Hello everyone. I have been browsing this forum for weeks now and finally signed up. I am a filipina married to a british national for nearly 3 years now but just came to UK on spouse visa on March 2016 after battling an unreasonable refusal in 2014. We have been in a relationship since 2011 and living together for 2 years before we applied for spouse visa and made sure that everything was in place before applying. However, the ECO has decided to make life harder for us. We waited 1 year and 5 months for my passport to be stamped with visa. Quite a wait but it has been an amazing roller coaster.
welcome to the site . it could be helpful to others if you are able and willing to tell us more about your fight to get your visa.
Hi Bigmac. My application was refused because ECO thought we did not submit any documentation about our previous marriage. ECO overlooked the documentations that has been submitted. Original and copy of my husband's decree absolute from previous marriage, my previous marriage decree absolute and the whole bundle of the documents from the court, LCR and NSO/PSA as proof that my marriage was void. ECO has also questioned my property in UK. Before refusing my application, they did not send any email or tried to contact us in any way. We sent a letter first to the ECO to overturn the decision because we have proof that we have submitted all the required documents before appealing to tribunal. We did not received any response from them. We filed an appeal and did not hear from tribunal for 4 months and when we finally did, the it was straight away overturned because they have sent a letter to ECO(and a copy to myself) as to why ECO has refused my application. UKVI in Sheffield has confirmed that they have received a copy and original documentations. We filed a complaint together with our appeal, because it took 1 year before we received a decision and another 4 months up to when we received the response of UKVI in Manila. Plus another month to wait for passport with visa. For the whole process , husband went back and forth to Philippines, seven times and suffered health problems because of the stress the ECO has caused. An immigration officer meet up with my husband in Sheffield after receiving our complaint and helped with the release of my passport. After a month of arriving in UK, we received an indemnification letter and cheque from UKVI which we did not expect at all.
thankyou for sharing that. good result--and some compensation too! i know a few who are still waiting now..having paid the extra for priority service--are hoping for some compensation.
It's all good in the end. How long do you have to wait for priority visa? We are aiming to apply for my son's settlement visa by the end of August or early September but not sure yet about the process and required documentations, will it be the same as the documentation I have submitted on my initial application?TIA
when the priority service was first launched the figure of 10 days turnaround was mentioned. it then cost £500 extra. ( gone up since ) but now UKVI say it puts the application at the front of the queue----which is a bit pointless as most applicants pay the extra hoping to get a quick result. we are approaching the time to apply for my wifes son's settlement visa----but we havent opened an online a/c yet--so dont know if its the same documentation. but i do know you need to show strong ties to the child--and proof of financial dependency....plus a statement from the father agreeing to the childs emigration..( if the father can be found ) i anticipate a 12 week turnaround for the application--and wont be using the priority rip off.
We will probably won't be using priority too. The last time I have spoken from my child's father was when I filed to have our marriage declared void, which is 2009. I had to use NBI just to find him and so that I can introduce him to my son, because my son was looking for him. Bless him. Do you know anybody who did not submit any letter from the father but was successful with their application. I am in close contact with my son's school,principal, director and adviser. Letters from school are all addressed to me and they know about my son's situation since he started going to school. I introduced my son with my husband now, when he was 7 years and has formed a good father-son relationship since then. Apart from the school, will a letter from his dentist would be good enough that it was me and my side of the family who has been involved in my son's upbringing? To be honest, it made me feel bad applying on my own and not include him at the same time when I first applied. Maybe it could have been easier. My husband would be the sponsor, right? I have seen the form online but it does not include any details pertaining to my income, or if I could support him. It's all about my husband. Not sure if there dis a different form for a step son.
Husband is sponsor application straightforward supply all info you did for your visa plus child's birth certificate. Will need tb test but not English test. You will have to seek permission off child's biological father!
Thanks @Mattecube. I just want to ask why would I need to ask permission from my son's biological father? I was just thinking, wouldn't that show that he is involved in any decision making for my child. He has not been there and did not even bother seeing his child for the past 12 years, even when I asked him to see his son in 2009. He did not show any interest at all. All he wants back then was asked for money if I want him to be involved with his own son. I have saved all his messages asking for money. I have an affidavit of sole custody and responsibility signed by a lawyer, attached with the declaration from the court that our marriage was null and void and was advised by DSWD that because our marriage was void, I wouldn't need any permission from him to bring my son abroad. He has caused my son so much heartache when we were like begging for him to see the child. To be honest, trying to find him will be like swallowing a bitter pill for a thousand times. Bless that poor child's heart. Anyhow, thank you for your advise, much appreciated. I guess, another appointment from a lawyer would be needed again.
I think with what you have already you should be fine, thanks for the extra info! You may find that the ECO will contact him then
The messages he sent was way back in year 2009, I wouldn't mind sending it with the application, hoping that when ECO reads it, he would understand that the father only wants money, not relationship with the child.
That would be a good support document if it can be authenticated and will allow the Eco to decide if contact is needed I would include it
How do I have it authenticated? I wonder if I show it to a lawyer, if they would be be able to help me. It is in in our language, I might need to have it translated.
ok The application should be fairly straightforward Complete the application electronic application form for your son in the same way you completed it for yourself filling in all the forms etc with updated financial figures etc the sponsor needs to earn and demonstrate he earns£ 22400 (payslips etc) TB test required No english test required under 18 PCS not required as he is under 13 so exempt (although they need a sticker) not sure on this one will look up for you Biological father you will have to provide details on the application and then in the additional information write up the history of his father not having anything to do with the child, go through all the legal stuff as per your post above and supply the papers and supporting documents you have. The eco may try to contact him to verify but if he is difficult to track down they may press ahead with the application once they have tried and unsuccessfully got hold of him. hope this helps any more questions please ask, i will research the pcs (cfo) bit for you my wifes daughter was over 13 so had to attend in her own right. With your son I think that your sticker is ok but needs to be in his passport also!! will check
also we wrote up why the daughter didnt come across with her mum in the first application, we wrote things like we wanted mum to settle first so that she was in a good place to help her daughter settle, look at schools social aspect, things like that. You will have to pay the NHS surcharge for him
