UK tourist visa changes - ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Geoff]

Hi Everyone

So what do you all think about he new Tourist Visa regulations.

The Home Office are to introduce new rules regarding Tourist visas to the UK. So from an origanal period of 6 monthts they have now been reduced to a maxium of only three months.

The Tourist Visa was the only way my girlfriend could come here. Although she has been separated from her husband for nearly four years she has not started her annulment process yet (which will probably take two years and cost over £1000). So the Uk Tourist Visa was really the only way she could actually stay here. And now its been reduced to three months.

There ought to be some way, that a woman in her situation, i.e. not actually divorced but separated could come to the UK on a Spouse or Financee Visa. We have known each other for 16 months and i have visited her in Cebu and recently she has visited the UK on a Tourist Visa, she returned on December 5 - within the six months. We are very much in love and want to spend the rest of our lives together. Indeed if it had not been for the fact that she is not officially divorced we would have got married by now.

We had planned that maybe we would reapply next year (2008) and try and get her back again for another six months, but with the news that the they are now limiting any stay to only 3 months it hardly seems worth it.

So what we have decided is that I will go and live in the Philippines with my honey. My house is up for sale and as soon as it is sold i will have to leave my beloved England for a new life in Cebu.

It's a massive step for me to undertake. And is done purely because, even though we can prove we have a known each other, and that we have a bona fide relationship etc etc. there is simply no provision that I am aware of that will allow my girlfriend to stay here in the UK indefinitely.

I am sure there are many other english guys in my position. If anyone does know the answer about how a filipino woman can stay in the uk without her annullment being finalised i would love to hear from you. All we simply want to do is to be together. She is a lovely woman and would be an asset to this country. Why, oh why is this government so inflexible and will not recognise a legitimate and loving relationship. Everyone know how hard and long winded it is to get a marriage annulled in the philippines and yet this government has made no provision for people in our situation.

I would be really interested in any feedback that is forthcoming.

Best wishes, Geoff

[ginapeterb]

Hello Geoff,

Yes it is a pain in the a.... how things are with tourist visas however, I know lots of guys over the years, have sold their house and up stakes to live a life in the Philippines, before you do this, think carefully about your actions, many go and end up coming back, cannot adjust, most of the time its the adjusting that finally bites, Pattaya in Thailand is full of Brits who sold their house and moved offshore only to find that it wasnt all they thought it might be.

I am not saying it won't work for you, think carefully and do some research before you take the plunge, and if its what you want, good luck to you mate, I wish you well.

If the mountain won't move, then go to the mountain, so if your girl cannot come, there is nothing to stop you going to be with your girl, just remember, you have no automatic right to live in the Philippines, your status would be that as a tourist, you will have to obtain a long stay visa up to 59 days, and you may extend it locally in the place where you will live, and you may do so, but at some point you will need to leave the Philippines and do a visa run, preferably Hong Kong, and then come back into the country, you will need to keep doing this for the forseeable future until such times as you are married.

Then you will qualify for Permanent residency.

Best of Luck.

[Geoff]

Thanks Pete for your help and advice and taking the time to read my post.

Yes i know its not going to be easy. But like you say . . . If the mountain, etc"

And yes i realise that I will have to renew my visa regularly and will be prepared for the occasional Hong Kong run.

As far as adjustment is concerned I hope my adjustment will be a relatively smooth one. I know i am running a certain amount of risk but under the circumstances i cannot see a way forward that me and my girlfriend can be together other than me moving to the Philippines.

We intend to get the divorce going once I am out there, which should be around March or April this year, then we can get married and hopefully then thing will fall into place.

Once again thanks for listening.

[IanB]

Pattaya in Thailand is full of Brits who sold their house and moved offshore only to find that it wasnt all they thought it might be.

Mainly because Pattaya is a hell hole full of corruption and criminality! Those who chose to move to the wife's village in the provinces seem to fare a lot better. Something I always wanted to do - but probably never to the Philippines from what I've heard!

Ian

[A_flyer]

UK is just willing to align the visa duration to the same value as other E.U. countries. I.E. Schengen tourist visa are limited to 3 months (as well as Fiancé and Spouse visas which are Schengen ones).
In France Fiancé visa can't be extended nor renewed (so you should be married within the 3 months period).

[KeithD]

It's only ab idea put out to see what the response is. Only around 1% of folk overstay on a visitor visa.....still, that equals thousands.

I see no problem with the 3 months, nor a deposit. If they can fly in from Asia for £500 each, then they can afford a deposit. They pay smugglers £2000.

[andypaul]

It's only ab idea put out to see what the response is. Only around 1% of folk overstay on a visitor visa.....still, that equals thousands.

I see no problem with the 3 months, nor a deposit. If they can fly in from Asia for £500 each, then they can afford a deposit. They pay smugglers £2000.

Word how many on here and even myself once thought you might have to pay a bond if you invite someone over.

Also they have no way i guess to really know who overstays as they don't check peoples passports as they leave in the UK, so this will do it for them.

ie when you leave unless your real lazy and rich, you will want to get your grand back. The authorities can then montior the figures quite easily.
Quite a good idea really.

[purplealien]

I wonder what happens to the interest earned on the deposit ?

[andypaul]

I wonder what happens to the interest earned on the deposit ?

goes to northern rock

[fred]

goes to northern rock

Good answer and accurate too.

So what we have decided is that I will go and live in the Philippines with my honey. My house is up for sale and as soon as it is sold i will have to leave my beloved England for a new life in Cebu.

Ahh! Poor you!!

I hope you manage to sell before prices start to go down next year.

