How to: Civil Partnership in Vietnam

....Knowing how the UKBA work, I guess they don't make it easy to get this.

I know what you mean and I have my issues with UKBA - but throughout all of that I never forget that UKBA is merely carrying out instructions from a Government who choose to pander to xenophobic (and homophobic) Daily Mail/Sun readers.

I did not realise it would be the British Embassy who would record the CP, that's a good piece of information - and my thanks also to James Barnes organ!

:evil4:

[James Barnes]

Dear scottish-guy,

My organ is quivering at your attention!

Obviously, having completed the relatively simple CP process in Vietnam, your Thai partner will find it much easier to obtain a visa to visit the UK.

Though, how many Thais really enjoy their time in Blighty, is a completely new topic!

Best wishes,

James.

Well James, the only thing I'd possibly take issue with is the "finding it easier" to get a Visa part.

From experience it seems to me that every route to a UK Visa is tortuous - my God, in order to come here on a Student Visa just to study General English, you have to be fairly fluent already - as demonstrated by an approved test.
Now doesn't that beg the question that if you're fluent enough to pass a rigorous test (and even I failed some of the questions!!) then why the fuck would you want to come here to learn English? It's crazy.
I mean it's not as if you wouldn't be paying for the tuition in the UK - you'd be paying through the nose!

The latest obstacle is that even if you go down the CP or marriage route, then relatively high minimum income levels must be met before a Visa would be considered. Whilst this might not appear a big problem to many, it depends how you arrange your business affairs.

I've said before that my BF is not Thai, but I will say now that he is Vietnamese. Therefore the Vietnamese CP option just isn't.

More power to your organ though - but I have to say that I have tried to register twice and I've never had any email response.

:hello2:

[James Barnes]

Dear scottish-guy,

You are quire correct about the torturous process but I have been led to believe that if you have a UK CP, it is easier.

It is more than likely that you and your Vietnamese boyfriend can obtain a CP in the British embassy in Bangkok and if you would prefer to remain anonymous, I am perfectly happy to make enquiries there on your behalf.

I am very sorry to hear that you have had difficulty registering with us, but if you email webmaster@out-in-thailand.com or me direct, editor@out-in-thailand.com , we will get it sorted out for you.

Very best wishes,

James.

[ceejay]

The British Embassy in Bangkok is, I believe, not allowed to conduct any civil partnerships. They only have a page on marriage:
http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help- ... -marriage/
However, the Philippines may offer an opportunity:
http://ukinthephilippines.fco.gov.uk/en ... artnership
I think your boyfriend could enter the Philippines without a visa, but you need to check that.

Thanks for info - see how something that starts out sounding quite simple suddenly becomes rather more complicated as it unfolds.

Anyway - BF is off to British Embassy in Hanoi tomorrow to hand over all the papers for his attempt at a Student Visa and in 2/3 weeks time it should either be a case of ecstatic success or depressing failure.

As the song says - Hope for the best, expect the worst - you could be Tolstoy, or Fannie Hurst !!

arty

[James Barnes]

Fingers crossed scottish-guy!

I have read this forum with great interest. I was hoping somebody might have a spot of advice for us. My partner and I are currently in the UK. He is from Malaysia and I am British. We have failed to secure leave for him to stay here, his original application was for asylum based on his sexuality, this was rejected by the UKBA. After numerous appeals we are now stuck in limbo, with an appeal waiting to be heard, and no status for him.

That's the background, now my question. I have been offered an opportunity to come and work in Bangkok with my current employer. So we plan to move there, which means abandoning his application now. We toyed with trying to get a CP here before we left, but time is against us, what if we moved to Bangkok and after a few months went down the Vietnam route for a CP? Do you foresee any issue with this, and will this allow us to visit the UK together, and potentially return one day, or will his failed attempt here always count against us?

Any advise gratefully received.

Thanks

Paul

[James Barnes]

Dear Paul,

I do not foresee and problems if you get your CP in Vietnam. The author of the piece in OUT iT is currently visiting the UK with his Thai civil partner.

They are due to return in a couple of weeks and if you email me: editor@out-in-thailand.com , I can put you in touch with each other.

Best wishes,

James.

Hey, thanks for the reply, I will drop you an email. We are just so worried about the failed application coming back to haunt us again in the future.....