Can my wife come for a holiday

[Mikeyboy]

Hi, My wife is currently in Brazil waiting for an English test (the next near her is in December!!!). She was over her for 6 months on a visit visa that expired in May, the question is can she come here for a couple of weeks on a new visit visa for a holiday and to potentially take her English test over here. Or will this cause issues with her Spouse Visa Application?

Any help would be greatly appreciated I haven't seen her since May and waiting for a few more months sucks.

P.S. The reason for her coming on holiday here as opposed to me going there is not only the english test but the fact we have a house here so the expense will be far less.

[Lucapooka]

She can go there and take the test but has she tried Cultura Inglesa in Brazil?

The only problem she may have is that, having been in the UK for six months, she has effectively used up her annual allocation. I'm not saying it's certain she will have a problem, but she needs to have good quality answers to any questions that may be asked.

[Mikeyboy]

She can go there and take the test but has she tried Cultura Inglesa in Brazil?

The only problem she may have is that, having been in the UK for six months, she has effectively used up her annual allocation. I'm not saying it's certain she will have a problem, but she needs to have good quality answers to any questions that may be asked.

Hi Luca,

I was worried about that as she was here Nov 2011 - May 2012, if she came in October would that be better?

She tried Cultura Inglesa and they don't have the test until December, there are others (Toefl IBT etc) but the KET is not until December. She failed the Pearson PTE Academic (which was a body blow for her) last month so we are trying to go with the easiest test as it is hard for her to travel to a course and she has no internet to study online.

The only reason we can give UKBA is that we want to see each other and my work schedule makes it very hard to do so, if she is here we can see each other at night. She would have a return ticket etc but no job in Brazil as she is using savings or I am sending her money at the moment.

Would it be a normal visit visa or a Family Visit visa?

[Lucapooka]

The types of visit are only really defined when they are applied for prior to travel by visa nationals. She would get visit entry clearance on arrival so it's not relevant.

It's really a judgement call that is hard to offer advice on. If she is admitted she will be allowed to stay for another six months. My wife used to stay in the UK, leave and return soon after, and she never had a problem but it depends on how interested the UKBA are in probing her reasons to enter and motivation to return. She could always pre-apply for a visa citing the reasons you have mentioned, and this would be a family visitor, but that would be like sign-posting her unsuitability for entry clearance based on previous stay and lack of returnability! I feel your pain.

[Mikeyboy]

The types of visit are only really defined when they are applied for prior to travel by visa nationals. She would get visit entry clearance on arrival so it's not relevant.

It's really a judgement call that is hard to offer advice on. If she is admitted she will be allowed to stay for another six months. My wife used to stay in the UK, leave and return soon after, and she never had a problem but it depends on how interested the UKBA are in probing her reasons to enter and motivation to return. She could always pre-apply for a visa citing the reasons you have mentioned, and this would be a family visitor, but that would be like sign-posting her unsuitability for entry clearance based on previous stay and lack of returnability! I feel your pain.

It is rapidly turning from something "easy" to the hardest thing I have ever had to do, my heart sank when I found out we would have to wait until December.

It's a sickening decision. Wait until December or risk her coming here and getting sent back (and lose X hundred pounds).

Will the Boarder officer know about our marriage and would it be better for her to keep quiet if not and simply say she is visiting friends, the return ticket will be for a max of 3 weeks.

[Lucapooka]

The Border Guard will only know that she has been in the UK previously. But if she is asked questions about why she is returning and who she is visiting, she absolutely needs to tell the truth. It's all about putting on a face that does not prompt too many probing questions.

[Mikeyboy]

The Border Guard will only know that she has been in the UK previously. But if she is asked questions about why she is returning and who she is visiting, she absolutely needs to tell the truth. It's all about putting on a face that does not prompt too many probing questions.

Makes sense, thanks again you are a gentleman and a scholar.

Mike