Getting visa for step-son

I want to apply for my wife spouse visa and for 6 year old stepson too in the first week of Feb, just want to ask if i need anything for my stepson from his real father has he said he will write a letter giving my wife his consent that she can take my stepson with her to uk, he has never looked after his son or paided for anything like his school or medical bills if he is ill, the only problem is that his real father surname is on his birth cert and in his passport. Thanks for any replies has i am close to submitting everything and not want to fail on my stepson behalf has its alot of money to fail their visa's.

Sorry, cannot really help with that question @deanobeano. I know others have more knowledge than I do on this.

Its ok Howerd has you have helped me enough with the pip and i ask here about my stepson has this site is very helpful.

My seven year old stepson arrived with his mother in November.

We had no problems. The sperm donor consented but had he objected it would have made no difference.

As I recall, under Philippines law an illegitimate child under the age of seven is in the sole care of his or her mother. A letter of consent is a nice thing to have but the father cannot stop the child travelling unless the child is legitimate - which obviously he is not, since his mother is your fiancée...

Thanks Methersgate for that, she is my wife would that make any difference has i am applying for spouse visa. I was just worried has his real father name is on his birth cert and i thought the visa people would stop us has i not his real father or though i have looked after him for the last 4 years. So would you suggest it be ok to carry on with the visa and not bother getting letter from his real father.

We didn't bother with a letter from the biological father. We had no problems.

Thank you, thats 1 more thing crossed off my list.

I agree with @Methersgate. You don't need anything from the father. Just show in your documents that you provide support and truthfully state when the father last had contact and whether he provides support (hopefully never and never)

Thanks Choiandjohn, i only asked has i seen your checklist and what you had for your children and i was worried has i not have anything like that.

Methersgate, can i ask did your stepson have his mom name on birth cert and in his passport or his father name, has my stepson has his father surname on his birth cert and in his passport. Thank you.

My stepchildren were not using the father's name. Under Philippine family law, illegitimate children have the right (but not the obligation) to use the father's name if he has acknowledged them.

However, I feel that under these circumstances it may be worth pointing out in your covering letter that the parents were never married, the child is illegitimate, and that parental authority vests solely with the mother under these circumstances. It would be unfortunate if some ill informed caseworker decided that your application would benefit from the approval of the father just because of the use of the father's surname. My own documentation also included evidence that the mother was exercising the parental authority that she is granted under the law. This is why educational and medical documentation was included that documented her involvement (and not the father's involvement).

In a nutshell, I suggest that you include papers to document:

a) Evidence that you provide financial support.
b) A statement that the father does not provide financial support, does not visit and has abandoned the child.
c) Evidence that the mother was never married to the father.
d) A note pointing out the family code of the Philippines and that parental authority vests solely with the mother.
e) Evidence that the child lives with the mother.
f) Evidence that the mother exercises the parental authority that she is entitled under the law - (medical and educational decision making for example).

Hope that is helpful.

Thank you Choiandjohn for your help.

You've probably seen my post on my approved category F visa application. Remember that when you submit documents, you have to submit an entire documentation pack for the child (and copy) as well as (essentially) the same documentation for the mother (and copy). You can't put 'both' applications in the same documentation pack if you see what I mean.
Each application has to have enough documentation (and copies) as if it was a stand-alone application.

Yes that is what i have seen, just wondering how can i do originals for both wife and son has only have 1 original pip letter from DWP. I think i am confusing myself too much lol, thanks again for that ChoiAndJohn.

you need to obtain a certified copy of any originals that you can't duplicate. In my case, for example, I was able to produce several 'originals' of say the company registration at companies house (because its just a PDF that you print out) - but I had to order duplicate bank statements for each application and I obtained certified copies of the property survey (hence the original went in one pack and the certified copy went into the pack for the child).

Oh i see, i understand now thank you.