The UK Fiancée Visa application can change, so please ensure you get the latest information from the UK Border Agency and only use this as an additional guide.
The UK fiancé visa is issued to applicants who wish to marry a British citizen or a permanent resident. The visa lasts for 6 months and during that period the applicant and sponsor must marry as per the conditions of the visa. Failure to marry will require the fiancée to return to the country of origin prior to the visa lapsing.
If for any reason the wedding is cancelled due to medical reasons, family death, etc, and the wedding would have to be after the visa expiry date, please contact the UK Border Agency explaining in detail why it has been cancelled, give them the new marriage date with proof, also proof of the reason for cancellation, and ask for a visa extension to cover the new date. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES LET THE VISA LAPSE, YOU WILL THEN BE CLASSED AS AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT AND MAY BE DEPORTED. This may also effect to re-enter the UK in the future.
Once you are in the UK, the applicant can’t access public funds (Benefits, Rent, etc), and is not allowed to take employment.
The fiancé visa holder can use the National Health Service (NHS) without charge (except prescriptions and dental). Additionally, the fiancé may attend courses and learning programmes.
Important: Evidence should be in the original if possible or a certified copy (stamped by a solicitor/lawyer). Please ensure when sending originals you keep copies yourself. Also if posting original documents to the Philippines use a secure delivery service such as UPS/FEDEX/Etc. Yes it costs a bit, but it’ll cost a lot more in time and money if the normal postal service loses them whether they are signed for or not, as the Philippine postal service is not secure.
All evidence submitted will be returned to the applicant.
Identification
The applicant must present a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining until its expiry, and at least one full empty page where the visa can be affixed.
If the passport is not issued in the country where the application is entered, it should include evidence that the applicant is actually resident in that country. If the applicant is unable to establish citizenship or normal residence in the country where the application is entered, the application will be declined except for extraordinary circumstances. The only exception to this rule is when the Foreign Office instructs a consulate to process applications from another country.
The applicant's passport has to be issued by an entity accepted by the UK as a legitimate sovereign government.
Biometrics
The applicant has to provide evidence of biometric enrolment. This means recording one's photograph and fingerprints at an authorised biometric enrolment centre. Further details can be found here http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/biometricvisa/
Sponsor's Identification
This usually means the sponsor's passport. If the passport itself cannot be presented, then a notarized copy of the portrait page should be made by a UK authorized solicitor or notary.
Evidence that the applicant and sponsor have actually physically met each other .
This would include evidence of travel, such as passport stamps, boarding passes, ticket receipts, etc. Photographs of you both together and correspondence showing the relationship is ongoing and current. IE. Phone calls, SMS, IM’s, Chat, etc
Sponsor's Letter
If the sponsor is not accompanying the applicant, a letter must be provided, explaining his/her awareness and support of the application. You can get ideas for this from this post http://filipinaroses.com/showthread.php/29695-Fiancée-Visa-Application-–-Cover-Letter-Example
Financial Standing
The application must be supported by evidence that proves the applicant will not require public funds. Generally this takes the form of the sponsor/applicant (or co-sponsor) providing:
· Salary slips for at least the previous 3 months, preferably 6 months; AND
· Bank statements for at least the previous 6 months; AND
· The sponsor's (co-sponsor's) employment contract (if the sponsor is not independently wealthy). A letter of the employer will suffice; AND
· The sponsor's (co-sponsor's) most recent P60.
If the sponsor (co-sponsor) is self-employed, owns his own company, or if the sponsor (co-sponsor) is unemployed, then the employment contract and P60 can be substituted with certified copies of the previous 2 years' tax returns accompanied by a notarized version of his/her business accounts.
If the sponsor (co-sponsor) is retired, then a statement from his pension scheme will do.
If there are disproportionate deposits and withdrawals in the bank statements, they must be explained in the sponsor's letter, in fact explain as much as you can about the transactions.
Some consulates will not accept bank statements printed out from e-banking accounts because they are so easily forged. Original statements can usually be obtained from the bank upon request, otherwise have a solicitor verify them.
Accommodation
If the sponsor owns his home, he should include a certified copy of the deed showing this, or other proof of home ownership. If the sponsor has a mortgage, the appropriate entry from the Land Registry should be provided, this is available online for a fee if you do not have it, and the mortgage payments should appear in the bank statements.
If the sponsor rents a house or flat, the tenancy agreement should be provided. If the applicant is not a signatory to the tenancy agreement, then a statement from the landlord needs to be supplied that attests to his agreement that the premises can be occupied by an additional person.
