Hi all

[louismc44]

Hi Grace
Thank you for your message which I read with great interest.
I want back the 2nd time with a bit more clued up to what life is like over there.
Basically they are very nice people as I got to know a lot more about them on that 2nd trip..
The Spanish were there for a long time, maybe if the Brits were there first things might have been a lot different?
Although I am not saying that the Brits are perfect either.
Now if it had been the Irish who had been there 1st...lol...
Also the Japs took a lot of liberties with them too in the WW2

Cheers Louis

[grahamw48]

Ah, it seems you booked into a 'short-time' hotel. Didn't happen to hear lots of did you ?

Mate, be very very careful.

I sense an accident waiting to happen with this one .

I would urge you to learn as much as you can about the Filipino culture and their way of 'doing things'...including social etiquette and the importance of 'family'. This is no minor matter when considering marrying a Filipina.

Whatever your lady may tell you about the relationship she has with her family (and their influence on her, whether here or there), it's going to be one that you are going to have great difficulty separating her from, and indeed why would anyone reasonably expect a lady to do that ?

[louismc44]

You know what?
I thought there was something funny about that place.
Yes there was a lot of noise all through the night hahaha

Yes I know but she cried her eyes out to me of the way they have treated her like a freak.

Fair enough mate, we all need families of some sort.

I must say she is one of the most progressive and knowledgeable person that I have met in many a years
So natural with it all too..

[bigmac]

thanks for all that. think i'll stay this side of the pond--at least i can understand when i'm being insulted.

[louismc44]

thanks for all that. think i'll stay this side of the pond--at least i can understand when i'm being insulted.

Hahahaha I like that mate

[louismc44]

Hi all
I'm off back to the Philippines today 23rd Sept 2012
This time hoping to be married with Olivia
Please can anyone tell me the latest price of a spouse visa and where the site I need to go to find out all this information?
Thank you.
I will be able to keep in touch via the internet on regular basics this time around..
Thank you all very much for your great help

After this is all said and done
Lets hope I too will be able to give some good advice to anyone who wishes to walk the same path as we have all done here?
Regards to all
Louis

[louismc44]

hi all
I am here now in the Philippines just over 1 week.
Olivia and myself, we are getting married 12th October 2012

Please, , one question?
Does Olivia need to do the English test again?
She pass the test December 2010
i need to know 100% for sure if this good enough?
thank you

Regards
Louis & Olivia

[Terpe]

hi all
I am here now in the Philippines just over 1 week.
Olivia and myself, we are getting married 12th October 2012

Please, , one question?
Does Olivia need to do the English test again?
She pass the test December 2010
i need to know 100% for sure if this good enough?
thank you

Regards
Louis & Olivia

Good luck and congratulations on the forthcoming wedding.

The validity of the tests are variable depending upon which test was taken, when it was taken and whether that specific test is still listed as approved by UKBA.

Here is the UKBA approved listing of English Language Tests.

You will see there is a coloumn called 'Test Validity' and this is where it gives the information for each test.

Please do review the UKBA listing linked above and carefully SATISFY YOURSELF about validity. If you have any doubts or concerns then contact the Visa Section at the British Embassy in Manila.
My reason for saying this is simply because ALL English tests must be compliant with the above linked latest approved tests.
It was some time ago that Olivia took her test and it's imperitive that the precise test she took is still stated on the latest UKBA listed linked above.
There have been a number of updates/changes since December 2010
If the specific test that Olivia took at that time is now not listed she will need to take a new test from one of those listed.

[irishman12]

would this be it? http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-...on-consul-cebu

[louismc44]

Address:
Villa Terrace
Greenhills Road
Casuntingan
Mandaue City
Cebu
6014

phone:
Phone: +63 858 22 00

Email: Cons.Manila@fco.gov.uk

No visa matters handled at this office

The site says, NO VISA MATTERS DEALT WITH AT THIS OFFICE
I ASK YOU
WHAT IS THE POINT OF THEY OPEN THIS BRANCH FOR THEN?

