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What should I do if my girlfriend received her passport back without a UK visa?

UK VisaVisa Application ProcessVFS GlobalVisa DenialImmigration IssuesExpat AdviceScams in Visa Applications
May 10, 2024
6 months ago
Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My girlfriend applied for a 6 month visa to visit the uk today her passport came back but no visa or anything else. Is this normal will the visa follow as she was told by the agent she had passed
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user expressed concern that their girlfriend received her passport back from a visa agent after applying for a 6-month UK visa, but it did not contain the visa or any explanatory letter. The community responded with suggestions to check for letters from the visa agency, verify the application status through VFS Global, and consider potential scams. Several comments indicated that if no visa sticker is present, it likely means a denial or malfunction in the application process. There were warnings about the reliability of some agents and advice to handle applications directly where possible.
James *******
Probably best to ask the agent rather than FB.
6 months ago
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James *******
6 months ago
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Peter *******
I think you're scammed

Ambasy send also a letter
6 months ago
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Bob ********
Just check it's not an EVisa, if so their will be an email somewhere with the details.
6 months ago
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Neil ********
No visible visa then you have no visa. Minimum should be written confirmation on Thai letterhead Ed paper. You get the stamp in the passport on arrival. Call the agent now
6 months ago
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Mabs *******
They UK is Run by outsiders you want get no Visa my daughter born in Brighton work in Brighton married a man she loves she has 3 kids with him she lives in his country they would not give him a Visa to visit us in the UK.
6 months ago
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Gary **********
The visa will be stamped inside her passport
6 months ago
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Jim ********
@Gary *********
 It's not a stamp. It's a sticker
6 months ago
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Jim ********
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Michael *******
No stamp no visa! Been refused for some reason ? Unfortunately they dont give you a reason! Sorry to hear!
6 months ago
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Paul *******
My wife just done hers and if granted the visa would be inside
6 months ago
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Brian *********
Con
6 months ago
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Neil *********
Whats the official VFS Global website address? I see several online that are slightly different. 
6 months ago
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Marcin **********
If she's less than half of your age she's been denied 🙈
6 months ago
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John ********
Seems the poor lady has been scammed. Someone says why did she get her passport returned if she'd been scammed. How did they pay the visa fee? If they paid some agent in cash, then an agent could just take all the paperwork given by them. Take the money, then bin all the paperwork and post the passport back to the lady concerned.
6 months ago
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Craig ********
My Mrs got refused a 6months visitors in February so I'm going bk in 3wks to do application again the reason for the 1st being refused was that they said that she would not return to Thailand after the 6months also it cost
*****
bhat .
6 months ago
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paul****
@Craig *******
 that is the reason they always give, yes I paid an agent 25,000 baht, I gave that agent over 50 pics of us together and her family and vacations, but when her passport was returned he recommended we appeal and send more pics, really, I think a lot of the agent are just scammers
6 months ago
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paul****
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Divya ********
Have a look at the last page. If there's a small square stamp there with a number & signature (initials) on it, then the visa has been denied. You can appeal using the number there.
6 months ago
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Will ************
@Divya *******
 there is no appeal on Visa Applications to the UK
6 months ago
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Will ************
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Paul *********
If its not in passport she hasn't got one happened to girlfriend 1st time applying just gave them more details to why she will go back to Thailand she got it with new application
6 months ago
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Vikorn ***********
Odd that the agent told you she's passed if there's no visa sticker inside. I'd check the last page to see if there is a note. Mine was a small hand-written note. I was rejected due to applying a wrong type of visa or something but that came with a letter. That was 20yrs ago

Or did she ask that the passport be returned to here while waiting for the decision? With a fee the visa centre allow the applicants to keep the passport. I heard of it but haven't tried.
6 months ago
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Steve *********
Agents are rip off. It’s quite easy to do online. If no visa in passport it has either been rejected or agent has ripped you off
6 months ago
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Phil ********
@Steve ********
 Thais don't apply for a UK visa online. They have to apply in person with all required documents with them.