Accommodation (sharing)
If the sponsor and the applicant are to live in accommodation with multiple occupants (i.e. Family/friends/etc), the information shown for renters should be provided. Additionally, the applicant and sponsor need to show that they have exclusive access to a bedroom that will be occupied solely by them. A bedroom may be a family room or study which has been converted for exclusive access. The bedroom must be at least 50 square feet in dimension.
Intervening Devotion
If the applicant and sponsor have been separated for a lengthy period of time before the application is submitted (i.e., longer than 3 or 4 months), then evidence of intervening devotion should be included. This would normally take the form of phone records or other forms of electronic communication.
Note: When submitting email, chats, IM logs, it is important to keep in mind that intervening devotion means evidence of contact and not a complete transcript of each and every chat. Examples are enough.
Marital History
If the applicant/sponsor has a prior marriage(s), they must include the divorce certificate(s) (or death certificates in the case of widowers). If divorce certificates cannot be produced, the applicant/sponsor must provide evidence that the divorce would be recognized in the UK as legitimate.
If the sponsor or applicant has been in a relationship "akin to marriage" previously, then documentation needs to be provided that shows that that relationship has permanently broken down.
Movement of Children
If children are to come with the applicant, evidence needs to be given that their movement will not contravene the Hague Convention (or any other treaty which the UK is a party to). This normally takes the form of a sole custody document, or a notarized statement from the other parent.
Applicants/Sponsors : Large difference in ages
UK rules do not state that the applicant and sponsor must be within a certain age differential, but if there is a disproportionate age difference (25+ years), it is possible to be declined on this so ensure you explain the reasons in detail.
Tuberculosis (TB)
You are required to bring an x-ray with you, although whether this is required depends on which airport you land.
Immigration History
If the applicant has an immigration history which reflects unfavourably on the application, such as overstaying, deportation, professional advice needs to be sought.
The Fiancé Visa Checklist
This is a representative checklist that covers most of the requirements, but it should not be taken as authoritative. Some items are not appropriate for every case (divorce certificates for example), and excluding an item does not result in automatic refusal. Similarly, including all items below does not guarantee success.
· Application form (VAF4), photo, and fee). Applications are now preferred to be done online and all supporting documents will be collected
· Applicant's passport
· Evidence of sponsor's immigration status in UK (sponsor's passport)
· Sponsor's birth certificate (if passport not available), Applicant's birth certificate, Dependent children's birth certificate(s)
· Evidence that the sponsor and applicant have met
· Letter from the sponsor confirming the application and explaining the grounds of the relationship
· Divorce/death certificates
· Evidence of sponsor's employment in UK
· Sponsor's pay slips (6 months)
· Sponsor's bank statements (6 months)
· Evidence of applicant's or sponsor's savings
· Evidence of sponsor's mortgage or tenancy agreement
· If rented accommodation, evidence that the landlord gives permission for an additional resident
· If dependent children are accompanying the applicant, evidence that the accommodation is large enough
· Evidence of on-going contact
· If available, applicant's old passport
· If available, a provisional registry office booking
· A photocopy of all original documents submitted
· Biometrics
Additional Information:
Do you intend to work the UK?
This question on the form may seem strange as fiancées are not allowed to work under the terms of the visa. For fiancée visa applicants who intend to work when allowed just answer as follows: “Under the terms of the fiancée visa I am not allowed to work and will not do so. However once I am married, if future visa’s allow me to work I may consider actively seeking work”, and tick the YES box.
When did you first meet your sponsor? When did your relationship begin?
This question refers to the first time you physically met your sponsor in person, and not the first time you made contact. In the ECO's view, people first meet in person and a relationship ensues after that. In the modern view that includes the internet, people will begin a relationship before they actually meet in person. Stick with the traditional view for this series of questions whilst simultaneously not concealing anything of relevance.
Have you lived with your sponsor in a relationship like a marriage...?
This answer aids the ECO determine if the marriage is a sham or not. In a sham marriage, the two parties typically have no history whatsoever of cohabitation. Cohabitating in this sense means, a holiday or short visit, were you have been together as you would be if you were married (i.e. living/sleeping together). The latter should be mentioned and answered YES.
Extra
Do I need to supply an air ticket with the visa application?
No. But there is no harm in supplying one or two screen prints of the costs on the date the applicant is expected to fly.
Does the wedding need to be booked and proof supplied?
No. But a letter from the church or registry office confirming you have enquired will not harm your application.
Quote Reply
Originally Posted by Win2Win
