UK Visit Visa from third country

[ElvishLoremaster2020]

My thanks, first of all, to all that can help with my plea - it is causing a lot of mental health problems.

My (female) friend is looking to visit the UK (and me, male - we have never met) is a resident of Kazakhstan.

She has moved to Dubai for work and has been working there for over a year and has a contract for many more months.

She wants to take a "vacation" to the UK for 1-2 weeks and thus needs to apply for a visa, as I understand. My concern is that the Home Office will refuse... young girl... coming to England... they may refuse on grounds that she has no reason to return (as I have had before).

She has a letter from her employer to state to confirm her contract. She doesn't have a bank account to speak of, but has evidence of all of her employers payments to a card, that is used in Dubai.

Furthermore, she has no means of proving her residential status as she lives and sleeps in hotels which are let out by companies of whom do not offer letters - everything is cash!!!

I want to help her come to the UK for 1-2 weeks for a vacation. I can get a letter of accommodation via my own flat and/or parents home, a letter from an English school that she also wishes to attend to improve her language skills during her stay, and three years worth of WhatsApp messages between us to prove our friendship.

My concern is that the HO will refuse on grounds that she will be coming to the UK to find work, funds, get into a relationship with me (which is possible in the future).

Can anyone tell me the chances of success if I apply on her behalf?

She has a 4-figure fund to evidence, but I have more and will be evidencing her accommodation and food, entertainment etc.

I think this is enough to go on - again, my sincere thanks for anyone that can help me.

My very best,

Matt

[alterhase58]

Does friend have a residence permit in Dubai.
As you know already, UKVI are very familiar with this kind of application.
Unfortunately they are not keen on the "boyfriend-girlfriend" scenario. Your future potential relationship intentions are just that, intentions. There's no sure-fire way of securing the visitor visa, alternatively get married and sponsor for spouse visa.
Visitor visas are not expensive, your choice. No guarantee of course.

[Ticktack]

To add to the above, the general train of thoughts would be that what stops you from visiting her in Dubai?

Firstly, you need not let this cause you mental health problems. Some things you can't change, so talk to your GP about how you're feeling. I think it might be deeper that just trying to get someone to visit the UK.

Secondly, you've correctly deduced the hurdles you might be facing, accommodation, residency, bank statement, job security, never met each other, wanting to learn English, and many more I haven't spoken about.

Sort out what you can see first, then we can point out the ones you don't see. Always easier looking from the outside in.

[ElvishLoremaster2020]

Thank you both for your replies - I am truly grateful.

@alterhase58

Yes, she does have a residence permit in Dubai. But she wants to visit the UK all the same genuinely as a holiday. The boyfriend-girlfriend thing can also be aided by the fact that I am married - long story and don't want to air my "dirty laundry" here!!

@ticktack
Me visiting Dubai is an option, or we could both meet in a country where she doesn't need a visa, such as Serbia. I get your point about learning English though, as that spells out caution insomuch that she is planning to come to England.

The other issue is, my wife and I had a massive falling out with the Home Office. They told us to fill in the wrong form, they wanted to deport her as a result - we took HO to court at huge expense, but won. Due to mental health she cannot be deported as her home country cannot support her needs. She had 5 years residence already, but after the court, the told her to start again from day 1!! I didn't have that sort of money, so we fought this through legal aid, MP and many others - no change. So my wife is here without a vaid visa, can't work, can't do anything.

Sorry, it is a messy situation!!

EDIT - Is it possible for me to fill out the application on her behalf here in the UK - or at least complete the form and have her submit it from Dubai?

[ElvishLoremaster2020]

Done my homework on the final question, but I couldn't find it!!!

"You can apply for a visa for someone else. For example, a relative overseas who does not have access to a computer or your child, if they cannot apply for themselves.

You must get permission from the person you’re applying for, or written permission from their parent or guardian if the applicant is under 18."

source - https://www.gov.uk/apply-to-come-to-the ... pplication

[ElvishLoremaster2020]

Sorry for a further post - but I should state that I don't want to be untruthful about my friends intentions as I worry that it could lead to problems further down the line when/if we apply for a spouse visa.

I think everything has to be bought out into the open in the application that I am soon to be divorced and my friend is coming to the UK to meet me. I have never been untruthful before, and I don't want my current issues with the HO to get any worse.

This is going to be tough!!!

[AmazonianX]

Sorry for a further post - but I should state that I don't want to be untruthful about my friends intentions as I worry that it could lead to problems further down the line when/if we apply for a spouse visa.

