Second Visa?

[steadyfornow]

I wish people (especially those who took the spouse route) would stop giving incorrect information about fiancee visas . You do not need to have evidence of any bookings, and even a provisional date might be difficult if you don't know when the visa will be granted.

The ECOs know it is difficult if not impossible to make any real arrangemens for a wedding in the UK until both the bride and groom are actually in the UK. Also you could have the biggest wedding provisionally booked, but it doesn't actually mean you are going to get married.

now im confused..so it means if youll be applying for a fiancee visa..it wouldnt really be necessary to have evidence of bookings and a provisional date?or it would still help the application somehow?thanks folks..

[darren-b]

now im confused..so it means if youll be applying for a fiancee visa..it wouldnt really be necessary to have evidence of bookings and a provisional date?or it would still help the application somehow?thanks folks..

You don't have to provide any bookings - the guidance notes for ECOs has some comments about this because they know you can't make a confirmed booking without both people actually in the UK. We didn't provide any bookings at all or even a provisional date (only a month...) and I know others who did the same.

Really it's down to whether the ECO believes you with regards to your relationship or not. A provisional booking with a hotel that you could cancel anyway doesn't actually prove a wedding will take place.

[jasper99]

Ouch, I was afraid that would be the case. I have to admit the getting married in Phil is becoming more attractive. I may apply her a visit visa in the meantime but don't expect she will get it eventhough we have met in Thailand before(she returned after visiting there).

Thanks for your replies!

[darren-b]

Ouch, I was afraid that would be the case. I have to admit the getting married in Phil is becoming more attractive. I may apply her a visit visa in the meantime but don't expect she will get it eventhough we have met in Thailand before(she returned after visiting there).

Thanks for your replies!

Either way (fiancee or marriage) you will have to apply for an additional visa 2 years after arriving in the UK which is the expensive one (I think currently it is £820). Taking the marriage route saves you having to apply for FLR which is cheapest visa...

If the rules change with the spouse route you will have to apply for 3 visas (4 with the fiancee route) and I've no ideal what the cost will be.

[JimOttley]

Either way (fiancee or marriage) you will have to apply for an additional visa 2 years after arriving in the UK which is the expensive one (I think currently it is £820). Taking the marriage route saves you having to apply for FLR which is cheapest visa...

If the rules change with the spouse route you will have to apply for 3 visas (4 with the fiancee route) and I've no ideal what the cost will be.

God it never gets easier, I can see the point about getting married in the Phils but if I remember correctly it's pretty much impossible to do in the 21 days allowed under the Phils standard visa waiver, plus for me I am no longer in control of my own destiny, once upon a time I could take time off, if I thought I could afford it but I'm a wage slave now, so really not so easy, my total annual leave is not enough, even adding statutory holidays and weekends :(

May well be best to just offset the extra FLR visa costs against the alternative of taking large amounts of unpaid leave and for us to get married in the UK.


Jim

[Arthur Little]

Ouch, I was afraid that would be the case. I have to admit the getting married in Phil is becoming more attractive. I may apply her a visit visa in the meantime but don't expect she will get it eventhough we have met in Thailand before(she returned after visiting there).

Thanks for your replies!

Well, since your girlfriend returned from Thailand following her visit there, this would certainly be looked upon favourably ... although I must say, I didn't realise a visa would be needed for a Filipina to travel to a neighbouring country. I thought a valid passport would suffice. But yes, I know of one particular lady from the Philippines who worked in both Australia and Singapore prior to meeting her [now] British husband online. Whilst still at the courting stage (in the Phils) he wished to take her to the UK to meet his family, and a Tourist Visa was duly granted.

Now, all credit due to the young lady I'm referring to. She'd already proved her trustworthiness by returning to her homeland not just once - but TWICE - after working abroad. And there can be little doubt that this factor counted in her favour when applying for a tourist visa. But I suspect the Embassy's decision, was influenced to an equally large extent by the fact that her sponsor/future husband was, shall we say, considerably "well-heeled" financially.

