Hello

I was hoping for some advice as I am bit confused as to the best way to proceed.

My name is Andrew and I live London, I am a British citizen. I am currenly 39. I met a Filipino girl, Marissa 3 years ago in Hong Kong, she is currently 33.

I was on my way to Australia and spending a couple of days in Hong Kong. Marissa was on a two week holiday from the Philippines.

We have a fabulous time in Hong Kong and stayed in touch. I visited Marissa in the Philippines in March 08, where we had a fabulous time and became a couple.

We then decided to apply for a tourist visa for Marissa to visit the UK, Marissa applied in December in 08, the application was refused because Marissa did not submit her supporting documents (which she had, she was advised by her aunt that she need to hand these over in an interview).

I then visited Marissa in February/ March 09 in the Philippines again we had a fabulous time and decided we did not want to be apart.

When i returned to the UK, I seeked legal advice. I was advised most probably the best way forward was to go for a Fiancee Visa. At this time i did not own my own property, i rented a house with friends in London.

So I decided if Marissa and I were to live together I needed my own porperty, so I have managed to buy a great flat in London. This to took quite a while to complete and getting a mortgage was very challening.

I moved into the flat in October, and I am now trying to sort my finances out so we can apply for the fiancee visa, I am looking for Marissa to apply in March.

On New Years Eve I met a guy who used to work for the British Embassay in New Zeland, he had not worked in the visa department, but PR. He advised me that we have less than 1% chance of getting a Fiancee Visa for Marissa he advised me not to go for it. He said that the Filippines is treated as a high risk area by British Immigration, and they would believe me, but it would be very hard for Marissa to convince them of her feelings and the relationship.

He advised the best way to go forward is for me to go and live with Marissa in the Philippines for a year, which is not really and option at the moment.

Please can somebody advise is the Fiancee visa virtually impossible to gain for Marissa? Or do we you think we have a good chance of success?


Thanks

Andrew