After 16 months, my wife's niece and her English fiancee managed to get their heads out of their asses, and she was granted her visa in Manilla today.
It now seems that all successful applicants have to attend a seminar before they leave for the UK!!! Guess it's to inform them of the crap weather, terrible crime, high taxes..... :
Then when she's here she has to do the new thing, and get permission of the Home Office to marry...more money. The UK is getting as bad at the Philippines, charge for everything except breathing!!