Tourist Visa to UK

Hi

After reading a lot of tips on here, we are applying for my girlfriends tourist Visa in 2 weeks.
I am fairly confident and don't see many reasons for the embassy to refuse it.

I'm writing this and will update with all that we submitted and the decision by the embassy as to help others.



I've put together all the docs that people have outlined including sponsorship invite letter.

Our situation:
Were going for a 15 day visa (I know that you get 6 months but we are just asking for a short holiday)
We've known each other 3 years, I've travelled to the Philippines 7 times to see her.

I'm sending
Letter of invite sponsorship
6 Months Bank statements Over 6months lowest balance £1400 highest £5500 with an average of around £2500 in their constantly
Some stock certificates
6 Months payslips
A P60
I rent a flat with others so Have put teneancy agreement
a utility Bill
An agreement from my landlord
Some photos and emails between us
Passport copy with entries for times I was in Philippines


Girlfriend is putting in

Bank certificate with statements
I.D's Passport etc
A letter from her employer stating they are happy for her to take time off


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I see all different things on the web from people saying it's nearly impossible to others saying even with no money in the bank we still got it.

I'm fairly confident, only things I see going against us are.

Her employer is a family so although they've signed a letter it's probably not as good as an actual company signing it.
She has never travelled outside of the Philippines
Her bank account does not contain a lot of money, certainly not PHP100k that some people claim is needed.

My supporting letter states that I am paying for everything for her trip.

Apparently the key is for the applicant to prove that they intend to return to the Philippines and don't intend to overstay.

Thanks, Bit of a cycling fan, Fausto seems a bit of a legend.

We have the Manx Missile over here....

Yes, that's the only slight worry, with her not having a property or lot's of money.

I'm guessing it's very ECO based as some people say they have no properties, money, or even a job and still get accepted.
Where as others seem to have these things and get rejected.

Yes I was lucky enough to meet Cavendish when he came to our office to do a speech, nice guy, he was pretty direct with his answers when people were asking questions in our office.
Liked it he said what he thought not what some press guy told him to say.

We had a visitor here last week. He brought his wife with him. I would say she was easily 40 yo, possibly more like 50. She was well into cycling and completed a lap of the IoM TT circuit last thursday.

Pretty impressive, not sure I could make it round myself in current shape

Me neither. LOL

My 100 miles days are long gone. I think the only issue will be the need to "prove that she will return to the Philippines". the more you can put in here the better - "Need to care for an elderly relative, perhaps?

Thanks, great site, really learnt a lot.

I'll keep it updated if we get the Visa or not

Hi yes she looks after her mother quite a bit. I'll try to get her to emphasize this.

So funny when you see the people they accept into this country and you know all your girlfriend wants is a 2 week holiday

Today was the day the documents got submitted to VFS, I'll let you all know how we did, I gather this will take around 5 days?

One thing I noticed while doing all the research lately, is that on the Thai forums there seems to be a lot more success stories for Visitor Visa's, does anyone know why this maybe, are Thais seen as being less likely to overstay? Or is it because there seems to be some watertight applications.
I was really impressed with some of the example letters of sponsorship on the Thai forums. I'm not going to link to another forum but may use there examples as they seem to be very open and still get accepted despite a lot of factors including people who are not working.

That's interesting. I must say I am surprised. It may just be a different "mindset" (possibly because of a different Consul!) in the Bangkok Embassy as opposed to Manila. Or it might be that Filipinos have a reputation as "persistent overstayers".

I recognised the name too but most brits would not. Most of his success was before I was born.

Back in around 1971, the Dutch cycling team stayed at my mum's hotel, including the stage winner that day, Jan Aling and overall winner, Fedor den Hertog.

I remember that my mum had to prepare special food for them and the insistence of the race organisers but they ate none of it - they brought their own food!

Thai,s as a rule dont want out of their country

Thank you hope it all goes well