Family visitor visa for mother - long term

[shomoo]

I need advise from you regarding my family visitor application for mother.
I am British citizen
My mother is widowed (now 2+ years).She is 63 years old. She has come to UK 3 times before in short-term 6 months faily/visitor visa in last 4-5 years
She has travelled to visit me in US in the past in similar visas.
Now I want to apply for long term family visit visa - ideally for 10 years.
My questions:
Is it safer to apply for 5 years instead of 10 years?
Do I need to show additional documents if any on top of normal 6 month visit visa?
Is it harder to get 10 year visa now?
any sample letter someone can point me to?
Do i buy airtickets before applying for 10 year visa?

[MPH80]

Is it safer to apply for 5 years instead of 10 years?

Probably - it'd be even safer to apply for a 2 year visa. The general feeling is that UKBA like to see this build 6 month -> 2 year -> 5 year etc.

Do I need to show additional documents if any on top of normal 6 month visit visa?

No - but strong ties would be expected.

Is it harder to get 10 year visa now?

It's getting harder and harder as time moves on to get all kinds of visa.

Do i buy airtickets before applying for 10 year visa?

No - never buy tickets before applying for a visa.

Just to make sure you're clear on one point - the visa still only allows a maximum visit duration of 180 days - and the 6 month in 12 rule applies.

The costs of these visas against the cost of applying for the 6 month visa when you want it may not be financially sensible depending on how often she intends to visit.

M.

[shomoo]

Is it safer to apply for 5 years instead of 10 years?

Probably - it'd be even safer to apply for a 2 year visa. The general feeling is that UKBA like to see this build 6 month -> 2 year -> 5 year etc.
Thanks for the advice. I will probably go for the 5 year visa. To save the hassle every time. But do we need to show any additional docs? Other than strong ties?

Do I need to show additional documents if any on top of normal 6 month visit visa?

No - but strong ties would be expected.

Is it harder to get 10 year visa now?

It's getting harder and harder as time moves on to get all kinds of visa.

Do i buy airtickets before applying for 10 year visa?

No - never buy tickets before applying for a visa.

Just to make sure you're clear on one point - the visa still only allows a maximum visit duration of 180 days - and the 6 month in 12 rule applies.
I thought so. But the rule never clearly states that

The costs of these visas against the cost of applying for the 6 month visa when you want it may not be financially sensible depending on how often she intends to visit.
She would come once every 6 months...as per maximum allowed
M.

[shomoo]

M
Thanks for the reply. and Thanks for the advice. I will probably go for the 5 year visa. To save the hassle every time.
But do we need to show any additional docs? Other than strong ties?

On the 6 months in a year rule - is there anywhere this is written in the rules specifically? can you please point me to this?

[MPH80]

My wife's family have had a 2 year visa and didn't provide anything different to the 6 month.

For the 6 in 12 rule - see here:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/polic ... 1/#header5

It is guidance rather than rule - but it's what the border agency work to.