visa for Ukraine girlfriend to visit me in England

[richard48]

Hi Guys & Galls

my trip went well (read elsewhere) and i want my girlfriend to visit me, she is very worried that she will not be able to visit.
I know this has been asked many times but i would appreciate your help.I need to lift her spirits with positive news.

all help appreciated as was last time before my visit.

[shakespear]

I know this has been asked many times but i would appreciate your help.I need to lift her spirits with positive news. 

Sorry.  We always can't tickle your bum with a feather.

Very difficult process.  Not impossible.

Attempt it an fail and you could jeopardize her ability to come to live with you in the future. 

[richard48]

Hi
I see you are from the US are the rules different  her in the UK? (i hope so)

 

[rosco]

Hi Richard,

I've recently been put through the mill with a similar dilemma...and despite my positive outlook, its going to be a tough one!

That's not to say it can't be done but from what I can gather, a visitors visa all depends on her situation and less so yours. Basically the government want to be 100% certain that she'll return home and their not in the business of considering peoples emotions or love lives. Look at various recent threads where guys have had applications declined.

As I said its not impossible, but until my situation got incredibly complicated (not related to visa), we decided that the fiancé visa route was the best for us. This would give her 6 months in the UK and by the end of this period, you will have to marry in order for her to stay, if you don't, then it would probably be a major black mark for her. It's a big call, but we agreed that if everything was as it is now, then marriage wasn't going to be a problem.....but it might not be for you.

Now you'll probably get people here saying that your breaking the law by doing this 'trial' run, and your looking at a few years in the clink but, I'm not suggesting you do this merely for an extended holiday. If you feel you have a future together, and consider her a serious part of your life, then in my book its the only logical way you'll ever get to spend 'regular' time with her before taking the plunge. And that's assuming you wish to live in UK??

A big shout I know, but it was the only real option I was left with if I was to make the relationship work!

Ross

[nicknick]

we decided that the fiancé visa route was the best for us. This would give her 6 months in the UK and by the end of this period, you will have to marry in order for her to stay, if you don't, then it would probably be a major black mark for her.

I would suggest that this won't be the case.

This happened to a friend of mine a few years ago.  His fiancee came over here for 6 months but then they realised that it would be a lot cheaper to get married in Russia and also it would be a lot easier for her family and friends to be at the wedding if it was held in Russia.

So she left the UK at the end of the 6 months, returned to Russia and they got married there.  She then applied for a visa as the spouse of a British citizen and there was no problem getting it at all or with any of the later visas either.


When you talk about her visiting you - do you mean for a couple of weeks or a few months?

[rosco]

Sure I agree, every case is viewed differently depending on who's handling it but from what I've heard, you'll need to explain why you didn't marry under the visa conditions and this may cause problems. But hey, its only what I found out and not personal experience....I'm not sure if Ukrainian & Russian girls are viewed under separate guidelines???

No we looked into a 10 day Visa as this was all the time she could get off work. I read a number of accounts from guys who did similarly and were declined, giving her a visa rejection stamp at the same time. We never ended up applying as our particular situation meant we wanted to move the relationship onto a more serious level but it still gave us some headroom should our relationship fail......like many all over the world do.

[Manny]

I am not aware that the UK stamps the passports of those declined a visa?

Does she have any property, a job, or any other EU travel before?

[simo82]

I am not aware that the UK stamps the passports of those declined a visa?

Does she have any property, a job, or any other EU travel before?

I can say they do not.......we applied for my Wifes Visa, but due to a Balls up over this whole English Test malarkay it got rejected......all that was in the back was a date + UKB written in pen!
Doing another English Test now + Visa...More ££££ for U.K Fat Cats!

Richard, what are her Particulars, i.e Does she own property? is she attending University?? Does she have a stable Job?? Sorry if you have been asked this befoe. I have lost your old post and not sure where to find it!

[richard48]

Hi Manny
She lives with her sister and husband so no property, she has a job and has not travelled to any other country for a very long time and that was turkey i think.
I don't want to give her the wrong help as she is doubtful already about being able to leave the country.

What would you do in this position? she has a daughter who is 22 in Kiev and a mother so would wan't to be able to return.
 

[sparky114]

I am not aware that the UK stamps the passports of those declined a visa?

Does she have any property, a job, or any other EU travel before?

Yep they stamp the passport!!   I do not need to add more do I but that is in the Moscow Brit embassy

[Dogsoldier]

I am not aware that the UK stamps the passports of those declined a visa?

Does she have any property, a job, or any other EU travel before?

