Hiya,
I just wondered whether anyone here has ever organised a 6-month visitor visa for a Thai spouse's family member? (for the UK)
Although I'm aware this may not sound strickly kosher, I'm just looking into the idea of bringing over a sister-in-law effectively as an au pair: to take a bit of pressure off looking after the kids; to learn some English; and to see if there's any course she might be able to return to do (on a proper student visa).
There would be some genuine time with the family and sightseeing thrown in (there might even be a new niece or nephew popping out), but it's a bit of a grey area (e.g.: at what point does spending time with nephews become babysitting etc.), and I'm just wondering what the reality of this kind of scenario would be, if anyone's ever done anything similar.
The two main bits I worry about are:Basically, she (the sis-in-law), is 26, has got a Thai degree (no tattoos or "health problems" - down-to-earth subsistence eastern village types with a bit of booklearnin' etc...) that she had a hard time finally getting awarded, but got it; she's stuck in a shitty wage, depressing, underemployed in a monotonous 12-hour shift 7-day week hard drive factory job, and she wants to learn English and I want to give her a little help so she can sort out a decent job, cheer up a bit.
- The extent of proof of funds to support their stay...(i.e. how much money and months of wages do I need to show? Is a universal benefit like Child Benefit really going to be an issue? things like that)
- Proof of accommodation... (the ECO might want to see a proper room, but in reality, being rural types they tend not to segregate themselves in that way... they all huddle together in an enormous bed)
- Proof ot not providing a service (e.g. babysitting)...this last one, I reckon is maybe not a problem if we show proof of OFSTED childcare providers and proof of maternity leave and suchlike.
Useful to all concerned if she was having more of a life and could communicate enough to help sort stuff out, ranging from sorting out frail parents, and farang relatives descending on BK. The future's a bit bleak for her otherwise, so it seems.
The idea is, that she leaves her shit job, comes here for 6 months to do a sort "gap year" kind of thing, which would involve a fair bit of playing with kids, school run, taking them out to supermarkets and playing places, and being forced to speak English by going to the shops and have a trips around the area, learn another programming language (she's that way inclined), and visit the local college to see if there's a short course she could do the following year on a proper student visa... and also just to take a break from the futile monotony of her Thai life, and then return to BK with some helpful stuff on her CV.
Thought about bringing parents over, but that could be complicated... frailty... not even familiar with BK, never mind the UK, and multiplied costs of all kinds.
I'm not looking to play any games with the visas, just recognising that it's a box ticking process and not a prescription on the reality of what someone on a visa might actually do with their time over here. I understand that you have to present a story that makes sense to the assessor, and not over-egg it or give cause for further questioning, paperwork, and attention from officialdom.
Has anyone any thoughts on what might trip her up in the visa application process?