Hello All,

I am newbie in this group and i am desperately seeking advise/help/tips on how i'll appeal to the eco's decision. I just got the decision today and I am so, so devastated because they refused my application for a fiancee visa. I can literally feel my heart squeeze the life out of me... huhuhu... I dont even know where to start! huhuhu.. ok, ok.. here's my story..

Louis and I met christmas vacation year 2002 and we became a couple the following year. Unfortunately, on that same year i moved to manila for my work (i am originally residing here in Baguio, him in the province). Because of the distance and the nature of our work, we didnt have much time for each other until he went to UK last Oct. 2003. Last Jan 2004, we renewed our relationship (maybe bec now, we are more mature and have a deeper perspective about life). We have been together since even if our relationship is mostly based on emails, text messages, and calls. We are so in love we decided to get married. Since getting married in our hometown in the traditional way would require lots and lots of money, and he's not yet ready to go home, we decided that i should visit him in UK. During that time, we dont have enough evidence yet to support our relationship so i applied for a tourist visa and it was eventually approved. I flew to london last november and came back here in the Phil last april. We then gathered all necessary documents and proof of our relationship including letters, email, pics, phone bills and submitted it last june 22. It was only after i submitted my documents that i discovered this forum.. If i could have discovered it earlier, the tips and advises you all posted should have been a great help and would make me feel more assured.. i should have included ALL the letters and pics that we have. What i did was just send some samples of our letters and emails. For our pics , we dont have any before he went to london so most of the pics we sent were those taken during my visit.

Now, after waiting for a month and getting ulcer due to worry and anticipation, my application was refused. They did say that i have the right to appeal but still, each day that pass that im not with louis is like a piece of me being torn apart.. I am still gaining strength to let louis know about the result and Im sure he will be as devastated as me.. I will be posting what the eco stated below so you could share your thoughts and help me understand what he meant and what else do we need to do. I considered getting legal advise about this but your advises would greatly be appreciated..

Here's the decision:
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I have carefully considered your application on the basis of your passport, application form and the papers you have provided. you have declared that the information you have given is complete and true to the best of your knowledge. However, in view of information received from the Home Office, i am not satisfied that you have not failed to furnish suitable information for the purpose of deciding whether you require leave to enter the UK or, if you do, whether or on what terms leave should be given, and i am not prepared to exercise discretion in your favour. Your application is therefore refused in accordance with paragraph 320 (8) of the immigration rules. Your application has not been considered under any other provision of the immigration rules.

In reaching this decision to refuse your application I have given careful consideration to your rights under article 8 of the european convention on human rights. However, i am satisfied that although there may be a perceived interference with your right to family life under article 8 such intereference is justified in the interests of maintaining an effective immigration control, and is proportionate to that aim and does not therefore breach your convention rights. I am also aware of the fact that there is nothing in english law that prohibits the sponsor from travelling to the philippines and enjoying family life with you in this country.

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So what does the eco meant? That we did not provide enough proof of our relationship? What did he meant that i did not "furnish suitable information for the purpose of deciding whether you require leave to enter the UK or, if you do, whether or on what terms leave should be given" ? Are we suppose to state the term s of the leave to remain? I understand louis can come here in the phil, but he works there now, and isnt it that we also have the right to live together as a family? I am totally lost. Please let me know your thoughts... Thanks...

Yours,

tokwifi