Visit visa, can I ask some advice on covering evidence?

[Iani]

Hi

I feel a bit guilty asking this, because it's bound to have been asked before, but I just can't find it in a search (loads for fiance and spouse, not so much for visit).

Anyway, I've decided to try get my special girl a visit visa for this summer, and we've sent in the online form already. The interview for her "grilling" has been booked for a couple of weeks off, and I'll be over there at this time anyway as I'm flying out for a visit :Jump::Jump::Jump:

So I of course need to prepare various things for her to take with her into her interview, and as I'm visiting anyway, this is going to be rather easy to give her.

We've put on the application form, that the reasons for her visit are - "holiday with some touring, and also to get to know each other better", that I've invited her over.

Thing is, and I've told her this, they will quite likely say no to this visit, because they're overcautious at best, but hey - it's worth a try for the cost. All my friends are longing to meet her, and you can get to know someone much better if you're with them for more than just a week away etc.
If I'm going to try, then I might as well go for it with too much rather than too little supporting evidence.

So at last, getting to the point, can I ask you guys, does this sound good/too much/or can you advise me on something else I may have forgotten.


Copy of my passport with copy of passport stamps for Lebanon (where she works) on my visits.



Print some photos of us together with dates and where taken. We have many with recognisable landmarks so these seem good.



Somehow print out yahoo messenger logs. Must be a way of printing just date logs, but I haven't found them yet, hmmm.



Print out phone logs -there aren't many though, might not bother doing this, we usually chat online if we do.



Print itinery of her visit, I can create this, find places we can go to. It's just for a month anyway.



6 months wage slips



6 months bank statements and statements showing balance of savings



Then I thought the proverbial covering letter, setting out how we met, how often we chat, when we have visited, and any additional costings (medical insurance etc)


How does this sound? Overkill or good?

Oh and can I ask, should I put in that letter something on the lines of - I will ensure I escort her back to the airport and on to the plane home, as should our relationship progress, abusing a visit visa would stuff up our future plans - or would such a statement likely ring alarm bells as "too much thought into this".
Similarly, would it be a good idea to put "we won't be getting married on this visit as my decree absolute won't be finalised until July after she has returned", or is making emphasis on such a thing also a no-no :D

I've always believed in the phrase "protesting too much", and wonder if some things just shouldn't be mentioned.

Thanks in advance, I feel very stupid asking this, but - hope you don't mind

[grahamw48]

It sounds more like a Spouse/Fiancee visa application. :Erm:

They need to be satisfied that she's got a good reason to GO BACK.

Probably why it's such a problematic visa to apply for. :NoNo:

[Iani]

That's it Graham - I can't decide if I'm being a bit "overkill" with it. The search I managed suggested it was better to give too much than too little.
The bank statement thing is of course to show I can support her over here for the visit, and it was suggested as it's partly to get to know each other, to set out that it's a proper relationship

I'm not really expecting them to agree anyway, but if you don't ask, you don't know

[Terpe]

As I understand it, your gf has already submitted the application online.

You mention an interview, sorry to say this, but I strongly doubt this is the case. Interviews are very rare indeed, in fact just about unheard of these days.
I suspect it's just an appointment at VFS to enable her to make payment and to submit the documentary supporting evidence. VFS will not make any kind of interview at all.
Please don't think there will be any chance at all to put forward your case. It will just not happen.

I'm sure you already know that securing a tourist visit visa is notoriously problematic for many reasons.
Not least because approval or refusal of General Visitor (tourist) visa applications is principally based on the discretion of the ECO.
Unless it is a family visa there is no appeal process.

The major complication is the need by the applicant to prove a non-immigrant intent. Applicants wishing to come to the UK under a tourist visit must clearly demonstrate that they do not intend to remain in the UK on a permanent basis. Immigration law places this 'burden of proof' on the applicant.
In order to grant a temporary visa, the ECO must be satisfied that the applicant has strong social, economic and family ties abroad that would compel them to leave the UK at the end of the temporary stay.

Sorry to this but, there is a tendancy that this will always be that little bit more difficult to establish if there is an existing romantic relationship between the applicant and the British citizen/permanent resident/sponsor.

It's unfortunate I know, but some additional focus will be needed to overcome this presumption.

The absolute keys are going to be:-

- Reasons to return home that outweigh reasons to stay
- Financials

Strong ties differ from country to country, city to city, individual to individual.
Some examples of ties can be a job, a house, social and family relationships, a bank account, possessions etc
The ECO is looking to see if the aspects of her life that bind her to her country outweigh those aspects that may cause her to be unwilling to return to her home country, or to attempt to change or extend her visa status.