[irishman12]

did u look here ? http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....of+spouse+visa

[Terpe]

Louis, there is no new embassy in Cebu.
But there is a new VFS Visa centre just opened there October 4th
VFS are the official visa admin partner for UKBA and thats where visa applications are made.

Take a look here for address, contacts and operational details of the new VFS centre in Cebu

For the UKBA fees take a look here

You can see that Settlement Visa is currently £826
This equates to P57820 at the current consular rate of £1 = P70

I suggest you contact the local VFS at the above link just prior to your application as the Consular Exchange Rate does change from time to time

Hope that helps

[irishman12]

shouldnt that be 57820+ (Applicants who wish to lodge their UK Visa application via the UK Visa Application Centre in Cebu will be required to pay an additional service fee of Php 3,900 in cash at the Visa Application Center)

[Terpe]

shouldnt that be 57820+ (Applicants who wish to lodge their UK Visa application via the UK Visa Application Centre in Cebu will be required to pay an additional service fee of Php 3,900 in cash at the Visa Application Center)

That's all included in the links provided.

[louismc44]

Hi all

Please could you put my mind at rest on this matter?

Before I left the UK
I was lead to believe that I only need to bring copies of my documents
but my birth certificate must be the original.
Now that I am here in the philippines, I am beginning to wonder if i should have brought all my originals documents with now

If this so?

Then I am snookered, and I have to go back to the UK straight after we are married come Friday 12th October 2012 and send them to Olivia

As we are in the south of the Philippines Islands, Digos City, Davao del Sur.
I am trying to work it out wether is more economical to go to Cebu, or to go to Manila?

Oh why oh why is so difficult to marry my princess here and why oh why is it full of dragons and monsters

I come here upon my white charger and with my armour shining bright

Now my poor horse is tired thirsty and my armour has lost some of its brightness

How can I bring my bride back to my castle before my charger's horse shoes are completely worn out and my armour gets to rusty to move inside it?

[irishman12]

what other documents will you need if you are already married?

- - - Updated - - -

That's all included in the links provided.

may i ask where? if the new centre only open this month -the fees on link are from april 2012 -so the 3900 couldnt be included?

[Terpe]

....


may i ask where? if the new centre only open this month -the fees on link are from april 2012 -so the 3900 couldnt be included?

I'm not really into this kind of stuff irishman12 .......

But if you open the link for the new VFS centre in Cebu then right in the centre of the screen it states:-

(Applicants who wish to lodge their UK Visa application via the UK Visa Application Centre in Cebu will be required to pay an additional service fee of Php 3,900 in cash at the Visa Application Center)

The other link for UKBA visa fees is up to date and correctly states the visa fees as charged by the British Embassy.

That service fee of P3900 is just that. A service fee of VSF.
VSF offer a range of services that each have a charge. (Priority visa service,VIP premium lounge service,Courier service,Photocopying service,Photograph service,SMS status tracking service)
These are optional of course.The Service Charge of P3900 at their Cebu office is not.

Here's what VFS state about the service fees:-

...To use them, you will need to pay an extra fee in addition to the visa application fee

Any additional service fees are just for VFS and are not to be included in the visa fees.

Visa fees are strictly payable to the 'British Embassy' per UKBA instructions and in accordance with the UKBA visa fees table that I provided a link to.

Of course the P3900 will not be included in the UKBA Visa fees table since it is not a visa fee, nor any part of the visa fee and should not be included as such in any payment of visa fees made to the British Embassy.

VFS Global is a commercial company, working in partnership with UK Border Agency at the British Embassy here in the Philippines providing services to help people apply for a visa to enter the United Kingdom

[louismc44]

Hi
Thank you Terpe for your infomation.
I belived when making this visa payment (spouse )

[B] You can see that Settlement Visa is currently £826
This equates to P57820 at the current consular rate of £1 = P70
/[B]

Please could you tell me?

Has it got to be a manger's cheque and Who do I make out the cheque to?

