The Home Office has prevented a five-month-old British boy from meeting his great-grandfather in Lancashire by refusing a visitor visa to his mother, a Myanmar refugee living in Thailand.
William Cross was born on 30 April in Thailand to Matthew Cross, 31, from Burnley, and Khin Thant Zin, known as Jue Jue, also 31, who fled persecution in Myanmar. According to The Guardian, the family's plans for a Christmas gathering in the UK have been derailed by the visa rejection.
Where does the family live?
The family resides on Koh Tao, a Thai island renowned for diving schools and a sea turtle conservation centre that attracts tourists worldwide. Cross, a mechanical engineer, established a steakhouse restaurant on the island 15 months ago, where he met Zin. She now works there managing social media and human resources. The couple are engaged and have recently signed a lease on a new home while purchasing land for future development.
Why was the visa refused?
The Home Office rejected Zin's visitor visa application, stating officials were not convinced she was a "genuine visitor" and doubted she would return to Thailand. The refusal cited insufficient evidence of family ties in Thailand and inadequate proof of income. However, UK visitor-visa rules allow a third party, including a family member, to provide financial support, provided the relationship is genuine and the sponsor can and will provide that support.
Cross explained the barriers to meeting these requirements: "Jue Jue has never had a bank account. Her brother and sister both live on Koh Tao and her mum is planning to move here when her younger sister has finished school in Myanmar."
What was the application process like?
The visa application proved expensive and demanding. The Home Office required financial guarantor documentation from Cross's family members, passport photographs of his grandfather, parents and himself, typed letters from each confirming sponsorship commitment, and a formal invitation letter from his parents. To complete mandatory biometric screening, the family travelled from Koh Tao to Phuket—a two-night, three-day journey by ferry and bus costing £400.
The couple must now purchase return flight tickets and repeat the biometric process despite uncertainty about whether a new application will succeed. Cross calculated the total cost will reach £3,000 with no guarantee of approval. According to the Immigration Rules, visitor applicants must satisfy decision-makers that they will leave at the end of their visit, are visiting for a permitted purpose, and can cover reasonable costs; a sponsor may provide support.
Why is this visit so important?
George Kerr, 74, William's great-grandfather, lives in Clayton-le-Moors in Lancashire and suffers from multiple health conditions that prevent him from travelling to Thailand. Cross said:
"My grandfather suffers from ill health and sadly he is unable to travel. He and I have been extremely close all my life and I'm desperate for him to meet his grandchild."Cross's parents have already visited Thailand and met their grandson, but the great-grandfather has not had that opportunity.
The family had planned a large Christmas gathering in the UK to bring everyone together. Back in Burnley, relatives have already purchased warm baby clothes for William in anticipation of his visit, though temperatures on Koh Tao rarely fall below 25 degrees Celsius.
What happens next?
The couple are preparing a new visa application, though the Home Office refusal letter warned that future applications are likely to be rejected "unless the circumstances of your application change." There is no right of appeal against the initial refusal. The family remains hopeful that William will meet his great-grandfather at Christmas, but the visa process now stands as the primary obstacle to that reunion.
A Home Office spokesperson said:
"We do not routinely comment on individual cases. All visa applications are carefully considered on their individual merits, in line with the immigration rules and based on the information and evidence provided by the applicant."
