How to demonstrate ties to home country for a UK tourist visa?

Question

I am hoping to get some advice with my application for a tourist visa in the UK.

I applied for a tourist visa last December 2017 and it was rejected because I wasn't able to demonstrate strong ties to my country. Also, I stated on my application that my boyfriend invited me to visit him and indicated that I will be staying with him for 3 months (I just learned how this information might have hurt my application as well). I wasn't able to submit enough documents to prove my relationship with him and that he has enough funds to sponsor my stay in the UK.

I now have all the documents to prove our relationship amd that he can support me during my stay. My parents will also help in funding the trip and I also have some savings.

My only problem now is how to demonstrate ties to my home country. I don't own a house or any property. My parents own a house and my mom has several properties. Will it help if she indicates that she intends to have me inherit some of those?

I know that getting a job will be the best way to prove ties home but it will take a year or more before I can get a vacation if I apply for a new job. My boyfriend just wants me to experience the culture in his country. And if things go well, we intend to get married afterwards.

Do I have a chance to get my application for a tourist visa approved? Or will we have better chances if we just apply for a spouse visa?

Answer 1

‘Easier to apply’ may not translate into ‘easy to get’ given the previous refusal. The visa you apply for depends on what your intentions are, not what is easiest to obtain.

• Visit Visa: It’s highly unlikely that showing you have inheritance expectations will help demonstrate home ties. The savings should help, but you’ll need to explain the provenance of the funds in your savings account, otherwise it will appear that you are using a strategy referred to on this forum as ‘funds parking’. UK Visa Refusal: Provenance of funds/parking If your parents gave you the money you’ll need to state that and provide evidence eg their bank statements. However, just having savings back home may not be viewed as sufficient to demonstrate a strong intention to leave the U.K. You should also consider reducing the intended length of stay - understandably because of the cost, distance etc you want to spend as much time as possible in the U.K. but a shorter stay is likely to be more credible from the ECO’s point of view. As regards a job, can you look for something with a contracted start date after your intended visit?
• Marriage Visitor Visa: pretty much the same as above plus other requirements https://www.gov.uk/marriage-visa
• Family Visa: To be eligible you and your partner must intend to live together permanently in the UK after you apply. You must be able to prove you are a fiancée and will marry in the UK within 6 months of arriving, and you and your partner must meet the income requirement (currently £18,600pa). You could of course get married in your home country before applying. https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse A second application so soon after the first rejection risks a further refusal. After considering the available visa options and identifying which applies to your personal situation and intentions, it would probably be worth consulting a qualified immigration lawyer for help with your application.