Possible complications ..advice needed ..

[IainBusby]

will we need him to sign anything? ..this i know will cause us problems ...his family want the son to remain in the philippines ...

If I were you I would just apply for the visa, state that she has full parental responsibility for her son, that the childs father does not support him in any way, hasn't been in contact since shortly after the child was born and that his whereabouts are uknown.

If you actually get in touch with the father or his family and tell him or them of your intentions, it's likely to cost a packet, so if it's at all possible, just keep very quiet about your plans, apply for the visa and see how it goes.

[joebloggs]

hasn't been in contact since shortly after the child was born and that his whereabouts are uknown.

might not be so straight forward, if he is named on the birth cert.

a problem with that if the embassy find the father or member of his family and if the embassy realise this is not true, tell a lie then wave your visa goodbye.. trying to obtain a visa by deception .. i'm not saying this would happen, but you have to realise the worse case scenario and the results of your actions.

if he is named on the birth cert, can you not buy the father off and get him to write a letter stating he wishes his son to join his mother and live in the uk ? is your g/f on talking terms with him ?