Hi my name is Mike and just would like some advice on the best way forward. A year ago my office started Migration work to Philippines and while out there I met my current Fiancee. We dated a few times but nothing started between us until I came back to the Uk in September and we started skyping. I then went out again from Oct-Dec and she came and lived with me in my ofice rented apartment. We got engaged just before I left to come home again. We have been skyping every day and I am going out again for seven weeks next week and again she will come live with me. I have my own house (with mortgage) and earn more than the amount they have been quoting. What we dont have is any bills or bank acccounts yet in joint names although we will open an account in Manila this time out. I have been sending her money for living expenses. Am i better off bringing her here initally on a visitor permit and arrange bank accounts and utilty bills etc and then after she has gone back apply for the Fiancee visa backed by this further information. Wow headache material Appreciate any and all help
For visa applications, you don't need anything is joint names! No bills, no property - nothing! If you choose to go the fiance visa route, then she would have 6 months in the UK in order to get married to you. Choosing the spouse visa means you would have married before she came to the UK. And if you earn over the £18,600.00 yearly requirement, then you are laughing.. For my wife's spouse visa, the only thing we had with joint names was the marriage certificate! But now she is here, her name is on the Electricity bill just to provide her with paperwork ID for joining up with a GP and what not.
Hi Micawber I have Right of Abode as my Mother was born here. have lived here over 20 years. Reading the sticky I thought it was going to involve lots of paperwork and suchlike rather than how Kuya makes it to be. Is that true? Not doubting your word Kuya but i just would have thought they would have made it more difficult
There is a lot of paperwork involved, but you don't need anything in joint names so don't worry about getting a visit visa first, apply for a settlement visa straight away. Micawbers sticky is literally the guide to follow, you just don't need to go overboard trying to prove a genuine relationship. Photographs, letters, emails, Facebook shared posts and all kinds of stuff will work these days. The biggest advice I can ever give is to try and make the application idiot proof, because in 2012 each ECO in Manila dealt with around 55 visa applications per day! Mistakes are common, many people win on appeal that should never have gone to an appeal - I was one of those.
