Beginning the climb

[darren-b]

Thanks for the replies, generally i feel reassured ive got everything covered, Now the next hurdle approaches

From what I read here the Embassy service seems to be a bit of a joke...600 quid and they take around 4 months to decide...come to think of it "Service" is hardly the appropriate word. Where else would you pay up front for something that someone says "I'll do it in 4 Months" talk about a captive audience, I'm developing a certain sense of indignation for the people who get paid from my hefty deductions!!

4 months is about the longest, it may get processed quicker. One reason why it takes a while for a visa to be issued is that the Embassy requests information about the applicant from government agencies in the Philippines which don't necessarily respond that quickly.

[joebloggs]

4 months is about the longest, it may get processed quicker. One reason why it takes a while for a visa to be issued is that the Embassy requests information about the applicant from government agencies in the Philippines which don't necessarily respond that quickly.

the embassy might say the delay is because of 'local checks', but i'm not so sure, do they do these checks on people who want to come and work, study, visit here or even those who apply for 'family permits' if not why not ? , I would have thought there would be less chance of a spouse of a brit being a terrorist or criminal than someone in one of the other visa categories who doesn't have any ties with the uk.

funny when i nearly waited 3 months years ago, i complained to the embassy and the misses got a call from the embassy to pick her visas up the next day

[trader dave]

the embassy might say the delay is because of 'local checks', but i'm not so sure, do they do these checks on people who want to come and work, study, visit here or even those who apply for 'family permits' if not why not ? , I would have thought there would be less chance of a spouse of a brit being a terrorist or criminal than someone in one of the other visa categories who doesn't have any ties with the uk.

funny when i nearly waited 3 months years ago, i complained to the embassy and the misses got a call from the embassy to pick her visas up the next day

hassle hassle them write emails ,phone calls are no good an email you have a record at the end of the day they are providing a service A ITS NOT GOOD ENOUGH

[darren-b]

hassle hassle them write emails ,phone calls are no good an email you have a record at the end of the day they are providing a service A ITS NOT GOOD ENOUGH

Emails are too easy to ignore.. Your only way of really hassling them is to turn up at the embassy in Manila.

[joebloggs]

hassle hassle them write emails ,phone calls are no good an email you have a record at the end of the day they are providing a service A ITS NOT GOOD ENOUGH

well, when my misses kept telling me the embassy said they were waiting because of 'local checks', i started emailing the embassy and each time i replied to their email, i got an email back saying the person had gone on holiday, was on a training course, was ill, kidnapped by aliens, after a month of this, i had enough


i emailed every department manager at the embassy, saying is there anyone there who is not on holiday, on a training course or ill, and I've been messed around for more than a month and if your going to refuse the visa, just do it, so i can appeal !, the next day i got a copy of an email from one manger to another, saying would they help me out, because i wasn't having much luck with the embassy. and my misses got a call the next day to pick up her visas

both of the managers had British surnames, maybe i got lucky with a brit who understands the frustration of waiting

[darren-b]

the embassy might say the delay is because of 'local checks', but i'm not so sure, do they do these checks on people who want to come and work, study, visit here or even those who apply for 'family permits' if not why not ? , I would have thought there would be less chance of a spouse of a brit being a terrorist or criminal than someone in one of the other visa categories who doesn't have any ties with the uk.

funny when i nearly waited 3 months years ago, i complained to the embassy and the misses got a call from the embassy to pick her visas up the next day

Looking on various forums suggests that many fiancee/spouse visas are taking a while to be processed (even from the US) and the suggested reason why seems to be because they run checks in the UK on the sponsor.

I'm sure if the BIA could offer a same day service with the 'appropriate' fee they would, as most people would pay it to get it over and done with.