Family Visit Visa Question. Pls help!

[tinzky19]

Hi everyone,

I am a Filipina with a British partner. We have been living together in Thailand for nearly 3 years now. We planned to apply for the Unmarried partner visa, however due to recent changes in the financial requirements, we are not able to as he didn't meet the salary requirement and won't be able to secure a job in England couple of months prior to intended date of arrival. He would need to come to England, secure a job and we apply for Unmarried partner visa after 6 months.

We don't want to be apart, that's why we are now going to take the Family Visit Visa route. I am unemployed here in Thailand and partner is the one supporting me. And he will also when we get to England.

My questions are:
1. Can I say in my application that I'm definitely coming back to the Philippines before 6 months because by then I will be applying for the unmarried partner visa?

2. What evidence can I show to prove that I'm coming back? I don't have any Philippine Bank account, no properties, no job, what I only have is my family there.

3. I am on a Non immigrant student visa valid until mid next year. Since I'm on this type of visa, is it necessary for me to acquire a letter from the school confirming my enrollment and leave of absence? (But I won't be coming back to Thailand anymore as I'm going to apply for another visa in the Philippines.)

4. I have a Thai bank account which has some savings from part time jobs. Should I present a copy of my own bank statement even though partner is supporting me or his bank statement alone is enough? or will this complicate things that I'm unemployed?

Those will be my questions for now. We would really appreciate your help on this. We plan to apply in 2-3 weeks, so we want to have documents sorted out. Hopefully, need not reapply. Thank you very much in advance!

[Terpe]

What strong evidence can you provide that will show that on balance you do you have stronger reasons to return to Philippines than overstay in UK?

I'm not wanting to be negative, just to highlight the major issue for you.

A partner is not normally considered as a prospective family visit unless you can provide good evidence that you have been living together in a genuine and subsisting relationship, like marriage or civil partnership, for at least 2 years before the day you apply.
Failing that you would need to apply under general (tourist) visa.

Having said that, the visit visa is very low cost and worth a try anyway. Just accept that that visit visa is probably the most problematic to secure.

I do wish you good luck anyway.

Please take a look at the UKBA website for important details.

[tinzky19]

Thanks for your reply Mr. Terpe.

We have already studied everything in the website about the unmarried partner and family visit visa. When we apply for family visit visa, we can provide evidence that we are living together akin to marriage for nearly 3 years. The major thing that we are confused at the moment is how do we prove that I got strong ties in the Philippines as I have no property nor bank accounts, just my family. Can i say then that I'm definitely coming back in my country since by that time we will now be able to apply for unmarried partner visa (which we originally planned but financial requirements changed)?

Thanks very much in advance!

[Terpe]

Securing a visit visa is notoriously problematic for many reasons. Not least because approval or refusal is principally based on the discretion of the ECO.

The major complication is your need to prove a non-immigrant intent.
The ECO needs to be convinced (on the balance of probabilities) that there are strong social, economic and family ties that would compel you to leave the UK at the end of the temporary stay.

Unfortunately, in most cases it can become quite difficult to overcome this presumption.

Reasons to return home and strong/complelling ties differ from country to country, city to city, individual to individual.
Some simple examples of such ties can be a job, a house, social and family relationships, a bank account, possessions etc
The ECO will be looking to see if the aspects of your life that bind you to your country outweigh those aspects that may cause you to be unwilling to return to your home country, or to attempt to change or extend your visa status.

I'm sorry that I cannot be specific in your case, these things are just so very personal to individual lives.

I feel that in your case having familiy in Philippines may be a tricky reason to present as you have lived far apart from them and they are not 'socially dependent' on you.

I wish you good luck with your application

[lolowalsh]

first of all apply as a general visitor visa not family visa
i just got my visa last month so i can be helpful :
well to start i'm student too so i used the fact that i have education to prove that i have strong ties to my country i gave them a school certificat to prove that .
the british embassy care also about the bank statements so if your partner have a good bank account i mean over 5000 pounds you should be ok also he have to write a letter to prove that hes willing to sponsor you and he will pay for your trip

[tinzky19]

Hi everyone!

I'm back with a great news! My family visit visa has been granted! I lodged the application at VFS Bangkok on Oct 3 and got the documents back and the visa today, Oct 18. We are so happy! We didn't have much hope but luckily we made it!

Cheers everyone for all the help!

[Terpe]

Hi everyone!

I'm back with a great news! My family visit visa has been granted! I lodged the application at VFS Bangkok on Oct 3 and got the documents back and the visa today, Oct 18. We are so happy! We didn't have much hope but luckily we made it!

Cheers everyone for all the help!

Hi tinzky

Wow, What wonderful news

If I'm honest I though it was 50/50 in your case, so you must have a great job. Very well done both of you

Hope you and your partner enjoy the time together and that together you can lay some strong foundations for your next visa application for settlement.
I have every confidence in that now.