Hello! Newbie here seeking advice..

[salingposas]

Hello everyone, I'm a newbie here, and I joined this forum to seek for advice.
I'm a Filipina, working here in Tokyo, Japan (IT industry).
I have a bf from Scotland, and he's planning to visit next year. We have considered the option of him taking me along when he goes back (not just for visit but to start a life together there). I want to jump to that opportunity but I can't decide just yet because I'm considering a lot of things like work, visa etc.
Now my question is, since we don't really plan to get married in the immediate future yet, what visa should I take to get to UK? I want to work there after adjusting so as not to be a financial burden to my bf and his family, and also so I can earn my own money to continue helping my family in the Philippines.
Would it be easier if I apply for a standard visa first, and apply for either fiancee or employment visa when I'm already there?
Since he will come around feb or march next year, we are targetting for the one that requires the one that could be approved the fastest, or the one that doesn't require a lot of fuss(documents etc).
I'll gladly appreciate any advice I could get regarding this matter. Thank you very much!

[cinmickey28]

Hello Salingposas! Welcome to the Forum!

[salingposas]

Cheers cinmickey28!

[joyce]

Welcome to the Forum!!!

The easiest way that you can go to UK is that you will apply for a tourist visa, but you can't switch your visa to a fiancee or spouse there. You should go home to your home country and apply for a fiancee visa or get married and apply for a spouse visa.

[joyce]

You are not allowed to work if you have a tourist or fiancee visa. You can only work if you have a spouse visa.

[KeithD]

Chances of you getting a Tourist visa if your as in HK is low, as little incentive to prove you will return.

You CANNOT work in the UK on a Tourist visa anyway, and only lasts 6 months max. You also cannot work unless you are married.

Only other visa's are Spouse, you marry in HK or Phil, or Fiancee, you marry in the UK within 6 months.

Try to get around any of this, and they are unlikely to let you back in under the present UK immigration climate.

[salingposas]

Thank you very much for your response!

I understand the fact that I can't work in the UK under a tourist visa. I think that is the system in most countries if not all the countries in the world.

Fiancee visa is our last resort, since we know we will get there eventually. But we don't really want to rush into marriage, so we are weighing several options.

My bf and I has envisioned the several options, but since he doesn't really know how things work with this matter, I thought I should seek online information.

Which of the following scenarios are likely to be allowed / legal?
a. I apply for a tourist visa here, apply for a job (that will be willing to sponsor a working visa) when I get there, and switch to working ;
b. Apply for a fiancee visa here , apply for a job (that will be willing to sponsor a working visa) when I get there, and switch to working ;
c. Apply for a job whilst still here (that will be willing to sponsor a working visa) ;

Of course if any of the above is not possible, we will likely to apply for a fiancee visa before/when gets here, and marry there within the 6 months.(But as I said that will be our last option).

I'm really sorry for bothering you guys, but I know that you know a lot about this issue. So I'll appreciate it so much if you could reply to my query.
Cheers!

[kimmi]

hi salingposas welcome to the forum..

like other friends here have said the fastest way I think u can be in UK is thru visit visa but u are not allowed to work by then..also when u are in fiancee visa..

but since u are planning to work there as soon as u can adjust, the best thing for u to do is to get married and get a spouse visa so u can work right away..

GoodLuck..

[salingposas]

Thank you very much for the warm welcome and the prompt responses.

For the reason that my bf and I are considering spousal visa as our last resort, we are considering other options. Legal options, of course.
I'd appreciate if anybody knows which of the following scenarios are likely to be allowed and to happen :
a. I'll apply for a tourist visa here, then apply for a job when I get to UK. (Is working visa sponsorship by companies to tourist visa holders legal, and a possibility?)
b. I'll apply for a fiancee visa and apply for a job (Same condition as above...).
Of course I understand that I'll only get to work when I have a proper working visa or the spousal visa, but is it common or at least a possibilty to apply for a working visa there, as long as there's a company which will be willing to sponsor my working visa?

Thanks !

[joebloggs]

i think,

if you get any sort of visa, and it says your not permitted to work, if caught you could be deported.

you would need a workpermit to work, something your employer would have to get, and they would have to prove why they couldn't find a brit or european to do the job, so you've got little chance of that.

apply for a visitor visa - low chance again.

student visa - you could work up to 20 hrs a week, but the cost of international fees is high.

or apply under HSMP - Highly Skilled Migrant Programme , if your skilled. a points based system, where you don't need a work permit or job offer to come to the uk., but the younger you are, the more skilled, you got a better chance..

[charlwill]

Welcome to the forum salingposas.

