Need advice and help in bringing my fiancée to the UK and marrying

[DavRog747]

Hi People,
I hope you can help me my name is Dave and I am engaged to my fiancée who resides in Ormoc City currently and we want her to come here to the UK a.s.a.p and marry here and live here. I have researched the visa requirements with the Embassy there in Manila and I am directed to VFS who I believe are a commercial organisation whom all visa traffic should go. Has anybody heard of them, and what was your experience please?

The cost is being quoted as 60,750 to apply with VFS, the alternative is to use another agency called Ultimate Visa there costs are in the region of 120,000, around double any thoughts and experiences please.

I don't want to risk rejection so what suggestions has anybody please to make this as painless as possible.

Many thanks for advice in advance

Regards: DavRog

[joebloggs]

VFS Global is a commercial company, working in partnership with the UK Border Agency, they only process your visa app and collect the money, they have nothing to do with helping you get a visa or making any decisions about granting you a visa, thats done by the embassy only.

while the other company i take it, will help you fill in the forms and give you some advice, and you or them will have to submit your app to VFS anyway..

if your case is pretty simple, i would do it your self and not waste money using any sort of agency

[DavRog747]

Many thanks Joe

[sars_notd_virus]

Hi People,
VFS who I believe are a commercial organisation whom all visa traffic should go. Has anybody heard of them, and what was your experience please?

The cost is being quoted as 60,750 to apply with VFS, the alternative is to use another agency called Ultimate Visa there costs are in the region of 120,000, around double any thoughts and experiences please.

I don't want to risk rejection so what suggestions has anybody please to make this as painless as possible.

Many thanks for advice in advance

Regards: DavRog

Welcome to the forum Davrog!!
all the requirements and procedures for visa are in vfs website check this link http://www.vfs-uk-ph.com/

[Bluebirdjones]

Dave,
I think you'll find that the majority of couples on here applied themselves, and did not use the "services" of an agency.

The forms are straight-forward, and all questions have either been asked on this site (use the search facility and/or read threads), or you'll get an informed answer if you do need to ask.

As JB states, if yours is a simple case, then save your money ... you're gonna need it later (for FLR and ILR) !

Welcome aboard the Manila Express

[Terpe]

Hi there DavRog, welcome here.

I would echo everything said before. Take a look at the website link and at the requirements. There are no 'tricks'. Any agency will ask you to collate and present just the same evidence and documents etc.
Unless you have a complex case you should not need agency.

D allow time for good review of the documentations required (especially financial)suggested

[Arthur Little]

Hi, Dave ...

I would concur with what the others have said. Since - by your own admission - you have already researched the visa requirements with the Embassy ... it'd be like throwing away good money unnecessarily, to involve an agency.

Besides ... there are plenty of knowledgeable folk here to whom you can turn, should you feel in need of assistance.

[alanp]

It is easy to do yourself check out the posts here http://filipinaroses.com/forumdispla...NT-INFORMATION
and to send any inportant documents i would use interparcel express they are much cheeper than using dhl etc directly http://www.interparcel.com/ i think a lot of members have used their services. the last time i used them all my docs arrived in two days.
Alan

[tone]

I feel a bit of an idiot but..I used an agency in Manila who charged 58000php to not only collect all the data, verfiy it, put it in order but go through test interviews with my Love and will take her to get Bios done and when the interview date comes up (if she is interviewed) they will accompany her.
The prices you mention are high!
For me because of the stress of my job, constant travelling I needed someone to fully take us through the whole process for me it was a no brainer - learn from others mistakes so to speak.
Then whilst reviewing the educational requirements I found this rather excellent forum.

I agree no point wasting money but using the egency we used (Manila Visa - Siem Legal) at least they are pushing my Fiancee to getting everything in order and directing her whilst I am so busy with my life in the UK after spending a year over "there".

My 2p's worth

Tone

[Arthur Little]

Welcome aboard the Manila Express ...

... ... I like it!

[grahamw48]

Allow plenty of time for local mail though.

.
.

[joebloggs]

i see thats express delivery graham and not your normal delivery service using a carabao

[stevie c]

It is easy to do yourself check out the posts here http://filipinaroses.com/forumdispla...NT-INFORMATION
and to send any inportant documents i would use interparcel express they are much cheeper than using dhl etc directly http://www.interparcel.com/ i think a lot of members have used their services. the last time i used them all my docs arrived in two days.
Alan

Hi Davrog i echo everything alan has said good luck with the visa process just have everything sorted & above board & im sure everything will be fine

[DavRog747]

Thank you for the link and advice

[DavRog747]

Many thanks for the advice and the link it is appreciated.

[ybba]

hi im from ormoc too! welocome! a lot of people will help you in this forum its really worth doin your own research!

[DavRog747]

Many thanks seems most people have done themselves and happy to do that also. Tell me about FLR and ILR please, my apologies for my ignorance.

[DavRog747]

Thank you Terpe got some great advice here. Yes I have already most the documents I need so agency really brings nothing to the party. Thank you again

[DavRog747]

Thats interesting are you planning to marry there of the UK / USA ?

[DavRog747]

Yes Arthur you assume correctly and have prepared the majority of the application and supporting documents, and of course all applications end up for decision with the embassy whether they come direct or via an agent, it is a bit of a 'no brainer' I think

[DavRog747]

Great advice Alan and thank you for the link, great idea using InterParcel I am assuming they need original documents not copies ?

[DavRog747]

Hi Tone,

Nope you are not an idiot you chose the most suitable route for you with your love and it worked so that can't be bad. Many thanks for sharing your experience it is very helpful. Thank you

[DavRog747]

Excellent stuff guys

[DavRog747]

Thabks Alan for the advice and support Stevie seems all the advice we need is right here thank you ALL

[Bluebirdjones]

FLR .... further leave to remain (if you come via the fiancee route)
... basically, u arrive on a fiancee visa & have up to 6mnths to get married.
Then to remain further, u apply for the FLR (£900 - odd now ???)

ILR.... indefinate leave to remain, which u apply for when the FLR runs out (18-24mnths, dependent on when u arrived/applied)
Thats about £1000 now, yes ???

[DavRog747]

Blimey, great to know this something the agency don't tell you. Ok I had better get saving many thanks again it is much appreciated.

[Terpe]

Blimey, great to know this something the agency don't tell you. Ok I had better get saving many thanks again it is much appreciated.

Might be a good idea at this stage to consider (or reconsider) marriage in UK on Fiancee visa or marriage in Phils then Spouse Visa.

[DavRog747]

Is there an advantage in that route please Terpe, does that have a legal standing in the UK ?

[Bluebirdjones]

marriage here vs marriage in the Philipinnes.
It's 6 of one, half-a-dozen of the other.
Really depends what suits you (see other threads on this)

Basic difference, if u marry in the Philipinnes, you then apply for a spouse visa & bypass the FLR.
Additionally, when your wife arrives in the uk, under the spouse visa she can work immediately.

If its a fiance visa, she arrives & you have up to 6mnths (of visa issuance) to get married.
After the marriage, she then applies for the FLR, and only when that is approved, is she legally allowed to work in the UK.

In both cases, ILR must eventually be applied for

Horses for courses

[grahamw48]

Marry her there and get her here WORKING asap.