Currently, as you are already aware, it is extremely difficult to obtain a short-term visitor's visa ... leaving you with basically two choices. Which is WHY, for the reasons put forward in my initial response last night, I suggested marrying in the Phils and going down the spousal route. In so-doing, I appear to have "put the cat among the pigeons" with other members who evidently diagree with me.

So, once again mate, you have MY opinion for what it's worth! Since you and your girlfriend intend getting married anyway, I STILL adhere to my belief that by tying-the-knot in the Philippines and applying for the spouse visa, you will, in the longer term, save yourselves a lot of money if YOU can spare the time off work. Sure, you'll EVENTUALLY need to apply for 'Indefinite Leave To Remain' (ILR) on your [by then] wife's behalf ... but that won't arise until another 27 months' down the line have elapsed ... and, as I've already pointed out, you'll have saved between £400-£600 on 'Further Leave To Remain' (FLR) in the process.

It's up to YOU ...

[Bluebirdjones]

Darren .... you are TOTALLY correct.

You merely have to say ..
"After xxxx has arrived in the United Kingdom, we intend to get married as
soon as practically possible" ..... end of.

This nonsence about sending details of church hall bookings, menu cards, ring
receipts is exactly that ..... NONSENCE.

... and before others "comment" .... we got our fiance visa in 4 weeks 2 days.
So if you can beat that, then I'll listen... otherwise not.

[Arthur Little]

Darren .... you are TOTALLY correct.

You merely have to say ..
"After xxxx has arrived in the United Kingdom, we intend to get married as
soon as practically possible" ..... end of.

This nonsence about sending details of church hall bookings, *menu cards, ring
receipts is exactly that ..... NONSENCE.

Well, Marc (probably I've even spelt your name wrong!) certainly *one of the things you mention DOES amount to nonsense. Not sure about ring receipts, though ...

... and before others "comment" .... we got our fiance visa in 4 weeks 2 days.
So if you can beat that, then I'll listen... otherwise not.

... at the risk of causing "annoyance" to the people still [impatiently - and rightly so!] awaiting the outcome of their visa applications, I have to say Myrna & I seem to have been extremely fortunate in that WE applied in person on January 20 and our Spousal Visa was granted on February 23. Mind you the Embassy was a lot quieter at that time of year and, above all, it was BEFORE Manila took over this ludicrous new arrangement ... whereby applications from more than half of the entire continent of Asia are processed there.

[JimOttley]

Mind you the Embassy was a lot quieter at that time of year and, above all, it was BEFORE Manila took over this ludicrous new arrangement ... whereby applications from more than half of the entire continent of Asia are processed there.

Oh god, not heard about this what did they promise to do?


Jim

[joebloggs]

http://www.asianjournal.com/dateline...visa-hub-.html

Manila regional hub for UK Visa's

[Arthur Little]

now im confused..so it means if youll be applying for a fiancee visa..it wouldnt really be necessary to have evidence of bookings and a provisional date?or it would still help the application somehow?thanks folks..

Hello again, Michelle. I well-remember greeting you on your "arrival" on our forum, about 4 to 6 weeks ago.

I'm sorry you're feeling confused over whether to continue applying for a Fiancee Visa or opt for the Spousal alternative, instead.

If your mind is set on the former, then ... YES ... I'm of the opinion that ANYTHING at all that can boost your chances of success - and that CAN include provisional date(s)/evidence of booking(s) etc. - is likely to have a more positive outlook. But, from what two respondents [each of whom chose this route - with a fruitful outcome] have implied, it would seem you would not, after all, be required to go to such lengths ... which, from your point of view, must be a blessed relief!

It has to be said that, *since my wife came here in March as the holder of a Spousal Visa - which DEFINITELY HAS the GREATER likelihood of a successful outcome - I tend to be biased in favour of the latter. And if you read my earlier posts again, you will see WHY.

In the circumstances, therefore, it would be unwise of me to advise you one way or the other - due to my *[unsurprisingly] not being fully acquaint with the Fiancee approach. All things considered, however, I would, once again, wish you and your fiance every success with your application.