Follow up Q on Visa Info

[alanmf1]

Hi All,
Interested to know if most members process their and their Filipino partners visa them selves or have any of you experience of using specialist visa agencies,particularly in the UK.
I want my GF to visit and experience UK on a tourist visa but understand its a very hit & miss process.:Brick:
Much appreciate any views
Merry Xmas to All
Regards
Alan

[bornatbirth]

seems to me there letting in anyone.....

i think your better off with a visit visa...:xxgrinning--00xx3:

and fill it in yourselfs :D

[joebloggs]

hardly anyone on here used an agency for a fiancée or spouse visa, as they don't really need to if its a straight forward application.

but your right about the visit visa, it can be hit and miss, some filipina have got a visa with no job, savings or property and others have been refused who had property, a job/business etc :doh

also because your g/f is not classed as a family member, if she is refused, she will have only limited grounds for appeal.

so get your app 100% water tight , look into the common reasons for refusal and address them, and keep your fingers crossed :rolleyes:

[Steve.r]

Soooo........what difference will there be in application if you say fiancee instead of gf ??

For instance, (hypothetically) if I were to propose to my gf and she accepts, am I more likely to have her visa approved in that scenario ? :Erm:

[joebloggs]

Soooo........what difference will there be in application if you say fiancee instead of gf ??

For instance, (hypothetically) if I were to propose to my gf and she accepts, am I more likely to have her visa approved in that scenario ? :Erm:

VAT2.4 What is a family visitor?

The same as for a visitor. Under the Immigration Appeals (Family Visitor) Regulations 2003, a family visitor is defined as:

1. the applicant's spouse, father, mother, son, daughter, grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece or first cousin (NB: "first cousin" means, in relation to a person, the son or daughter of his uncle or aunt);
2. the father, mother, brother or sister of the applicant's spouse;
3. the spouse of the applicant's son or daughter;
4. the applicant's stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother or stepsister; or
5. a person with whom the applicant has lived as a member of an unmarried couple for at least two of the three years before the day on which his application for entry clearance was made.

In addition:

* Children adopted under an adoption order recognised in UK law are treated as if they are the natural children of the adoptive parents; and,
* The Immigration Appeals (Family Visitor) Regulations 2003 pre-date The Civil Partnership Act (2004). Civil partners are considered “a member of the applicant’s family” in the same way as a spouse for the purposes of the Family Visitor Regulations.

ECOs should not seek documentary evidence of a claimed relationship unless there are strong grounds to doubt it (such as a disparity in age that makes the relationship biologically unlikely).

family visit visa you have more rights to appeal. general VV you will have limited rights.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visitingtheuk/visitors/documents/

This page explains what documents you should have when coming to the United Kingdom as a general visitor.

They are:

* if you are employed, a letter from your employer granting leave of absence from your job for a specified period - the letter should also say how long you have been employed by that employer, in what job(s), and when you are expected back at work;
* if you are self-employed, evidence of your business activities and financial standing;
* evidence of any property you own in your home country;
* if you are a student, a letter from your school or college stating the course you are on, its start and finish dates, and the dates of the holiday period when you intend to visit the United Kingdom;
* evidence of any family or social ties and responsibilities to return to;
* evidence of any firm travel plans you have made;
* bank statements going back over a period of several months; and
* evidence of savings available to you.

[Arthur Little]

Soooo........what difference will there be in application if you say fiancee instead of gf ??

For instance, (hypothetically) if I were to propose to my gf and she accepts, am I more likely to have her visa approved in that scenario ? :Erm:

:rolleyes: Well basically, a girlfriend per se CAN only apply for a Visit Visa (and, literally, hope for the best!) UNLESS she's seeking a Family Visitor's Visa ... the regulations for which, are similar ... as defined in Joe Bloggs' response.

If, on the other hand, she were engaged, she would be EXPECTED to apply for a *Fiancee Visa ... in order to [at least, partly] satisfy the Entry Clearance Officials that the relationship was one of substance. :lovecouple: Furthermore, to [complete] the process, the applicant would need to fulfill the terms & conditions of the *latter by marrying within the visa's period of validity, i.e. 6 months ... or else return to her homeland immediately, in the event of the relationship breaking down and/or any other change of plan.

It stands to reason, therefore, that an application for a fiancee visa application [which is nearly 10 x times more expensive than the "tourist" version] is much more likely to convince the ECO of the genuine nature of a relationship :love2: ... and hence has a far greater chance of success.

In BOTH cases, however, the criteria to be met includes a sponsor's duty to provide suitable accommodation for, and support an applicant financially - WITHOUT having to resort to claiming public funds - for the duration of the visa.

I trust the foregoing covers your questions (hypothetical and otherwise) adequately.

[Doc Alan]

Very helpful advice on this thread, I'm sure you have explained this to many others, but I admire your patience, expertise, and time !

[Steve.r]

Arthur & Joe, many thanks for your replies. You have more than satified my question, great work and thank you for spending the time in replying. :xxgrinning--00xx3::xxgrinning--00xx3:

Steve :)

[alanmf1]

Hi Everyone,
many thanks...& a great xmas to all

[sars_notd_virus]

Hi everyone!! I got married last December 2009 with my brit bf for 5yrs and planning to apply for a family visitor visa to visit my husband and have a nice proper get together with his family ..My 'Q' is will it be possible to take my kids with me for a 2months vacation? and come back in philippines and apply for a spouse visa eventually?
Reading your forums here is a great help..thank u vmuch!
Cheers!!

Mari:BouncyHappy:

[darren-b]

Hi everyone!! I got married last December 2009 with my brit bf for 5yrs and planning to apply for a family visitor visa to visit my husband and have a nice proper get together with his family ..My 'Q' is will it be possible to take my kids with me for a 2months vacation? and come back in philippines and apply for a spouse visa eventually?
Reading your forums here is a great help..thank u vmuch!
Cheers!!

Mari:BouncyHappy:

It is possible but if your husband is living in the UK (with no intentions of leaving the UK) the ECO is likely to wonder why you are applying for a visit visa rather than a settlement visa and whether you are likely to leave the UK before your visit visa expires. Unless you can show your reasons for this you may get refused as the ECO may believe you are trying to 'cheat' the system.

[sars_notd_virus]

It is possible but if your husband is living in the UK (with no intentions of leaving the UK) the ECO is likely to wonder why you are applying for a visit visa rather than a settlement visa and whether you are likely to leave the UK before your visit visa expires. Unless you can show your reasons for this you may get refused as the ECO may believe you are trying to 'cheat' the system.

Hello Darren,yes we thought of applying a settlement but not straight away (i knew for the fact that overstaying on a visit visa will mess my application for settlement visa in the future).. we just want to pay respect to his nan's request to see my husbands new family in real before she expires as she is already 98yo.
Do i need a sponsor letter from her nan,mum,and bro? to prove that going there was plainly family visit? what other papers shall i need? he has a flat of 1bedroom only, i got 2kids 8yrs old and 4yrs old will it be alright accomodation for us or we need to stay to his bros house of 4bedrooms?
need to hear more reply ..good day! thanks!