Is it possible for you to preserve the capital raised (house sale)whilst living here?
You are entitled to leave the proceeds in an offshore bank and so receive the interest tax free ..6.8%..All you really need is a police clearance and a forwarding address abroad..http://www.angloirishbank.co.im/pers...st-account.asp
Of course..If you have no extra savings to live here whilst the interest is being earned then the bit above might be useless information.
I just don't like to see guys coming here and going back broke or at least financially much worse off.
Cant you rent the house out instead of selling??
I suppose it all depends on the size of your mortgage as to whether it would be worth it.



Incidentally.. Regarding your visa here.. You can stay here from 16 to 24 months without doing the HK trip.

Foreign tourists can now stay 16 months without prior approval of the commissioner, 24 months with approval or they have to leave for one day every 16 months.

Fred.

[joebloggs]

i've read somewhere, that the visitor visa's valid date starts from when it's issued, not when people arrive in the UK, so visitors can only stay in the UK for 2-2.5 months or so at the longest.

[A_flyer]

i've read somewhere, that the visitor visa's valid date starts from when it's issued, not when people arrive in the UK, so visitors can only stay in the UK for 2-2.5 months or so at the longest.

Yes that's usually the case with visas issued by Embassies (same for Schengen visas). So sooner you travel after having the visa issued better it is.
Only in case of visa granted when you pass immigration at arrival (like the waiver visa for the US or the 21 days visa for the Philippines), you have the exact duration in days.

Visas are valid from 0h the day it is signed to 23h59mn59s the last day (meaning you must leave the country before this time). So in fact you always loose some time on the visa duration...

Other point: visa duration is given in days and not months. So meaning if you have a 90days (so called 3 months) visa including February month, they will really count 90 days to calculate the end date. So it may be more that 3 months from a calendar point of view (but not in days).

[andypaul]

With spouse visa and finacee visas your supposed to post date them to a degree of a couple of months. Isn't that possible with vistor visas?

[A_flyer]

With spouse visa and finacee visas your supposed to post date them to a degree of a couple of months. Isn't that possible with vistor visas?

Yes as you are requested to bring your travel documents, they should adjust the starting date to your travel date (after duration in fixed). but as I said, dates are fixed. Meaning if your flight is delayed for any reason, the visa will not be shifted by immigration at the arrival.

[nparvus1202]

Three month visa is another money making scheme. If you want to stay for 6 months, then you need to apply for two visas. After 3 months go back to Manila, apply again, pay again and then travel again.

[KeithD]

We are falling inline with most other countries, I have no problem with that. And I wouldn't want anyone visiting in my house for more than 2 weeks, I'd bloody shoot them

[joebloggs]

We are falling inline with most other countries, I have no problem with that. And I wouldn't want anyone visiting in my house for more than 2 weeks, I'd bloody shoot them

so we're all ok to stay at your place for the 12 days of xmas

[Brenda]

Hi Everyone
I would be really interested in any feedback that is forthcoming.
Best wishes, Geoff

Hi Geoff,
I know and I understand how you and your GF feel now. We were in the same situation before.
Moving here to be with your GF is such admirable, it shows how much you love your GF.
About annulment, it is really cost a fortune, make sure you deal it with the good lawyer whose experienced in the same case. Depending on what grounds for annulment she is going to file in her petition,mostly its the Psychologically Incapacitated, if that is the case best to approach a Psychologist whose expert in dealing a family matter. The Pshychologist`s report will be a big help to get the result. It will be a good idea to let your GF to speak to them, some are taking advantage when they know that a client have a foreigner boyfriend, they might charge you more.
Goodluck to you and to your GF.

[beth18]

I hope my experience helps, I have filed my annulment in July 2006 if it was not for the postponement of the judge I should have finished it in 8 months ( last march) all in al I paid 90 thou plus the appearance fee of my lawyer.

My last hearing was last 3rd October this month I have my decision arrived back in my City in the Phils. I would like to help your GF cos she can file her annulment in my city in a year you will get the decision, it all depends to the leg of work of the lawyer and going through the right process, many are offering hundreds of thousands for three months but I don't believe in short cuts , I will offer my place if she needs to go, for sure we speak the same language cos I speak Cebuano too.

This might help you not selling your house yet, it only takes a matter of a year or so, instead of starting all over in the Philippines and you have nothing to come back for, here in UK, well, just an idea.

Beth

[Geoff]

And thanks Beth for your advice on anullments.

My main reasons for leaving the uk are beyond my control.

It seems that anyone who happens to live outside the EEC is being discriminated against. Myself and my girlfriend can prove that we have a legitimate relationship. OK she is not divorced but her marriage has broken down and she has been separated for over four years.

But because we have not yet entered the Filipino divorce circus, and when we do I know it will take about 2 years and lots of messing about. Because of that I am prepared to give up my life here so we can be together.

Its a massive step for me. I guess we could have danced through hoops again by applying for another tourist visa but whats the point? Now they are limited to a rubbish three months it hardly worth applying for.

I am English. By pure chance i fell in love with a woman from the Philippines. I only want what is perfectly natural, and that is to be together. I think this Government should have the commonsense and good judgement to recognise when a relationship is "manufactured" and between and one that is founded on love and committment.

Anyway, its too much to ask for that degree of sensitivity obviously - so im off to Cebu and the sooner the better.

[Welsh_Italian]

Geoff: there might be another alternative to consider: emigration to a third country. Have you thought about you and your fiancee moving to a country like Canada or New Zealand?

You might find a problem with NZ: I looked into the situation regarding emigrating there and would easily qualify even without a job (I have a good education and career in a much needed area along with relatives already living there). The problem is that my wife and I will have had to live together for 1 year minimum before she can join me. Your situation might be different, and a country like Canada might be different altogether.