Fiancee Visa Questions

[IainBusby]

1. If I marry my fiancee in the UK then do I still need to get a "certificate of no-impediment" in the UK first?

No, you just go and to the registry office together in the normal way and make an appointment to get married. They will be able to check through records that you are free to marry but your fiancee will need her cenomar from the Philippines and probably her birth certificate as well.

2. Would I be able to attend with my fiancee for any interviews or meetings she needs to make at the UK Embassy in Manila and does it help her chances if I'm there?

If she is called for an interview, which is quite rare these days, I believe that you can attend and wait outside, but they don't have to see you, it's up to the ECO (Entry Clearance Officer) who is interviewing her whether he wants to talk to you or not.

3. Does the first appointment at the embassy only involve handing in the documents (i.e. how long do you normally have to wait until my fiancee is called for an interview, assuming they feel she needs one).

There is usually only one appointment and it's not actually with the British Embassy. It's with VFS Global http://www.vfs-uk-ph.com/ which is the agency that accepts all of the applications (and fees), checks that everything is complete and in order, then passes them on the British Embassy. If she is required to attend an interview, this would probably be a few weeks later, once they had looked at her application.

4. Also, what kind of appointment should she ask to make and can you make it several months ahead of time (I think it's possible to book these online too?)?

She would have to make an appointment to submit a settlement visa (spouse) after firstly filling in an online application form, printing it off and then paying the visa application fee into one of the British Embassy's designated banks. Because the application must be lodged within a certain time of the application fee being paid into the designated bank, I don't think you could arrange this several months beforehand.

5. I've heard some people talk about a CFO, can somebody explain more about what this is and at what point she must take/attend it?

The CFO is the Commision on Filipinos Overseas and this is a Philippines govenment requirement. Any Filipino who is emigrating as a fiancee or a wife must attend this. She can take it while she's waiting for her visa or after she gets it. http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?opti...=329&Itemid=78 .

6. In terms of the Fiancee Settlement Visa application, a lot of old topics link to the VAF2 .PDF from 2006 but this is now out of date. I am having trouble picking which is now the correct one. I think this VAF4a is the closest?

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/.../1903073/vaf4a

I think this is the latest version, but should I be wrong, I'm sure other members on here will correct me.

Iain.