What If...

[Gavanddal]

Have you considered moving to the Phils instead? If you waited 2 years you could collect the state pension plus your other pension, rent your house out in the UK and live like a king out there.

Just a thought. I can't see why anyone would want to move to the UK in the state it's in (apart from love of another of course)

[Arthur Little]

Hi, and thanks for the thought! I imagine I would probably be a lot better off financially in the Philippines and agree entirely with what you say about the present state of the UK. The "Great" has long been dropped from our nation's title in the eyes of 'Joe Public'. Nevertheless, all my family and friends are here, and Myrna fully appreciates my reluctance to leave them - even sacrificing a rewarding career for the sake of being together.

[IainBusby]

To Moderators Pete (ginapeterb) and Joe (Bloggs) and to Darren, Keith, Andy, Iain, PeterB and Fred - respected members all - I extend my gratitude for your valuable input and advice.

Friends, I could not, by any stretch of the imagination, be regarded as a 'Holy Willie' BUT, having been a long-standing Boys' Brigade Officer and District Elder in the Church of Scotland for more than 33 years, I feel I must act according to the dictates of (a) my conscience and (b) my heart.

Accordingly, in the end, Myrna and I will submit our application based on our joint cicumstances exactly as they ARE, place everything in God's (hopefully) merciful hands - with more than a few fervent prayers from me, and something like three-dozen 'Hail Marys' from Myrna - in order to convince HIM (the Almighty) if not the Immigration Authorities ...!!!

Now I would hardly be surprised if this site were to be deluged with ardent pleas along the lines of: "Come down to earth, Arthur, for Ch***t's sake ... you're living in the REAL world, man! So be it!

Whatever; thanks again for all your help and good wishes. Heartiest congratulations too, to all who have emerged relatively unscathed from the maze of red tape and bureaucracy, and my very best wishes to those who've yet to enter the 'lion's den'. God BE with you, in the same way as he finally was with Daniel (I think!).

Kindest Regards,

Arthur.

Hi Arthur,
May I ask which visa you have decided to apply for, fiancee or spouse? Personally, at first glance, I think the spouse visa may seem a lot riskier and a big gamble on paper, but in my opinion, this is the one that is more likely to succeed because it shows a stronger commitment on your part and even if your circumstances seem to fall below their normal criteria, I think they would have to think long and hard before they could deny you the right to bring your wife to live with you in the UK.

I think that they will assume that the rejection of a spousal visa by a born and bred UK citizen is likely to be followed by an appeal and letters to MP's etc, so they will want to be sure that their grounds for refusal can stand up to the scrutiny.

I also think that given your circumstances financially, they would be likely to reject any application for a fiancee visa out of hand. I think they would simply tick all the wrong boxes and return the application refused, because I don't think they would see engagement as any sort of serious commitment. Anyway Arthur, whatever you decide to do, both my wife and I wish you the very best of luck.

Iain.

[PeterB]

...I think they would have to think long and hard before they could deny you the right to bring your wife to live with you in the UK.

Exactly!

It is often said that two can live as cheaply as one and, to a certain extent, that is true. However, it is a fact that your council tax (or whatever it's called these days) will rise by 33%. Also, bringing a Filipina to Scotland is bound to have a significant effect on the heating bills!

While Myrna is a well-respected, and senior, teacher in Panabo (Ruby was a student there while Myrna was teaching), I'm not sure that this will lead to immediate employment in the UK - she may have to set her sights a little lower in order to bring an early boost to the household income.

[IainBusby]

Exactly!

It is often said that two can live as cheaply as one and, to a certain extent, that is true. However, it is a fact that your council tax (or whatever it's called these days) will rise by 33%. Also, bringing a Filipina to Scotland is bound to have a significant effect on the heating bills!

While Myrna is a well-respected, and senior, teacher in Panabo (Ruby was a student there while Myrna was teaching), I'm not sure that this will lead to immediate employment in the UK - she may have to set her sights a little lower in order to bring an early boost to the household income.

I thought that the single occupier coucil tax reduction was 25%.

[darren-b]

I thought that the single occupier coucil tax reduction was 25%.

Yup, you get a 25% discount, but it will then increase by 33% when you lose that discount

for example...

100 - 25% = 75
75 + 33% = 100

[darren-b]

I think they would have to think long and hard before they could deny you the right to bring your wife to live with you in the UK.

I wish I had as much faith in the immigration system as you have. Heard a story this week of a couple (British guy with a South African wife) who had been living in the UK together for about two years. Unfortunately they sent her application for ILR a few weeks or so after her current visa had expired. Not only was her application rejected as she was an 'overstayer', they witheld her passport and booked her a one way ticket back to South Africa.

[joebloggs]

I wish I had as much faith in the immigration system as you have. Heard a story this week of a couple (British guy with a South African wife) who had been living in the UK together for about two years. Unfortunately they sent her application for ILR a few weeks or so after her current visa had expired. Not only was her application rejected as she was an 'overstayer', they witheld her passport and booked her a one way ticket back to South Africa.

thats common sense, you always apply for a new visa before your old one runs out, ignorance of the rules is not a defense, as is trying to cheat the system.

always go by the rules and always apply for a visa before your old one runs out, and you shouldn't have a problem.

no doubt all she had to do while back in SA was to apply for a new spouse visa, and come back again, sure its cost them money, time, heartache and form filling. but you can't beat the gov, they make the rules and you have to play by them

[Scouse]

Hi Arthur,

Good luck with your plans but if you do decide to go down the route of releasing equity from the house, please be very very careful. You will need to take independent financial advice from somebody who doesn't sell equity release products.

I have read some real horror stories about people who have done this and lived to regret it. Have a look at the financial pages of the quality newspapers on line (they should have a search facility) this will give you an idea of what is involved.