Advice on re-locating partner from PH to UK

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum, but have lurked plenty and really struggled to find any answers that suit me, so I hope someone here can read this and give me first hand advice if you can.

My girlfriend wishes to move to Scotland with me, from Manila in the Philippines.

I have read that the EEA approach is easiest. I read that on here, but on a very old thread from 2012. I cannot find any up to date information on whether this route is still a viable option - especially as most posts seem to be about the wage earning requirment of £18,500 p.a. in order to grant wives' access to the country.

To avoid confusion, I am going to provide as much information about myself possible in the hopes someone has been in the same boat as me and managed to bring their partner from PH to UK.

I am 24, from Scotland. I work full-time, earning approximately £18,200 p.a. I claim no benefits.

Me and my girlfriend have been in a relationship for around 2 years. Last October I visited her for 2 weeks in the Philippines.

We have photos of ourselves together on our travels. I've kept the travel itinerary but don't have the boarding pass. I have letters addressed to me, from her, from the past couple of years we've been together.

Lastly, we are serious about our relationship and are more than happy to marry if it means being together.

Any more information required to assist me in which route to take, please ask away. I am sure somebody here has successfully brought their partner over who can lend their experience.

Thanks in advance for anybody who chimes in to offer help!

As you are a British national living in the U.K. you have to go down the uk route not the EEA.
So basically you have to be earning £18,600pa to apply for her visa.
You also have to decide if you will marry here in the U.K. or in the phil, spousal visa if you marry there or it’s a fiancée visa if you marry here.
Firstly you need to meet the financial requirement before anything else.

Welcome to the forum!

You need to earn the min income requirment to be able to sponsor her here. You can have another part time job as you only really need a few hundred £ more. I know its easier said than done but what would you loose? When she is here with the visa, she can start earning and help with the finances.

Thanks for the replies so far folks.

I was hoping the EEA route would be an option. Oh well.

We will marry in the Philippines. Could anyone who has done the Spousal Visa guide me, under the impression I am in fact earning over the threshold of £18,600?

hi--welcome to the forum.

get married in the philis..then she can apply for a spouse visa.

youre the sponsor--make sure youve earned at least £18,600 per annum--with the last 6 months payslips-if its a regular salary. plus 6 months bank statements showing income paid in. simples.

oh--and somewhere to live. go for it.

Welcome to the forum!

Check this site:

https://migrate.org.uk/spouse-visa-uk-2018/

If you have any further questions you can ask again. Make sure that you earn atleast £18,600 (before tax) before you apply as the visa fee and IHS fee are expensive. If you can, include a copy of your P60.

Thank you! What is the IHS fee?

If you apply outside the UK, it is £600. If inside, £500. There was a news before that they will increase it, not sure when.

rumour mill a few months back it was set to double.

Guys, looking on this link it costs £1500.

Link: https://migrate.org.uk/spouse-visa-uk-2018/

Better check this before you apply to know the real-time fee:

https://www.immigration-health-surcharge.service.gov.uk/checker/type

yep--thats the application fee.. as its a spouse visa--add the IHS fee ( whatever it might be--at least £500 ) plus another £500 ish if you want priority service

so--say £2500.

and thats just for starters.

The visa fee is currently £1,523. It says IHS is £500 but it has £100 online processing fee that's why it became £600.

Am I to answer that she is applying alone, or to join somebody (a main applicant)? If you click the 'join someone' it asks when my 'settlement' visa ends which is a bit confusing.

Applying alone. This is all about her, not you as she is the main applicant.

Thanks a lot

Could you elaborate the other costs please?

So far I understand the prices I'm facing are £1500 for the Visa itself and £600 for the IHS charge.

That's correct. But there are other requirements (tuberculosis test, IELTS test, her passport if none yet, fares for all appointments, postage fees and others if any)

Thank you.

Wondering if anyone can chime in with their wedding costs while in the Philippines?