Dear Rob, Thanks for your input. I have a friend here in the same town as myself who met his girlfriend around December 05 and visited her last March(06) for two weeks. He sponsored her tourist visa which was granted without interview and she arrived lat July and stayed for most of the summer. This experience conflicts with your advice about tourist visas... My girlfriend has two months free ( April and May ) and it seems an ideal time for her to visit - can you fill in a bit more why you think this is unlikely to work? I value your experience. Would it be possible to talk? You have my e-mail address and we live in the same country etc.... Again, thanks in anticipation.

Dear Baboyako - you don't mention which visa you think would be possible given more time... I'm all ears and on a sharp learning curve... Warmest thoughts. Paul