Aug/110
Sailing Holidays In The Caribbean
There are lots of destinations for people interested in sailing and if you are tired of the Virgin Islands then try the rest of the Caribbean.
The Caribbean islands are part of an island chain covering 2,500 miles. Given the enormous distance, it is no wonder that tourists spend weeks out there in order to get pleasure from the magnificence that it has to offer.
Just like in the Virgin Islands, there are lots of charter companies you can go to. for various hobbies. These companies come in different sizes, but perhaps the best is the yacht charter.
When you charter a yacht, apart from the yacht, the other features and benefits that come with it are meals, separate guest rooms, a galley, toilet and shower.
Since you are the paying guest aboard the yacht, you can modify the menu by telling the crew before the trip what you want to eat. You can help out by buying the provisions yourself, having someone from the crew do it for an additional fee or choose a set menu from one of their pre-composed packages.
Since most of the islands in the Caribbean are small and uninhabited, you are certain to explore places that not many have seen. But if you can't afford to rent a chartered yacht, don't worry because you can probably get one that will cost as little as $50 if you are able to book a pre-arranged trip with several other guests to split the cost.
One thing you have to be ready for during you sailing vacation is the possibility of a storm. These generally occurs in the months from June until November. If you are not sure that this is the best time, book the trip on another date.
But if you are adamant about going on your dates, there are some online tools you can use to check if the area you will be sailing in has ever been hit by a hurricane before.
The other option is to plan your itinerary to the Caribbean islands further south because they are less likely to be affected by a hurricane. These places include the islands of Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, Curacao, and Turks and Caicos.
If you like the idea of going sailing around the Caribbean there are plenty of choices. You could do a lot worse than start in St Croix in the US Virgin Islands and voyage south or west. If you start in St Croix, which the pirates of old used to call Santa Cruz, you will not have to have a passpert and can take your pets with you, but you will need more ID if you call into foreign islands.
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with St Croix Hotels. If you are interested in St Croix Vacation Rentals in the US Virgin Islands, please click through to our site.
May/110
How To Get A UK Visitors Visa
Getting a UK visitor's visa to the UK is a frightening task. It is probably more difficult from some countries than others. So some peoples will have a harder time than others. However, this is not official government policy. You must not take this personally - it is a reflection of British public opinion. Please remember this when you are liaising about obtaining a UK visitor's visa with the embassy staff, who are only following government guidelines.
You should take note here that a UK visitor's visa is usable for six months and not only that but the recipient can enter and leave the UK as often as he/she wants within those six months. However, in practice, for the first UK visitor's visa at least, restrictions may be imposed. For example, if you state that you want to go for six weeks, a note may be pinned into the passport advising customs of the 6 week restriction. You must also 'promise' not to try to stay longer than that!
The UK visitor's visa also precludes you from access to public funds " social security, unemployment benefit, et cetera. Most people are refused a UK visitor's visa the first time because they do not have a strong enough, valid reason for going to Britain. If the reason is to visit a lover, then you have a far better chance if you can prove that you have had a continuing relationship for at least six months. At this stage of the proceedings, all your efforts should be directed at validating the reason for your visit or proving your relationship.
I will concentrate on providing evidence of a continuing relationship. Most applicants from poorer countries will need a sponsor. This is usually an employer or a lover. Obviously, immigration stamps in a passport can prove how long it is possible that a couple could have known each other, but you will need more evidence than that. A letter from a friend, employer or relative stating when you met can help. However, you should keep all correspondence, telephone bills, bank statements (recordings of ATM transactions), restaurant receipts, theatre tickets, train and bus tickets, even menus and photos. In fact, anything that can help establish that you are having the relationship that you claim you are having and that you have had it for at least six months.
Now is the time to get the 'Visa Application Form' or VAF from the embassy or its website. Their websites are very helpful and will inform you what you should enclose with the application for a UK visitor's visa. However, a bare minimum would be: passport(s), VAF, fee, photos, sponsor's letter and supporting proof and 'evidence of a log-lasting, continuous relationship' ie of at least six months standing.
Therefore, it is necessary to realize that the sponsor plays a critical role if you want to make your first application for a UK visitor's visa a successful one. He/she must be prepared to cover your financial requirements during your stay in the United Kingdom and he/she must prove it with a letter and bank statements.
From this you can see that the sponsor plays the most important of roles in successfully applying for a UK visitor's visa, for he/she will have to prove that he/she can support you. To do this your sponsor will need a letter from his/her employer and a copy of bank statements to prove sufficient funds and a letter from the mortgage provider or council to show that you will have somewhere to stay. Marital status does not enter into the equation, but sometimes apparently weird reasons are given for refusal of a UK visitor's visa.
"Mr. / Mrs. Miss Applicant for a UK visitor's visa has not previously used a passport" - easy, just go over the nearest border.
"the person applying for a UK visitor's visa does not seem to have strong socio-economic ties to his/her country of origin" or, in other words, they don't trust you to return to your country. A letter from your boss, doctor, solicitor or village elder; proof of children or living parents; proof of property are all useful.