[salingposas]

i think,

if you get any sort of visa, and it says your not permitted to work, if caught you could be deported.

you would need a workpermit to work, something your employer would have to get, and they would have to prove why they couldn't find a brit or european to do the job, so you've got little chance of that.

apply for a visitor visa - low chance again.

student visa - you could work up to 20 hrs a week, but the cost of international fees is high.

or apply under HSMP - Highly Skilled Migrant Programme , if your skilled. a points based system, where you don't need a work permit or job offer to come to the uk., but the younger you are, the more skilled, you got a better chance..

Thanks for replying to my query, joebloggs!

I have never heard of the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme before at all, but I'm glad I came across this forum, and thru your reply I was able to look it up just now.

I might try my luck on it, since, according to your post, it'll be quite difficult for me to apply for a work permit, and that althought it's not impossible, it is illegal to work there with a visit visa.

Thank you very much too everyone who has spared some of their time to reply to my query. It's greatly appreciated!

I might drop by again next time for some other or further questions, so I am hoping for your consideration.

God bless everyone!

[salingposas]

Welcome to the forum salingposas.

Thanks charlwill!

I appreciate the warm welcome!

[salingposas]

joebloggs
Moderator

>>>
I have replied to your post, but after hitting the submit button, the page redirected to the thread top before I got the chance to read fully what the message was upon submit. I understand that as a newbie my posts will be moderated, and needs to be approved by the admin/mod, but since it didn't happen to my reply to charlwill's post, I was wondering if my message was automatically scrapped for certain reason/s?

I quoted your message, then wrote my not-so-very-short reply, so I'm thinking that could've been the reason. Or was it just merely submitted to the 'need-approval-before-posted' category since it was longer than automatically allowed reply?

Thanks!

[Gie]

Welcome to the forum salingposas

In regards to your Q's, if you apply for a working visa and there is a company who are willing to hire you and process all your papers, it might be a possibility but the best way is to go to the uk embassy website where you can find all the requirements. Goodluck!

[fred]

In regards to your Q's, if you apply for a working visa and there is a company who are willing to hire you and process all your papers, it might be a possibility but the best way is to go to the uk embassy website where you can find all the requirements. Goodluck!

Or go to Calais,buy a speed boat and take a PADI diving course.

[salingposas]

Welcome to the forum salingposas

In regards to your Q's, if you apply for a working visa and there is a company who are willing to hire you and process all your papers, it might be a possibility but the best way is to go to the uk embassy website where you can find all the requirements. Goodluck!

Thanks Ms Gie!

I have browsed the website of the UK embassy here in Tokyo earlier, they have sufficient info about obtaining visa, etc, but I don't think they will answer questions regarding switching visa from tourist to fiancee or working once already in UK right?

So I thought I should surf around the www first, and I stumbled upon this forum, which I'm glad about!

Thanks to everyone who posted their replies! It's greatly appreciated!

[KeithD]

Admin does not approve posts 24/7, we do have a life

[JAMZ]

Hi,

Welcome to the forum...

Fyi, I was hired directly from the Philippines and was issued a work permit in the Philippines. I work as a UK Pension Specialist. The UK Company I am working with hired me directly from the Philippines... So, I think if you are with the same capacity or background as I do, I would be very glad to let you know that there are Companies here in the UK that sponsor other nationalities. But again, you should check on the UK Embassy if the position belongs to the Shortage List. The Company confessed to me that they spent £20,000++ just to arrange my transfer from Manila to here.

As what Joebloggs mentioned in this thread, the UK Company needs also to prove that they could not hire a British or the like to fill-in the position that is why they need to cross other countries and hire skilled workers...

It is just a matter of whether you will get married first JUST to be here and work or to be here as a tourist and will not be able to work.

If you could afford to settle down even if you are not emotionally ready yet, it's really a choice you need to make and think of million times...

I will also give you a thought that according to a Survey conducted by Mercer HR Consulting - the top 5 Cities out of 50 with the highest cost of living are Moscow, London, Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong (in order from highest to lowest, with New York as base country with Cost of Living Index of 100 and occupies the 15th slot from the highest. The top 5 cities have the highest of all)...

Since your Bf is from Scotland, and if he lives from Glasgow, it occupies the 36th seat and which mean, you will save a lot instead of living in Tokyo, why not live down to Glasgow, hahahahaha... So it would be a wise move to transfer to Scotland...hehehehehe...

But, fyi, I have a friend who went here in England with a Tourist Visa with a thought that she could find a job and be sponsored by Companies. She is a Pharmacy graduate in the University of the Philippines but she went just home because she could not find any work or Company that is willing to sponsor her with a work permit.

My husband will be coming over here with a Dependants'/Spouse Visa and he is allowed to work when he comes over....

So, what do you think now?

Sorry if I am not much of help...

[fred]

JAMZ..

If that didn`t help then I suspect nothing will..Good post.
I learned some new things,thats for sure!

Trying to get my son into a U.P pharmacy course here in Manila is like pulling teeth..
He has 10 GCSE`s and 4 A levels.
Im sure it is a very good uni but the problem is getting him past the reams of red tape.
The problem is the receptionist!!

