Do we have to be married/engaged to get a visa?

Cheers.

So to clarify, we've already filled in the online form at https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/User/Home and it's ready to be submitted online, which will then allow me to book the appointment etc.

Are you saying I also have to download a VAF4a2 financial form which is separate, and if so do I have to print this out and fill it in manually?

Yes, just download the latest VAF4a2 form from the link below and fill it in manually.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/270484/VAF4A-Appendix2.pdf

This form is the hardest to fill in and requires the most attention, take your time and get it right.

Cheers - I'll have to get the wife to download it in the Philippines and fill it in though, otherwise it's another £40 to post it there from the UK.

Will probably download it here in the UK, fill it, scan it and send the scans to her email, so she can copy all the answers onto the empty form in the Philippines.

Absolutely ridiculous that the VAF4a2 form isn't mentioned anywhere in the online application form though, and nowhere in the process.

And below are the guidance notes for the VAF4a2 form, make sure you study it

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ment_data/file/270197/sup-docs-settlement.pdf

You're right, the UKVI doesn't make anything easy for us visa seekers for sure, remember that the financial form is much trickier to fill out.

If you have any problems with it just post here and someone will help you, print it out and see how far you can get with it, that's what I did.

Thanks @Howerd! I guess it's safe to say that we won't be experiencing that similar pitfall in applying UK Visa since we will be doing the Surinder Singh route!

Great post and very helpful - thanks

Does anyone know how to speed up the process of getting the NSO marriage certificate?

We got married last week and we are being told that the NSO certificate won't be available till June - WTF!

Yes. It is best if your wife do it herself if she is not busy. All he need to do is just get an endorsement from the local civil registry where you registered your marriage. She only needs to pay for the courier fee (LBC). The cost is between 200-250 Php.

Your wife will just bring the endorsement form with attached copies of Marriage Certificate to NSO.

Once the endorsement is received by receiving staff at NSO, your wife will be intructed to go to a payment counter to pay for the number of copies you wish to have. A copy of which would cost Php 140.00. The releasing date will be reflected on the receipt. Don't forget to bring a valid ID upon claiming.

I got my NSO marriage certificate 15 working days after I submitted the endorsement from my local civil registry.
This is the usual processing time in Manila.

I hope it helps.

Thanks for that - we'll have a try.

We have been told that the local registrar (Quezon City) only uploads to the NSO once a month and that we have already April's batch

This means we have to wait until May 11 before the QC authorities transmit to NSO then wait for the NSO processing to take place.

At this rarte I'll be bringing my wife to UK in the middle of an English winter - not ideal

I know how you feel. It's really frustrating as it ruins your travel plans.

Though local civil registrar varies, I've noticed that Quezon City registrar is a bit difficult to deal with. Try to ask them for an endorsement letter with certified true copy of your marriage certificate along with the transmittal receipt (LBC) and inform them that your wife will be the one handling it to NSO Main Office as they might tell you that they will do it for you.

I did mine in Las Piñas City and the staff is very accommodating. She advised me what to do.

Just starting the online application - first hurdle.....

Reason for visit = settlement
Visa type = settlement
Visa sub-type = wife

Is this correct? I don't want to spend hours filling this form out and find that I fell at the first hurdle!

I will just some question..i am getting marrued this may i hope with my british partner. What is my concerned is that should i still put a red ribbon of my birth certificate or just a regular nso birth certificate? Thanks...

No red ribbon needed, they love red ribboned documents in the Philippines

And don't forget the red roses this valentines day.

We certainly do!

There are a lot of fake documents going around in ph and some embassies prefer all dox to be 'red-ribboned' for authentication purpose.

Yes

My wife has lots of red ribboned documents with the old wax seal, it amuses me

Long may it continue, you have not arrived in this world unless you have a red ribboned document