Visitor Visa - Which one 6 Month/2year/5 year/10 year

[nehaguptaa]

I am looking at applying for a visitor visa for my mother. She has been recently widowed and hence cannot keep applying for visa again and again and hence would like to apply for her long term visitor visa. She has applied for visitor visa for 6 month duration in 2012 but never travelled on it.

Now is it advisable to apply for a 10 year visitor visa and of not then which one is preferable ?

[CR001]

In order to get a longer than 6 visa, she would have to show she has previously held visas and stuck to the visa rules. Unlikely she will be granted a 10 year visit visa if she has not previously traveled to the UK and shown compliance with the rules.

What will she show as ties to her home country to convince the ECO that she will return after her visit?

How long does she intend to visit if she is granted a longer term visit visa?