I think he will now need to go back and study in the UK..

[baboyako]

if you are working in tokyo in IT, then in all probability you are capable enough of getting a transfer and work permit to take a similar job in the UK.

it's just a case of finding the right company to get you there. it's not the kind of thing you can do on your own.

jamz has a valid point - its not a cheap thing for a company to do, but for them it's cheaper than hiring local staff - especially actuaries

[salingposas]

Hello JAMZ!

Thank you so much for that very informative post!
It was of great help really!
I just hope I am of similar capacity as you!

I understand now that it's not that easy to obtain a UK working visa as I initially thought. Spousal visa is our least option, because as I said on my earlier post, we don't plan to marry just yet. It's more like wanting to be together in one place, and since I understand it will be hard for him to get a job here, we thought of me getting a job there instead. But whew I never thought it will be that difficult!

We will try several options, but if it's really hard then I think we will just settle for seeing each other once/twice in a year, until we are both at the right age, and decide to settle down.

Thanks a lot , and I'm glad for you and your husband!

[salingposas]

Hi there baboyako!
(lmao to your ID)

Thanks for the reply! My bf and I are trying to look for a company online, and hopefully one of them will consider my application and eventually be willing to sponsor my work permit! (suntok sa buwan? hehe!)

[Gie]

You'll never know....hopefully it all goes well with you,goodluck!

[gracia143]

Admin does not approve posts 24/7, we do have a life

Hi! Welcome to the forum...I personally think you get the tourist visa first. That way you'll get a taste of how life goes here. You do need to adjust to everything...to the cold weather, the culture, etc...though I am aware that you are capable of coming out triumphant from it all as you have already been out of the country, maybe for a period of time...Still, I do believe it is the most sensible thing to do. Cheers!!!

[joebloggs]

joebloggs
Moderator

>>>
I have replied to your post, but after hitting the submit button, the page redirected to the thread top before I got the chance to read fully what the message was upon submit. I understand that as a newbie my posts will be moderated, and needs to be approved by the admin/mod, but since it didn't happen to my reply to charlwill's post, I was wondering if my message was automatically scrapped for certain reason/s?

I quoted your message, then wrote my not-so-very-short reply, so I'm thinking that could've been the reason. Or was it just merely submitted to the 'need-approval-before-posted' category since it was longer than automatically allowed reply?

Thanks!

it wasn't me, i didn't do it, must have been someone else,was like that when i got here, opps i was just reading the scouser secondary skool handbook

no idea what happened to your post... lost in cyberspace

[joebloggs]

forgot to mention, if you start to apply for work, your employer might want evidence that you can work in the uk, as with my wife, whe she was offered a job in the NHS, they wanted evidence she could work, in her case it was a spouse visa, or a letter from the immigration department stating she can work in the UK, not many employers will take the risk of employing you if your Illegal as
"the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 makes it an offence to employ a worker over 16 years of age who has no right to work in the UK or to do the work being offered.

The penalties for doing so, even unknowingly, can be severe: the offence carries a maximum fine of £5,000 per illegal employee. What's more, criminal liability in such a case extends to any director, manager or officer of the company if illegal employment occurs with their consent, co-operation or as a result of their negligence."

and i'm sure i've read that they can even face a prison sentance

[KeithD]

They are all here now Joe, unless Rob done his usual magic trick.... He can make sheep squawk you know!!

[JAMZ]

if you are working in tokyo in IT, then in all probability you are capable enough of getting a transfer and work permit to take a similar job in the UK.

it's just a case of finding the right company to get you there. it's not the kind of thing you can do on your own.

jamz has a valid point - its not a cheap thing for a company to do, but for them it's cheaper than hiring local staff - especially actuaries

Good to hear some people here have heard and known of actuaries... It has been really a tough one explaining to others what we do...

Hey, Salingposas, if you are a programmer or somewhat in IT field with competitive background, I might be able to feed you a Company that will sponsor you... Send me a PM then.

[JAMZ]

forgot to mention, if you start to apply for work, your employer might want evidence that you can work in the uk, as with my wife, whe she was offered a job in the NHS, they wanted evidence she could work, in her case it was a spouse visa, or a letter from the immigration department stating she can work in the UK, not many employers will take the risk of employing you if your Illegal as
"the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 makes it an offence to employ a worker over 16 years of age who has no right to work in the UK or to do the work being offered.

The penalties for doing so, even unknowingly, can be severe: the offence carries a maximum fine of £5,000 per illegal employee. What's more, criminal liability in such a case extends to any director, manager or officer of the company if illegal employment occurs with their consent, co-operation or as a result of their negligence."

and i'm sure i've read that they can even face a prison sentance

This is true and beware also of crab mental creatures roaming around UK...