At some point in your relationship you may feel that you want to be together in the UK, and will have the first big hurdle to overcome of getting a spouse or fiance visa. Well it can all be made a bit easier, knowing that all of the official information is on the internet to support you.
Of course you need to first decide whether you will marry in the the Philippines or the UK, but regardless the process for the visa is much the same.
Long before you apply for the visa you should be collating evidence to support the application. It will be your responsibility to prove that you have a genuine relationship with items such as photos, e-mails, chat logs, phone bills, evidence of trips to the Philippines/UK, reciepts from money transfers (including western union etc). Without enough evidence, there is a good chance your application will be refused.
The information and guidelines on settlement visas for Husband, Wives and Partners is available on the Border Agency website here: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoap...swivespartners
Two extracts which I feel are the most important from this are
One of the important points to take away from this is the 'no help from public funds', this means that if you are claiming benefits, then you fiance/spouse cannot be dependant on you. This is a point which can be very challenging to overcome.How do I qualify to join my husband, wife or civil partner in the UK?
You must show that:
- you are legally married to each other or are in a civil partnership recognised in the UK
- your husband, wife or civil partner is present and settled in the UK (see the next section)
- you both intend to live together permanently as husband and wife or as civil partners
- you have met each other before
- you can support yourselves and any dependants without any help from public funds
- you have suitable accommodation, which is owned or lived in only by you and your household, and where you and your dependants can live without any help from public funds
- your husband, wife or civil partner is not under 21, and
- you are not under 21 at the date of arrival in the UK .
- If your husband or wife has more than one wife or husband, only one will be allowed to join them in the UK.
At first, you will be allowed to stay and work in the UK for two years. Near the end of this time, if you are still married and intend to continue living together, you can apply to stay permanently in the UK.
Apply for the visa
When you apply for the visa, the application is firstly made online at the UK Border Agency website and is printed out. Then you need to schedule an appointment to submit the application and supporting documents at VFS in Makati, Manila. VFS is a private agency that processes the applications for the visas. This appointment is NOT an interview, it is simply where you attend to submit the documents and have you biometrics taken.
Your visa application will be sent to the British Embassy by VFS, where an Entry Clearance Officer will assess that the documents and evidence submitted meets its requirements for the issue of the visa. If they need more information, they may ask you to attend the British Embassy for an interview. Normally within a month you will receive a text message to collect your passport, and only once you have collected your passport from the Embassy will you know whether you have been granted the visa or not. If the visa has not been granted, this could be because you cannot show enough funds to support yourselves, or did not show enough evidence. You do have the opportunity to appeal, and that information will be given to you with a letter that explains why your application was rejected.
On the VFS website is a full guide to the application:
http://www.vfs-uk-ph.com/applying.aspx
- Gather evidence pertaining to your relationship
- Read the guidance on http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoap...swivespartners
- Complete the application form accurately at http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/applyonline
- Schedule an appointment to submit your documents at https://www.vfs.firm.in/pl-apptsyste...ppwelcome.aspx
- Prepare the evidence and documents as per your relevent checklist http://www.vfs-uk-ph.com/images/Sett..._by_fiance.pdf or http://www.vfs-uk-ph.com/images/Sett..._by_spouse.pdf
- Read through your application again, checking for mistakes or inconsistancies. Check that you have all the documents and evidence as per the checklists. Have as much evidence as you can provide, it's better to have too much and them reject it. Organise the evidence into neat files, which make it easy to find information.
- Have your sponsor write a good letter to the Embassy supporting your application, and outlining how long you have been together and important events and meetings between yourselves. He will also have provide copies of his passport and the stamped pages.
- Attend the VFS Appointment and submit your documents, then wait for upto 30 days. Prepare yourself and consider what kind of questions might be asked should you be called for interview.
I hope this brief guide makes it a little easier for those people applying for visas, and makes it seem a little easier. The information is correct as of 2nd September 2010, but I'd recommend you always check and read the latest guidance on the VFS and UK Border Agency website to make sure that you have the correct information to hand.
Originally Posted by ghee101
... VERY helpful ... 
, Ricky!
anyone??
i wish i'd be lucky enough to recieved a good news from them when i lodge mine
I just do what I want.It's not about what people are saying...It's about Me
