Need help and advice

Hello everyone!

Hope all is well and good!

I need help and advice for some travel matters (really matters).

The situation is... I do have friend at Bristol. We want us to meet in some other way.

But my friend can't leave there for some other reason. We came to plan if I could come there at Bristol for us to meet.

Now, I'm working in IT field. I do have some savings but not too much. My friend is willing to sponsor my travel expenses and I can stay with my friend's house.

As I review to the requirements and process based on the internet guides. It's hard to get a visa on my status. And at my age, I don't really have an idea how to start and what are the steps, or even if there is a possibility or not for me to come in UK.

I'm thinking of these options:
-Tourist (But it's hard to get this, as far as I know)
-Student (I'm willing to go back school and learn more)
-Work (If there is an opportunity, why not)

Hope others can help and give me some advice. I will truly appreciated it.

Btw, thanks’ guys for giving me a warmed welcome on this community! Cheers!

Pete, please see link below from UK government site where you can get information on obtaining a UK tourist/student visa, as you already know from your internet search, UK visit visas are difficult to get unless you can prove to the UKVI that you have compelling reasons to return to the Philippines.

https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/tourist-short-stay-visas

If I was in your shoes I would invite your friend to visit you there in the Philippines as it is much easier all round, and of course the Philippines is a brilliant place to visit especially if you haven't been there before. If you applied for a student visa in the UK this would obviously cost a substantial amount of Pesos in the long run. You could try for a tourist visa, relatively cheap but seldom granted, my wife had two visit visas turned down before we applied for a Fiancée visa.

Good luck Pete, its not impossible to get a visit visa but its difficult.

Hi Timmers!
Thanks for your response... Hmm, if your wife denied from applying visit visa, how am I? I'm not sure for student, if ever there is a universities or colleges that offers scholarship programs for foreign student? Also how about work for purpose?

Thanks.

If you decide to apply for a tourist visa do not mention your friend in the application, go over the top on the visa application stating how much you want to see the sights of London and the UK. If you mention your friend then alarm bells will ring sound in the case workers ears and you are less likely to get a visa.

Remember that you will have to show how you plan to expense the trip and show strong family and economical ties to the Philippines to give you a better chance of success.

It was about six years ago my wife then girlfriend was denied a visit visa twice whilst she was living and working in Dubai. Only two years before she was granted a visa and visited the UK to attend a friends wedding, this is why I am saying do not mention your friend if you apply for a visit visa. As soon as the UKVI know you are visiting a friend then they have negative thoughts and suspect you will not return home. Knowing what I know now I would stand a much better chance of getting a visa if I was in the same situation.

Take a look at the link below to see if you would qualify to enter the UK as a skilled migrant worker;

https://www.points.homeoffice.gov.uk/gui-migrant-jsf/SelfAssessment/SelfAssessment.faces

You could peruse the UK University websites for scholarship opportunities.

I do feel that your best chance of meeting your friend is for them to come and meet with you in the glorious Philippines

Do not let me put you off applying for a visit visa, can be done

Some of the other girls and boys here at BF will give you some more ideas on your visa situation to ponder on I'm sure

Hi Pete,
Timmers is right IMO.
I would get your friend to visit you in Phils.

Yes, if I had known that it was going to be difficult to get the visa I wouldn't have put us through the stress of it all. The first time we applied I was making plans for what we would do in the UK before we knew the decision thinking it was just a formality.

Saying that I don't want to put people off trying as it has and can be done but you will have to put a lot of effort into your application and have the right set of circumstances that are agreeable to the pedantic UKVI.

Apart from satisfying most of the criteria, I just think the ECO would see a young man like Pete as someone who wants to get here to work.
Best if Pete uses his IT qualifications to get a job here through a UK company who would sponsor him.
I would imagine the level of qualification would need to be very high with the many UK IT graduates looking for jobs already.

This is link to Jobs in UK that a Tier 2 Visa application is permitted.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tier-2-shortage-occupation-list-from-6-april-2013

Thanks Timmers for your advices and sharing your experiences. Yes, It is much better if my friend will come to visit me here, but unfortunately for some other reason, my friend can't.

No, I don't mean you put me off. It's just realizing me about matters of what I am asking and you are right. What I can do for now is to search and learn an options how we can meet.

Apart from visit and student visa, I think of this option to get work just to meet and live with my friend. In favor for the UK IT graduates, the chances I could get is very little. Sponsorship from the company maybe the best way. But it is impossible to happen.

Thank you guys for tips and advices. I really appreciate it.

"In moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the Right thing, the next best is Wrong thing and the worst thing you can do is Nothing."

I like your positive attitude Pete, it will take you far.

Pete, remember that if your friend does come to see you in the glorious Philippines then you will be able to apply for a visa to go and live in the UK permanently. You will then be entitled to apply for one of the following visas Fiancée, Spouse if you married in the Philippines or partner visa, partner visa is for people of the same sex I believe

Hope this broadens your options

Did I miss something, Timmers. I thought Pete'e friend is just that "friend" ?

Pete talked about living with his friend if he got a job in the UK, I am assuming (that lovely word) they are in a relationship or are wanting to be in a relationship, maybe Pete will clarify

I am getting older Mike so mistakes or more than possible

i was trying to figure out what you meant by 'Broaden Horizons'

Broaden Horizons???

Broaden your options I wrote

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