you mention marriage...are you certain she is not married ? there is no divorce in the philis--which makes it very complex--and expensive.
Nobody is not wishing you good luck Geoff, you asked for thoughts and advice , and people tried to offer that . I appreciate that sometimes it's not always the response you are hoping for . Hopefully on your past experience. it's easier for you to invite someone to Germamy than it is for UK . Whatever you do , good luck and I hope it works out for you this time . Try not to build your hopes up too high though mate , before you meet the lady for real .
Yes, Geoff, your ladyfriend would apply for a Schengen Family Reunification Visa at the German Embassy in Manila and she would need some paperwork from you to support her application - copy of your Passport, copies of your ID and Residence certificate, proof of comprehensive health cover, sponsorship letter etc. As far as I know there is no language requirement or testing for this Visa.
Can Geoff definitely use the Surinder Singh route to bring a woman he has never met to Germany? From my limited understanding of this, I thought this was a bit of a grey area. I thought there needed to be an established link or bond. Does Skype fulfil this requirement? Even contemplating marriage to a person you have never met sounds like a case of raging teenage hormones. Both parties have reason to be cautious. The lady, in her 50s, will have a greater culture shock than a younger person and may not fully appreciate the situation unfolding in front of her. Geoff has his own wellbeing to consider and it does sound like a very expensive and bureaucratic lonely hearts exercise.
My Mum came to visit us 3 years ago..She can`t walk and was in a wheel chair and her motability scooter here for 4 months. She arrived just after the earthquake so no power here for first two weeks..(and it was hot and extra humid).. She reminded me quickly that she was a war baby and learned early on in life not to bitch and moan about life`s small difficulties. She said that the airlines practically spoiled her all the way here and back and she enjoyed every minute of the trip.. She didn't want to leave here ...So much so , that she asked me to build her a house in time for her next much longer visit! Old school was the best school IMO.
He's not using "Surinder Singh" as such but its EU equivalent being a Right accorded by the Maastricht Treaty, aka Freedom of Movement. Geoff lives in Germany and has done so for 17 years. He wants to bring a Filipina to Germany with a view to marrying her and living with her in Germany. He has not stated any intention of using Germany as a temporary stopover before moving (back) to the UK (using the SS route).
Geoff can, as previously happened with the non-starter, apply for her to come on a tourist visa. That would satisfy the requirement for the couple to have met prior to getting married. If all goes well, she could return to the Philippines and then come back again, with wedding plans prepared. Once married, he has the right to have her join him, and her residency is virtually guaranteed. The Germans may protest against her not speaking German, but if she is then taking steps - through a proper language school - to learn the language, there would be very little they could say.
Surinder Singh was bad terminology on my part. But is it really that easy to exercise your rights under Freedom of Movement to import someone you have never met before? I thought if the roles were reversed (a German national bringing a non-EU fiancée to the UK), the German would need to demonstrate an established bond or relationship with the lady (ie, something above and beyond Skype). I'm really quite shocked if Germany or other EU countries make it so easy. I'm surprised that it is not exploited more often.
In the case of Schengen type C and type D Visas (Family Visit/Family Reunification), the Treaty permits individual countries to set some basic criteria but this can be neither onerous, lengthy nor exhaustive. In my wife's case for Malta, we only need our wedding certificate and I understand from a fellow resident Brit that he simply needed to show intent to marry when he brought his non-EU girlfriend/fiancée here last year. That said, member countries are barred from imposing any discriminatory barriers for these Visas so it can not be a requirement for non-EUs to read/write and speak Maltese, German, Italian etc.
Which is why in my post, I suggested he obtain another visit visa, like he did for the previous girl. Then on a subsequent visit, tie the knot. They would need to take advice on whether she would then need to return to the Philippines and reapply for a family reunification visa/Schengen entry permit as a family member, or whether her rights as a family member would be granted immediately. You're perfectly right in that the authorities, quite rightly, frown on any suggestion of a Love at First Sight marriage, the couple having got married on their first meeting. Should they have a suspicion of a Marriage of Convenience, there is a set of protocols to follow, and rights can be denied if it is proven to be a false marriage.
Thanks OTT from my last experience I am certainly being cautious. I am not making any plans before we have met and then see how things go.
At this stage marriage is not being considered by either party. We have been long distance chatting friends and would now like to meet to see how we feel about each other in real life.