Approach the application for a UK visitor's visa with caution; do not rush. It is better to get it right first time. Think about why you want to go to Great Britain; determine a 'good reason' and remember it - you will probably be asked. Be a solicitor for a day and support everything you say with irrefutable, written evidence.
Run through applicant's story until he/she has it well-rehearsed (they will not want to see the sponsor and sometimes, he/she is not even allowed to wait on the embassy compound). The applicant for a UK visitor's visa will be required to attend an interview the first time and this can be held in English or the applicant's native tongue. The UK visitor's visa will normally be available for collection the next day.
Warning: get a longer permit to stay than you need, because the UK visitor's visa is valid from the day it is issued, but you probably don't have a flight booked yet. You can be delayed getting there and coming back too. The rest of the 180-day multiple entry UK visitor's visa may have to be cancelled on your return to help deter you from returning on that visa. If you have to do this, don't return on a Friday because the embassy is closed on the weekend.
And lastly a warning: don't be tempted to lie - its not worth it. You will be caught out!
Do you want a UK visa? Then you won't want to miss our priceless free information on getting a UK visitor's visa!
Sep/100
How To Obtain A UK Visitor’s Visa For Thais.
Obtaining a UK visitor's visa is not a straight-forward task and can be very tiring. It is also easier to apply from some countries than others and this is mostly to do with money and possibly reputation. It is obviously far harder for the average Thai to pay for a UK holiday than an average American. Arabs may be finding it more difficult too these days. So it can seem that the embassy staff have something against you. However, this is not true. They are acting under orders to protect the UK and so only doing their job. Do not take things personally. Some people also believe that the Thai government works with the embassy to prevent Thais leaving Thailand. This is not true either
Please remember that if you are successful in obtaining a UK visitor's visa in Bangkok, it is valid for multiple entries into the UK over a period of six months. However, the embassy is loathe to give a UK visitor's visa to a Thai the first time round as they know that not many Thais could afford to stay there that long without working. So you will be asked to state when you will arrive and when you will leave. You have to sign this note and it will be stapled into your passport. You must aide by this self-inflicted limitation, although your visa is sill nominally good for six months.
The visa also expressly forbids the Thai applicant access to any 'social benefits' such as social security, health care or pension rights. Be aware that many/most Thai applicants are refused their first attempt, because their submission is 'half-hearted'. If the stated reason is, say, to visit a friend or lover, the you really need to prove an on-going, long-term relationship of at least six months with your partner.
I will concentrate on providing evidence of a continuing relationship. Most applicants from Thailand will need a sponsor. This is usually an employer or a lover. Obviously, immigration stamps in a passport can prove how long it is possible that a couple could have known each other, but you will need more evidence than that. A letter from a friend, employer or relative stating when you met can help. However, you should keep all correspondence, telephone bills, bank statements (recordings of ATM transactions), restaurant receipts, theatre tickets, train and bus tickets, even menus and photos. In fact, anything that can help establish that you are having the relationship that you claim you are having and that you have had it for at least six months.
After having gathered all your proofs you can get the visa application form (VAF) from the embassy or its website, which is really very useful for explaining what should be enclosed with the form and what the fee is (3,800 Baht or thereabouts). This is your last real chance to make a good impression, so get it right. You will only get an interview if you make the application impressive.
So the sponsor is very important here. It is really up to your sponsor whether you get your first UK visitor's visa at the first attempt. He has to guarantee that he will take care of you and provide you with somewhere to stay and the embassy staff will have to be convinced that he is up the job.
Your friendly sponsor will have to make you an offer of a holiday with accomodation in the UK. Then he will have to back up his claims with written proof. If he says he has money, he will need a letter from his employer or the bank. If he says he has a house, he will need a letter from his mortgage provider, a contract, deeds or a letter from the council. Marriage is not an issue, but some odd reasons given for refusal are:
"this Thai applicant for a UK visitor's visa has never been outside the country before " this is an easy one, just pop over to Cambodia for a weekend.
""the applicant for a UK visitor's visa does not appear to have strong social or economic ties to Thailand": they don't trust you to return to Thailand. The solution is to get your boss and /or the puyai bahn (village elder) to write a letter saying that you are a responsible employee / family member.
Do not be tempted to hurry the application for a UK visitor's visa. Ensure that you have a 'valid reason' for wanting to go to the UK and remember it; ensure that you can prove everything that you say. Pretend for the day of the interview for a UK visitor's visa that you are a lawyer and provide solid, written proof.
Make sure you know the answers to questions about your sponsor: about his family, town and work. You will be alone in the embassy, but don't let that make you nervous. Some questions will be in English, but if you get stuck it's not a problem, just speak Thai.
Tip: ask for a longer stay than you need because the visa runs from the day it's granted and you will have to book flights. You could be delayed coming back too. If you have to cancel you UK visitor's visa, don't arrive back on a Friday unless you want a few nights in Bangkok.
No 1 Tip: don't tell lies to the embassy staff, they have heard it all before. If you're unsure of something, just say so.
Do you require to get a UK Visa for a Thai? We can help you on our free website called http://uk-visas-for-thais.the-real-way.com.