Hi everyone

I won't really get into details, since it's very personal, but I want to ask this before I start my application.

I just got engaged. However my family isn't exactly okay with it. I'm 28 years old, and my fiance is 30 and from Devon. He was here in the Philippines just recently and even met my family, but anyway, they're not really okay with it thus we had to keep the engagement from them.

I wish to continue to keep it from my family because I know for a fact that if they find out, they'll do everything in their power to stop me.

So my questions are:

1) Do I need my family's approval/permission to apply for a fiance visa? Will it affect my application in any way?

2) Will UKBA contact any of my family members? Will they be notified about my application in any way?

3) Should I write a letter to UKBA informing them about my situation and tell them that I wish to keep it from my family? Or will that just risk my application?

I'm really worried about all this, but all I can say is I've never really gotten along with my family, and my fiance knows all about my struggles with them, and if anything, he's been my knight in shining armor comforting and helping me through it all. I now have a shot in true happiness and I won't allow anything or anyone, especially my family to stand in the way.

Looking forward to your responses.


Lee