Hello it’s me again with a happy smile thinking that soon i will follow my hubby and can start the family life together in the UK...
I lodged my application on 24 October 2011, Monday at 10am-11am and i received a text message the same day at 2:55pm that my application has been dispatched to the British embassy for processing.
Wednesday came, 26 October 2011, i received an email saying “Your visa will be despatched shortly. Passports can normally be collected from the Visa Application Centre after 3 days. Applicants in Australia and New Zealand should allow 3 days before tracking their documents via the local post. UKBA-Manila Visa Hub”. Another email and text message received on 28 October at around 2pm saying “Your processed visa application reference no. AMAN/241011/189053/1 dispatched to you via 2GO Aboitiz on 10/28/2011”.
And on the 29th of October 2011, Saturday i received my original docs and original passport with sticker of spouse visa via courier...
I can’t imagine that my spouse visa would be processed in 3-days time as I had submitted some other documents in scanned copies for I believe that our other additional Original documents sent via airmail were lost in transit... My hubby mailed said documents on 08 October 2011 and yet until 24th of October it hasn’t arrived. My husband and I decided to take the risk of lodging our papers for settlement visa despite most of the documents are in scanned copies. Good enough that my husband has scanned all the original copies before mailing them to me.
With my experience, I have a piece of advice to have a courier service with tracking number so that it will be more secured and on time than a special postal service at post office.
Here are the following order of the documents I submitted:
1. "Checklist" is on top of everything. Here’s the link for settlement checklist:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/si...settlement.pdf
2. Manager’s check amounted to P58,320 (paper clipped to printed online application)
3. Printed online application filled up form for wife with 1 passport size photo pasted on it. Here’s the website
where you can apply online http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk . They are no longer accepting the
downloaded VAF4A form filled up by handwriting as online application is available here in the
Philippines. So it's a must to apply online first then you must print it off and submit with your supporting
documents on your appointment. Never ever go to VFS without the printed copy of online application
or else they would refer you to the nearest computer shop to apply online then print it off then submit.
4. My Passport bio-data and all stamped pages(old and new)
5. Tuberculosis Certificate (though it’s not applicable in the Philippines, i still opt to submit)
6. Marriage certificate ( I submitted 2 copies of marriage certificate, see checklist no.19)
7. Official score of English language test for Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing and its filled up form for
english test requirement
8. Diploma, Transcript of records, Caregiver certificate TESDA accredited (for my credentials to prove that i
have skills and can find a job and will never be a burden to a UK public funds)
9. My Parents DTI, Mayor’s permit, Sanitary permit and business license. ( I submitted them because im
managing family business. So i attached my parents business related docs. If you may ask, no income tax
submitted.
10. Land title for farm (as I said im also managing farm and family business)
11. My bank certificates
12. My hubby’s bank statements (6-months) savings of only £2000-3000
13. My Hubby’s 6-months pay slips and employment letters ( 2 sets for his 2 part time jobs.. then each
employment letter is place on top of its payslips (2 sets). I have not submitted P60 as I submitted
6-months payslip and tax/NI deductions are reflected on it which means my hubby’s paying his income tax.
14. Rent Records
15. Tenancy agreement ( 1-year contract but will expire in December 2011 but it’s alright as long as you have
letter from your landlord pf permission of stay with you husband)
16. Permission of stay letter from the landlordincludes also the description of the accommodation (I have not
submitted photos of accommodation) (if you want a copy, email me or let know and i will send you a copy
of it for your guidance)
17. Scanned copy of my Hubby’s passport (bio-data and all its stamped pages)
18. Support letter from my hubby ( if you want a sample copy, just let me know or email me)
19. Certification from the money transfer agency of my hubby’s remittances and its receipts.
20. Our both birth certificates
21. Marriage certificate from NSO and local (again)
22. Many photographs arrange from 1st meeting, before and after wedding up to leaving the Philippines (I have
submitted around 60 copies maybe without a duplication, i mean all different occasions and places) Photos
from the wedding, i have included one with blessing of the priest, picture with both parents, with principal
and secondary sponsors, friends and guest and at the wedding reception. I also submitted 2 photos of
screen shot of our video chat(Skype & Ooovoo). (i just cut a about 1 inch of white paper then wrapped the
photos and taped them so that they are intact.
23. Phone bill from the time we started communicating up to the present.
24. Emails (one email before and one email after wedding).
25. Screen shots of email and chat logs from the time we started emailing and chatting.
26. Lastly, 1 letter and a birthday card sent via airmail.
I photocopied all of the documents in the list (1-26) and arranged them exactly the same as listed above. Ooooopppss, before i forget, when i was applying online, at the last part there’s a question of “is there any other information you wish to be considered as part of your application?” then I wrote that i regret to inform them that i will be submitting some other documents in scanned copies for i believe that the additional (original) documents sent via airmail were lost-in transit as it was mailed on 08 October supposed to deliver in 5-7days.
With online application, very limited characters are given for us to type your answer the question so be concise and precise with your answers.
When you submit your application at VFS centre, always think positive and pray... Make yourself busy to avoid too much worry on your application.
These are all I can share for future spouse visa applicants... God bless everyone....
GRACE
so much for your kind thoughtfulness in outlining the procedure in order to help future applicants. It's greatly appreciated. 
Originally Posted by ann_barnett
