New Member Info & Advice.

[alanmf1]

Hi to all in the forum from a new member!

My predicament is that me and my filipina Gf have been together now for 18
months, usual varied methods of communication calls,sms,ym chat,letters, cards,
e mail, skype!
She is in Bohol and i have visited her and her family. I am divored and in UK.
We plan to spend out lives together however she is separated and still married.
i have spoken with local family lawyer and investigated initial process of
annulment and costs involved!!

I would like her to visit UK to see if she likes the country culture and
everything else that would change in her life! She has travelled before as OFW
in Japan & Thailand.

My 2 questions for group are.....

Has any one good advice of similar situation?

Would you enter visa application process of tourist visa for 1st visit or wait
to completion of annulment and apply for fiancee visa?


Having just joined the group and read Perry's "202" this appears a very genuine
open and informative group!!

I look forward to reading and learning more from you all!

I appreciate any assistance and wish you all a very Merry Xmas & Prosperous New
Year

Regards

Alan

[Arthur Little]

Alan ... from MFI!

Hmm ... a Tourist Visa. Normally, I'd be inclined to dissuade anyone from applying for one, based on its [well-*documented - excuse the *pun!] lower success rate, overall. However, in YOUR particular circumstances, it might be worth the risk - given your girlfriend's unblemished record as an OFW in Japan and Thailand. Moreover, I believe it's also possible an ECO would take into account the obvious difficulties faced by someone still in the throes of divorce **proceedings ... where **these could-well overlap the timespan allotted for a couple to marry under the terms and conditions of a fiancee visa.

[liane]

Welcome to the forum Alan
I know you will surely received some advises and help from members who knows more about this situation you're into.
Again welcome and Happy Holidays!

[Sim11UK]

I don't have any experience of annulment, how long did the lawyer say it would take to complete? I won't even ask about money....If no one comes forward with advice, try the search function, as many members here, have been in this predicament.

Maybe worth trying for a tourist visa, if it's going to be a lengthy process.

Welcome, by the way.

[IainBusby]

i have spoken with local family lawyer and investigated initial process of
annulment and costs involved!!

Hi Alan and welcome to the forum. With regard to the annulment process you have just made mistake number one, speaking directly to the attorney and in doing so letting him know that a foriegner is involved. This is likely to vastly increase the price, so it would be better if your gf shops around, finds other attorneys and compares prices.

There is also an alternative to annulment if your gf's situation fits (or can appear to fit) the criteria and that is called "Presumptive Death for the Purposes of Remarriage". This is something you might want to look into before going ahead with annulment because it is usually both quicker and cheaper.

Whatever she does, she should find an attorney who will give her an absolute (package) price with payments being made at each stage of the process and with a large proportion of the money only being paid on absolute completion of the process.

Filipino attorneys are notoriously greedy and if she doesn't do this it's likely that the price will increase as the process goes on and that there will be additional court hearings needed (which she of course will not be required to attend) each one costing between P5000 and P20000.

With regard to your question, getting a tourist visa isn't that easy and especially if the lady in question is still married to someone else, but it always helps if she has the three things that the ECO's look for when deciding on a tourist visa which are, a good job (preferably government) in the Philippines, property in the Philippines and money in the bank in the Philippines.

Without any of these the ECO (Entry Clearance Officer), however unfairly, will probably conclude that if she was given a visa, she would be unlikely to return to the Philippines when her visa expires.

Iain.

[Arthur Little]

... Without any of these the ECO (Entry Clearance Officer), however unfairly, will probably conclude that if she was given a visa, she would be unlikely to return to the Philippines when her visa expires.

Iain.

in principle, Iain ... which is WHY I said I'd NORMALLY dissuade anyone from taking the gamble. But surely an ECO worth his/her salt - presumably being aware of the invariably lengthy and expensive process involved in procuring an annulment - would take into consideration an applicant's predicament in such circumstances. And, hopefully [as I mentioned] look favourably (or at least, sympathetically) upon this particular lady's hitherto unblemished record as an OFW worker in Japan & Thailand. Then again, of course, maybe not!

[alanmf1]

Much appreciate the response... a lot of thinking huh....
Best regards and Happy Xmas!

[alanmf1]

Thanks for the welcome liane, much appreciated

[alanmf1]

Sim11UK, many thanks for the welcome and i am busy searching the forums for all advice and views.
Happy Holidays

[alanmf1]

Iain, Many thanks for you response.
Happy Holidays