The course of true love...

Hello people!

Well I promised to keep you up dated with the progress of plans for my boyfriend to come to London to spend a month with me, so here is the latest news flash!

Yesterday he went to the British Embassy in Bangkok, queued patiently from 5am until the doors opened at 9am, was duly put through the mill, questioned, asked to complete a 30 question paper etc. He had a load of paperwork from me as the sponsor for his visa application, proof that he is free of TB, evidence that I own my home (solicitors letter), my payslips, bank statements, letter of sponsorship, pictures and other evidence that we have been seeing each other for eighteen months now etc etc etc

But finally he was told they were granting the visa!!! I am ecstatic, stunned but just so happy! I was terrified it would all go so wrong, and now I can hardly believe he will be here with me soon. I have booked three weeks off, and he plans to be here for a month, so he will have some time to himself.

The plan is to drive around the country, visiting my friends, and my home town in Scotland. Poor man! All my friends are desperate to meet him, but they are also mostly highly sceptical, so he will no doubt have to go through the third degree many times!!!

After this holiday he will return to Thailand and decide whether he could cope with living here with me!!! So no wedding date set yet, you still have time to lose those extra pounds (join me!) and buy that new hat!!!

Cheers!

[jinks]

Well done that (wo)MAN :)

If you are passing my way on your Royal Progress, I can provide respite.

[TrongpaiExpat]

Congratulations! So, it is possible. What's his background, does he own property in Thailand?

Even if my BF could qualify, I don't think I would take him on a visit to any western country. We have been to Singapore and to Laos and he was willing to go and is willing to go back but I could see quite a bit of culture discomfort and they were Asian countries.

In Singapore, he kept saying pang, expensive, looks nice but does not feel right. Thai food no good, people act strange. In Laos he kept saying people too poor, food not right. He was offended at some of the transportation costs. He is from Nong Khai and neither he or anyone in his family ever had the desire to cross the bridge to see the other side.

In both cases, I could see he was very happy to set foot back in Thailand. I can only imagine how he might react to USA, UK or Europe and I would not subject him to that.

I find this interesting he was granted a VISA using you and your relationship to "Sponser" his visit. This flys in the face of what I've been told over and over about a thai boy applying for a US or UK Visa. That is that "Sponsership" is not factored into the decision (the applicant must prove he has enough resources to support himself on the trip and enough reason to return) and that even the slightest hint that the guy is GAY will kill any chance of getting a tourist VISA. Maybe the UK embassy has become less Homophobic then the US embassy. I too, am curious about your BFs job status, age, whether he owns property, etc. because it's my understanding these are the factors that make or break the VISA decision.

The beloved is 29 years old (I am 47), and he is employed as a waiter in a decent restaurant, does not own property.

We have been very open about our relationship, including my stating on the letter of sponsorship, that if all goes well with this trip, then we shall declare our intention to use the Civil Partnership law in the UK and he will return later in the year to live with me permanently.

The Civil Partnership law only came into effect in the UK in December last year, which has been marvellous timing from my point of view.

Sponsoring his visa application meant that I had to provide evidence of my ability to finance his trip, and give him a place to stay.

Of course the trauma is not over yet, he still needs to get through immigration at the airport in the UK.........

But only two weeks to wait and he will be here........and with me for a whole month.........

I do worry about the culture shock for him. No decent Thai food at all hours of the day and night, hardly anyone to speak Thai with, and as for the British weather...........

Yere well i will probaly be bringin a Thai boy out here with me soon .
He will probaly study here,i have been looking around on the internet for a college in Sydney for him to study.I dunno which boy yet im still gotta find one over there as i got bored with the other ones.
I cant wait to bring one back with me.I will let you all know when I do.
It amazes me this TRICKY RICH bloke who is suppossed to be a nurse,if he is then how come he doesnt work in Thailand,nurses can get jobs anywhere.And you other Aussies on here,its very easy to bring Thai boys here,hopefully he will find a wife here.

