success

[Arthur Little]

We applied for the fiancée visa 17th October, and despite having to wait one month which appears quite long compared to other stories on here, the ECO approved the visa without further questions or documentation requirements. The CFO seminar was easy but they would not issue the sticker until the visa came into force on the 26th November so this entailed another trip back to their offices the day before the flight was due to depart as they are not open on a Saturday.

Malcolm ... may I extend belated congratulations to you and Loida. I've never properly understood the logic behind the CFO's point blank refusal to issue the sticker AHEAD of applicants' visa operative dates, though (seems to me an unnecessary waste of time!) - after all ... ... where's the problem?

I booked the flight online via expedia utilising the services of Air China via Beijing at fairly short notice for the princely sum of £352 which was reasonable compared to some on offer and in any event had the shortest flying time and as it is also a codeshare flight with Virgin the standard was fairly good. Loida arrived here the day before the strike so now we begin our new life together although she is already complaining about the cold despite the weather being relatively mild for the time of year. Still c'este la vie, everyone in our multi cultural society has to adapt to the British weather but the trade off is happiness so well worth the change of climate for sure.
Good luck to all who are currently undergoing the process or about to apply, just be positive and make sure all documentation is present and correct and that truthfullness in your application will win the day.

Malcolm and Loida

£352? That's a real bargain - the more especially, given the shorter flight times and the onboard service standards !!

about the British weather; however, that is something ELSE beyond our control.
But ... as you say ... the "trade offs" - in the light of the "BIGGER picture" - make it all worthwhile in the end!