Russian Girlfriend

[Terry27]

Hi I hope someone can give me some advice
I am British and living in the UK I have a Russian girlfriend who lives in Russia and I would like her to come to the UK as a tourist and she will be staying with me and I will be supporting her mainly

She was due to land in Manchester last Monday but on the Friday before she had her visa declined because she did not have enough money in her bank account
It was an agency she went to who handled everything for her, including her flights and visa

As a result she lost 30% of her airfare and had her visa declined by the British Embassy in Moscow I have tried calling them and all I get are answer machines
I don't get to speak to anyone we are both devastated
I'm sure that if I can support her she should be allowed her visa she did everything legally and then next year I was going to visit her in Russia
Has anyone got some advice for me or who can help me to get my girlfriend's visa
Thanks Terry

[CR001]

What Wass the exact wording of the refusal?

How long was she planning to visit?

What evidence of strong ties (financial, employment, social, family etc) did she submit with her application?

While your evidence is helpful, UKVI want to see substantial evidence from the applicant and what their full circumstances are in home country.

[Terry27]

Hi thanks for the reply
I really don't know what the exact wording was as I was in the UK at the time, she was planning to stay for 1 month she is working in Russia as a dance teacher, she has a sister and mother who she visits to help her out so she has no intention of moving to the UK
I would like to get over this year, and I will visit Russia next year this is all new to me so I can't get to speak to anyone
Terry

[CR001]

Without knowing what the exact wording of the refusal is which you could ask her to send to you, it will be difficult for anyone to offer advice.

How much money did she show in her bank account??

Useful to list what documents she submitted with her application.

You can't appeal or 'speak to someone'. All she can do is address whatever the refusal issue is and reapply.

[Terry27]

Thanks for the reply
I am just waiting for her to phone me again so that I can get all the information is there a time scale for the next time she can apply again or can she apply right away
Do you know a phone number that I can speak to someone at the British Embassy in Moscow or any other phone number because I had seen on the forums that if I can prove I can support her she would be able to come to the UK but i don't know who I can speak to
Thanks
Terry

[CR001]

is there a time scale for the next time she can apply again or can she apply right away

She can apply at any time but depending on her financial circumstances and the reason for refusal and how she addresses that, it might not be immediate.

Do you know a phone number that I can speak to someone at the British Embassy in Moscow or any other phone number because I had seen on the forums that if I can prove I can support her she would be able to come to the UK but i don't know who I can speak to

The embassy won't speak to you or give you any information about another persons application. It is not only about you being able to support her visit. It is mandatory for her to prove her strong ties and financial/employment circumstances in her home country, including her financial circumstances. Simply stating you will make sure she leaves the UK unfortunately is not sufficient.

Note that the visitor visa has been so badly abused in the past with people not leaving the UK or staying much longer than stated in their applications or trying to change visa categories within the UK so they don't have to leave, that it is now a lot more difficult to get one which is why the applicant needs to submit substantial information about their circumstances in their home country.

[colloc]

Hello,
I will help you as much as I can in my limited experience.
My initial thoughts are, is she genuine?
I was scammed once and I thought I was street wise.
Why didn't you wait for her visa to be issued before you booked your flights?
The visa is valid for 6 months so it's plenty of time to have a few visits.
I have a Russian girlfriend and she has visited me twice and due back next week so we have experience of doing this and more than happy to help you.
If this is a new relationship, my advice is to visit her first, it's very difficult for Russians to get visas and there's a vast amount of paperwork they have to get translated and submit.
If she is genuine then she will be delighted to see you otherwise you might want to think a bit deeper.

[Terry27]

Thanks this is good news for someone to offer some help, I need all the help I can get right now
I know she is genuine because on a number of occasions I offered to help her with the costs and she refused every time and said she wanted to do it all her self.
Yes you are right she should have got her visa first, but she went to an agency who sorted everything for her I felt so sorry for her she travelled by train 1000 km to Moscow last Friday and got refused so then she had to travel all the way home without a visa so she lot money there and also lost money on her flight,I would like to try once more and if she gets refused again I will go to her, but apparently that's not easy as she has to get an invitation for me to stay with her
I could do with all the help I can get thanks
Terry

[colloc]

