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British and pinay living abroad planning to settle in UK

Discussion in 'UK Visa and Immigration Help' started by Lynarie71, Oct 15, 2015.

  1. Lynarie71
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    Lynarie71 New Member

    Hi,

    I've been reading posts and gathering information but decided to post a new thread to get specific advice.

    I'm a Filipina, 27 years old, single (no child, no marriage) currently staying in Thailand under education visa.
    My boyfriend for more than a year now is British, 31 years old, single (no child, no marriage) works offshore and stays in Thailand under tourist visa and able to meet the financial requirement.

    We're planning to settle in UK and would like to know the most efficient way to do it. We're also planning to stay with his parents' house first until we find our own.

    By doing our research, we're thinking spouse visa is better than fiancee visa as it will save time and cost and I will be allowed to apply for work. We'd like to be able to live together in UK asap without paying expensive consultation fees as we can already use the money for the move.

    We're looking at ff options of where to get married and process my UK spouse visa after:
    1) Thailand
    2) Singapore
    3) Philippines

    Is it possible to get married in Singapore,
    have the marriage certificate registered in the Philippines?
    (I've read that marriage of foreigners should be reported after and will take 6 months if done in PH embassy in Singapore)
    then process the UK spouse visa in the Philippines?

    And also is it okay to get IELTS in accredited center here in Thailand with 2 years validity and use it for the application of UK visa in the Philippines? (To save time gathering requirements?)

    I also understand that Tuberculosis test is needed within 6 months. Can it also be done in Thailand?

    I also read about getting married in Hongkong?

    I'm sorry for the long post, to summarize we're just looking for fastest and easiest way to settle in UK with our conditions.

    Please share any personal experience or information that might help us.

    Thank you!
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2015
  2. Lynarie71
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    Lynarie71 New Member

    @bigmac yes, he's british! Already updated text! Thank you!
  3. Maharg
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    Maharg Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    You can take the English test in Thailand. There is a list of approved test centres here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...e_English_Language_Tests_and_Test_Centres.pdf

    You have to take the test at one of these accredited test centres. It seems there are 3 in Thailand, all in Bangkok!

    The Landmark Bangkok
    Hotel, 138 Sukhumvit
    Road, Bangkok 10110

    IDP Bangkok
    CP meeting rooms, 313 CP
    tower 4th floor, Silom Road,
    Bangrak 10500, Thailand

    IDP Bangkok
    Montien Hotel, 54
    Surawongse Road 10500,
    Bangkok, Thailand
    Thailand
  4. Lynarie71
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    Lynarie71 New Member

    Hi @Maharg thank you for your reply. I've read that IELTS result is valid for 2 years? So I can already take the exam and have it handy once I apply for visa? Thanks!
  5. Maharg
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    Maharg Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I'm not sure. It doesn't say for the Thailand test, but it would be for at least 2 years, so you could take it, yes.

    In the UK it will ask you what visa you are applying for and then direct you to the exact test you need - which would be the A1 test, which, judging from your posts here, you would find extremely easy.

    They also took biometrics at the test centre to check against visa applications.

    I don't know if it's the same there.

    For ILR you need the B1 test, which is also not particularly difficult. My wife had already passed at B1 level before coming to the UK, but had to retake at A1 level once the new tests came in.
  6. ChoiAndJohn
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    ChoiAndJohn Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I believe that IELTS Level A1 is 'speaking and listening' and is a lower requirement than level B1 which I think is 'speaking, listening, reading & writing'.

    I seem to remember that for an initial application [such a spouse visa] the language test requirement is IELTS life skills at level A1 [although B1 would also be accepted since its 'higher']. I believe the B1 requirement only comes into force when applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (which you will be doing once you have been in the UK for 5 years under your initial spouse visa). If the test is valid for 2 years then provided you apply within that period you would be fine.
  7. Lynarie71
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    Lynarie71 New Member

    I was planning to take the exam first before processing visa if it's possible. I've been researching and it says I should get the A1 test for spouse visa. As I've said we haven't done anything (not even married yet) but research of possible options. Thank you for sharing information, I'll also call the test centers you mentioned and ask for more info!
  8. Maharg
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    Maharg Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I think B1 is also speaking and listening, but just at a higher level. Doddle for someone who's been here 5 years though.
  9. Maharg
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    Maharg Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Yeah. A1 is what you need.

    Even if it's valid for 2 years, you can still use it after 2 years once it's been used once so it is also valid for FLR.

