Visa Application for Wife and Step Daughter

Found this forum yesterday and already had some really useful advice for which I am most grateful. I am still in a state of feeling like I have been washing my eyes with bleach with all the paperwork and online forms I need to complete and collate but hey, it will be worth it in the end.

Big Mac sound advice was ask questions so here goes:

Situation: I am married with a step-daughter, both of which currently reside in the Philippines and we are applying for a Settlement - Settlement -Wife and Settlement - Settlement - Child or Other Dependant of Settled Person. Lots of 'Settlements' I hope this is correct. I did call the Visa Immigration Service and had to input my credit card number on the phone before I got an advisor only to be told they can't advise on exactly what type of Visa I should apply for. They directed me to the Government website which I have trawled through before on numerous occasions. They also said on several occasions I need to consult an Immigration Lawyer. The call cost me £9.97, all down the drain! It just resulted in me still confused so I walked outside and prayed to the Immigration Services for enlightenment, nothing became clear but I did see a flying pig. Service was absolutely useless. So, we have chosen the option of Apply for Myself for my wife and Apply for Someone Else for my Step-Daughter. I have all the supporting documents with me in the UK which I understand I will submit to Sheffield once my wife and step-daughter attend their appointment in Manila. I am just back from the Philippines after running around to get them. Both passed their TB tests, yay!!, glad about that because if they didn't I would have TB. Both speak fluent English but I do appreciate the requirement English Exam, however £150 for a 20 minute exam ! I actually did consult a (chocolate teapot and my money is lost) Immigration Advisor who said she just needs to attend with her passport and her daughter's passport. I don't believe this. Surely there must be something more required?

I do like this line on the Visa4UK website: BETA: This is the new UK visa application website. We are testing it. It is designed to make the application process simpler and clearer.

If I submerged my face in mud I would see more clear.....

How long has it been Beta for?

In addition to the online application we have to complete APPENDIX 1 (VAF4A JULY 2018) and Appendix 2 Financial?

If you haven't been bored with this lengthy post, any advice would be greatly appreciated. I know there are others out there who are going through or have been through these issues, it's good to know this advice can be shared.

just your wife needs to take the IELTS test. make sure its a UKVI approved test center.

yes--you as sponsor will need to complete the appendix form.

Worth running through the evidence that you have on the site. Also worth describing the status of your step daughter to try and get advice on what is needed to prove sole responsibility as this seems to be a major area of problems especially if father is on birth certificate.

Ideal scenario is that father is not on birth certificate. If he is on the birth certificate expect you will have lots of problems with step daughters visa from what I have read.

Also be aware of the 28 day rule on evidence and when the 28 days start from and finish as will need your bank and pay statements to fall within. Also remember need statement from employer as detailed in emigration guidance rules and it has to be in 28 day period.

Best of luck. Preparing similar application myself at he moment and 28 day countdown has started with one piece of evidence outstanding.

My advice is stop worrying about how much you are paying for stuff, because otherwise your head will eventually explode. It's a costly process. I reckon we've spent over £10,000 going through this process.

We did our first applications using an Immigration Advisor, and it worked well with the second one (after failing with the first one using a different advisor). If you really have no idea what to do - which we didn't - it can take a lot of the strain off. Then again, it's more money.

By the time we got to our second FLR it was easy enough to do without advice.

Good advice thank you. On bank statements do they need to be certified by the bank or can I print them online?

Get proper bank statement. Switch to paper statements and order back statements from the bank.

Failing that, get them certified. Much easier to get paper statements though.

Thanks again. Can I ask another question. I have all the paperwork with me in the UK. What does my wife take to the visa section in manila and at what point should I send everything to Sheffield?

I can't answer that. We did our application before they used Sheffield, so it's best for someone who did it more recently to answer that one.

dont submit the online application till your 100% certain of it--and all paperwork and documents are good to go.

may i suggest you start a vaf4 online application--so you can get the hang of it. you can save..delete--change--add as you see fit. just dont submit it. you can both access it--and fill it in jointly. after a few weeks--of no activity--it self cancels anyway.

when youre ready to go--i would suggest you list on here everything you are sending--so we can see if anything is missing.

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your wife prints off her copy of vaf 4--and takes it with her passport to VFS after you have paid the visa fee, IHS fee,. everything else goes to sheffield after she has done her biometrics at VFS. i think you have 20 days to send it all. ( read thingymajiks thread about paecelforce !! )

Sure I read somewhere it is 15 working days from submission but can't remember exactly and from one of wife's Facebook groups seem to remember seeing a picture of rejection letter saying submission date was the date of payment.

Also requirement is to send copy of passport information page for both wife and stepchild on the front of the visa pack.

Hugh number of things they want and very tight timeframe to pull it together in. Good advice to start the online application and get it ready as well as getting the evidence pack together before submitting and paying. Means once happy with pack and checked all evidence is within date can then submit. Once outside 28 days timeframe will need information updates

I know I have to complete appendix 2 VAF4A to accompany my wife's application but is it Appendix 1 VAF4A I have to complete for my step daughter. The wording is confusing:
Use this form if you are outside the UK and cannot apply online. It is to come to the UK as the:

• adult dependant relative of a person who is present and settled in the UK
• adult dependant relative of a person with permission to stay in the UK as a refugee or under humanitarian protection
• child of a settled parent or with one parent who has permission to stay in the UK as a partner or parent given before 9 July 2012

I used app 2 for my wifes son..a year ago. Most of the questions didnt seem to apply.

Others may say different.

use appendix 2 for both, and don't forget the TB tests for both.

Thank you. So two appendix 2 or is one completed enough, it's all the same details I think. Don't need appendix 1? Thank you for your time, I appreciate it

I'm at the same stage as you are right now and I am completing two of them

two applicants two applications!

Sorry if this hijacks the thread a bit , but while on this subject ,

Can somebody please tell me , if a filipina wife applies for spouse visa for herself and one dependant child ,to come to uk , is it one or two visa fees .
Thanks to anyone who can answer .

is the sponsor the father of the child ?

If the father was a British citizen follow a UK passport route if the child is no relation to him other than marriage to the childs mother it is 2 applications and 2 fees.