Hi guys. I'm Laurence and I'm a UK citizen. My Filipino girlfriend has had her 6 month Visitors visa rejected (see attached). There were some blatant holes and lack of evidence in the application, and we are keen to rectify these in this 2nd application. She is currently living in the Philippines with her father, while her mother is in Japan with her Japanese husband. Some of the issues with the application can be taken care of by myself, but the questions I would like I ask are - What can I do for evidence that she has met and is in a relationship with me, her sponsor? I'm thinking maybe pictures of us at famous landmarks, or holding up our passports together? Anything else we can do? What's the ideal evidence as to why myself as the sponsor and my father (who owns the house) are providing her with accommodation and living expenses while in the UK? I assume this will be mostly covered by question 1. What's the best way to prove that she has reason to go back to the Philippines and will be supported? Her father will not cooperate in giving us financial details. She is however looked after by him in his house and is sent money monthly by her mother. What are the best ways to prove that myself and my father can fully support her financially? This must obviously include the fact that we have a house free of charge for her to stay in. What effect will the fact she overstayed in Japan by a few weeks have? Is it advisable to explain the reasoning for this (family issues) or simply not apologise for it at all? Any other suggestions based on the application denial are welcome. Please note that we have decided against university now so any related points in the denial are obsolete. Thanks, -Laurence
Hi Laurence. I'm sorry you got refused. Here are my answers/opinions on your questions. Others may add/concur/correct as they deem necessary. 1. For proof of relationship, yes you could submit photos of the two of you together. You could also include: -your chat and call logs -emails -phone bills -your flight tickets and passport stamps in Japan (or where you met) -hotel or restaurant bookings or any other proofs with both your names in them 2. Have you provided a cover letter detailing your relationship, travel plans, accommodation, and living expenses? I'm assuming you did, but to support this, I suggest your father also write a letter as well saying he knows your partner is coming over for a holiday with his son and that she will be staying there for the duration of her visit. You might want to add a utility bill in your name (or your father's name as he owns the house), title register, or council tax statements. 3. If her father wouldn't provide financial details, could he at least give you a copy of the house title (assuming the property is theirs)? Does your partner (or her father) have any bill in her (or her father's) name as proof of address? Also, if her mom is financially responsible for your partner's living expenses, could she provide a letter supporting this with certificate of employment, pay slips and bank statements? As for her reasons to go back to the Philippines after her visit, I'm sorry but I do not know what else to include as you said she is unemployed, not in school, or have kids or business to attend to. Please see what the others would say. 4. You could include your (and/or your father's) bank statements and recent pay slips (with confirmation of employment). 5. Please see what the others would say.
Thanks for the help, I've taken all of that on board. There are basically two big issues which I'm struggling to solve - proof that she will be supported when she is back in the Philippines, and proof that she will return to the Philippines after 6 months. I think I can do a good job on proving she'll return by reserving a return flight in advance and providing evidence of that in the application. Any other suggestions on that are welcome. But the primary issue is lack of compliance and finance evidence from her family in the Philippines - she is fully supported by them without a doubt, but we cannot prove that as they refuse to be involved. With this new application we are going to throw the kitchen sink at it with every single document we can, in hope that the visa officer will see past the lack of proof of her finances in the Philippines. Either way, at the end of the year she is getting a Japanese passport and will be living with her mother in Japan so a visa here will be no issue The question is basically whether we spend the next 8 months together or apart. With 2x2 weeks of me in Philippines.