Yere well i will probaly be bringin a Thai boy out here with me soon .
He will probaly study here,i have been looking around on the internet for a college in Sydney for him to study.I dunno which boy yet im still gotta find one over there as i got bored with the other ones.
I cant wait to bring one back with me.I will let you all know when I do.
It amazes me this TRICKY RICH bloke who is suppossed to be a nurse,if he is then how come he doesnt work in Thailand,nurses can get jobs anywhere.And you other Aussies on here,its very easy to bring Thai boys here,hopefully he will find a wife here.

who will pay sckool fees medikal insurance and food travel winter cloths my friend him say his boy cost 20000 aus dollar each yaer boy cannot work more than 20 hour week him get 9 dollar work at thai waiter

Mate you do a good impression of an Asian.Good on ya you are a Wombat.
Nah mate im not sending him to a english college ,i found this Karate college on the internet ,like a full time martial arts school.in Sydney that takes full time students legally.
You gotta remember that working for even $9 per hour sounds low,but its probaly cash in the hand.A lot of Thai restaurants here .I mean he could even work in a escort agency if he wants.No mate i got to do my duty as a good citizen of this country and help people of third world countries.I will probaly be bringing out a Muay Thai boxer or 2 and have them travel around on the Sydney subway at night to get to know the place.and maybe get him/them to walk around Redfern at night to meet the local aborigines.
Best to be hard with them straight away rather than be like TRICKY RICH and moddle coddle them.I must ring this school to find out the prices for overseas students. www.wingchun.com.au (http://www.wingchun.com.au)

TrickyRich it is great you bring us your story, and i hope you have a good time together white your Thai friend in UK. You not have to be scare about anything other people think or tell you, let this adventure find his way and enjoy every day . Nobody knows what further brings.

Have a greet time and enjoy :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

[jinks]

I do worry about the culture shock for him. No decent Thai food at all hours of the day and night, .

I have some Thai spices and a big wok...

We can go shopping ...

He can cook it :)))

[colmx]

Hi TrickyRich

Congratualtions on the visa for your Bf!
This time last year I was anxiously getting the paperwork ready for my BFs 3rd visa application(to visit Ireland)... which was eventually granted!

The visit and visa shenanigans were well documented on this boards pre-decessors...

He came here in July but has been in no hurry since to return!

Like Trongpai's BF he was very hard to impress and everything was just not "good same thailand"

We will apply next month for another visa for this July so he can come again and see what he thinks second time around!

I guess the partnership law has made it a lot easier for same-sex couples to get UK visas than in the past... Especially looking at how difficult it is for some guys on ThaiVisa.com to get their GFs/Wives a visa!

Hopefully we will soon have similar ligislation in Ireland!

I'm looking forward to the trip report!

Congratulations

The easy part is now over - the granting of the Visa.

Now you just have to worry about the Immigration at the airport letting him in.

Don't think it is just a formality to arrive and be let in. He could quite easily be turned away on arrival

A single Thai man travelling alone (possibly on his first overseas visit) is a target for sure

Make sure he has sufficient money on him and can PROVE that he has sufficient funds of his own or access to funds of his own. A joint account is not good enough - it must be solely in his name

Also it is preferaqble if he has a credit card on him as well -in his own name. An ATM card with Visa, Cirrus or Maestro is preferable

This is not scare mongering - I cite from personal experience where my friend was turned away at the airport and led away to a detention cell, deported the next day and banned from re-entering for 3 years. Just because an over officious immigration officer dide not belive he had sufficient funds to support himself during his stay.

Oh - and yes - I also had copies of the sponsorship letters, photos, joint bank accounts, employment letters etc etc etc at the airport with me when I went to meet him. Of course I was never allowed to see him and the Immigration refused to accept my evidence as genuine

Hope it works out

[Dodger]

TrickyRick...THAT'S GREAT NEWS!

I can just imagine your feelings right about now. I've have many dreams in the past about what it would be like to have Boy Special here on my home turf...dreams that I'm sure many others have experienced as well.

I'm not sure if I would be that worried about the availability of Thai food, as this would be a great experience for him to explore true western culture, the same way you and I plunged into "The Thai Way."

Congratulations again...stories like yours give us all a good dose of HOPE for the future.

mai pen rai

TrickyRich please be very punctual at the arrivals when you pick him up. I saw a very pretty Thai girl in tears because her English BF was late and they couldnt reach him so they stuck her on a flight home. I was devastated for her. And of course no one understood, thought she was a chancer.

[Dodger]

Cedric...

For some reason, I don't think Rich will be showing up late.