Hello,
She wouldn't normally get refused on her appointment.
They normally ask a few questions and then take all the paperwork off them.
A decision is made normally after around 14 days.
It's easy for you to get there, book a flight and hotel around a month in the future and fill out a Russian Visa application online. Attend embassy with Visa application along with hotel invitation and voucher.
In her case:-
To satisfy the British embassy they want to see the following.
Bank statements.
Proof of income
Proof of assets ie home ownership, car etc.
They need to feel that she will return after her visit as mentioned in an earlier post there are a lot of absconders in the UK.
I don't get a warm feeling about your experience i'm afraid.
Does she already have a passport?
Have you seen a copy?
Has she travelled abroad previously?
Where does she live?
Would you like my girlfriend to speak to her and perhaps give her some advice?
Cheers

[CR001]

Where does she live?
Would you like my girlfriend to speak to her and perhaps give her some advice?
Cheers

Members are not permitted to share any form of contact information on the forum for your own protection and privacy. Remember everyone here is a complete stranger and we have many scammers and spammers who visit the forum daily.

[colloc]

Apologies, my girlfriend is around 1000km from Moscow.
I was only asking for her home town

[Terry27]

Hi Yes that would be good for another Russian person to give her advice but I don't know how we can do it as we can not put personal things on this forum My girlfriend is also about 1000 km from Moscow
Thanks
Terry

[Terry27]

Her hometown is Balokovo
Terry

[Terry27]

Hi Colloc
Right now I could do with all the help I can get, maybe we could meet up somewhere as we can't give out contact details, I'm willing to travel to anywhere to help my girlfriend
Thanks
Terry

[colloc]

I live in Scotland.
Hopefully one of the mods is reading this and will allow us to have PM's?

[Terry27]

Thanks Colloc
If not I will travel to Scotland I should be hearing from my girlfriend later tonight as she went to visit her mum in the Country so there is no internet connection
Forgot to mention when her visa was turned down I asked her to go back to the agency and see if she could find out more info, she gave my name and number 2 days later the visa centre from Moscow phoned me but it was a bad line and he sounded Russian so didn't really understand him
Terry

[Terry27]

Hi Colloc

I could do with knowing best place to book flights as well, can't find a direct flight to Moscow
What sort of price do you pay normally just in case I have to go out there
Terry

[colloc]

I use skyscanner for flights, depending on where you stay but I can get from Scotland to Russia for around 3 to £400. Have you been in touch with your friend recently? what is her take on the issue?

[Terry27]

Hi i could do with some help or good advice, I would like my Russian girlfriend to come to the UK as a tourist I have known her since August this year I visited her I Moscow recently and I was able to get my visa without any problems
My girlfriend was refused a visa because she dose not have enough money in her bank account but I have also heard as long as I can prove that I can support her I should be able to do it that way
Is there anyone who have come across any problems like this, I could do with as much help as possible
I have also been told I can go through a solicitor and they will get a visa for her but this will cost £900
Thank you Terry

[CR001]

Hi i could do with some help or good advice, I would like my Russian girlfriend to come to the UK as a tourist I have known her since August this year I visited her I Moscow recently and I was able to get my visa without any problems
My girlfriend was refused a visa because she dose not have enough money in her bank account but I have also heard as long as I can prove that I can support her I should be able to do it that way
Is there anyone who have come across any problems like this, I could do with as much help as possible
I have also been told I can go through a solicitor and they will get a visa for her but this will cost £900
Thank you Terry

As already advised, without solid evidence of her full circumstances (financial, employment, social/family ties, property or whatever) in Russia, she will struggle to get a visitor visa.

[Casa]

she gave my name and number 2 days later the visa centre from Moscow phoned me
Terry

TLS has no authority to call the sponsor on the applicant's behalf and has no involvement in the decision-making process. Exactly which 'visa agency' called you
See below:
"Your application will be considered by UK Visas & Immigration, part of the UK government. TLScontact has no role, neither can influence the decision on the visa application outcome[/b]."

[Terry27]

Hi Colloc

Since we last spoke I have been over to Russia to see my girlfriend i can't believe how easy it was to get my visa
I have been in touch with a solicitor and they say they can get her a visa but they charge £900 what do you think
There must be someone who can help me with this problem
Thanks Terry

[Casa]

Hi Colloc

Since we last spoke I have been over to Russia to see my girlfriend i can't believe how easy it was to get my visa
I have been in touch with a solicitor and they say they can get her a visa but they charge £900 what do you think
There must be someone who can help me with this problem
Thanks Terry

No legal professional can guarantee they can 'get her a visa'. As you've already been advised, unless she can submit evidence of financial self-sufficiency and strong ties to her home country to convince the ECO she won't overstay in the UK, the application will fail again.