Thai families are incredibly close, and the mother is usually the matriarch of the family. It is therefore natural that your Thai wife may wish to take her mother to come and live with you in the UK. To do this, she would need to apply for a UK Dependent Visa, but it is very difficult for anyone over the age of 18 years old to qualify.
The UK Dependent Visa
The defining factor regarding whether your Thai mother-in-law would be eligible for a UK Dependent Visa is if she can care for herself on a day-to-day basis. If she can’t, and she would need to be independently assessed to confirm that this is the case, she may be eligible to use the UK Dependent Visa as a means of entering the UK. If she can look after herself, this avenue will be immediately closed.
The only other exception that she may be granted the visa in exceptional circumstances is if her mother was coming to care for your wife because of a serious illness.
Alternative Options
If the UK Dependent Visa is not an option, your Thai mother-in-law could come to visit you and your wife medium-term each year on a UK Visitor Visa (UK Tourist Visa). It would mean:
- She could stay in the UK up to six months out of the twelve each year
- She would be able to join in normal family life
- Get to experience a new country
She would not be able to:
- Work in the UK
- Gain access to public funds
- Stay longer than the permitted six months out of the twelve
How can Thai Visa Express Help?
Thai Visa Express is a team of professional immigration consultants who are always ready to assist you with your UK visa application in Thailand. We have over 15 years of experience dealing with UK visas & immigration daily, and we are regulated by the Office of Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) in the UK. We offer a free 30-minute consultation from one of our designated caseworkers, contact us today.