I am getting married on 9th December 2006 in the Guildhall in Bath. Even if I am stingy and don't want to fuss about the wedding, I want a family member present. So I asked my mother and sister to apply for a visit visa for the wedding. My mother is still waiting for the Certificate of Non-availability of Birth Record from the NSO (which she needs to get a passport) so I told my sister to go ahead and apply on her own since we don't know how long it will take for the certificate to arrive.
Six days after the form was submitted to UKVACS, her documents were returned and with it was a Notice of Refusal.
My fiance and I called the AIT and they advised us to just file the appeal in the Philippines since it can take as long as 6 months if we file it here. I asked my fiance to write the British Embassy in Manila. This was the email we sent
Subject: Ref: MNL/
To: ManilaVisaEnquiries@fco.gov.uk;
Sent: Sun 22/10/2006 22:36
Dear Sir / Madam
I am writing to you following your decision to refuse the application
of . I am writing in the capacity of sponsor for Grace's visit to the UK.
Grace's visit was to allow her to be present at the wedding of her
sister ( ) and myself in Bath on 9th December 2006. I
feel the decision to refuse entry clearance was grossly unfair for the
following reasons.
The refusal letter states that Grace has failed to supply evidence that
her sister is in the UK, however, such evidence was not sought in
document titled "Visit Visa Requirements" issued by the Visa Section of
the British Embassy Manila.
The refusal letter states that Grace has failed to supply evidence that
her sister and I are getting married, however, such evidence was not
sought in document titled "Visit Visa Requirements" issued by the Visa
Section of the British Embassy Manila.
The refusal letter states that Grace has failed to supply evidence that
she is a student, financially supported by her parents, however, such
evidence was not sought in document titled "Visit Visa Requirements"
issued by the Visa Section of the British Embassy Manila.
I think you might see a pattern emerging.
The Visa Section of the British Embassy Manila should realise better
than most that for many filipinos and filipinas, dealing with Her
Britannic Majesty's Government can be an extremely intimidating
experience, and under such conditions they seek to comply, to the
letter, with any guidance given by the Government of the UK. It is not
surprising, therefore, that in this case, Grace simply supplied the
documents which had been requested. (in document titled "Visit Visa
Requirements" issued by the Visa Section of the British Embassy Manila.)
The evidence you see as lacking in Grace's application is freely
available and, had we known that it was required it would most certainly
have been supplied. In the case of Michelle’s application for her
settlement visa the procedure seemed much more sensible, following your
receipt of her application you required further information and
requested she bring it to her interview – simple. To state that Grace
had not supplied any evidence that her sister is in the UK displays, in
my humble opinion, a remarkably lackadaisical attitude towards record
keeping and retrieval on your part. Quite apart from the clearly-visible
immigration stamp shown on the copy of Michelle's passport’s visa page,
which you already have, would it really have been that difficult to
check that Michelle's visa had been checked at her entry-point into the
UK? I can send you some photos of us in Trafalgar Square if you like!
Furthermore I am most annoyed that despite my letter, sent to Grace and
viewed by yourselves which clearly states that we are inviting Grace to
be present at her sister's wedding, you find yourselves at liberty to
dismiss what I say, presumably as lies. Did it not occur to you that, as
her sister had been granted a marriage visa (for which we had to pay a
considerable fee) and that, under the terms of that visa the wedding
would have to take place before the end of January it does in fact seem
entirely reasonable to be attending a wedding on 9th December?
To support Grace's "claim" that her sister is in the UK her sister can
supply:-
* Copy of visa page from Michelle's passport with Heathrow
immigration officer's stamp, in fact THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN SUPPLIED
* Photocard Driving Licence issued by DVLA
* Bath & N.E. Somerset council tax bill showing both Michelle's and
my names.
* Bath and N.E. Somerset 'Resident's Discovery Card' (photocard)
which is an official confirmation of Michelle's residence within
the county (and therefore, the U.K.) issued by this local
government office.
To support Graces "claim" that her sister and I are getting married on
9th December in Bath I can supply:-
* Provisional booking form from Bath and North East Somerset
Registration Service.
* Receipt from Bath Register Office for £150 fee paid for the
wedding ceremony.
* Receipt from Bristol Register Office for £60 for the registration
of intention to marry.
* Certificate issued by the Superintendant Registrar at Bristol
Register Office
* Statements from my father and my brother who will be best man.
* Photographs of the rings if that helps
To support Grace's "claim" that she is a student supported by her
parents (in fact supported by her mother as their father passed away
some years ago) she can supply :-
* Copies of cheques written by her mother to the school.
* Copy of her enrolment at the school.
* Her student I.D. card.
Furthermore, with regard to your concerns about Grace's returning to the
Philippines on the date given by her you should be aware that in January
Grace sits her final exams for a four year B.S. Degree course in
Nursing. A four year course....... January.......
All of these documents are, and always have been available. You merely
needed to ask for them. Would it really have been so difficult to ask
Grace to attend an interview and to bring these things along with her?
Now we are faced with the very real prospect of an appeal procedure
which in all probability will take so long as to preclude Grace from
attending her only sister's wedding. Furthermore, I am faced with the
prospect of seeing my bride walking down the aisle with tears running
down her face on what should be the happiest day of her life. All you
had to do was ask for the documents. You should realise the real-life
impact of your actions and you should be ashamed at a procedure that
precludes honest, scrupulous people from visiting their own family
members at times when their support is needed most. I really do not
think you tried very hard to ensure a comprehensively fair examination
in this case. Please give details of any procedure allowing us to supply
these documents to you now as additional documents in an attempt to
expedite the forthcoming appeal procedure. As I'm sure you can imagine,
this is an urgent request.
Yours sincerely
The response of the ECO was this:
This was our response to his email.
The documents are now in the British Embassy. We are anxiously waiting for the result. If the ECO doesn't change his decision, I plan to file it in the AIT and insist on an oral hearing. I really feel that the ECO was wrong in his decision to refuse my sister.
It makes me wonder if I should still file for another Family Visit Visa application for my mum since I will be using the same documents in her application.
I also plan to make a complaint against N. Ahmad.
I'm so frustrated and angry. I just want a family member to be present on my wedding.
Originally Posted by maldita
Get married in the Philippines?!
(and the priest. my mum has been trying to get me exorcised for the past 15 years)
hmmmm....ohhh Yahhh???? thats what u think the people in PI? what the 
Follow up of family visit visa