This is my wife's last UK visa application, all prepared by me.
6 months ago
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Steve *********
@Phil *******
 I applied for my gf visa on line for her. 6 month took 4 weeks. Then 2 year multi entry took 3 weeks all done on line
6 months ago
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Steve *********
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Jan ******
It would be in the passport or a letter explaining why she hasn’t got it
6 months ago
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Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jan *****
 there was nothing but the passport and receipt from agent
6 months ago
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Gary **********
@Alan ********
 my gf came over last year. Hers was stamped inside her passport and the 6 month visa automatically starts from the day it is stamped in the passport
6 months ago
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Jan ******
@Alan ********
 doesn’t sound right my family get them regularly never use an agent send all documents and passport always get everything back plus passport with visa inside .
6 months ago
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Jan ******
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Stuart ***********
Look on the bright side, at least she got her passport back.

Baffles me why people pay someone in Thailand to get a UK visa, the agent can't bribe anybody and the applicant has to provide all of the evidence and attend VFS. I guess it's up to the individual if they want to throw money away and risk being scammed.
6 months ago
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Simon *******
We done ours for my girlfriend without an agent passport came back visa
6 months ago
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Phil ********
@Simon ******
 Interesting. 🤔. Could this possibly mean that if an agent is used then the person issuing the visas doesn't actually stick the visa in the passport and the visa is issued "under the table" and then stuck in the passport by the agent at a later date?

Ive done a bunch of UK visas for my Thai wife and her passport always came back with the visa in her passport.
6 months ago
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Phil ********
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paul****
My girlfriend got a letter from visa agent explaining why she didn’t get it, then the passport arrived next day with no stamp, I’m from uk as well,
6 months ago
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Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@paul****
 there was nothing saying she hadn't got it either
6 months ago
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Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Out of interest what does the visa stamp look like
6 months ago
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Andy ********
@Alan ********
 My sons girlfriend got a text saying yo collect her passport from VFS and when she did her visa was inside. When i tried to get a visa for a friend last year she got an email explaining why it was denied and about a week later her passport with obviously no visa...... I would talk to the agent as something doesnt seem right.
6 months ago
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Graham ******
@Andy *******
 We paid to have the passport sent back and when it arrived it was a frantic search to find the page with the Visa (or not)
6 months ago
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Andy ********
@Graham *****
 we werd told if you just get a text then it has been accepted. If its denied you get an email with the reasons why.
6 months ago
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Will ************
@Alan ********
 it looks like a bio data page
6 months ago
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Will ************
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Euan ********
@paul****
 out of curiosity did you get a refund?

If not how can you be sure the agent actually went through the process?
6 months ago
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paul****
@Euan *******
 yes my girlfriend had to go to vfs bangkok with all her documents to be checked and submitted, I went with her
6 months ago
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Will ************
@Euan *******
 they applicant had to go VFS Global in Bangkok for biometrics with any documents which need handing in with payment receipt and appointment letter.There are no refunds
6 months ago
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Will ************
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Phil ********
Right, this is easy to find out if you've been scammed or not.

Answer this simple question.

What documents did you provide to accompany your girlfriend's visa application?

When i say you, I mean you, not your girlfriend?
6 months ago
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ผล **************
@Phil *******
 เพราะตอนนี้เเฟนเขามารอรับฉันแล้วเเฟนฉันอยู่บ้านฉันที่ไทย
6 months ago
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Phil ********
@ผล *************
 Does she have the application number? Call VFS and ask the status.
6 months ago
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Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *******
 I think the application number is on the receipt from agent I will get her to ring tomorrow
6 months ago
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Phil ********
@Alan ********
 Your girlfriend's friend has posted a receipt with application and phone number. I advised her not to do that on here.

Give her a call and tell her to delete it.
6 months ago
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Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *******
 that is my girlfriend
6 months ago
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Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks
6 months ago
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Alan *********
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Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *******
 everything the agent asked for emails birth certificate bank statements tenancy everything you could think of
6 months ago
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Phil ********
@Alan ********
 Does your girlfriend have a reason to return to Thailand?

