Hi again guys, Last time I was on the forum I was looking for some advice on the best visa to apply for, so my Filipino Fiancee at the time could join me here. The latest situation is now this... October 2017 - Marriage Visa granted (Valid for 6 months). January 2018 - Fiancee joins me in UK. March 2018 - Marriage took place. April 18th 2018 - New wife's visa will expire. May 16th 2019 - New wife's passport will expire. So, my questions now are: 1. What's the best way to apply for an extension to her visa so she can live here (and work) for the next couple of years? 2. What's the best thing to do with regards to changing her name to adopt my surname? 3. What will be the best way to renew her actual passport? (Given her marriage to me, new surname and being outside the country that issued her original passport). Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks!
2/3. You have to submit your Report of Marriage first. Please visit the Phil Embassy in London website to download the forms. You need 4 copies of filled forms, 4 copies of her current passport, 4 copies of your passport, 4 copies of your marriage certificate (in A4). I forgot if the photos are needed. You can check that in the website. Then you can go to the Phil Embassy, first come first serve. She cannot renew her passport or change surname yet (new rule). After few months, kindly check with DFA Manila if they have already forwarded your Report of Marriage to PSA coz you need details so you can email and check with Ecensus if your marriage cert is ready. If they confirmed, you can request for the authenticated copy online. You need the authenticated copy to change her surname in the passport (renewal).
but FIRST__apply for the FLR this is THE most important. sort her fili passport later--that will take forever and a day. you can apply SAME day service at a UKVI center of your choice--costs extra--but she will get her all important BRP within a few days--and can then get a job if thats your plan
She needs to get her flr-m visa first (where she will get a residence card called a brp). Ph passport will take about 8-12 weeks to get so by the time she gets her new passport, her fiance visa is expired already. She doesnt have to change her last name to get the spouse visa. Home office will look at the marriage cert as proof. Take note that brp details should always match the passport - so if she change her name in her passport, she will have to update her brp (forgot how much it costs) otherwise there is a fine.
Sorry guys. When I read your comments, the word "first" was emphasized. Just to clarify my previous comment, I just answered question numbers 2 and 3. He was asking the best thing to do with regards to changing her surname. New rule is you have to submit RoM first then wait for the PSA to update their database and then request for the authenticated copy. When you have that, you can change her surname and get her passport renewed (already with your surname). But they are correct. FIRST, apply for the FLR (M) as it will expire soon.
Thanks for the replies and info guys! Appreciate that. I have just gone to the Gov.uk website and during the process of applying for her FLR it seems they want EVERYTHING I sent only a few months ago again!!! Is this correct...I have to repeat everything again like sending bank statements again, another letter from my employer again, my passport again, etc etc???? This seems absolutely crazy to me, as they have already seen proof of myself and my job etc, so surely all they need to see now would be the marriage certificate to see that we have used the 6 month visa correctly and have followed the rules of the 6 month marriage visa?
You need to send the same documentation again, updated to make them current. Plus you need to send correspondence to both of you at the same address to show you are living togther. Same again in 2.5 years. Same again 2.5 years after that. By the third time it's pretty much second nature anyway. It makes sense. It's up to you to prove yourself.
She needs to go to London for passport renewal ..asap as it should be valid 6 months before visa application.
