Sponsorship: advice needed please

[neo2025]

Do any board members have any experience sponsoring a girl to come from Thailand to Australia for a 3 month visa.
It could be on a holiday visa or perhaps a student visa if they were enrolled in an english studies program while here.
If I am willing to pay for the airfare, accomodation and living expenses during this time what needs to be guaranteed.
I have heard you should have evidence that you have known the person for a time (eg photos, letters) , what sort of evidence and how much?
Do i direct enquiries through the Thai Embassy in Thailand or Australia or the Australian Embassy in Thailand or Australian Immigration in Australia?
I have heard that the girl needs to have 10k in her bank account - is that 10k Australian or US?
Alternatively I have heard that the Australian or Thai Embassy holds on to 10k that you can put up as a guarantee of the girls return and this is given back when she returns to Thailand.
If anyone has any first hand experience could you please let me know the logistics, time frames and the best and easiest way to do this sort of thing.
Also if you could direct me to relevant websites that would be appreciated too.
Yes, i know that google is my friend, but I wanted some real world advice on how things really work with the embassies particularly on the Thai side of things.

Thanks for any help...

[koykaeng]

Hi neo2025,

Have a look at the Australian Government - Visa & Immigration website for starters.
http://www.immi.gov.au/immigration.htm

You can certainly make enquiries with the immigration department in Australia however all the documentation will need to be lodged with the Australian Embassy in Thailand. The Thai Embassy is of no relevance at all.

Depending on what type of visa you apply for, and her finances, it's pretty much a given you will need to act as a sponsor.

Cheers
Koykaeng

[hardpaolo]

She would be the one applying not you so I would suggest that she go to the Australian consulate / embassy In Bangkok and tell them that she wants to go to Australia for whatever reason and I am sure they will tell her what she needs to do.

[Road Runner]

Hello Neo,

I have not done this for Australia but I did sponsor Herself (my girlfriend    ) for her UK visa.
The basics are the same with the two countries.

What your girlfriend has to show is that she will return to Thailand and that she will not cost the Australian tax payer any money.

When we got Herself's first visa she had very little money in the bank, no real family ties, no land.
She had just bought a car and was in a new job.  If you read up about this in the link below she should not have got a visa.  

What I found was that you have to show that we had known each other for a decent length of time
ie. at least 6 months  -  not a 3 week holiday!
We had e-mails and phone bills going back nearly 2 years.

The other thing was that I had to show I could pay for her and was in full time employment  -  ie. not living on state benefits myself.
This was easy for me I must admit and is probably the main reason why she got the visa.

One other thing I would suggest is that you establish a pattern of travel for her  -  show she's been out of the country before and has returned.
First time we went off to Singapore  -  it's easy for Thai's to get in there and you can get cheap 3-4 day deals from BKK.
Second time we went to China  -  they were a pain in the a#$e!  to get a visa from but backed down in the end.
We probably should have tried somewhere else like Malaysia or Indonesia.

The main thing is do your homework carefully and you will have no problems.

Herself went into the UK Embassy in Bangkok handed over the papers and after about 2 minutes they said come back for an interview in 3 days.
Went back for the interview  -  after looking carefully through my papers (and largely ignoring hers!) they said come and collect your visa on xxxx date.
She's on to her 3rd visa now and always says they are really nice to her  

She always goes on her own  -  they don't want to see you only your money     -  and puts on her smart business suit.
If you show up and you are dressed like a tourist and your Terak looks like a bar girl then you have already lost 90% of your credibility.

Have a look at this link Visa & immigration forums  for some guidance/experience  -  
BUT  remember most of the negative responses (losers!) turned up dressed like tourists  

If you have any specific questions send me a PM.

RR.

[TTChang]

RR

Having enjoyed your company, and met your delightful thai partner, my first reaction might be to say 'you lucky bastard' (as I did to mardhi!!!)

But your post    just shows how people - including you - make their own luck !    Great advice .............although of course I'm only into sponsoring footrails at Guess Bar