UK Visit Visa - advice required

[jimbo23232]

Hiya,

I know this is likely to be covered elsewhere and apologies for duplicating the same query - but just wondered if anyone can give some up to date advice.

I met my partner in Manila while working there on behalf of my UK employer. She was at the time a work colleague. We have the most genuine relationship and just want to be together - but of course there seem to be so many legal and logistical barriers in the way.

We have been together almost a year and I have spent around half of that time living with her in the Philippines. We have literally thousands of photos as well as a huge file of mails, texts, chats etc so the proof of genuine relationship is certainly not a problem.

We also have a lease on a condo unit in Manila which is actually in my name. She has a rented apartment of her own as well.

Long term plan will be to marry and live either in the UK or the Phils. depending on where work opportunities take us.

I'm currently in the UK and she is working in Manila. I'm pursuing a number of work opportunities in Manila. In the mean time I would love to bring her to the UK for a short visit 2-3 weeks to meet my family and friends and for her to experience the culture shock for once

From what I read on here, it sounds like visit visas are often unsuccessful on the grounds that they don't believe the person will return home.

We would never try any kind of trick like that and sincerely just want her to come here basically on holiday while we are waiting for longer term options. Would not do anything to jeopardise our longer term future.

In these circumstances, is it likely that a visit visa would be granted? I'm concerned that the fact that there is no doubt of the strength of our relationship, may count against us as they would assume she might try to stay in the UK.

Why are these things so complicated? Grrrr!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[IainBusby]

Hi Jimbo,
I think that if your not ready to marry yet then the only thing you can do is accumulate as much evidence as possible and try for the tourist visa. It is not impossible to bring a gf to the UK for a visit, it's just that they would like to see strong evidence that on the balance of probabilities, she likely to return to the Philippines before her visa expires. The sort of evidence they are looking for is money in the bank in the Philippines, a reasonably well paid job in the Philippines and also property in the Philippines.

This sort of evidence along with a letter from her employer showing that this an agreed period of leave and the employer is expecting her back at work on a set date should be enough, but as others have said before on this forum with regard to tourist visas, it seems to be a bit of a lottery and it all depends on which ECO looks at the case.

There is set criteria for making a decision on whether to grant a tourist visa or not, as there is with both spouse and fiancee visas, but I think that each ECO has his/her own way of looking at these things and their own individual set of additional criteria as well.

Iain

[Mrs.JMajor]

To add on Iain, it would help too if she's working (letter from employer would help)....or have a business paying tax monthly

[jimbo23232]

Thanks both.. frustrating eh having so many barriers when people are genuinely in love.

She does have a stable job which she has done for 4 years and letter etc from employer would not be a problem.

Would a tourist visa being turned down, have any bearing on the main settlement process once we are married?

Also regarding tourist visa, would they still need the whole financial support proof even though we are talking about a short stay? Just working out what documents I need to get together.

Presumably they dont expect to see an actual flight booking, since we couldnt book it until the tourist visa was approved?

Thanks again :-)

[mavid]

Also regarding tourist visa, would they still need the whole financial support proof even though we are talking about a short stay? Just working out what documents I need to get together.

Yes you still need to show proof that you can accommodate her without recourse to public funds even if its a short stay.

[Mrs.JMajor]

She does have a stable job which she has done for 4 years and letter etc from employer would not be a problem.--THEN GO FOR IT!!!!

Would a tourist visa being turned down, have any bearing on the main settlement process once we are married?---- MOST LIKELY DENIED,BUT SOME MEMBERS HERE HAVE BEEN GRANTED,SO IF I WERE YOU ILL GIVE IT A GO...6K ISNT THAT MUCH THOU...TRY YOUR LUCK !!

Also regarding tourist visa, would they still need the whole financial support proof even though we are talking about a short stay? Just working out what documents I need to get together. ----- YES

Presumably they dont expect to see an actual flight booking, since we couldnt book it until the tourist visa was approved? YES...NO NEED BOOKING OR ANY AIR TICKET ,CONCENTRATE FIRST ON THE REQUIREMENTS--GOODLUCK

Thanks again :-)

There is no harm in trying....6k visa fee isnt that much (peso)

[jimbo23232]

Thanks again.

It's quite likely that I will also be working there soon anyway. Do you think that proof of both of us working in Manila, along with the lease tenancy - especially if I transfer that into both names - would make it easier to plan a hol in the UK?

[IainBusby]

Thanks again.

It's quite likely that I will also be working there soon anyway. Do you think that proof of both of us working in Manila, along with the lease tenancy - especially if I transfer that into both names - would make it easier to plan a hol in the UK?

All of this helps as evidence of a long term relationship between you, but as I said earlier, the things that they are really interested in is anything to do with her life and circumstances in the Philippines. This is the kind of evidence with which they will decide whether they think that she will return to the Philippines or join the already vast number of overstayers already working here illegally in the UK when her visa expires.

