Hi ,Does anyone know the cost of taking the speaking/listening test in Fili ? What is the preferred route..getting married in fili then applying for visa or getting married in UK and applying for Visa.What are the pros and cons if any ? Thanks
The fee is P12,070 for Lifeskills (Speaking & Listening). You could also take the Academic/General Training (Reading, Writing, Listening, & Speaking) which amounts to P16,090. https://www.idp.com/philippines/ielts/life-skills/ielts-lf-faq https://www.britishcouncil.ph/exam/ielts-uk-visa-immigration/ielts-ukvi-dates-fees-locations
you must get a visa first if you want to marry in the UK. commonly known as a fiancee visa--but correctly--settlement (marriage ) visa. it costs the same as a spouse visa = settlement -wife. (£1195---but paid in dollars--so more like £1300+ ) but the fiancee visa only lasts 6 months--then you must apply for FLR--for the next 30 months ( £811)---then another FLR after that--so 5 years alltold. ( another £811) all prices are this years figures--went up 25% this year already. but with spouse visa--means your bringing your wife over after a wedding in the filis----thats valid for 33 months--then you need the only FLR--£811. so it saves you one FLR--hence £saves £811. on top of those figures--you pay the IHS surcharge--currently 2 x £500 for fiancee FLR's-----or £600 + £500 = £1100 for spouse visa. on top of all that--you can opt for premium / priority service--adds £500 each time.
Thanks been looking at the various forms for visa application ..I'm going over for two weeks in October (first visit).Big fly in the ointment is my lady is married/separated.Hoping that the new president shifts the position on getting divorced. It's going to be tough but I'm not going to give up.As a alternative how do you get permission to live in Fili for a couple of years ? What are the requirements?
Hi David, Be very careful as you progress with your lady. We have heard of people who have run into big problems when the husband finds out the wife is seeing a foreigner. I believe you could end up in jail (adultery) and if not that, you could be hit for big expenses as the husband will consider you to be a very rich white long nose Others here could advise you further as my wife had no complications when we met.
whatever you think this is all going to cost you---double it--both in time and money. there is no divorce in the philippines--the church is far more powerful than any president. the only courses open to you is--annulment--or if her husband shuffles off this mortal coil. i know which is cheaper--and quicker.
i first met my --now--wife in 2011--she was living here in the UK--near me--on a student visa. we got involved--and she did tell me she was married--but separated--lol--not seen her hubby in 5 years and half the world away. i had no idea what i was getting into. i dread to think what the last nearly 5 years has cost me. i joined another forum like this--and was strongly advised to run a mile from a married filipina. i ignored the advice. but--with hindsight i can see exactly where he was coming from. do i understand you have not met the lady ?
No we have Skype every day I'm going over for two weeks in October. To be honest I can see it's going to be tough but I will stick with it.
best meet and stay far from her home and any family. IF her husband chooses to co-operate with an annulment--and its a long process---its often said that the price of his involvement is a million peso. add that to the lawyers chunk of your money. this includes all the necessary bungs and backhanders up the food chain. reckon on £3 grand. this is before the visa costs if you get that far.
Nothing will change any time soon regarding divorce in the Philippines as the Catholic church still has the backing of the majority of people in the Philippines. You need to find a good lawyer who doesn't have a dynamic fee policy, some offer the service at a set fee but it is my guess that you may well have to pay extra to grease the right palms through the annulment process. You need to search the forum for information on annulments, its a very individual process, all of us that went through it had different experiences and paid different fees. Might be a good idea if you can find out what your loved ones ex thinks about an annulment, he may be reasonable and helpful but it could be the opposite as others have stated. Sooner you start the annulment process the better, remember, the lawyer you employ is key. Its not all doom and gloom, once you start the annulment process and get a rough idea of cost and the timescale you will feel a lot better and you can begin to make plans for the future with your loved one.
Hi Dave... so you haven't actually met her yet ? What's the rush ? Start thinking very carefully about what you may be getting involved in sir. There are thousands upon thousands of beautiful, clever, sexy Filipinas over there, who are SINGLE and free to marry. ... Just saying.
Well I gathered that. Think 'eggs and baskets' mate. Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt . Good luck.