Yep they stamp the passport!!   I do not need to add more do I but that is in the Moscow Brit embassy

Passports do get marked with an ECR refusal. But even if you get reefused 1st time around there is absolutely no reason why you cannot apply again. You will get a reasons for refusal letter so you will know on what grounds the visa has been refused. So on the next application you can cover the refusal bits well. Of course if you put in a good initial application and cover all the bases, dont give the ECO any room to refuse. Read the rules and cover all the requirements. Preparation is key to a successful application.

[Manny]

What would you do in this position?

I have done many visitor visas in the past; we even imported our bridesmaids and in laws for our wedding.

What I would do right now would be to visit somewhere Schengen together. Perhaps Czech, Estonia, Finland or France (somewhere easy for Ukrainians). A Schengen visa in her passport already will look *far* better prior to an application for a UK one. It shows that she has had the capability to abscond in the EU before; and didn't.

However, if I were doing this today, after doing that, in your situation as you describe it, I would get Sparky on the phone. He is more up-to-date than I am on this stuff by two or three years - and this stuff changes fast. He has more recent experience than I do.  If need be, bung him a few quid for his time. If it can be done, he will likely know how to present the application so it has the best chance of being viewed favourably.

My other advice when it comes application time is do not declare a relationship*. Declare a "friendship" at best; preferably don't mention you at all. Have her apply alone with you having funded her bank account quietly. Others disagree with me on this - and they have the refusals to show it. A women in a relationship with a resident is an intending immigrant; ie, a flight risk. The American government are upfront about that in their application data; we aren't. But IMO the same guideline applies.

*Dogsoldier and I will now have several posts of banter and disagreement while he tells me that I know nothing and he has vast experience (which I don't doubt for a moment) that he wont disclose, and I link him to refusals supporting my argument. 

[sparky114]

What would you do in this position?

I have done many visitor visas in the past; we even imported our bridesmaids and in laws for our wedding.

What I would do right now would be to visit somewhere Schengen together. Perhaps Czech, Estonia, Finland or France (somewhere easy for Ukrainians). A Schengen visa in her passport already will look *far* better prior to an application for a UK one. It shows that she has had the capability to abscond in the EU before; and didn't.

However, if I were doing this today, after doing that, in your situation as you describe it, I would get Sparky on the phone. He is more up-to-date than I am on this stuff by two or three years - and this stuff changes fast. He has more recent experience than I do.  If need be, bung him a few quid for his time. If it can be done, he will likely know how to present the application so it has the best chance of being viewed favourably.

My other advice when it comes application time is do not declare a relationship*. Declare a "friendship" at best; preferably don't mention you at all. Have her apply alone with you having funded her bank account quietly. Others disagree with me on this - and they have the refusals to show it. A women in a relationship with a resident is an intending immigrant; ie, a flight risk. The American government are upfront about that in their application data; we aren't. But IMO the same guideline applies.

*Dogsoldier and I will now have several posts of banter and disagreement while he tells me that I know nothing and he has vast experience (which I don't doubt for a moment) that he wont disclose, and I link him to refusals supporting my argument. 

Yep so many go the route of not listening, just had one of those i know better than you episodes, well he went it alone and guess what 

Here's waiting for the disagreement posting to begin, Manny dont worry i will get DS a flak jacket over he is not too far from me 

[richard48]

Thank you Manny for the good advice, i will speak with her about your advice for visiting another country first and this sparky chap seems like he knows his stuff so once again i will take your advice.

many thanks it is good to have positives with so many negatives around   

[Chris]

All the above is good advice, however, and there usually is one, all applications are unique, one size does not fit all and I know a guy who has just got his RGF a UK Visitor Visa, and this is what they did:

1) They told the ECO that they were in a relationship,
2) They told them the whole truth,
3) They applied in St Petes, but it was processed through Moscow
4) KEY POINT # 1 - She had a schengen visa(s), for trips to Finland and Sweden although the only stamps visible in her passport was for Finland as this was the point of entry into schengen zone
5) They sent a letter in with the application stating they were in a relationship for 18 months already.
6) He provided one of his visa registration documents at her home, but that was the only single document of proof of their relationship provided except, a brief description on a sponsors invitation letter.
7) KEY POINT #2 - Her Age 32 and she has a daughter who was being looked after by her grandmother back in Russia during her trip to the UK.

Like you, this guy was also advised his application would be a non starter,  the thing against you is the non International travel aspect (especially Schengen areas) and return home again, not sure of her age and so on, but hope this helps you.

Chris


EDIT just seen your GF has  daughter aged 22, that will not have any bearing on it IMHO as she is old enough to look after herself. I think your best bet is to get her some stamps in her passport, although she is probably less of a flight risk due to her being older than those who are considered more risk.  Talk to Sparky he is UTD on this, but the above real life situation may give you some help and pointers.