How To Apply For A UK Fiance(e) Visa

@PorkAdobo, yes I agree. In our case we're (hopefully) applying around August 22nd, and advising a preferred travel date of December 8th. We have an appointment to give notice to marry in January and a ceremony advance booking for March.

If we got approved October 15th (for example), and the visa started from that date, we'd have to bring the register office bookings forward, but I could live with that. My only other issue is that I have no holiday left at work, and my fiancee insists I go to collect her, so December was going to be easier for me to take some of 2019's holiday days "early". Asking for them in October is going to take some persuading. Or I just arrange time off without pay, which I'd rather not do for obvious reasons.

@UKDJ I *think* our app should be quite straight forward:

• Four separate visits
• Neither of us married before
• Neither of us have dependents
• Neither of us claim benefits
• Neither of us have health issues
• Neither of us have criminal backgrounds
• Neither of us declined before
• I have worked for over 11 years at the same company and earn well in excess of the requirement
• Own my own home (mortgaged) and currently live alone

I'd like to think you can't get much more straight-forward, but I'm sure they'll think of something...

Looks very straightforward and neat, why would they look for anything that isnt there. Its a fallacy to think they will "think of something" if the application is right its right if an application needs further investigation or doesnt meet the UK Gov guidelines then thats it!

You specify the visa start date on the application. As long as it is within three months of your application you will be fine. Also remember that you must travel within 30 days of the visa start date.

Just emailed them again today. It's my 38th working day going 39.

I did send them their commitments page though hahaha still nothing. Still got a generic reply. I was hoping he'll give me an update if I will remind them of their commitment but nah. He still said I SHOULD WAIT.

I hope you're right @thingymejig2... has your Fiancee travelled outside the Philippines, for work or leisure, in the past? I believe this can render an application as ''not straightforward". I can only speculate - as UKVI have flatly refused to tell us why our application is "not straightforward" - that this is because they have to contact every country the Applicant has visited in the last 10 years, to check that they haven't 'overstayed' any Visas, etc?

Problem is @shie1989, they have nobody to answer to regarding their failure to meet 'Customer commitments'!!!

i wonder whether UKVI are " under orders " to stall; slow down; delay or obstruct all settlement applications in order to--temporarily--massage the immigration numbers. easiest way to do it is insufficient entry clearance staff with no overtime.

I don't know if they contact every country. I've been to more than 15 countries for the past 10years and been living abroad for the past 8years.

I have long harboured the uncomfortable thought that UKVI have monthly 'allowances' for the number of Visas issued, therefore even if a (positive) decision has been made, the result may not be released until there is 'capacity' in a future month???

Only speculation @menchu_edge - as I said, UKVI won't tell us anything but I have seen others told that "we (UKVI) are still making enquiries outside the UK"???

Maybe country of residence

She has travelled to Bahrain before, as an OFW. Stayed there just over 2 years.

Oh, and her Bahrain visa still has a year or so left on it, so she's certainly not overstaying

Likewise, my Fiancee has been to Saudi, Dubai, Qatar and Japan in the last 10 years - all as an OFW.
Just clutching at straws now, as to WHY a Visa application should take 6 months to get a decision!!!

Good point!

It's my 41st working day since biometrics.
10th working day since escalation.

So I emailed them today and the agent replied asking all the details again so THEY CAN ESCALATE IT. omg. I just asked if they can give me an update to my application since I applied priority on the same email since our escalation date. Enquiry reference number is still the same but then again their email is like this is the first time we enquiry.

Here's their reply:

Thank you for contacting UK Visas and Immigration International Contact Centre.

With regards to your enquiry about the status of your application, I can confirm that your application is being considered and is currently awaiting a decision.

If it has been over 15 working days for non- settlement applications or 60 working days for settlement applications, please provide the following details:

Full Name
Date of Birth
GWF number
IHS number
Passport number
Place of submission
Type of Visa applied for
Date of biometrics
Nationality
E-mail address used on application:

---
I feel like I'm back to the beginning again. I don't understand why wouldn't they checked my email history with them before replying. I already gave them all this info last 31 July.

So upsetting

That's exactly the response we have had @shie1989 - several times...!

"If it has been over 15 working days for non- settlement applications or 60 working days for settlement applications..." -

WHY do they think you are emailing them? Of course it is over the timescales THEY give!!! It may be 60 days for Settlement Visas, but I believe it should be 30 days for Priority applications? So, at 41 working days since biometrics, you are entitled to chase them!
Unfortunately - from experience - 'escalation' means... absolutely nothing! Your enquiry is simply forwarded to another anonymous person who will reply - usually within 5 to 7 working days - telling you exactly the same thing!

Reminds me of Groundhog Day

Agreed. No matter what communication method we use to enquire it's pretty much useless.

Their first email is like this:

With regards to your enquiry about the status of your application, I can confirm that your application is being considered and is currently awaiting a decision.

Please note, the priority service does not guarantee that you will receive a decision within certain number of days. It only means that your application would be put in front of the queue. We aim to complete priority applications as soon as possible however it may get delayed due to several factors.

If it has been over 15 working days for non- settlement applications or 30 working days for settlement applications, please provide the following details:

---
I don't know why that agent who replied to me just now said it should be more than 60 working days. When I clearly told her several times that my application is priority. Huhu

Hi everyone.

After 15 working days of waiting from the escalation date, the UKVI informed me through my fiancè's MP that they will escalate my application again and I needed to wait another 15 working days.

Btw they didn't contact us or anything so their emails that they will contact us after 15 working days were nothing but lies. Our MP called them and they were informed that there is nothing else they can do but to escalate again. Waiting game still continues..

60 working days here I come. fml
Good bye £570 (priority fee)

Now I'm just hoping for a positive result.
I don't care anymore when they'll release it as long as it's a positive outcome .

Pretty much, exactly the same as our experience @shie1989 -

Multiple 'escalations' (which is just a way to 'get you off their back' for another 15 days, during which time they do... absolutely nothing!), MP intervention - they told my MP... EXACTLY the same as they have told us numerous times. So glad I didn't waste £500+ on a Priority application, which wouldn't have changed the fact that they have deemed it 'not straightforward', but still refuse to tell us WHY!

I can only imagine how many relationships their incompetence, and total disregard for humanity, has destroyed - thus keeping down the immigration figures 'by the back door'! - bearing in mind this Forum only deals with immigration from the PI and not the 'rest of the World'...

BTW - Day 123 since biometrics...

Blame the millions of EU migrants (or rather, those responsible for admitting them to the UK), the so-called asylum-seekers, the million or so 'disappeared' illegals, and the various forms of systematic cheating of the visa system in the past by the usual suspects (Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Caribbean) for putting REAL British people at the back of the queue, and put to huge expense, along with various forms of discrimination and invasion of privacy, should they have the temerity to wish to bring their partner 'home'.