Advice needed as I'm wanting to bring my GF of 2.5 years to the UK

[IainBusby]

No as all of the bills were in my name. Would it be easier ie criteria wise to apply for a Spouse Visa (of course I will have to travel there and marry her) rather than take the Fiancee visa route?

Personally I would go for marriage in Phils and a spouse visa. Even though this is initially the more expensive option as far as the visa fee is concerned, it actually works out cheaper in the end. The other thing is your new wife will be able to work in the UK from the day she arrives here.

I also think that although the criteria used to judge the visa applications are exactly the same in theory for both a spouse or fiancee visa, they will want to be more certain that they have very strong grounds for refusal before they reject a spouse visa application and refuse to let a wife join her husband in the UK.

Iain.

[joebloggs]

Personally I would go for marriage in Phils and a spouse visa. Even though this is initially the more expensive option as far as the visa fee is concerned,

cost is the same Iain, a settlement visa cost 42,100php, whether for a spouse or fiancée

its actually cheaper for a spouse as you shouldn't need to apply for FLR if you wed in the phils, but you will have to on a fiancee visa once your married in the UK. saving you at least £465.