I got married last year to a beautiful Filipino lady, last year in November and in July she gave birth to my first child. I would really love them to come over and live with me in Scotland, but we have a big problem, well two problems really. I know I can get a British passport for our daughter, but it takes far too long for one to arrive (I heard some people they have been waiting over a year) and we don't have time because my wife has already sat her IELTS course, and it is only valid until November, so we have no choice to get her to travel on a Filipino passport, so I will have to pay the visa for that. (Or do I?) The problem is that if I do that, we wont be able to meet the financial requirements for my wife's other daughter (from her previous relationship) to come with us to stay, is there any way for her to join us?
We are the same situation.. I have my 13yr old daughter from my past and she will come with us as dependent and me and my Fiance is gonna have baby soon.. I also took my IELTS last yr but that's ok coz it is good for 2yrs so hoping we could apply before that expires.. Me and my daughter also took TB test last yr which will expires next month, so we don't have choice but to take another test when i'm not pregnant anymore.. Yes they said we have to pay for visa if Filipino passport but they strongly suggest to get a British passport.. Also if the Baby will be British citizen your baby will not be included in the application and you don't need financial requirements for your baby since the Baby is British citizen.. All of you have to do is apply for it..
We can't really wait for the babies British passport, it takes a very long time, and yes I am aware of that Leslie, thanks. OH Leslie,your IELTS test will run out this November, cos it's a new test you got to take after April called life skills, I don't know if you are aware of this?
Same here we want to apply visa as soon as possible.. We don't wanna wait for a year to get British passport for the Baby too.. Hope it will not be necessary coz me and my Fiance is ok with our Baby just having Philippines passport.. And thanks!. I am not aware of that regarding IELTS.. I thought it is good for 2 yrs..
It's the new IELTS thing what is required now after April the 5th.... If you still have the old one it will run out on November
Oh right that's gonna be another expenses.. ☺️ Anyway Bobby thanks for the info and please keep me posted about your visa application specially with the Baby since we have the same situation.. Let me know if you made it using Philippines passport of your Baby coz we will do the same.. Thanks!!. Goodluck!!.
of course, I'll keep you all posted, good luck to you also with you and the new born, I feel sorry for you if you have to sit another English test
Hi guys I'm in exacty he same boat as yourselves..i applied for my 2 biological childrens british passports in April 2014, and am still waiting. It's heartbreaking, and the communication from the Liverpool Passport office is shockingly bad. My MP has been chasing it up for me (apparantly they have a hotline direct to the office), but they only get told that they are going through standard secrity checks. Me and my wife have decided to wait until the end of April, one whole year since i submitted their applications, and then i will bring them in as Filipinos as dependants on my wifes settlement visa. I loathe to do that as it their right as British Citizens to come here, and the obvious extra exspense is going to stretch us, but i am missing my children so much and the wait is unbearable. I also have a stepson, so will apply for four visas in total. So so unfair. If you can afford it, and meet the requirments, i'd advise to bring them in as Filipinos, at least then you will all be together while you apply for their British passports from the UK. Good luck everyone going through this
My experience is long out of date as my elder son is twenty, but he was born in Manila, travelled to China where we lived for some years and then to the UK on a Filipino passport and collected a UK Passport with no trouble at all after arriving in the UK. Use a courier service and you have proof of receipt.
The Brit embassy used to issue Brit PP`s..I know as I got one 7 years ago before they started processing in HK.. Now they require original documents for only a passport renewal. NO WAY am I doing that!.Its definitely a grey area if you don't wish to send originals and decide to send copies .My kids need a counter sig by a suitable Brit citizen over here for their next renewal.. All in all a bloody nightmare. I have written many times to the home office and to various Politicians and MP`s.. Not a single reply. I may apply for all our passports in the UK but I am not supposed to do that..They just make everything as difficult as they can. Also.. My daughter was born over here and is a Brit citizen by decent..One day if she has kids they must be born in the UK if she wants them to be Brits.
aye bootsonground, would I need a countersignature? my kid was born in the phils (shes only 9 months) photocopy of passports is ok, but everything else they want is original. also we don't know anyone else who lives in the UK, who is over there, so who can actually sign it, if that is the case?
What other embassies call "citizen services" were once but are no longer provided by our embassies. Passports is one example, Birth Certificates is another, the price of which has doubled since 2012 and they're no longer issued here but by some Home Office unit in the UK. And, on top of the now-doubled fee, you have the cost of sending all the originals and photocopies by secure means plus an additional £22 if you want them returned. I'm given to understand that they're using the Post Office/EMS service to send 'stuff' back here which is fine until the documents package arrives in Manila and is handed to Philpost. I'm still waiting to receive a replacement credit card my bank sent me by the same means in 2010!
Good questions Bobby!! Those are the type of questions that I sent to the home office and 4 prominent M.P`s!! No answer.
Passports is one example, Birth Certificates is another, the price of which has doubled since 2012 I think I read somewhere that they have halved the cost of renewals for the likes of us that do it from overseas..