I think everything has to be bought out into the open in the application that I am soon to be divorced and my friend is coming to the UK to meet me. I have never been untruthful before, and I don't want my current issues with the HO to get any worse.

This is going to be tough!!!

Not so clear a situation. Your truthfulness of imminent divorce, possibility of your friend who is coming to visit you likely becoming your spouse after divorce places the application in jeopardy.
Reported cases of previous similar situation where such visitors enters UK, do not go back and seek other means/route to legalise their status does not help.
This is solely my opinion.

[AmazonianX]

Thank you both for your replies - I am truly grateful.

@alterhase58

Yes, she does have a residence permit in Dubai. But she wants to visit the UK all the same genuinely as a holiday. The boyfriend-girlfriend thing can also be aided by the fact that I am married - long story and don't want to air my "dirty laundry" here!!

@ticktack
Me visiting Dubai is an option, or we could both meet in a country where she doesn't need a visa, such as Serbia. This is an option for the requirements of haven met in person in future when applying spouse visa I get your point about learning English though, as that spells out caution insomuch that she is planning to come to England.

The other issue is, my wife and I had a massive falling out with the Home Office. They told us to fill in the wrong form, they wanted to deport her as a result - we took HO to court at huge expense, but won. Due to mental health she cannot be deported as her home country cannot support her needs. She had 5 years residence already, but after the court, the told her to start again from day 1!! I didn't have that sort of money, so we fought this through legal aid, MP and many others - no change. So my wife is here without a vaid visa, can't work, can't do anything.

Sorry, it is a messy situation!!

EDIT - Is it possible for me to fill out the application on her behalf here in the UK - or at least complete the form and have her submit it from Dubai?

[ElvishLoremaster2020]

Not so clear a situation. Your truthfulness of imminent divorce, possibility of your friend who is coming to visit you likely becoming your spouse after divorce places the application in jeopardy.
Reported cases of previous similar situation where such visitors enters UK, do not go back and seek other means/route to legalise their status does not help.
This is solely my opinion.

The bottom line is that I must be truthful as if during the spouse application the UKVI find out she came over under false pretences, THAT would also put the application in jeopardy.

She wants to see what England is all about, meet my parents and my friends and so forth. It is a genuine visit. She has a very prestigious job in Dubai which she cannot just walk away from. It the sort of company that looks good on a CV and she will for sure need a reference from them. She has a MASSIVE travel history, India, China - all over - and she has always played by the rules. Besides, she won't want to stick around for my divorce - not a healthy way to start a relationship!!

It upsets me so much that people have made it so difficult for this to happen.

[AmazonianX]

Not so clear a situation. Your truthfulness of imminent divorce, possibility of your friend who is coming to visit you likely becoming your spouse after divorce places the application in jeopardy.
Reported cases of previous similar situation where such visitors enters UK, do not go back and seek other means/route to legalise their status does not help.
This is solely my opinion.

The bottom line is that I must be truthful as if during the spouse application the UKVI find out she came over under false pretences, THAT would also put the application in jeopardy.

She wants to see what England is all about, meet my parents and my friends and so forth. It is a genuine visit. She has a very prestigious job in Dubai which she cannot just walk away from. It the sort of company that looks good on a CV and she will for sure need a reference from them. She has a MASSIVE travel history, India, China - all over - and she has always played by the rules. Besides, she won't want to stick around for my divorce - not a healthy way to start a relationship!!

It upsets me so much that people have made it so difficult for this to happen.

You are the one who knows and is sure of this.
It is for you both to convince the HO to your side.

[ElvishLoremaster2020]

The bottom line is that I must be truthful as if during the spouse application the UKVI find out she came over under false pretences, THAT would also put the application in jeopardy.

She wants to see what England is all about, meet my parents and my friends and so forth. It is a genuine visit. She has a very prestigious job in Dubai which she cannot just walk away from. It the sort of company that looks good on a CV and she will for sure need a reference from them. She has a MASSIVE travel history, India, China - all over - and she has always played by the rules. Besides, she won't want to stick around for my divorce - not a healthy way to start a relationship!!

It upsets me so much that people have made it so difficult for this to happen.

You are the one who knows and is sure of this.
It is for you both to convince the HO to your side.

Absolutely. I have a very good friend whose father is a QC and he will happily offer advice and help check over the application. Then I think two well-worded letters from both her and myself will be our best hope.

As you said, it is all about getting the HO to see our side.

Thank you all so much for your help - it has been very useful and given me some clear pointers.