Welcome to what you have already discovered is a very friendly and supportive forum. I am currently on the verge of receiving my State Pension. Prior to reaching this stage in my life, I hadn't worked full-time for quite a number of years ... as a result of being prematurely retired on health grounds. On attaining the age of 60, I became eligible for what is known as Guaranteed Pension Credit in order to supplement my income which consisted ONLY of a modest occupational pension amounting to less than £6,000 per annum.

Why am I telling you all this? Good question!

Having been widowed at the early age of 47, I struggled on alone, aware that my life was spiralling slowly downhill. Fortunately, each my two children happened to be self-supporting adults by this time, and hence I was financially able to relinquish what had long been an extremely stressful job.

The "crunch" came last year when, after engaging in an online LDR with a Filipina schoolteacher for the preceding 12 months, I visited her home province of Davao del Norte for the first time in September 2008. We spent three glorious weeks together ... during which time we were rarely apart, and she too, filed an application for early retirement. Two months later, her request duly granted, I returned to the Phils ... where we wed on December 8.

Eventually, on 20 January, we lodged my new wife's papers ... accompanied by my letter of sponsorship ... with the British Embassy in Manila. The letter clearly outlined the reasons for my financial situation - in terms of comparatively meagre Savings - down to the last penny. During the tense waiting period, my mind was constantly filled with anxious "WHAT IF?" thoughts ... e.g. What IF ... in the worst-case scenario ... my income - particularly in the light of my being in receipt of public funds, i.e. pension credit, proved inadequate. Evidently, my worries turned out to be unfounded, as her visa was, in due course, APPROVED!

Basically, what I'm saying is THIS: Technically, I was UNEMPLOYED ... being under the age of 65 at the point we submitted my wife's application. So meanwhile, I suggest your husband start the ball rolling by presenting as STRONG a case as is possible in the circumstances ... always bearing in mind (i) that from a 'Human Rights' angle, the Embassy MUST demonstrate SUBSTANTIAL grounds for denying a wife the chance of joining her husband in his country of birth and (ii) Spouse Visas are SELDOM refused.

So, folks ... HAVE FAITH ... and Good Luck to you BOTH in your efforts.