Russian girlfriend wants me to send money for her first trip to UK

[neilh1703]

Hello,

I am very new to these forums so please be gentle! I have spent hours searching but not being able to find out definite facts I thought I would give this a go. Basically I have known a girl from St Petersberg who wants to come here and visit me. We have known each other for nearly 2y now and she has the money for a flight and visa but says she cannot travel because the UK authorities will require proof of some financial support. She has applied for tourist visa for 30 days to stay here and has said the authorities will need to know she has the necessary 55 Euros per day to stay here which totals altogether at 1650 Euros. She has nearly 700 Euros but has asked me to send the rest which will be returned once she is here. I wasn't aware of this type of rule and wondered if anyone can tell me if this is indeed the case.

Any advice is greatful.

Thanks
Neil.

[Gylden]

You say you have known her for almost two years. Does that mean you have met her face to face?
 
 

[viking]

Do not send money to anyone you not seen in person. Regardless of how long you have been "speaking". Go visit her in St. Pete. It's a beautiful city. BTW. She does not have this money now but will "return it" have she arrives? Hmmmm. And I have never heard of UK authorities mandating you arrive with a specific amount of money in your pocket. They gonna count it when she arrives?

[Hammer2722]

Have you actually met this lady face to face in the 2 years you have been communicating with her? If the answer is no then do not send her any money. You should never send money to anyone you have not met face to face. Its one of the golden rules of online dating.


If you have met her face to face, how would you describe the relationship? It depends on whether the relationship is real. How many trips have you made to see her in the last 2 years?

[neilh1703]

I have not met her face to face but have spoken on Webcam and over the phone. I have to admit I have never heard of the process whereby the immegration authorities will check what money she has but wanted to get my facts right before responding. She says it's a policy that is in place in Canada and UK and other countries. I figured that if she were a scammer then she wouldn't be wasting time for nearly 2y. What do you think?

[Kunstkammer]

Hmm, I'm no expert but she is quoting rules for Schengen visas and the currency in Euros.  Does she think that the UK is in the Schengen Union or do they use Euros as their currency for determining financial stability?  I'd hate for her to go get a Finland visa and try to visit the UK with it.  Then again she lives here in SPb she probably has had 47 Finnish visas and might assume all visas are the same? Regardless, if you have met her or not - the fact that you have to go on an internet forum and ask if something can be trusted should tell you something.

[Kunstkammer]

I have not met her face to face but have spoken on Webcam and over the phone. I have to admit I have never heard of the process whereby the immegration authorities will check what money she has but wanted to get my facts right before responding. She says it's a policy that is in place in Canada and UK and other countries. I figured that if she were a scammer then she wouldn't be wasting time for nearly 2y. What do you think?

It is part of the Schengen Visa procedure to bring a print out of your bank account, of course they aren't going to check to make sure that same amount of money is in your account when you arrive at the border.

[neilh1703]

She says when she went for the Visa interview that she would need to prove she would have enough money coming here. That is why she said she wanted me to send her money but I told her I didn't think it was official policy and that our immegration would not check. Can someone tell me if this policy is true at all? There is nothing on UK Border website or any other sites I have checked.

[Kunstkammer]

She says when she went for the Visa interview that she would need to prove she would have enough money coming here. That is why she said she wanted me to send her money but I told her I didn't think it was official policy and that our immegration would not check. Can someone tell me if this policy is true at all? There is nothing on UK Border website or any other sites I have checked.

Read carefully, this is part of the process for getting a Schengen Visa. She has quoted the exact number and the currency in Euros.  It is possible that she is confused thinking UK and Schengen requirements are the same.  Everything you said that she said is true for a Schengen visa.  Being that she is from SPb she has probably been through the process of getting a Schengen visa many times and is assuming it is the same for the UK.

Do you understand me now?

[LAman]

Can I ask you WHY you have not visited this girl in the 2 years you have been speaking to her??
Are you just too lazy, what gives??  St Piter is such a wonderful city to visit!!!

[Kunstkammer]

Can I ask you WHY you have not visited this girl in the 2 years you have been speaking to her??
Are you just too lazy, what gives??  St Piter is such a wonderful city to visit!!!

Maybe a fair question, but I'd imagine is irrelevant to this topic. 

[CDW]

We have known each other for nearly 2y now

A real gentleman would visit her in her home city in the initial meeting.  After 2 years, you still haven't visited!  What's wrong with St Petersburg?  It is a very beautiful and romantic city and you still haven't visited!  OH MY GOD!

I am also from UK, and I do not believe what she has told you.  However, you would require proof of financial for her to  stay with you, but it doesn't require sending her money.    UK authorities might ask you for evidence if you have spend time with her - real meeting

[CDW]

Maybe a fair question, but I'd imagine is irrelevant to this topic.

Still RELEVANT to this topic because UK authorities might want to show evidence that they have spent time together in real

[Patagonie]

WHY YOU SHOULD'NT NEVER ASK TO A GIRL TO COME IN YOUR COUNTRY FOR THE FIRST TIME

NB : for a Schengen visa this girl is correct, but England don't belong to Schengen space.



1/ A decade ago or more it was not so risky to do this, but now with all the internet swindlers you take a big risk.
Because you are proposing her to come she expects you to help her (generally, some girls are enough well off to provide such things). Withoug having a relationship and not really knowing the lady (never met) the chances that  someting screw up the endeavor are high. The consequences will be almost always paid by the MAN.