I'm so happy for you and simply can't wait for the follow-up story: The cost of true love.

[Dick]

Congratulations Richard. Hope all works out for the both of you.
It proves there's a God after all:-)

I can picture the envy on the faces of his friends in the restaurant when he shows them the visa stamp in his passport. Priceless! Chances are the service given to visiting single Brits in that restaurant will be exemplary during the coming months...

This is probably our first real test of the British Embassy's handling of gay applications under the new legislation.
Many thanks for sharing.

[andrewcraig]

Yere well i will probaly be bringin a Thai boy out here with me soon .
He will probaly study here,i have been looking around on the internet for a college in Sydney for him to study.I dunno which boy yet im still gotta find one over there as i got bored with the other ones.
I cant wait to bring one back with me.I will let you all know when I do.
.

Why not an AKHA boy
http://p092.ezboard.com/fsawatdeeforumf ... D=42.topic (http://p092.ezboard.com/fsawatdeeforumfrm72.showMessage?topicID=42.topic)

[dab69]

wow you are generous. imagine the insurance/medical costs should he get hurt!!

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

THIS is not fair he is allowed to do this.I am angry and bloody jealous .
I have already written a 52 page letter to PM Johnny Howard telling him to let my boyfriends come out here or I will vote for someone else.
I will let you all know when i recieve a reply.

I wonder if when the immigration folk peruse the application they take into account the quality of the sponsor. If the supporting letter is some half-witted scribble on some scrap of wrapping paper, I wonder if it is a well received as copper plate on vellum. I expect wearing white brogues or plimsolls in the greeting area helps a lot too.

And I am definitely high quality!

I should imagine they do judge the quality of the application, whether you produce all the information they require, and present it in a format that is easy to access, and ensure that all the documents are originals, not photocopies.

Then it takes a lot of courage for the person who has to go to the Embassy alone, queue from 5am until the doors open at 9am, and then endure the questions ( a questionnaire with thirty questions to be given written responses even before the interview!! ) with all the pressure that brings with it.

Now I have less than two weeks to wait for the final part of the trauma - the immigration officials at Heathrow airport in London. I shall certainly be there about three hours before his flight is even due in, visiting the chapel/prayer room (I am no longer a believer but I am happy to hedge my bets!!).

Colmx: I remember your agonising last summer before your boyfriend arrived in Ireland over what food to have in stock, and all your plans to try to make this a really enjoyable trip for him. Your boyfriend was not too enamoured, but I hope this years' planned trip is better.

My beloved is coming here to spend more time with me, and to see what life is like in this country. The first week will be spent in London, and we shall meet friends, go sightseeing, see Phantom of the Opera (he really loves the music, so I know he will love seeing it on stage) and I have also booked tickets for the ballet - the Trockadero de Monte Carlo, who are just incredibly funny, although the humour is based on taking the piss out of traditional ballet, so I wonder how much of the humour he will get???

Then the middle two weeks we shall be driving around the country, staying with friends, visiting various places, up to Inverness in Scotland, and back down again. There is so much I want him to see.

Then one last week in London together, with me going in to work for a few days, and our month together will be over.........then he goes back to Thailand and takes some time to think about whether he will take the risk of marrying me and lving with me here in the UK. I shall go over in August/September and we shall talk and make our decisions for the future. I know what I want, I love this man with all my heart and I want us to be together.

Whatever the future holds, having him in my life now, and for the past two years, enriches my experience of being alive.

Now I have less than two weeks to wait for the final part of the trauma - the immigration officials at Heathrow airport in London. I shall certainly be there about three hours before his flight is even due in, visiting the chapel/prayer room (I am no longer a believer but I am happy to hedge my bets!!).

This is unnecessary dear as BAA place live ETAs on their web site, under "Flight Information" (http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/controller/dispatcher.jsp?Ch=Live+Flight+Information&ChID=7ca06d35771a2010VgnVCM100000147e120a____&ChPath=LHR%5EFlight+Information%5ELive+Flight+Info rmation&ChIDPath=bde597dc2eb12010VgnVCM100000147e120a____% 5E572797dc2eb12010VgnVCM100000147e120a____%5E7ca06 d35771a2010VgnVCM100000147e120a____)

You should factor in the journey time (2 mins per station on the tube) and the prospect of the Heathrow spur being busy in the morning if going by car.

