Originally posted by symonh2000@Mar 5 2006, 06:48 PM
Hi everyone, Sorry if this in the wrong section but here goes..
I have been in contact with my girl since october and I have arranged a trip to Manila at the beginning of may to see her, when I intend to propose. I was then thinking of applying for a Fiancee Visa, so she could live with me in the UK. Do you think we would be successful, and how are the exact ways of doing it?
A few facts first though.. We are similar age, I am 28 she is 27, I have pretty good income enough to support us at least, although currently I live with parents but this could change if she came.
She has nurse qualifications and would like to work here as a carer once she got here and possibly do further training to become a proper nurse.
We do have some evidence of a relationship, letters e-mails etc, and we are both single and never married.

We were planning on going to the british embassy in Manila on my trip but need to make sure we get things right before we go.

I much appreciate your help.
Simon.
Simon, to be blunt, you've only known her five months, and never actually met her in person, so my advice would be not to waste your time applying for a visa of any description for at least another six months. What I WOULD recommend is sending dozens of snail mails, on-line chats (keep records) and any other sorts of communications like birthday cards, postcards etc. Sort out some reliable way for her to get them, either direct to a post office or some other method, and save them all, every one.

The embassy will sneer at you if you go in to seek a fiance visa within two weeks of the first actual meeting with your girl, and the refusal will come back to haunt you later.

No matter how hard you have to scrimp and save and blaggard time off work I'd try to get over to see her a couple more times this summer, take loads of photos and all, then maybe apply for a fiancee visa towards the end of this year.

And also, once you do meet her, make sure you really do want to spend the rest of your days with her. Love IS blind.

Good luck.