.
Visa was approved and came back within about 9 days.
She was given 6 month multiple entry
Kevin ********
@Lewis *******
Absolutely Lewis. Spot on. No way around it. Gone through this process many times. I use the same agent and never had a knock-back.
Peter *********
Paul King easy visa
*****
baht guaranteed 1st class service 👌
Phil ********
@Peter ********
฿30,000???It's free if you do it yourself.
Ive done 5 for my Thai wife and several for my mates wives that got approved first time.
Ned *******
@Phil *******
......hi, just read your post and if ya don't mind me asking .....was that to obtain visa/s to the UK?I'll be planning the start the process in the new year ( for Thai girlfriend as opposed to wife ) hopefully accompany me to me son's wedding in springtime.
I'm not one to be using agents ( I've opened bank account here, obtained non o retirement visa and the one year extension without the need of an agent )
By your experience what are the most important factors they want proof of?
Photos together?
Where we live?
My proof of funds?
Return flights?
Her proof of funds?
Her family ties .... brothers/sisters/ cousins etc....she has a large family
Cheers ... Any and all assistance much appreciated 🤗🤗👍
Phil ********
@Ned ******
Yes what you have said and most importantly a reason to return to Thailand. If she has a good job, assets, property and family etc. I done 2 for my then girlfriend now wife with no problems at all.
Ive read that it can be done online now but not sure how true it is.
This was my wife's last application.
Ray ********
@Ned ******
you have just about answered your own question..all of that plus a covering letter from yourself showing your status in UK, financially viable and guaranteed her return to Thailand..so you are responsible for her whilst in the UK,can provide financial support for her and it would help if you were able to show you were returning to Thailand with her..no criminal convictions...it's easy on line
Ian ************
I used Easy Visa last year, cocked up the dates on my GF's visa and basically said tough luck. Arrogant man I wouldn't use again.
Colin **********
@Peter ********
but you need to have the right documents that demonstrate they have a good reason to return to Thaiand.
Dave *********
@Colin *********
The fact England is a shit hole is a good enough reason to return to Thailand.Dave *********
@Bogdan ******
are you in US or UK? It’s so bad in the UK nowadays unless you’re loaded and aren’t affected by the clowns that govern.
Bogdan *******
@Dave ********
just leaving the shit  this country not like before the last 3 to 5 years just gone down the shit hole. 🕳️Dave *********
@Bogdan ******
it’s so true though.Bogdan *******
@Dave ********
best comment 👌😂Michael ********
********************************
Michael ********
Go to UK gov website and follow instructions. She can apply for a tourist visa.
She will need provide proof that she will return to Thailand. Job, property etc. Its VFS that handles visa applications now not the embassy.
She will need provide proof that she will return to Thailand. Job, property etc. Its VFS that handles visa applications now not the embassy.
Kev *********
@Michael *******
the VFS is as the title implies Visa Forwarding Services. They check and advise for documents submitted and then, as I understand it, decision is made by staff at the INDIAN embassy.Michael ********
@Kev ********
I believe VFS was an Indian company but why would Indian embassy deal with British Visa applications. ?Kev *********
@Michael *******
yes Michael. I misinterpreted the info.Michael ********
@Kev ********
Probably British embassy in India cannot see them giving control over to another nationKev *********
@Michael *******
I think it's been contracted out to them.
Neil ********
@Michael *******
if she has a child do mention that as that is a good reason to return. Return flight booked is key
Kev *********
@Neil *******
Sorry Neil, it doesn't carry much clout as the ECO (Entry Clearance Officers) are well aware of SE Asian culture where parents work away and leave children with grandparents.
Damo ***********
@Michael *******
great idea going to the UK Govt website :) why didnt he think of that?Michael ********
@Damo **********
No idea it would be too simple, i work all over the world and first thing I do is check entry requirements for that country, not ask on facebookDamo ***********
@Michael *******
💯 I also go to the source of truth via official websites. Asking things like this on FB will only get you more confused, when you get 58 different answers to your original question from the FB 'experts'..
Michael *******
@Michael *******
yip VFS are the gatekeepers if certain criteria are not met, especially reason for her to return it won’t even make it to an immig officer.Activity
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