A friend from Tunisia wanting to visit UK

CJ21 · #1 (**permalink**) 18-12-07

Hi, I have a friend in Tunisia who would like to visit me in the UK, but he seems to think he cannot. He said he needs work or wife here, or a lot of money or he will not be allowed, he has been told this by a friend ??????? I did tell him I dont think so for a holiday, I did make enquiries and was told that all he has to do is apply to his embassy, Any info on this would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks, CJ.

samwella · #2 (**permalink**) 19-12-07

Hi Cara if you read some of the stuff from the visa section that will give you some info on a holiday visa and also the UK visa website will give you most of the info. If your friend is applying then he'll need to be able to proove that he has some kind of sponser and support in the UK and accomidation, if he works get something to show he can have the time off work and also that he'll return, letters of support and invitations also help. however I dont know how things stand now as they;ve made changes to the way he has to apply and then also now the government have introduced the new visa ruling yesterday. good luck hun

woudlg · #3 (**permalink**) 19-12-07

Hi CJ,

Your friend is right - he needs a visitors visa to come to the UK which is a similar application process to a spousal visa (i.e. if he'd married a UK citizen and wanted to join them). Visitors visas are anecdotally much harder to obtain (though there are people who have, so it's by no means impossible). The issue is that the Embassy need to be sure that your visitor can support himself/ that you can support him financially for the time that he is in the UK, that he has somewhere to live and, most importantly, that he will return to Tunisia as soon as his visa expires. All of this has to be proved through paperwork (do***ented in this site) and he will be interviewed by the Embassy. As you've probably gathered, Tunisians have nowhere near the freedom that we do to travel the world - it's actually very difficult. You definitely need to carefully plan for his visit (well in advance of when you want him to come), gather a lot of evidence about yours and his financial status, employment, housing etc. and unfortunately pay a fee for the application (not sure how much a visitors visa application fee is, but a spousal one is now over £500).

Hope that helps!

jacqui0414 · #4 (**permalink**) 19-12-07

HI Cj,

bad news for visitor visa as per announcment yesterday apparently you have to pay £1000 deposit for anyone who wishes to come for a holiday :-(

i wish you good luck with you application x

dizzyc · #5 (**permalink**) 19-12-07

Just incase anyone starts panicking about the £1,000 deposit I believe it's only a suggestion and hasn't actually been put into force. In fact it said on the news last night that the Government would find it difficult to enforce this and that it probably would never happen. So to anyone that's thinking of getting a friend/loved one over I'd say do it sooner rather than later incase they do bring this rule in. But it looks unlikely to happen which is good news.

jacqui0414 · #6 (**permalink**) 19-12-07

the way it said it in local paper today as if it was going ahead but great if they dont as my husbands parents are coming next year and to be honest i cant afford it :-)

thanks for clearing that up

Lizj · #7 (**permalink**) 19-12-07

Yep, its not easy to get a visit visa, my boyfriend did the on-line application on 6th Dec, the next day he was very ill and in hosp a few times and only got to take the papers to the Embassy yesterday only to be told by the Tunisian woman he saw that 'I'm not accepting these as we close after tomorrow, come back in January'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????? ?????' So even when you manage to get all the info you need they find a way of scuppering you. I've now made an official complaint to the home office, god was I mad yesterday.
So good luck if you brave it but be prepared for the crap that goes with it.

Dizzy, did you attemt it while you were there? Or were you too busy talking weddings you lucky thing, I wish mine would hurry up and get his divorce, (anyone want a wife thats surplus to requirements?).

dizzyc · #8 (**permalink**) 19-12-07

Hi Liz, no we didn't bother in the end - we decided that we'll married & then apply for the settlement visa instead. I'm going back in Feb to make all the arrangements and the plan is to marry at the end of May, apply for the visa straight away & hopefully it will be succesful & he will be able to come to the UK by August/September next year. Originally I wanted him to come for two or three weeks to see if he liked it here but I hate being apart from him & I just want him here with me permanently. So I'm writing lists again of what do***ents etc I need - it's a flippin nightmare but it'll all be worth it in the end.

I can't believe what happened to your b/friend at the embassy yesterday - you must be gutted. So does he have to wait till January then? How long will he have to wait once he's handed the papers in? I really feel for you hun, you must be so stressed out. Hopefully Xmas & New Year will fly by then he can go back & fingers crossed get his visa. I wish you both the best of luck,I'll keep my fingers crossed for you x

dizzyc · #9 (**permalink**) 19-12-07

Hiya, I meant to say before that I did send you a PM on the 16th - I was just asking how the visa went but obviously you've answered my question now anyway!! x

Lizj · #10 (**permalink**) 19-12-07

Hi Dizzy,
Sorry didn't even realise there was a pm, I'll go in search of it in a mo. I was gutted yesterday and cried all day at work and then really angry that they could get away with this, or so they think, I've got other ideas. He will go back on 3rd Jan when they re-open and then it is possibly 2 weeks for an interview, if he is successful then that only allows just over another 2 weeks for us to book a flight and him come here before he has to return for his divorce hearing on 8th Feb, so it might be better to wait till after this which makes it even longer. The joke is that if we do this it makes a farce of his divorce hearing being his 'intent to return' !! I might just lock him in the house and not let him back. Anyhow I'm ok today and in fighting spirit but the buggers have all gone on their xmas holidays so I can't get to them just yet, but I'll be waiting to pounce!!!!
How did the sweets go down??