New to the forum

New to this forum, looking to move back to the UK wife my Filipina wife and 2 step-daughters in the very near future

Hi there lonewolf, welcome here to our forum.

Here's hoping you will stay awhile.
Great experienced and friendly group of folks here.

There are many new and potentially challenging changes being proposed to the UK immigration rules by April 2012.
If you are seriously considering settling the family here in UK, my suggestion is to research all you can now. Ask questions, and be prepared to implement the move soon. Not trying to 'spook' but you need to be prepared for the restrictions being considered by this UK govt.

Look forward to hearing more from you.

Hi lonewolf

For your case please see Immigration Rules paragraphs 277 - 289


First and foremost your wife will need to make application for UK Entry Clearance as a Spouse.
The current process is that you must fill in the online application from the link on the UKBA website and when ready apply for appointment to present supporting documents etc.
As a first step take a look here

Here is the example of application form VAF4A (Oct 2011)


and

here are the guidance notes


The ECO (Entry Clearance Officer) will decide if the applicant will qualify for ILE (indefinite leave to enter (rules paragraph 281(b) (i)), the ECO must also be satisfied that:-

- The couple has been married for at least four years and living together outside the UK during that time
- The applicant has sufficient knowledge of the English language and sufficient knowledge about life in the United Kingdom,
unless he / she is aged 65 or over at the time he/she makes the application. See SET16 Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK.

If ILE is granted your wife will be allowed to work as soon as she enters UK
Also this means that she will not need to complete the two years probationary leave in this category before applying for indefinite leave.
Rather she can apply for ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) immediately following her Life in UK Test.
This in itself can ease the financial requirements as your wife would then be entitled to claim benefits as well.

This is also known as the 4-year rule. This rule is planned to be changed along with a raft of other changes April 2012

ILE and the 4-year rule has been subject to a lot of abuse and the government has been pledged to remove this route for some time now.

lonewolf,
I forgot to mention that of course all visa applications will still need to meet all other requirements, including those for financial and for accommodation.

Are you currently planning employment in UK? Do you have suitable accommodation?

Thank you for the very helpful information.

I'm not planning to work in the UK but continue working overseas as I have done for the past 20 or so years. We are looking to rent a 3-bedroom house in East England and have been in touch with Property Agents on the best way to go about this and found one such company really helpful in Norwich.
Regarding the 4-year rule, come April 2012 we have been married 7-years and lived in the same apartment in Makati for about 10-years now. All the while I have worked overseas/

My wife and 2-stepdaughters speak. read, write and understand English, in fact better then me. I'm a Scot.

Thanks again

Sounds as though you got everything covered.
I believe the best advice I can offer is to submit your visa applications well before the April deadline when any immigration changes are most likely to be made.

Unfortunately, the English Test pass certificates will be required by UKBA regardless of proficiency.
Well, unless in the meantime, that turns out to be another legal defeat in the courts for the govt