    ILR will then need a new test. The B1.
  10. ChoiAndJohn
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    ChoiAndJohn Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I think things have changed. IELTS life skills B1 is speading, listening,reading,writing.

    http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/ielts_in_the_uk/for_uk_visas_and_immigration.aspx

    I doubt the initial language test (valid for 24 months) could be used for FLR since the FLR application would be made 30 months after entry (initial visa for a spouse is 2.5 years).
  11. Maharg
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    Maharg Well-Known Member Trusted Member

  12. ChoiAndJohn
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    ChoiAndJohn Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Oh yeah. I must have read that wrong. Oops. Still going through my morning waking up process. :)
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  13. Maharg
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    Maharg Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    It certainly was the case before that once a test had been accepted for a visa application you could use it again even if it had expired.

    Maybe different now though.
  14. ChoiAndJohn
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    ChoiAndJohn Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    It certainly would be nice if that was the case. I wonder if anyone else had that pleasant surprise recently?
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2015
  15. Anne
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    Anne Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Hello Lynarie71. Welcome to British Filipino.

    Yes, you can take the English test in Thailand.

    Since you should be applying for the visa in the Philippines, it would be best to have your Tuberculosis test there. Here is the info you need for TB Screening: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-test-for-a-uk-visa-clinics-in-the-philippines/tuberculosis-testing-in-the-Philippines

    I also want to share my own experience on my visa application. We actually chose the Settlement-Marriage/Fiancée visa route. I only had to worry about the registration of our marriage in the Philippines after the wedding here in Gloucester (It is only because the Report of marriage to the Ph Embassy is needed for my passport renewal & change of (married) name and/or you also have the option not to do this).

    I would say that the time and cost spent compared with the spouse visa is generally the same.

    Though the fiancée visa is valid for 6 months to get married, you don't have to wait that long. Once you're here in the UK, the sooner you get married, the sooner you can apply for the 1st Further Leave to Remain (FLR set M)/extension. You can work as soon as you have been granted your FLR.

    The number of years between 2 visas to be able to reach the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) stage is the same. Five years.

    I got this 'directional' chart from @HaloHalo

    Fiancé/Fiancée Visa --> 1st FLR --> 2nd FLR --> ILR
    Spouse Visa --> FLR --> ILR

    But then again, it would be entirely up to you which route to choose. There are many good chaps and ladies here who can help and point you on the right direction. And of course, we would still recommend reading first the UKVI website. https://www.gov.uk/join-family-in-uk

    My best wishes on your visa application journey. :)
  16. Micawber
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    Micawber Renowned Lifetime Member

    Yes, that's the case.
    If the applicant has taken any approved test at any level with reading and listening modules included the UKVI caseworker will ignore the scores for those two modules even if the scores represented a fail score.
  17. ChoiAndJohn
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    ChoiAndJohn Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Thanks for the reply, however I think you misread me, that wasn't the pleasant surprise I was referring to. :)

    What I wanted to know whether this statement was accurate:

    "It certainly was the case before that once a test had been accepted for a visa application you could use it again even if it had expired."

    I assumed that if the test was taken for an initial (spouse) application and was valid for 24 months, then it couldn't be used for an FLR application , because that would necessarily occur 30 months after the initial first 'use' of that same test and hence the test would be expired and would have to be re-taken.
  18. Micawber
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    Micawber Renowned Lifetime Member

    Whoops!! My bad. Sorry.

    In that case you should review paragraphs 32D & 32B of the immigration rules under Appendix FM-SE

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigra...endix-fm-se-family-members-specified-evidence
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  19. ChoiAndJohn
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    ChoiAndJohn Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Well what do you know. That's useful. Not that I'm anywhere near that stage. For the purposes of everyone else it says:

    blah...
    the decision-maker may accept that certificate or result as valid if it is:
    1. (a) from a provider which is no longer approved, or
    2. (b) from a provider who remains approved but the test the applicant has taken with that provider is no longer approved, or
    3. (c) from a test centre which is no longer approved, or
    4. (d) past its validity date (if a validity date is required under Appendix O), provided that when the subsequent application is made:
      1. (i) the applicant has had continuous leave (disregarding any period of overstaying of no more than 28 days) as a partner or parent since the Home Office accepted the test certificate as valid; and
      2. (ii) the award to the applicant does not fall within the circumstances set out in paragraph 32B of this Appendix.
  20. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    you have to be a civil servant to comprehend that.

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