2/ Many women are ready to travel but it not proved that they are really serious about their intention to get married, as ML said, many are serious about one thing : travel.

3/ The bet is expansive : if you don't like each other you are stucked with someone (you and her) for the duration of the vacations with no alternative.

4/ If the relationship is growing and more tainted of love, you are going to expect many problems for the rest of the adventure. As she surely would have come with a tourist visa (in Europe), you will be in trouble in the future with the consulate. This is not the right beginning for documents.

5/ you let her to play the game with full hand options (local BF, westerner visitors, westerners contacts ready to be visited in the next weeks)  while you are stucked in your country with less money, less vacation and perhaps emotionnaly engaged (if you like her and she don't like you) WITH NO BACKUP (S).

I am a strong opponent to let the lady coming in your country, the first time, and i am a strong opponent to offer any lady to spend vacations in a touristic location, before you are married or totally commited.
You would date her in her country, TILL you have make both commitment and you know each other enough to have some trust each other, prove to the autorities that you have done things in the proper way. When this level is reached it is nice to welcome her in your country, for a daily life if possible, to let her the possibilty to assess what will be her real life and check who you really are (economical situation, friends, family, your personality).

[neilh1703]

I have offered to see her but she was insistent on coming to visit me which is why it's gone on for so long now. Thanks for all your information so far. I will check if she means it's for Schengen visa.

[LAman]

Maybe a fair question, but I'd imagine is irrelevant to this topic.

I was assuming( I know i shouldn't), that this relationship was more than just friendship.
Besides, i still can't figure out why this girl needs the OP to send her money yet she will have the money to repay when she arrives?

[Kunstkammer]

Still RELEVANT to this topic because UK authorities might want to show evidence that they have spent time together in real

Why do the UK authorities even need to know she knows him? Oh yeah, they don't.  So not really relevant.


Anyways, after doing some research on the most trusted travel forum on the runet by a trusted poster, what she says is pretty much true, but suddenly putting money on her account seems suspicious.


http://forum.awd.ru/viewtopic.php?f=527&t=61952


Oh and supporting documents needed (in English)


http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/out-of-country/visitors.pdf

[neilh1703]

Thanks for the information. The visa application process in Russia has to be done through an agency and they have told her that she would need to bring the money into the UK to show she isn't a burden to the authorities. She has applied as a tourist visa. Hope this helps to get a definite answer. Would sending the money to her be solution or is she wrong in what she' been told.

[Kunstkammer]

I was assuming( I know i shouldn't), that this relationship was more than just friendship.
Besides, i still can't figure out why this girl needs the OP to send her money yet she will have the money to repay when she arrives?

Its a numbers thing, you need to have a certain amount of money in the bank when applying for a visa, it is common when getting a Finland or Estonia visa here in SPb for people to borrow money from family members, get a print out of the balance then return the money.  Though reading up on the UK process they look at account activity, so that is suspicious. 


I wouldn't send this girl money a.) because obviously there is no 'real' connection yet b.) she isn't even quoting the right visa rules (though similar) and c.) even if he does it would hurt more than help

[CDW]

WHY YOU SHOULD'NT NEVER ASK TO A GIRL TO COME IN YOUR COUNTRY FOR THE FIRST TIME

NB : for a Schengen visa this girl is correct, but England don't belong to Schengen space.

Yes, that's correct

[CDW]

Would sending the money to her be solution or is she wrong in what she' been told.

DO NOT SEND MONEY TO HER regardless if it is £1,000 or 1p - Never before the first real meeting.

And, are you planning to visit her in St Petersburg?

[Kunstkammer]

Thanks for the information. The visa application process in Russia has to be done through an agency and they have told her that she would need to bring the money into the UK to show she isn't a burden to the authorities. She has applied as a tourist visa. Hope this helps to get a definite answer. Would sending the money to her be solution or is she wrong in what she' been told.

(Assuming she is being 100% honest)Sending her the money would hurt her since the UK looks at account activity not only balance.  Though, being short on 'required funds' as long as she is in the range and has a steady job, doesn't mean auto-denial for the UK visa.  I have many friends who aren't exactly rich that have been given UK visas with no problems.  The process is just a headache.

[Patagonie]

Correct : she needs to prove that she has the required amount prior applying.

So now because you have not done the things in the proper manner :

You are in doubt, even if you think she is a trustable person : BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT SURE TODAY AT 100 % the money you are going to give her will be back. Which is always dammageable in relationship (the doubt is always dammageable).

Other thing : not speaking about you have waited two years to go, you are NOT in control now of the situation.
With an international relationship woman you should be in control of what you are doing (but the problem is more that you don't know what you want to do in your life), in accordance with the cultural pattern of FSU.

[neilh1703]

Thanks for all your information and yes I plan on visiting her in St Petersberg.

[Kunstkammer]

[size=78%]You are in doubt, even if you think she is a trustable person : BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT SURE TODAY AT 100 % the money you are going to give her will be back. Which is always dammageable in relationship (the doubt is always dammageable).[/size]

That is the real takeaway from this.  You had to ask the internet if you should trust a person.  That in itself gives you your answer.