Visitor Visa for Filipino Girlfriend.

[shockboy2000]

Hello,
Filipino GF is teaching English in Thailand at the moment.
She applied in Bangkok for UK Tourist visa for a period of 2 weeks only.
She supplied, in addition to evidence of relationship and my funds (i'm acting as sponsor):
- Letter from me explaining dates, and that i will ensure she returns
- Paid return flight details with British airways
- Thai residence AND work permit valid for almost 1 year beyond the anticipated return date (these were renewed just 2weeks ago)
- Contract+letter from her employer, valid for another year (new contract actually starts just after the anticipated return from UK)

However, the tourist/visitor visa (applied for last week) was rejected today "on balance of probabilities" that she will not return.

She was not called in for an interview. Neither myself in the UK or her employer in Thailand were contacted.

Can tourist/visitor visas be appealed ? I'm struggling to think of anything else she could have supplied to prove her returning after 2 weeks.

If so, is it better for ME to lodge the appeal in UK, or her to do it at visa application centre in Bangkok?

Cheers

[Mr Rusty]

It's not a family visit, so she is unlikely to have a right of appeal. Whether or not she is entitled to appeal should be clearly indicated on the refusal documents. However, you could ask the Entry Clearance Manager for a reconsideration.

If you supplied the evidence that you say you have done that she has got a job to go back to, one wonders how they could have decided on the papers alone that "on the balance of probabilities" she does not intend to go back. Would it be possible for you to post the entire refusal wording so that we could get some pointers either how you might address the perceived defects in a fresh application, or how you could challenge a flawed decision?

[shockboy2000]

will post exact text tomorrow morning (uk time)...as the tracking number she sent me via SMS isnt working on the brit v"isa application centre in bangkok" website. Apparently the text in rejection letter is visible on the tracking website too.

i was doubtful about being eligible for appeal, having read ukvisas website, but she WAS given an AIT2 form. I'm confident if someone else (i.e. another caseworker) has a look at all her evidence, the appeal would be upheld.

Its just a pity that the time it will take for appeal process will go beyond the desired dates of travel...so even if the appeal works...i'm guessing she would have to re-apply for later dates.

Fortunately british airways says i can cancel the flight up to the date before she was due to arrive in UK...so i'll just have to go visit her instead if need be.