If you wanted to settle down with a Filipina.........

Great advice Maley...Yes, I understand what you mean and I agree with you totally....This forum really helps. I have been totally lost and now feel good after discovering this forum.

As has been mentioned here already, it's very important to meet your lady in person, however a holiday is very different to what it may be like living together.

Do you have any filipino friends? I'd recommend you learn some her culture as some of their quirks quite interesting!

Search for a thread here named "still cracks me up" (sorry couldn't see how to add a link), it'll give a small insight.

http://www.british-filipino.com/index.php?threads/still-cracks-me-up.14286/

That one?

That's the one, cheers brom

Meeting her first isn't just a recommendation, it's a basic requirement. You need to have met in person before you can apply for a visa.

i suggest you go out there for a holiday.--in fact--several...so you 2 can get to know each other properly. this is more for her future than yours--she is likely to be the one to come to live in the UK.

Welcome to the forum.

As others have said, you clearly need to meet in person. Several times. I personally was involved with my wife for a total of five years and thirteen visits, got engaged on one of the visits and married on the final one, before applying for a spouse visa. She is now in the UK with me. So I wouldn't worry too much about the formalities of it until you've met several times and you're engaged to be married. As others have mentioned, you'll need a pile of money, a pile of paper and a lot of patience for the visa application. And you'll definitely have to have met at least once and have photographic and documentary evidence to substantiate your relationship. So.. first things first.

I would advise that you meet her family. Indeed, you'll need photos of you with her family in any visa application.
I would also advise that you ensure that she has never been married before. The best way is for her to get a CENOMAR certificate. This will prove that she has never been married and you will need it during the process.

Be aware that there have been examples of Filipina married women pretending to be single to lure in foreign boyfriends for money. The hubby pretends to be her brother during your stay. Some people have even been blackmailed since it's illegal for you to sleep with a married woman. There have been occasions where a woman has kept several boyfriends on the side.
Just keep your wits about you. You shouldn't be getting requests for money, for example. If you do - then start being careful.

This isn't to say that there aren't honest people in the Philippines. There are - after all - I married one. However - there are also plenty of thieves, murderers and scammers at well due to the poverty.

I suggest that you never send any money to her family and be very cautious indeed about sending her any money. If her family find out that she is involved with a westerner, plenty of hard luck stories, drama and forgotten relatives will suddenly appear. Make yourself out to be an ATM machine and that's what you will become.

Finally - I would suggest that you meet and stay in Makati in Manila. It's a safe area. If you're not short of money, why not stay in the Peninsula hotel. I've stayed there several times and it's a very good hotel. The Ascott Makati and the Shangri-la are also both good. If you have to travel to the provinces - watch your step. In particular be careful of Mindanao. Plenty of people here have travelled to Mindanao and will rattle on about how Davao is so safe. Personally, I wouldn't travel to Mindanao for a solid gold pig - read the foreign office travel advice pages.

Personally, I would take my time and be cautious. There have been instances of people meeting filipina women and marrying them, bringing them to the UK, and then the woman has run off. There have been instances of people being burnt. And finally. If there's a big age difference between you and her - then I personally would recommend you are extra careful.
I know that there are plenty of forum members here who have a large age difference. But I personally would still perform some honest, adult reflection on what the motives and risks are.

"Indeed, you'll need photos of you with her family in any visa application."

-----------Eh ??

When making my applications, I was advised that a picture that proves that you have met the family is helpful towards proving that the relationship is a genuine one. It can hardly hurt - especially since we all have to submit pictures in the evidence pack.

ive never met any of her family. except her sister--who is settled here and lives nearby. as for the other 999,999 of them--nope.

I included asawa's family in our application from a pictorial point of view. Not necessary as I'm not bringing them to the UK but if it reinforces the application, then why not.

Just to clarify for the sake of impartiality. There are plenty of thieves, murderers and scammers in the UK too . Good luck with your love.

How sad is that?...
For her I mean.

i have no intention of going over to the philippines. so its highly unlikely i could ever meet them.

NOMB Bigmac, but but why wouldn't you want to visit her home country and meet her family?

she got an annulment. her previous husband has several brothers. they dont know about the annulment. they might well feel a sense of extreme prejudice if i show up.

OK right, don't blame you for steering clear of that.

Mmm.

Thailand is quite nice, and you wife will like the food.

not only that..my wife made it her life plan to settle in the uk. she first came here on a student visa in 2007. we met in 2011. she told me her plans--which included marrying a british bloke. her plan included bringing her kids over. too late for her daughter--over 18 now and at uni in the filis. but her 11 year old son is next on the list.

my wife had a hard life in the filis----she was the bread winner for her kids..several of her siblings have emigrated.

i asked her where she would want to live if i snuff it...her answer was--the UK.

her parents are still alive--although they do not enjoy good health. there was an idea to bring them over for a long holiday visit--but that aint likely now.

my wife hopes her son can get a settlement visa this year--and plans to fly out for a visit and bring him back with her. my role in all this is sponsor. ive provided the means for her to settle here--including a nice 4 bedroom house.

i have no wish to endure a long flight to visit the place. my sense of adventure is trying a new flavour ice cream on holiday.

just for you @bigmac

http://www.ricksicecream.com/48-flavors.html