Such as.

Job.

Child.

Property.

Business.
6 months ago
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Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *******
 yes she has a job and a child and property
6 months ago
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Phil ********
@Alan ********
 Thats a good thing. Most visas that are rejected is due to "no reason to return to Thailand"

Can she call VFS and ask the status of her application?
6 months ago
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Phil ********
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Will ************
Did she apply at VFS GLOBAL in Bangkok ? Did she go for biometrics ?
6 months ago
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Clint *******
Call the UKVI. They charge you for the call but they should be able to answer your question.
6 months ago
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Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Will ***********
 yes she went to Bangkok
6 months ago
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James ********
@Alan ********
 she will get a call from the embassy to come in and they will attach the visa page in her passport
6 months ago
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Graham ******
@James *******
 No she will not, it is out-sourced to VFS Global (and, yes, I have done it recently)
6 months ago
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James ********
@Graham *****
 outsourced ,ahh OK got ya 👌
6 months ago
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Will ************
@James *******
 UK Embassy has nothing to do with visas for visiting the UK and will not provide guidance on applications
6 months ago
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James ********
@Will ***********
 really ? Who provides the visa in her passport ,does it have to be sent to England for to be done or what?

I know when my wife came to Ireland (I know a different country) but alot of the time we have similar rules and ways , when her visa was approved we had to go to the embassy in bkk and they attached it to a page in her passport. Sorry for the misinformation on my part
6 months ago
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James ********
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Will ************
@Alan ********
 and she had her fingerprints taken and retina scan ?
6 months ago
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Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Will ***********
 yes
6 months ago
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Will ************
@Alan ********
 checked all pages in passport?
6 months ago
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Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Will ***********
 yes checked all pages
6 months ago
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Will ************
@Alan ********
 get back to the agent … ask them why is visa sticker not in passport if all is OK. Tell them to get it sorted with VFS GLOBAL
6 months ago
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Graham ******
@Will ***********
 Sounds like a scam as the passport should have been retained awaiting the decision on the Visa, it is not returned before then
6 months ago
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Graham ******
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Tony *********
Passport came back from where? Visa agent or embassy ?
6 months ago
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Steve *******
@Tony ********
 British Embassy in Bangkok doesnt issue visas, it's all done by an agency, VFS Global
6 months ago
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ผล **************
@Tony ********
 มาจากที่ไปยื่นขอวีซ่าที่กรุงเทพฯค่ะ
6 months ago
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Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony ********
 agent
6 months ago
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Alan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony ********
 came back from agent
6 months ago
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Phil ********
@Tony ********
 Exactly what i was thinking.
6 months ago
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Phil ********
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Steve *******
I think you've been had
6 months ago
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Chris *********************
Got to wait for confirmation from embassy ,last time my wife came it was telephone call ,time before was email, can't rush them mate,
6 months ago
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ผล **************
@Chris ********************
 ขอบคุณสำหรับคำแนะนำ
6 months ago
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Chris *********************
If I remember we got confirmation then had to go to Bangkok for stamp ,but that was a long time ago,
6 months ago
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Jim ********
@Chris ********************
 You don't get a stamp these days, you get a sticker
6 months ago
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Jim ********
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Stephen ********
Usually would have a page sized sticker in it
6 months ago
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Jim ********
A visa label should be stuck in the passport. If it's not there I would say she's been denied
6 months ago
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Peter *********
Looking like scam alert ⚠️
6 months ago
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John ********
@Peter ********
 if it were a scam , passport wouldn't have been returned .
6 months ago
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Peter *********
@John *******
 returned no visa ?
6 months ago
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Peter *********
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Peter *********
Should have visa inside when comes back ?
6 months ago
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Henry *********
If there's no visa in her passport there should be a letter explaining why it was not granted.
6 months ago
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Phil ********
@ผล *************
 Dont show your phone number on here. Theres some weirdos about.
6 months ago
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ผล **************
@Phil *******
 ขอบคุณค่ะ😅
6 months ago
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ผล **************
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