UK Spouse Visa

As a UK national married to a Thai citizen, you can sponsor your partner for a UK Spouse Visa. This will allow you to settle down with your spouse in the United Kingdom for up to 2 years and 9 months, and enable them to apply for permanent residency later down the line. This is the simplest way for you to eventually live permanently together in the country.

Continue reading to find out more about the UK Spouse Visa, how your Thai spouse can apply for it, and what is needed to meet all the requirements.

Eligibility Requirements for a UK Spouse Visa

Before sponsoring your partner for a UK Spouse Visa, you both will need to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:

• You must be a UK citizen or permanent resident.
• You must be legally married to a foreign (Thai) citizen.
• You and your spouse must be at least 18 years old.
• You and your Thai spouse must have met in person.
• You must intend to live together permanently as a married couple.
• Your spouse must satisfy the English language requirements (i.e: passed the CEFR at A1 level or higher).
• You must meet the minimum income and financial requirements.*
• You and your spouse must have suitable accommodation in the UK.
• Your spouse must undergo a medical exam.

*NOTE: To meet the Spouse Visa’s financial requirements, you need to have a minimum income of £29,000 per year. This income can originate from employment, self-employment, pension, maternity allowances, bereavement benefits, or savings. You can also choose to hold £88,500 in your savings account, though this must be maintained for at least 6 months after the application is submitted.

Required Documents for a UK Spouse Visa

The documents needed for a UK Spouse Visa are similar to those of a UK Fiance Visa application. As part of the application process, you and your Thai spouse will need to provide the following documentation:

• Completed and signed UK Spouse Visa application form
• Valid Thai passport
• Two passport-sized photographs (in color)
• Proof of relationship documents (i.e: photographs, marriage certificate)
• Proof that your spouse meets the English language requirements (i.e: examination certificate)
• Proof that you meet the financial requirements (i.e: bank statements)
• Proof of accommodation in the UK
• Proof of medical examination results
• Divorce certificate (only applicable if previously divorced)
• Name change documents (only applicable if your spouse changed their name or surname)
• Proof of biometrics (ie: fingerprinting results)

How to Apply for a UK Spouse Visa

After meeting all the eligibility requirements and preparing all documents, your spouse’s application will be submitted to the UK Visa Application Center (VFS), a government-contracted service provider, to assess their biometrics. It will then be forwarded to UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration), which will review their application. If they are approved, their passport will be sent to the British Embassy with a visa stamp in it.

Your spouse does not have to fly back to Thailand to apply for this visa. If applying in the UK, their application will go to UKVI rather than VFS. It is recommended that your spouse applies for the visa in Thailand, as their biometrics will have to be collected there. If your spouse is applying for it while overseas, their biometrics will be taken at their current location.

What to Do After Receiving a UK Spouse Visa

Once they have been granted a UK Spouse Visa, your spouse can stay in the United Kingdom for a probationary period of 2 years and 9 months. By the end of that period they can apply for Leave to Remain, assuming you are still married, and remain in the country for another 2 years and 6 months. This is known as a UK Spouse Visa Extension.

If you are married for at least 5 years during their stay in the UK and they fulfill the requirements, they can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). This grants your Thai spouse permanent residency in the country with no additional conditions or restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Can I Do If My Spouse’s Visa Was Refused?

If your spouse’s case has been refused by immigration, contact our foreign visa staff at Siam Legal so they can help provide them with the best possible solution. The refusal letter will provide the details of why their case was denied, and depending on the reason given, they can reapply for their visa.

What is the Timeline for a UK Spouse Visa?

The current processing time for a UK Spouse Visa is estimated to be 2-3 months if applying outside the UK and 6-8 weeks if applying in the country. Various factors can impact the processing time and cause delays such as application errors and insufficient documentation. The processing time also depends on the volume of UK visa Thailand applications received by the British Embassy.

Can My Spouse Work on a UK Spouse Visa?

Yes, your spouse can work for a UK-based company while on a UK Spouse Visa with no limitations. This means they can apply for full-time employment, without needing to seek temporary work.

What Is the Cost of Your Service?

If you choose Siam Legal to assist your spouse with their visa application, we charge around 49,755 baht plus value-added tax (VAT) for our end-to-end UK Spousal Visa services. The visa fees, English language test fees, tuberculosis test fees, Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fees, and VFS fees are all charged separately.

Is There a Document Checklist for the UK Spouse Visa Application?

Yes, if needed, we will provide a detailed checklist highlighting all the important documents your married partner needs to apply for the visa.

Can the Process Be Expedited?

Yes, if your spouse wants to expedite the application process, they can apply for a priority service or a super-priority service. By paying £500, they can use the priority service to reduce the time it takes for their application to be processed, from 2-3 months down to 5-30 working days. Another option is to pay £1000 for the super-priority service for even faster processing, which can deliver the visa in as early as a single business day.

Does My Spouse Need to be in Bangkok to Submit Their Application?

They can apply for a UK Spouse Visa either in the UK or in Thailand if they are currently a resident there. While it does not have to be completed in their home country, it is recommended to complete their application in the country that they currently live in.

If they are applying for the visa while in Thailand, they can only do so in either Bangkok or Phuket (for an extra fee). They can prepare their application outside of those regions, but when it’s time to do their biometrics, they will need to travel to either Bangkok or Phuket to complete them.

Meet Our UK Visa Team

Contact Siam Legal today to settle in the UK with your Thai spouse in the quickest and most efficient manner possible.