Fiancee visa timing of application - can anybody advise?

She never complained in winter particularly. Except when it was exceptionally cold, the same as we would.

Mind you, even when she lived in Phillipines she was always complaining it was too hot there and she couldn't sleep well.

Hi, thank you so much for the thoughts you've shared..@JohnAsh thank you for adding insights... @Timmers i had been reading your comments, i know its a big help for me , Honestly you guys are right!We just can not deny it that there are "ladies" that marries for convenience, But there are lots too that are truly genuine in their intentions.And i believe you guys can also discern a thing but for me, I'm a believer of true love, and true love can wait..
While it is good that he will be here to stay for good as he is a pensioner and not need to continue his part time job, he thinks it's best that we be together in UK and BE WITH EACH OTHER there ! so whatever happens that's the plan B for us!....gosh i waited for 25 years to be found by him, errrr should i say to find him

Anyway, i am now on the last part of preparations, gathering every details of the needed "PROOFS"... without the help of immigration lawyer...hopefully no room left for questions and doubts from the officer,This should be set ready....lock , stock and barrel!

I hope this discussion has helped @Greg too.

my better half loves the UK climate--but then shes lived here over 4 years all told.
so--good climate-- + me--what more could she want ?

This is exactly what my fiance pictures me once I get there

"Many a true word said in jest" as we say here in the UK

best way to beat the cold weather---indoors--is to get under the duvet---together.

Personally, I have no worries from my side with a relationship that started not so long ago but developed very quickly. My girl and I are both intelligent prople who consider all the options before doing things. It doesn't matter how quick we do them as long as we consider everything carefully in the time we have. I also know quite a few Filipinas including several who moved here to be with their British husband (some quite quickly). I've not yet met "PhilBrits/BritPhils" who's relationships have broken down - indeed most have children and are very happy - but I've met so many "BritBrits" who's relationships have ended (including my own). I understand very much the concerns mentioned in this thread but to me it is down to the individuals to work out. I am sure she would acclimatise as well as they did - most here actually enoy the weather and changing seasons from what I see. My girl hates the constant oppressive heat day after day in Luzon and I'm sure she wants to try something different. And if she moans then maybe a trip to see some Filipinos in Canada (there are many over there) is in order so she can check out "real" cold. One quote I read was absolutely spot on, get under the duvet together, it can only be a good thing!
The one thing not mentioned is about starting a family. I still consider myself young enough and would love to be a part of a loving family again. But to do this I would like to move fast as the years are passing by rather quickly now. I am 100% sure that my girl will do everything possible to make this work but we do need some speed in action. From what I see Filipinas are devoted to their family and this is enough for me. I will keep her warm (no matter the fuel bill and cost of duvet wear) and I am sure she will keep me and the house very happy.

PS - for anybody interested, we have decided to marry now in the Philippines in January then process a Spouse visa thereafter. After a lot deliberation and discussion we have found a way to get everything in place to achieve this. It means 2 trips over the coming months thanks to the support of my employer then an arrival in December at least 10 days before the planned 10th January ceremony. I will certainly report back on my experiences for the sake of any others planning to do the same thing. Let's see how it goes!

Nice post and great news!

What swayed it in the end with the visa?

Hi JA, the main thing is to give her a wedding with her family present as I know she really wants it that way and I do too. But the thing that made this possible was when my employer agreed to support me with some unpaid leave as it meant an extra visit to the Philippines was possible in November. I could then visit the Manila British Embassy for the affirmation before traveling to her province to submit our papers and complete the marriage "training" (I like that one) session. This would all be in good time to assure a January date.
In addition I thought that a Spouse settlement visa would be less stress and if something goes wrong over there we can always fall back on the fiancee visa as we will have so much evidence in place by that time. I can use the saving from not going the fiancee route to pay the extra flight and cut back on my lonely visits to the pub to help the cost of unpaid leave. But do wish me luck - it could be a rollercoaster and I might need it

Exactly. And I agree with the bit about putting on a wedding "show" with the family present.

You surely will need the marriage "training" LOL.

Yes, hang on to your hats, but it worked for us and many more too.

Good post Greg and good luck with it all, I'm sure everything will turn out rosy

Thanks Timmers - appreciated

Cheers JA - and thanks for your support!

Just come back to BP and to this old post I started back in June 2014, I can't believe how time flies! At the time I was trying to work out the best way to be with my Filipina after we met in May. Well, after 9 incredibly busy months (hence why I'm only just coming back to this now) we made it and she is now living here with me in the UK. We made the decision to marry in the Philippines then submit for a Spouse Settlement visa and it worked amazingly well. But, I must say that the "amazingly well" was down to a lot of things, especially good planning and the great advice given to both of us through this forum. We can only thank from deep in our hearts all of those who have helped. In short, we met in May, I visited again in September and started the marriage process, then in November we married 2 months ahead of schedule in Biri, visa application went in on 18th December and approved on 28th January 2015. Following her successful CFO appointment she flew in to Heathrow on February 7th and I met her here in the UK for the first time. Nearly 2 weeks on she is settling nicely. I say I've been away from the forum but have actually been involved to an extent as Lin Lin is my girl and she has been a member here posting on various topics. To give back to the forum we both want to write an overview of the process we went through to get to where we are now. Now it is on to reading new advice for a Filipina in the UK . Thanks again to everybody!

Fantastic Greg, really good to hear a happy ending

well done--excellent result
visa application went in on 18th December and approved on 28th January 2015.
------thats is fast----taking xmas and new year into consideration.

well done--excellent result
visa application went in on 18th December and approved on 28th January 2015.
------thats is fast----taking xmas and new year into consideration.

Ohhh.. You're LinLin's husband! Congratulations to you both! Happy for you.

Thanks Bigmac!
When we submitted we looked at the UKGOV website for likely review timelines and thought we had a 41% chance of a result within 30 days (based on published November stats). When 17th January came and went we were a bit disappointed but then realised that it was working days and we heard that all UKVI reviewers went home for a couple of weeks at Christmas. Lin emailed the BA and they said "be patient" (this is a standard email response), I don't think they looked at it until the New Year. All in all it probably took around 23 working days. We had what we considered to be a very clean application where questions could not be raised, hence, this would be a good guide to waiting times for others in the same position having submitted after marriage in the Philippines.

Thanks Anne,
I know Lin has conversed with you a few times, thanks for any help you gave her