Thank you
Regards Louis & Olivia

[louismc44]

<!-- .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Tahoma } -->

Hi all
Thank you all for your best wishes upon our marriage

Two days now
I am a married man here in the Phils

I will have to come back to the UK sooner than thought
This due for health reasons, I'm having a problems with an infection in my left eye.
It is better to be safe and see an eye doctor back in the UK than take any more chances else where?

Also it will take a little bit more time to get the marriage certificate here too
But we are working on this too.
Now what I need to do here in the Phils before I leave.

Please could I have some more help?
I need to help Olivia with the online visa applications
To get her started with these online forms
I believe that there two separate forms that are needed to be filled in and sent off, once we have that marriage certificate?

Just these two forms; PERSONAL DETAILS FORM (VAF 4 A AUGUST 2012) FAMILY SETTLEMENT APPLICATION FORM.
And the second form: APPENDIX 2 (VAF 4 A AUGUST 2012) FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT FORM.
I think that's all and with all the back up documents too?

Could you point me to the correct online sites of the two forms, because those two above are the off-line applications forms only.

Once again thank you all very much for your help and support.

Louis and Olivia

[Terpe]

<!-- .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Tahoma } -->

Hi all
Thank you all for your best wishes upon our marriage

Two days now
I am a married man here in the Phils

I will have to come back to the UK sooner than thought
This due for health reasons, I'm having a problems with an infection in my left eye.
It is better to be safe and see an eye doctor back in the UK than take any more chances else where?

Also it will take a little bit more time to get the marriage certificate here too
But we are working on this too.
Now what I need to do here in the Phils before I leave.

Please could I have some more help?
I need to help Olivia with the online visa applications
To get her started with these online forms
I believe that there two separate forms that are needed to be filled in and sent off, once we have that marriage certificate?

Just these two forms; PERSONAL DETAILS FORM (VAF 4 A AUGUST 2012) FAMILY SETTLEMENT APPLICATION FORM.
And the second form: APPENDIX 2 (VAF 4 A AUGUST 2012) FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT FORM.
I think that's all and with all the back up documents too?

Could you point me to the correct online sites of the two forms, because those two above are the off-line applications forms only.

Once again thank you all very much for your help and support.

Louis and Olivia

Hi Louis and Olivia,

Sorry to learn about your eye problems. Have you seen a Doctor to get some treatment?
There are some fine Doctors around. Not so expensive. I think you need to get some medical attention/advice.

Anyway concerning your questions on visa applications see the UKBA webpage Applying from outside the UK

Review the information and then follow the links to Applying for a UK visa in the Philippines

Please do take time to read these pages as there is a lot of key information on how to apply, how to book an appointment and importantly how to pay the fee.

If you look to the right hand side of the page Applying for a UK visa in the Philippines you can see a link called 'apply for a visa online' just under the heading 'Do It Online'

Clicking that link will take you to the VFS website Online Visa Applications

The forms you mention are the correct ones.

Good Luck and get that eye looked at.

[louismc44]

Hi all
Thank you for your great help and support, which I deeply grateful for too
They will not let us have the marriage certificate

It won't be sent until 10th November and they say it will be sent to Davao N.S.O frist, before it will then be sent to Manila.

The registry office tells it is not allowed to give us this certificate

Olivia will try to get it off them when it is sent to Davao?

They also mention that Olivia may have to change her passport status, becsuse of her new marriage name. Does anyone know if is this correct or not?
From Louis & Olivia

[louismc44]

Hi all
We just got our marriage certificate today.
I of Irish birth.and I am a holder of a Brittish Passport as well
I told them at the registry that I am only a british subject and that I was born in Ireland.
My point here is:
They only just put Brittish on our marriage certificate.
Does this matter with the Embsssy to have that other word (Subject) added on to the certificate?
I wonder if anyone on here can give me help with question.
Thank you
Regards Louis & Olivia

[louismc44]

Good Luck and get that eye looked at.
Thank you Terpe
I am under the care of Moorfields Eye Hospital up in crentral London. I think it will be best to go there.
I am flying back to the UK on Monday 22nd October.

