Regard your holiday allocation, I know a number of people who have been in the same situation. Speak with the boss, and arrange for overtime to be given as holiday time, and arrange an extra visit around a bank holiday.
I dated my girl in Singapore long distance for 2 years, and made 7 visits of 3 weeks each during that time., and she had no internet access unlike most people today.
People get into all kinds of problems with visa applications because they try to rush things. I bet you're in daily contact with your g/f, so the only thing you can't do is touch. Easy enough to handle, as you weren't doing it with her a year ago.
Enjoy the courting, send her those cute 'love' cards.....have flowers/cakes/etc delivered. You probably won;t get to do it again, so make the most of it. It's fun. Look at it as a positive learning process for both of you.
If we apply for a tourist visa and its refused will this have any bearing on a future fianceé visa or even an application from another country?
It'll be a black mark on the records, so any discrepancy on the fiancee visa, you'll have no flexibilty, but basically no. Other countries, definite NO.
However, the burden of proof with a tourist visa is you have to prove 100% that she will return, this is seldom possible, and almost impossible to do, and is the basis in which the majority are denied.
