Hi, my first posting here as I have just joined. I'm a 63 year old Brit guy that's fallen for a beautiful Filipino woman. Since July last year I have been in regular contact with a lovely 50 years young lady from Manila. We started off chatting once every day or so, which quickly progressed to video calls at least twice a day and many messages in-between. For the past 3 months or so, we have been talking about her coming to the UK on a Visitors visa. The reason I joined this site is to gain information on travel around Europe, for Filipinos. I have a motorhome that I have been vacationing in, around Europe, for a good number of years. I usually go for 2 or 3 months at a time, mainly chasing the sun. Before I met this wonderful lady, my intension was, once I start to draw my pension, I would sell my house, buy a small UK bolt-hole and travel around Europe for most of the year. Something that I still wish to do, but with my lady with me. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Stay safe all. Cheers
Hello SacoD--welcome to the site. firstly ; 63>50 is no big deal on here..i am 73>51. The lady getting a visit visa for the UK: whilst not expensive, it is difficult to get. She will need to prove strong ties to home..a compelling reason to return. Job--property--bank account. Probably--when things return to normal--it will be a lot easier for you to go over there.
As @bigmac says to visit UK she will need a visit visa to visit mainland Europe a Schengan visa the rules and requirements are pretty much the same. Don't forget you can only be in Europe a maximum of 90 days out of any rolling 180 days.its also expected that you apply for a Schengan visa for the country you are going to spend most time in or if you are roaming then apply for the country you will land in. I am not sure but I don't think you can apply for a Schengan visa and a UK visa and leave for Europe while in the UK on a visit visa. Worth checking Welcome BTW and what motor home have you?
bigmac and Matt, thanks for your replies. I have had experience of visa's (Romanian and Filipino) and do realise that our Embassy do not make things easy. One of our problems is that there is no compelling reason for Flor to return home, besides family, she has nothing there. Her job is as a housemaid working for family, a position that would not be kept open for her, whilst in the UK. Yeah, the 90 day rule is a problem that I could have done without! Moho is an Autotrail Apache 700SE.
just a thought--could she get a visa for another european country direct from the philis--and you meet her there ?
She does not have the funds to support herself on a vacation abroad. So I would be doing a letter of invitation/supporting documents for Flor to come to the UK.
So you wll be funding her visit to the UK? I think you need to look at the situation as if YOU are the immigration official considering her visit visa application. No job to go back to. No money . Man shes never met before offering to pay for her visit . Possibility of her overstaying once shes here.. ...Would YOU approve her application? If i were in your shoes i would say to her you would like to come over to her for a while...see what she says about the idea.
I hope she is the lady for you Saco, and hope your both super happy in the future bigmac offers good advice, maybe a holiday in the PI island-hopping in the visayas or around palawan might be a good idea initially?
Success rate in 2019 was 87% on visit visas it's how you prepare your case to give best chance of approval. Plus at present need to quarantine for 2 weeks Holiday in Philippines is a long way off yet
Thanks everyone for your comments. Covid aside, I am not in a position to go to the Philippines. I am the Carer for my 92 year old mother. She's lived with me for the past 10 years, since my father died. My family are as much use as a chocolate fire-guard, so mom relies on my 24/7/365
Who will look after mum while you travel around Europe or will she come along with you? Sounds a great adventure.