I'm sure you remember all the advice given to Colmx.

As to theatre visits, don't do them during his first week. He'll fall asleep in a warm theatre.

The priced of everything is going to be a big shock, so soften it by giving him a loaded Octopus and a bus map.

Best

Good Luck then! I've just posted a reply under the topics of "Getting your thaiboyfirend in to the US " telling about my bf that just joined me here in Sweden.

And I have just replied to your message on the US Visa thread!!

I just knew you would be in a sensible country like Sweden!!

How are things going for the two of you now? I would love to hear more about your story, where you met and how you could be so sure about him after such a short time together (forgive the pun!).

We met in October 2004, and we have had some difficult times since then. Now I am so excited, I can hardly believe that he will be here with me at the end of next week.

Thanks so much for your good wishes.

Trickyrich, I just think it would be fairer if you went to live in Thailand instead of your lover going to live in London of all places. The weather alone will be so depressing for him. Poor thing I can just see him on the tube all his spirit fading. Winter Spring Autumn, besides a brief week in summer will all be a nightmare for him. Trust me I know, England is no place for exotics.

I am sure he will love his brief holliday but then you pack your bags and go and live in Thailand when its all finished?

Hi Rich :colors:
I'm so glad you managed to get him a visa. You are going to have the time of your life looking after him and showing him around! :cheers:

My young malaysian bf Everard came to stay for two weeks at the end of January and he loved it. So did I.
We are fortunate that being Malaysian he doesn't need a visa, but he almost got refused entry at the airport. Even though he showed them his return air ticket, he couldn't prove he could support himself whilst in the UK so he was taken to an interview room for interogation. I'm pretty sure they were polite to him and played it by the book, but to him it was very scary, and he feared he would be sent home. It was also scary for me waiting and waiting, watching all the other passengers coming through the terminal, but no Everard. I waited well over an hour and asked the information desk to call immigration to ask about him but that seemed to be an impossible request.

Eventually he was allowed in. He had given them my name, address, phone No., the name of the hotel at which we were staying the first night and told them i was waiting for him. They went away to check something (we know not what), and eventually they let him in. He was quite upset when he was released into the terminal. Still, it was a good excuse for a hug. :alien:

We stayed in manchester the first few days, then moved on to Chester, N. Wales, Bath, Stonehenge, Canterbury and.... Gravesend! :idea:
I booked an apartment for the second week at Gravesend and we used it as a base to explore London, commuting in by train each day. It was brilliant having our own 'home' for a while, instead of just sharing a hotel room. It was like we were married. I would cook his dinner in the evening while he watched Tv then after eating, he had to do the washing up while i relaxed!! Then it was off to the pub or ten-pin bowling till bed time.
Very cosy.

Whe weather was bitterly cold - freezing temperature and a chilly breeze, and he saw a little snow and frost for the first time. I was amazed to find that he loved the weather. He said there is no escape from the heat at home, and he loved the variety. Having said that, the first thing we did when he arrived was buy him some winter clothing coz he doesn't have any at home, so he was wrapped up warm!

What did he like best?
London. London and London. Oh, and the shopping centres.
He just LOVES shopping for clothes, fragrances and jewelry. It's almost a hobby. Once again, i had to set a budget with the rider that 'once it's gone, it's gone'. Needless to say... it went.

As soon as he got home he wanted to know when he could come back again. But i have insisted that it's MY turn to visit him next time, with a side trip to Th of course!

I'm sure you're going to have a fabulous time Rich... enjoy :cheers:

Cedric - I wish!!! It is just too much to lose my pension rights etc otherwise I would love to move to Thailand.

I am aware that it is asking a great deal for my boyfriend to move to the UK. But he seems very keen on the idea, at least until he has a chance to experience what life might be like for him here. That is the purpose of this month long trip for him. I just know that I could not sustain a long distance relationship, so if he decides he cannot cope with living here then it will be tears before bedtime for me!!! My career is now not so easy to transfer to Thailand. I have now moved out of nursing into senior management in the UK charity sector, and the salary and pension prospects are just too good for me to lose. Another twelve years to retirement for me......