Concerning your sponsorship I would suggest:-

Details of the accommodation and proof of address
Passport photocopies
6 months pay slips
6 months bank statements
Relationship evidence
A very good supporting sponsorship letter clearly stating the relationship and reasons for the requested visit at the specific time.

Your gf needs to provide:-

If employed, a letter from her employer granting leave of absence from her job for a specified period - the letter should also say how long she has been employed by that employer, in what job(s), salary details and when she is expected back at work;
If self-employed, evidence of her business activities and financial standing
Evidence of any property owned in Philippines
If a student, a letter from the school or college stating the course she is on, its start and finish dates, and the dates of the holiday period when she intends to visit the United Kingdom
Evidence of any family and strong social ties, responsibilities and financial ties that give reasons to return home.
6 months Bank statements and evidence of savings available to her
The main reasons for wanting to travel at the specific time

As you rightly say the risks and the costs are very small, so nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Good luck

[Iani]

Well, I've just had a chat with her. She owns property back in Phils, but doesn't have any evidence with her - the documents are back there, and she doesn't have a bank account, she keeps savings in a box in her wardrobe :doh , that which she doesn't send back to parents of course.

Might sounds crazy to me, but thinking about it, I guess it's only what grandparents used to do, keeping it under the mattress, but hey..............that's not really the point.

I'm now thinking as she can't prove property, can't prove savings, her employer is a private family and although I know they would write a letter stating her contract ends June 1st for her vacation, and re-starts for another year on July 1st, I have a sneaking suspicion this isn't as acceptable as a letter from say Bigbank Global plc HR department.

She needs to work, loves the job, has a very strong group of friends there - and needs this for sending money home to the family, but this isn't going to be exactly easy to prove.

I'm thinking taking this into consideration, maybe it would be best to just wait until we can apply for a totally different sort of visa

She's ok with this, she's just told me, and I'm laughing here at the craziness of it. Would be nice to be able to spend the quality time at my place, but.....if I was UKBA, then I'd be looking at this and thinking "deary me"

Would value second opinions, I'm big boy and won't be offended

[melovesengland]

I went to the UK last year using a visit visa. We got refused in my first application due to lack of supporting documents like bank statements and invitation letter from my sponsor but got granted, luckily, after the second attempt.

I think they are more concern on the reasons on why she needs to go back to the PI on or before the visa expires. As I have my daughter, we stated that I need to go back to the PI because of her. Also, dont forget to write a letter saying you are going to shoulder all the finances/expenses while shes in the UK like providing her accommodation, food and some basic needs so she wont rely on public funds. You can send ur pay slips, bank accounts/statements or any source of income for them to know that you can afford to support her needs.

This is the link of my Visit Visa experience. Try this, it may help.

http://filipinaroses.com/showthread.php/35629-Uk-visit-visa-(sponsorship)-tips-advices?highlight=UK+visit+visa+sponsorship+tips+and+advices :Wave:

[Iani]

Thanks for that :)

It's just, difficult to prove she will leave, of course. She doesn't have children, can't prove the house is hers, works abroad anyway..........and not on the best wages ever, so on paper overstaying in the uk might be attractive. I know she would not want to do this, even if I wasn't in the picture, because she can't work here, does have work there, will get money there, has loads of friends there, and adores the family she works for.

Plus I'd carry her through passport control over my shoulder myself.............but that's what they all say.

Having second thoughts if it's worth it, but......well, will see

[Terpe]

Thanks for that :)

It's just, difficult to prove she will leave, of course. She doesn't have children, can't prove the house is hers, works abroad anyway..........and not on the best wages ever, so on paper overstaying in the uk might be attractive. I know she would not want to do this, even if I wasn't in the picture, because she can't work here, does have work there, will get money there, has loads of friends there, and adores the family she works for.

Plus I'd carry her through passport control over my shoulder myself.............but that's what they all say.

Having second thoughts if it's worth it, but......well, will see

At least you now know what you need to do.
Personally I would say give it a go. Why not? What's to lose?
Good experience.
Make a really great supporting letter. You just never know.
The visa is only about £76
Any refusal would not impact on additional applications further down the road.

[melovesengland]

At least you now know what you need to do.
Personally I would say give it a go. Why not? What's to lose?
Good experience.
Make a really great supporting letter. You just never know.
The visa is only about £76
Any refusal would not impact on additional applications further down the road.

I would say the same. Give it a try! I was refused on the first app but got granted on the second, you just need to think a lot on visit visa. Anyway, the fee isnt that dear as the fee on settlement visas. I do hope you will bring her to the UK as what youve planned! :)