I will you up to date on my wife's visa application?

Cheers from us both Louis & Olivia

[louismc44]

Hi all
We just got our marriage certificate today.
I of Irish birth.and I am a holder of a Brittish Passport as well
I told them at the registry that I am only a british subject and that I was born in Ireland.
My point here is:
They only just put Brittish on our marriage certificate.
Does this matter with the Embsssy to have that other word (Subject) added on to the certificate?
I wonder if anyone on here can give me help with question.
Thank you
Regards Louis & Olivia

[louismc44]

Hi all
We just got our marriage certificate today.
I of Irish birth.and I am a holder of a Brittish Passport as well
I told them at the registry that I am only a british subject and that I was born in Ireland.
My point here is:
They only just put Brittish on our marriage certificate.
Does this matter with the Embsssy to have that other word (Subject) added on to the certificate?
I wonder if anyone on here can give me help with question.
Thank you
Regards Louis & Olivia

[Terpe]

....From my income I can fully support us both....

Louis,

With your DLA you will be exempted from the Financial Requirement income thresholds

To evidence your exemption you must provide the following documents for your wife's application:-

- Official documentation from HMRC confirming the entitlement and the amount received.

- At least one bank statement showing payment of the benefit or allowance into your named account.

Your exemption means that you'll need to provide documentary evidence that you can provide adequate maintainance and and accommodation without recourse to public funds, and without relying on promises of third party support

Simply put in plain English, this means clearly evidencing that, after housing costs have been deducted, there's available to the family the level of gross income that would be available to them if the family was in receipt of income support.

The current (2012/2013) income support level for a couple is £111.45 ( I'm assuming that you not receiving ESA )

Just be sure that you take account of any benefits/payments/discounts etc that you will no longer be entitled if you are no longer living alone.
(eg Your council tax single discount will be lost)
Also that you are very careful about any increased benefits/payments/discounts you may be entitled to because you are living together as a couple.

Remember no recourse to public funds, and no additional public funds solely on the basis of your wife being with you.

....Can they refuse her the visa upon these grounds, especially as I do need her help and support too?....

Louis, personally I would just keep the application as straightforward as possible.

You should try to minimise the risk of any additional scrutiny around the genuineness of relationship.
The UKBA could decide to take negative issue on this subject and it's within the realms of possibility to refuse if they consider the marriage to be a sham in any way

May I ask, does Olivia have any professional connection or qualification either with nursing or as a carer?

No offence intended Louis, just trying to cover all bases.

If you have a specific need to divulge anything to UKBA about this aspect, may I suggest you would be well professional guidance with the application as it would no longer be 'straightforward'

Immigration law has plenty of twists and turns and it's just too serious and costly to make mistakes.

[louismc44]

Hi Terpe
Well I have read deep into what you just wrote here and I have to say I totally agreed with everything you have written.
Thank God I have seen the light in time.

That was close I almost made a complete cock up here with the application form.

Right it is back to the drawing board for us now.
I also realised that I have far too much information to show them. I lke that idea, 'just keep it simple'
With regards from us both
Louis & Olivia

[bigmac]

congratulations on your marriage Louis--well done mate.

i'm keenly interested in your ongoing story--do keep us posted.

[louismc44]

Thank you bigmac
Its a lot of hard work, but I get some good help on here..

[louismc44]

Hi all
I hope you are doing ok?
I've been kind of quiet on this site these couple of weeks

Soon Olivia and I are going to have to get started on the spouse visa

We should get our marriage certificate back to us by the middle of next week, hopefully they will keep their word and send it to us on time...

I am bit nervous about the visa form as I find it way out of my depth at the best of time upon after looking at it.

Still we have got to do this as it is the only chance that Olivia and myself can have if we are to live as a real married couple if we are granted this?

We are going to try and fill this form by ourselves.

We have had a lot of great help and support from all of you on this site and we can not thank you enough for this, but if we can get any more help from anyone on here who has already trodden down this road ahead of us?
We would be eternally grateful to you

Thank you once again.
Louis & Olivia