How To Apply For A UK Fiance(e) Visa

Congratulations!

Well done! Tried to sneak it in under the radar ?...however....

Congratulations zeija...

Thank you everyone!!!

Another e mail your case has been escalated and you will hear something in the next 15 working days 3MORE WEEKS, have got to get back U/K next week at the latest still in limbo.

Don't expect to hear anything within those 15 days/3 weeks @wardy33... we've had 2 such 'fob off' emails and nothing happens!
Just another way for UKVI to inflict mental cruelty upon all those involved...

D/J have they said there is a problem with your application?,that have not said that to us,is there a big backlog I wonder is our application either being checked now or on a desk somewhere mixed in a pile wish I had paid the fast check now.

They have 'told' us absolutely nothing @wardy33, just the standard wording 'your application is not straightforward...' and 'your case has been escalated...' (multiple times) emails!
We could speculate forevermore, regarding what has actually been done with our application, but that way madness lies!
Both on this Forum and on a Filipino FB page my Fiancée has joined, there are all manner of conflicting stories about people's experiences of applying for Visitor/Fiancé(e)/Spouse Visas, but we will never know the truth...
I'm of the opposite opinion regarding the Priority service - glad I didnt waste £500 - bearing in mind the difference it is making in decision times, between when we applied in mid-February and now!

To be honest, IF there was a problem with how our application was submitted I would rather that they had rejected it - with reasons and guidance on what we have done wrong - not just sat on it for 5 months... we are all guilty, in some way, of putting off what we don't want to do, but when it comes to a paid-for government service this kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable!
We would be instantly penalised for submitting a tax return a day late, but UKVI continue to fail every month to meet their own timelines, with complete impunity...

D/J they have not stated your application is not straightforward or is that coming next after 15daysThey have just said your case has been escalated.

This just further illustrates the lack of any uniformity in the way UKVI deal with applications, IMO...

UKVI state that they will contact applicants if they will be unable to complete applications within the 15 (for non-Settlement (Visitor) Visas) or 60 (for Settlement Visas) working days stated. They did not contact us!
We emailed them just after the 60 days. It was at this point we received the standard 'not straightforward...' email (no indication of any problem/delay BEFORE the 60 days, or until we contacted them) We followed up their 'auto-reply' style email by asking specific questions, which they continue to avoid answering to this day! So far, we have received 2 'escalation' emails, on 23/5 and 21/6/18, with nothing in between...

Just a thought -

If they have not said YOUR application is 'not straightforward...', this now suggests that they are no longer completing 'straightforward' applications within their 15/60 working day guidelines, which doesn't bode well for new applications! Have they said why your case (application) has been 'escalated'? I believe (from my experience so far) that just means your email has been passed on to someone else and you will receive another auto-reply style email within about a week...

I received all my Sponsor documents back today. Hopefully we will get a decision soon.

Biometrics taken in George Town: 21 June 2018
Documents sent to Sheffield: 21 June 2018 via Royal Mail
Documents signed for in Sheffield 22 June 2018 by "Sharon"
Sponsor documents returned 5 July 2018

Priority Service

Hi, i am new here (first post) i am wondering if anyone could please help, this seems a very informative place I am just getting lost with all of the information.
My brother is hoping to bring his fiance who lives in the phillipeans here to get married and subsequently live together in the UK. I am wondering what his first steps to take are, or if anybody can provide me with a step by step process of what they have to do.
He is dyslexic so I am trying my best to help with the whole process but I don't even know where to start. Thanks in advance, Sophie.

You have to tell us more about your brother and his fiance first. Does he earn atleast £18,600 or more annually? Have they met yet? How many times? Etc.

When did you apply online?

Good luck.

At least you paid for the Priority Service, so it should be a bit quicker than a standard (non-Priority) application. However, as you will see in numerous threads on the Forum, waiting times are increasing every month. Also, return of your documents is no indication of when you might get a decision... some have had documents returned within 1 or 2 weeks, others much longer...

hi--welcome to the forum.

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. He is quite abit over that threshold and owns his own house if that makes any difference. They met in the phillipeans but he hasn't been able to get back since because of work and his childcare commitments. She also works in the phillipeans but they keep in contact daily via message and phone/video. Whilst he was there they did stay with her family and also took a holiday together whilst over there and they have been together for around 1 year. They are hoping that she can come to the UK for them to marry and then apply to stay. He is also divorced 2 years ago. The problem is that she is very busy with work and as I said my brother struggles massively with paperwork so any advice or direction I can get to help out would be greatly received. (I am clueless with it all so simple would be great ) thanks, Sophie.

Actually, there are people who were granted fiance visa even though they just met once. But there were also some who were refused. It depends on how you will convince the ECO (entry clearance officer) with your evidences. That's why for me, it would be better to meet 2-3x before you apply. But if they are willing to take a chance and risk, then they can do so. Fiance visa app is almost the same as the spouse visa app. In fiance visa app, you let them know about your wedding plans instead of submitting the wedding cert (for spouse visa).

Here is a quick guide. Instead of the word spouse, use the word fiance. Please note that you don't pay the IHS fee when applying for fiance visa. Also, when under fiance visa, you're not allowed to work. You have to switch your visa to spouse before looking for work.

https://migrate.org.uk/spouse-visa-uk-2018/

Hi Sophie. You will have to confirm with him about the divorce. Legally there is no divorce allowed in the Philippines. People can get an annulment but it is relatively costly for a Filipino to pursue and it also can take well over a year to complete the annulment. Please clarify with your brother in regards to this as he cannot proceed the marriage visa application until the annulment is completed.