G/F's Tourist Visa refused

[Englishman2010]

It's been just over a week since I sent the appeal paperwork back by Guaranteed Next Day Delivery, so I called them today to check if they had received it and to find out if it was being processed.

i was told that there is currently a 3 week backlog to even log cases on to the computer, today they were working on cases received on the 12th or 13th of May

I asked what the process for an appeal is, and was told:

When they have logged the appeal, they have 4 weeks to send the appeal paperwork and any further information back to the Embassy for them to reassess the information and reconsider. If they over turn the refusal there is no need to go to tribunal. However, the Embassy have up to 11 weeks to look at the paperwork.
It will only go to tribunal (with me present as both Representative and Sponsor) if the Embassy still refuse it after they have re-examined the file.

This is not going to be a quick process, but as it's costing me nothing to appeal theres nothing to lose. The timeframe also works to my advantage because I'm going back to the Phils for 2 weeks in 12 weeks time, so there's no point her coming here before I go out there anyway, and if it takes 3 or 4 months to get a decision, providing it is a yes, she then has 6 months from that date to come here (only problems is it will be autumn/winter then and I wanted her here during the summer).
Will advise you as and when futher developments happen.

[Steve.r]

I just don't understand the rules People who have a genuine and honest reason for coming here get turned down by someone who probably got out of bed the wrong side that day.
I also might be looking into getting a visa sometime soon, but it seems like a real mine field.

[Englishman2010]

I just don't understand the rules People who have a genuine and honest reason for coming here get turned down by someone who probably got out of bed the wrong side that day.
I also might be looking into getting a visa sometime soon, but it seems like a real mine field.

I think it is far harder to get a Tourist Visa than a Fiancee Visa Steve. If you apply for the latter you will have no problem proving your relationship is real.
The difficulty with the Tourist Visa is that she has to prove it is her intention to return home. I'm sure we would be fine with a Fiancee Visa, but I'm not quite ready to make that step. We'll see how it goes over the next year or so.

Good luck with your own plans, and I hope everything is going well for you over there

[joebloggs]

I think it is far harder to get a Tourist Visa than a Fiancee Visa

your right there, becuase the visit visa has been abused so much by some people , the embassy have no optionm but to make it difficult to get and it effects genuine visitors

[Englishman2010]

your right there, becuase the visit visa has been abused so much by some people , the embassy have no optionm but to make it difficult to get and it effects genuine visitors

I'm hoping that by sending copies of my own flight schedules to the Philippines for Aug/Sept 2010 and Dec 2010/Jan 2011, they will realise that the window for her coming here is Oct/Nov 2010, and will also realise that I am not going to waste money booking a flight in Dec/Jan if I am not planning to go back there to see her. Therefore, she will return home at the end of November.

We'll see how it goes now, and if it is still refused it's not the end of the world. As per my other thread, hopefully she will have a job at a call centre soon anyway. Give it another 6 months or so, and providing her employer will allow her time off for 4 - 8 weeks, it might be far easier as there should be a genuine reason for her to return home.

That's my logic, but no guarantee the officer at the Embassy will see it that way.

[darren-b]

I'm hoping that by sending copies of my own flight schedules to the Philippines for Aug/Sept 2010 and Dec 2010/Jan 2011, they will realise that the window for her coming here is Oct/Nov 2010, and will also realise that I am not going to waste money booking a flight in Dec/Jan if I am not planning to go back there to see her. Therefore, she will return home at the end of November.

We'll see how it goes now, and if it is still refused it's not the end of the world. As per my other thread, hopefully she will have a job at a call centre soon anyway. Give it another 6 months or so, and providing her employer will allow her time off for 4 - 8 weeks, it might be far easier as there should be a genuine reason for her to return home.

That's my logic, but no guarantee the officer at the Embassy will see it that way.

The problem with your logic is they show what you are thinking (assuming the flights aren't refundable), but they don't show what your girlfriend is thinking. And it's her intentions that are important.

Work can help getting a visa. But compare what she will earn in a call centre in manila to what Filipinos think they can earn working illegally in London and you will realise why it won't guarantee a tourist visa on it's own.

[Englishman2010]

I fully understand what you are saying Darren, and being honest, I don't think that they will overturn the decision this time, but as it isn't going to cost me any more than the £70 I've already paid with the original application, there's no harm in trying