Hi Laurence. Welcome aboard British Filipino It might be helpful if you feel comfortable to post the exact wording of the refusal. In that way it's a little easier to be specific on how to counter in subsequent applications. I don't want to appear to be negative to your suggestions, but to be frank, having a return ticket will have no sway with UKVI caseworkers as an intention that the applicant will return home. I'd suggest not to buy any travel ticket that cannot be readily changed/cancelled before having the required visa. As her sponsor you can help greatly by providing an invitation/supporting letter to confirm the support you'll be providing in terms of financial assistance and/or accommodation. If you intend to totally support the visit then here's a list of fairly typical supporting documents that should be provided:- - 6 months Bank statements - 6 months pay slips - Proof of address (eg utility bill, Council Tax etc) - Accommodation details (including owner's agreement / rental agreement) - Sponsors passport copy (Photo page, any relevant stamp pages) - The main reasons for wanting the applicant to travel at the specific time The absolute keys are going to be:- - Reasons for her to return home to Philippines that outweigh reasons to overstay in UK - Evidence showing she can financially maintain and accommodate herself in the UK with or without assistance from family/friends living there but without recourse to public funding or employment. The ECO will be looking to see if those aspects of her life that bind her to her home country outweigh those aspects that may cause her to be unwilling to return home and to attempt to change or extend her visa status. Reasons to return home and strong/compelling ties differ from country to country, city to city, individual to individual. Some of the most common and simplest examples of ties can be employment, a house, social and family relationships and a bank account. For some folks this just isn't the case, but that doesn't necessarily exclude them from securing a visit visa. Many successful applicants have relied heavily on aspects of their life that bind them to their your country such as unmarried children, social and family relationships and responsibilities. Also the strength of a good covering letter from the sponsor confirming the support they will be providing in terms of financial assistance and accommodation etc. Also good reasons for requested the visit at this time. She'll still need to provide exactly the same documentary evidence and same compelling reasons to return to Japan than outweigh reasons to overstay. BTW the decision making centre for Japan is actually Manila Hub There are a great many posting here on visit visa success. Please do take some time to review them. I'm sure it will help. Again, posting refusal wordings can be a great help in targeted advice
Thank you You guys have been far more helpful than people on the stack exchange who just complained about the format of my question -_- I have attached scans of the actual refusal in my original post if that's what you mean by refusal wording. I don't think I will have any issues with finance evidence along with my dad, so thank you for giving me the specifics! It's just dawned on me that an obvious reason for going back to the Philippines is because her mother will be flying there and together they will be finalizing her adoption and she will gain a Japanese passport. Otherwise she is unemployed and doesn't really have any personal finances. In terms of a plane ticket, yes I might get one and pay a bit extra for the ability to refund it. We'll see. We'll also take care of a good cover letter. I'll take your advice and look at the successful visa posts! Thank you so much for the help.
Having denied your visa application is the worst nightmare! What's the best way to prove that she has reason to go back to the Philippines and will be supported? Her father will not cooperate in giving us financial details. She is however looked after by him in his house and is sent money monthly by her mother. -Family ties (if she has children here) or has a regular work to come back to. What are the best ways to prove that myself and my father can fully support her financially? This must obviously include the fact that we have a house free of charge for her to stay in. -Bank certificates for example?
That's not a requirement. She has to provide sufficient evidence that she will return to the Philippines at the end of her permitted stay. How she will live when she returns there is of no particular concern to the ECO but the fact that she does, is.
Well that's really welcome news! So while it's not necessary to have her dad's finances proven, would it still be important to show proof of where she lives and who supports her? If so then what's the easiest ways to get that? Thanks for the great help everyone.
Have you thought of applying for a stay of less than the maximum 6 months? Maybe a month or something? Just so it looks more like a holiday. They might still give you a 6 month visa anyway.
Perhaps 3 months, if it would greatly increase our chances. But me and my dads funds/accommodation are a none-issue really, so I'm not sure if it would make a difference in this case.
so what could be the chance a fiancé visa application be disapproved even when the papers are complete and acceptable?
@Laurence i'm writing this as a fact. i'm in no way suggesting you or anyone else do the same thing. in 2013 my --then --girlfriend applied for a visit visa for 3 weeks--sponsored by her sister who is settled here in the UK. on arrival at heathrow she was asked the purpose of her visit-----and was given the standard 6 months permission to stay here----which she did--till 2 days before the 6 months expired. living with me for that whole time. however--i dont know if that might affect any further visa visit applications. it did NOT affect her settlement ( marriage ) visa app---she got that last month---and is cuddled up on the settee as i type. best of luck.
They will give very specific reasons. Means it may be possible to counter those reasons for refusal next time round