IwanUk - thanks for those thoughts! I am hoping that having gained the visa to the UK on the basis of my sponsorship, where I undertake to pay for his costs and provide him a place to stay, he ought not to have too much of a problem with Immigration. But there is not much more I can do on that..........just sweat and tremble until I see him getting through at the Airport.

Don't worry about your guy not liking living in UK. My guy lived in Europe for Two years and loved it. He tells me that if he wasn't with me, he would try to find a nice european to bring him permanently to Europe. The fact that I can not get him to the US, and will instead, move to Thailand myself in the next few years, has been a slight sticking point in our relationship. I've managed to appease him by saying we can take long vacations to europe during the rainy seasons LOL.

OK people!

It is now less than 24 hours to go before my boyfriend arrives at Heathrow Airport in London......

If you read about the murder of an immigration officer then you will know it did not go well!!

On the other hand if it all goes well you may not hear from me for some time!! The beloved plans to be here for a month, and I have planned a drive around the country, staying with friends. I had hoped to meet Jinks on the way but time does not allow!! (Sorry mate!).

Wish us luck??

Good Luck. Remember to reduce the anxiety by not going to Heathrow to early. You can check the estimated landing time on BAA's website and even teletext.

All is now well here! My boyfriend arrived safely at Heathrow, answered the questions openly at immigration, and sailed through the arrivals hall looking even more handsome than ever!!!

It still feels so strange to have him here with me in London! I have probably planned too much, and maybe we need some quiet time together too. So far he just feels cold when we go out, and I keep telling him this is warm!!!

I have bought enough Thai food (internet order, very efficient, including fresh Thai veg and herbs) so he has been cooking since he got here, and has yet to attempt British food. When we go to visit my friends he will get the chance to try things out, I cannot imagine any of them attempting to cok Thai food for him (probably safer for him if they do not make the attempt!!).

I shall let you know how it went once the month long trip is over......then he will go back to Thailand and decide whether he could cope with coming here to live with me permanently.

[Aunty]

would say in this part of the world, Good on ya mate. :bounce: I'm glad it all went so smoothly through immigration for your bf.

Have a great time, I hope it all goes well and keep us posted.

I have bought enough Thai food (internet order, very efficient, including fresh Thai veg and herbs) so he has been cooking since he got here, and has yet to attempt British food. When we go to visit my friends he will get the chance to try things out, I cannot imagine any of them attempting to cok Thai food for him (probably safer for him if they do not make the attempt!!).


A gorgeous Thai boy cooking for you? That ranks right up there with sex in my book! Good luck on the month - hope it all works out as it should.

[aarancam]

Do you know anything about bringing Laos boys to Oz ?

[Yraen]

Do you know anything about bringing Laos boys to Oz ?

I am assuming you're a half-way intelligent, reasonably literate Australian citizen.
www.immi.gov.au will give you all the answers you need.

Cheers, Yraen.

[francois]

Do you know anything about bringing Laos boys to Oz ?

aarancam, that post was 11 years ago!

[cdnmatt]

Oh shit, vaccinations. Thanks, I totally forgot about that. Another thing on the to-do list.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed some fond memories 11 years ago when your BF visited, if you're not still together.

[bobsaigon2]

Aarancam: What's going on? You've already got two threads running about how to bring your Lao boy to OZ and you've received every piece of advice available on this planet, but now you go to an eleven year old thread to ask an Englishman how to bring a Lao boy to your country when he clearly brought his BF from Thailand to England, not from Laos to Australia. One can only question your credibility or your intelligence.

[Nirish guy]

More importantly does anyone know is the OP still alive and kicking and with on the board ( as I see it just says Guest now) and if so I wonder how their trip went and are the still together or did it all end in tears.......and old romantic in me wishes it to be the first, but the cold hard hearted Thai traveller has a fair idea that it'll most likely have been the second ! I wonder ? .......

[Smiles]

The original OP was in 2006! Good god, the disgraceful 'Aunty' is mixed up in this nonsense.
Why does anyone give a flying fuck about this 11 year old post?

Other than that ... can one assume that this has something to do with the Russian hackers (those bastards!) and Moses' who is deeply intertwined with Slavic mafiosos. If so ... Moses should be IMPEACHED! (Along with Cndmatt, he said, muttering something or other about a wide net.)

[aarancam]

Fuck!What am I like!

[Yraen]

Fuck!What am I like!

Good question.