In my work i'm heavily involved in visa applications for the people I manage from various parts of Asia whether its obtaining US, Schengen or more types of visas. In addition to this experience, through these forums and another, I've seen a lot of visa application stories and also met quite a few people who've had visa problems. A few recent cases, including a friend of mine in China has made me want to write a post with where I think some of the failed applications are going wrong.
1) The primary reason, is failing to meet the criteria specified on the VFS and Border Agency website for the particular visa. This seems obvious, but many of the questions asked on the forum are explained on the official websites. Of course, it's good to come to a website like this to clarify and learn from other peoples stories, but I think if your serious about the visa for your wife, then you need to read through the information on the official websites.
2) The other reason that people fail in these visa applications is because of evidence. People often meet the criteria, but wonder why they failed the visa application. For this you need to put yourself in the shoes of the Entry Clearance Officer, and imagine what he needs to see when he recieves your application. Just filling in the form saying you have 4 houses and 500,000 pounds in the bank is absolutely meaningless to the clearance officer. Should he be expected to believe what you've written, and should he be expected to believe that your relationship is genuine. It's your duty to convince him. My recommendation for this is firstly to collate the information showing your finances clearly and easily, copies of property deeds, evidence of chatting with your missus, phone bills, letters, copies of the stamps from when you've visited the philippines in the past and photos. You need to get all the information you can.
The next thing, and the most important is a supporting letter from the sponsor/the british husband. This letter is where you can explain everything that the forms don't let you, here is where you can briefly describe how you met, how your relationship is progressing and how you can LINK all of the evidence together. Here you can reference the evidence.
The reason for referencing the evidence is so that when the ECO looks at this pile of paperwork on his desk, and wonders whether someone has just emptied the contents of his bureau into the envelope, your letter can guide him through it to the information thats actually important. Even use sticky notes and highlighter pens to highlight the important parts.
Now the reason I've written this post is mainly because of a friend of mine who has just had his wife rejected a visit visa letter. He came to me complaining, asking how I'd managed to get a visa for my missus and how he is a British Citizen and this is an outrage etc etc. When I asked him what supporting evidence she'd submitted and whether VFS had asked her any questions, he said he didn't know.....
This has simply been a waste of money, and she has had a small stamp put in her passpot with the date on it. The guy isn't short of a few bob, and has a business in Asia where his wife works so could prove everything for the embassy criteria!
Originally Posted by RickyR
