Hi!

Harry: it's not a case of ignoring advice, but a question of gathering information and choosing the best way forward. Raynaputi did say that the visa is applied for in the name on the passport, and that is what we will do! I have been told separately that the CENOMAR with the original name change evidence (i.e. the marriage certificate) will suffice for marriage in the UK. (Who knows how long it might take to get the passport changed in the Philippines?!)

Terp: thank you for all of your comments. The woman that I spoke to at the registry office did appear to be reasonably knowledgeable - being aware of fiancee visas! My fiancee and I have known each other for nearly seven years and have a 'mountain' of evidence of our relationship! I have visited three times, twice with my teenage daughter. My fiancee was granted her annulment at the end of last October (that took far far longer than it should have) and was told that she would have her CENOMAR within a few weeks. Time moved on and we only found out a few weeks ago that the delay was due to lack of acknowledgement by her ex husband :(. For the purposes of the visa application I took a bit of a gamble and setup a date for our marriage for the end of April. All of the details have been sent to my fiancee for the visa application. The CENOMAR delay and changes to the law here (notice of marriage after the 2nd of March will be 28 days instead of 16) effectively means that we will now miss the original date. I will have to make new plans and should probably send a new sponsors letter to my fiancee.

I will no doubt be posting any news of a successful visa application if / when it happens!

Phil.