I'm afraid that because the system has been so badly abused in the past, they are now much harder on everyone, including people who's intentions are completely genuine and have absolutely no intention of overstaying, or working illegally in the UK.

If she had no job, income, savings, property or prospects in general in the Philippines, then the likelyhood is that they would say, on the balance of probabilities, we feel that she would be unlikely to return to her life in the Philippines if she is allowed to enter the land of milk and honey where the streets are paved with gold etc etc........ or words to that effect.

Iain.

[flicka]

hello guys,

I have something to ask, my friend's interview for tourist visa to UK will be tomorrow. The problem is, my friends is married and the person that she wanted to visit is her boyfriend, aside from that she has no work, money in the bank nor property.Do u think she will granted for a visa?

[Jay&Zobel]

hello guys,

I have something to ask, my friend's interview for tourist visa to UK will be tomorrow. The problem is, my friends is married and the person that she wanted to visit is her boyfriend, aside from that she has no work, money in the bank nor property.Do u think she will granted for a visa?

Your friend is married and she has a boyfriend (British)...? Ohhh...
I doubt she will be granted a visa because she will be visiting her other partner...
So how did she compile her requirements then? Did the BF write the letter of invitation and is the sponsor? But still It is basically CHEATING right?

[flicka]

when she filed her papers she was just put "separated in her status. her bf sent her letter of invitation and send his papers like bank accounts, house property and etc.Yes that is true that she was cheating.I know she did this for immigration purposes becoz according to her once she can have visa she won't return back to PH.

[Mrs.JMajor]

hello guys,

I have something to ask, my friend's interview for tourist visa to UK will be tomorrow. The problem is, my friends is married and the person that she wanted to visit is her boyfriend, aside from that she has no work, money in the bank nor property.Do u think she will granted for a visa?

Hmmm lucky for your friend,at least she have chance to be interviewed ,so all she have to do is......be smart enough to answer..Good luck to your freind

[IainBusby]

hello guys,

I have something to ask, my friend's interview for tourist visa to UK will be tomorrow. The problem is, my friends is married and the person that she wanted to visit is her boyfriend, aside from that she has no work, money in the bank nor property.Do u think she will granted for a visa?

If she is actually being interviewed then I think there is a chance that she will be given a visa. I don't think they would bother to interview her if there was absolutely no chance.

[flicka]

i think all of the filers will undergo interview then after that you will know if u are granted or not.

[flicka]

well according to her bf even she is still married he can find ways to marry her when she arrive in UK. Yes her bf has a good paying job.And besides my friend lied to him that she is still married.The only thing that she did was she wanted to go to her bf in UK to escape the poverty her and prefer to leave her family.Her bf knew now about her status becoz he hired a firm that invistigate her to find her background. But still he give his papers to my friend so she can file a tourist visa and he didnt help her about what necessary things to do about the interview.I even disagree on what she did but that is her decision so good luck for her.

[kimmi]

hello guys,

I have something to ask, my friend's interview for tourist visa to UK will be tomorrow. The problem is, my friends is married and the person that she wanted to visit is her boyfriend, aside from that she has no work, money in the bank nor property.Do u think she will granted for a visa?

hi flicka,

just wanted to ask if this "friend" is ur sister? sorry a bit nosy..

http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....774#post116774

[IainBusby]

hi flicka,

just wanted to ask if this "friend" is ur sister? sorry a bit nosy..

http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....774#post116774

Kimmi the detective.

[Mrs.JMajor]

hi flicka,

just wanted to ask if this "friend" is ur sister? sorry a bit nosy..

http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....774#post116774

smart !!

[empott]

hi flicka,

just wanted to ask if this "friend" is ur sister? sorry a bit nosy..

http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....774#post116774

Eagle eye!

[Jenky]

Hi jimbo

My wife had no job or savings when we met but she was able to get three visit visas to the UK before we subsequently married. Like you I met her whilst I was working in the Philippines. with a visit visa application they will want to be sure that they can see a reason for your girlfriend to go back home. So write your sponsorship letter along the lines of I am in a serious relationship with a girl i met through the course of my employment and I have met my girlfriends family and friends etc and now would like to take our relationship forward and that means her coming to the UK to meet my friends and family. Just be straight with them! most cases they see involve applications where couples have met on line and they may have only seen each other once only. You have spent a long time with your girlfriend and it is not an on line relationship. If you are ok financially then my advice is to try your luck with a visit visa.

[jimbo23232]

Hi Jenky,

Thanks for your post - very interesting. Would you be willing for me to e-mail you for a bit of advice? If so, could you let me know your e-mail address (no need to post it on this forum or you'll be inundated, hehe) my addy is XXXXXXXXXXX

If not, no worries - but thanks again - James