Thai girlfriend wanting to relocate to UK

[MarkW123]

Hi all. Any comments on this from wiser and more experienced heads would be gratefully received.
Simply put, my Thai national girlfriend is now pregnant and the baby is due in October. What I require is some advice on whether and on what basis it would be possible for her to relocate to the UK post birth. She has visited before and currently has the benefit of a Visitors Visa which is due to expire next month.
I understand that the issue will be her and not the child since the child will automatically get British citizenship through me given that I, as the father, am a British passport holder who was born in the UK.
The questions are therefore:

1. Is it possible for her to relocate to the UK and if so on what basis and how do I go about making that happen?

2. Is it an absolute that we will need to be married beforehand? I would like to avoid doing so if at all possible due to having had a bad experience previously.

3. Could somebody confirm my initial understanding as to the automatic issuing of a British passport to the child and again, if this is correct, what is the process for obtaining this.

Many many thanks to anyone who can bring some experience to bear on these issues.

Mark

[ouflak1]

Hi all. Any comments on this from wiser and more experienced heads would be gratefully received.
Simply put, my Thai national girlfriend is now pregnant and the baby is due in October. What I require is some advice on whether and on what basis it would be possible for her to relocate to the UK post birth. She has visited before and currently has the benefit of a Visitors Visa which is due to expire next month.
I understand that the issue will be her and not the child since the child will automatically get British citizenship through me given that I, as the father, am a British passport holder who was born in the UK.
The questions are therefore:

1. Is it possible for her to relocate to the UK and if so on what basis and how do I go about making that happen?

She can either qualify on her own right through a variety of routes, you can become engaged to her, or you can marry her.

2. Is it an absolute that we will need to be married beforehand? I would like to avoid doing so if at all possible due to having had a bad experience previously.

No you do not need to be married if she can qualify via any of the work/student/ancestry routes. Also you can get engaged and be married later.

3. Could somebody confirm my initial understanding as to the automatic issuing of a British passport to the child and again, if this is correct, what is the process for obtaining this.

The Home Office may require a DNA test if you are not married at the time of birth. Otherwise, the process is the same as for any child who is by birth a British citizen. I noticed you used the word 'automatic'. I hope you aren't thinking it will be 'fast', because it can take time if you are having to do this for the child from abroad (presumably Thailand in this case). Obviously from inside the UK it will be much quicker.

[Casa]

Do bear in mind that if you choose the fiance route, you will be required to submit evidence that a wedding is being planned (e.g quotes from venues/caterers/invitations, enquiry with Registry Office for available dates.....). You will also have to marry in the UK within 6 months of the visa issue date.