I’m not new to this forum.My boyfriend told me about this site . Now , I’m here again because I have questions about visa. I’m dearly hoping that anyone can give me an answers to all my questions.. “My boyfriend is from Oxford , I’m from Philippines. We already seen each other, meet my family and we have been in this relatioship for more than three years. He always wanted me to visit him in the UK but I never attempt to apply for a visit visa because i heard things that they get rejected even they have a job. So I just want to ask if what kind of visa we should apply for especially we want to settledown? Because some say its better to get married in the Philippines and other said it much way better to get married in the U.K. I just really need some help about it what visa should we apply and which is much prefer to get married.
Where you want to get married should really be you and your partner’s decision. Once you both talked about it then you know what to do next then. If you decide to get married in the Philippines you can then apply for spouse visa after. If you decide to get married in the UK then you will have to apply for a marriage settlement visa (fiancé visa).
Hello, he came here three times , twice year 2016 and once this year... Lastyear , it suppose to be my time to visit him but some hearsay that Phil. U.K. embassy is very strict about visa , specially to tourist also I have been read in this forum about tourist visa and they got rejected even both of you have a job and one of my friend got rejected by the philippine immigration seven times too. That’s why I’m here again asking some advice and what much prefer to do. What do you think about the time we meet up?
It is difficult to get a UK visit visa. I agree with @Brom27 It's your call what you do next. The fianceè route puts in an extra application and cost whereas if you marry in the Philippines you can apply for a spouse visa. Both paths have good points and down points talk it through with your boyfriend
No harm in trying for a visit visa. If you can show good reason for you returning to Fils after the visit, you have a good chance. Full time job with a letter from your HR granting you leave for the period of your visit, being in full time education, owning a house or land, these will all help with your application being successful, and if it is denied, the cost isn't so great. That way you get to see the UK and can help decide where you'd like to get married and settle down.
We tried for a visit visa last mid 2017, but it was refused, if you dont try, you wont get.. Since that time my Fiance and me got married in Phills, and are almost ready to do a spouse visa application. Really its down to yourselves which route you want to take, but I would suggest that you try for a visit visa first, but if you yourself dont have work, dont have regular proven income, dont own property, i would suggest applying for a visit visa would be a waste of time, and money.. hope this helps you to both make up your minds, and good luck..
That’s an interesting point in itself Mattecube , your last sentence raises many thoughts and questions. Maybe there are previous threads on this topic , but I haven’t seen any . Perhaps some of our members could offer some of their thoughts ,and experiences, on the pros and cons of marriage in the Philippines, with spouse Visa application to follow, compared with fiancé visa , and marriage in U.K It might be really helpful , for angel 1988 , and others contemplating this step . Any input appreciated , thank you all .
I have a question about marrying in the Philippines, asking for a friend. If you get married in phil, can the filipino get a divorce that is recognised in Phil? Or would they have to get divorced in the UK? Difficult if you have broken up and had to go back to Phil
There is no divorce in the Philippines; this may change. Currently a Filipino can get their (English) divorce recognised there provided that the divorce proceedings were initiated by the Filipino's (former) spouse. This implies that the Filipino takes on the role of the guilty party.
In countries like South Korea where uncontested divorce basically means both parties have to agree to a divorce this can override the Philippine requirement for the divorce to be initiated by the non Filipino spouse. This was the basis of Ana's divorce recognition which went through the courts in Manila and was accepted, although she still hasn't filed the final couple of bits of paper in Manila that would actually complete the process (not that I care anymore).
Slightly semantical but I take your point about divorce vs annulment. So for a filipino to divorce their english spouse they need to have gotten married in the UK and get divorced in the UK. That right?
No The non Filipino has to get the divorce recognised in their own country for the divorce to become binding and then the Filipino needs to get the divorce agreed in the Philippines court for the freedom to remarry
I understand the second part, makes sense and is just part of the process. Why can a filipino not divorce a brit in the UK though if the marriage was in the UK? Non uk citizens start divorce proceedings all the time in the UK and not always against a british partner.
They can but it will not be recognised in the Philippines so as long as they did not want to go home in theory they would be ok, however you then get into the argument that if they are divorced in the UK but not in the eyes of the Philippines and the UK acknowledges Philippines marriages are they divorced or not? I certainly wouldnt want to test it in visa applications
A Filipino can not divorce their English spouse and have their new marital status recognised in the Philippines regardless of where they were married or the jurisdiction under which they were divorced.
Thats interesting. The filipino government only accepts a foreign divorce as long as the divorce was instigated by the non filipino national. Thanks
Interesting it's changed, we are all out of date, Supreme Court made a ruling on 24th of April this year. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/...nize-divorce-obtained-filipino-foreign-spouse
