I have it on very good authority (from a fellow Expat who has recently applied for this Visa) that the person sponsoring a visitor must provide proof of income in the UK at the same level as presently required for settlement visas - regardless of where the sponsor is currently resident. Sponsors in receipt of any State Benefit, including Tax Credits, or who rely on State Retirement Pension payments to make up the required income level are unlikely to qualify. Also required now is proof of travel and accommodation arrangements - apparently tickets and vouchers must be produced. Sponsors who are married and live with their spouses on a residential visa in the Philippines will find it marginally easier to obtain a Visitor Visa than one who is not as the local wealth and housing requirements apply to them jointly.
There's no indication of that in UKBA information, guidance or immigration rules. Nor in any of thre recent approvals of Visitor Visa. (including appovals during this past week) Which specific Visitor Visa was your friend talking about? How about those touists who have no sponsor ? Or is you friend suggesting that no tourist will be allowed entry without an eligible sponsor in UK? How about Marriage visit visa? Business Visit Visa?? No mention of that for visitors connected with Commonwealth Games.
Peter, I appreciate your caution, I too was sceptical until I was shown a copy of the bundle of documentation he had to send to Manila. John applied for a Visitors' Visa for his wife whom he'd married a few weeks earlier -- they had been co-habiting for several years -- and he is a permanent resident by virtue of a Quota Visa. From our conversation, I rather think that the new requirements apply to those seeking visas for 'social, domestic and pleasure' reasons and not to those wishing to go to the UK for business reasons or are provably independently wealthy. It may also be the case that UK is only imposing these conditions on those countries whose nationals have a habit of overstaying. I do believe that it is not totally unreasonable to expect sponsors to demonstrate the financial capacity to support those seeking to visit the UK for up to six months - given that those sponsoring spouses and fiancées must meet similar requirements.
My wife's friend and her husband are in the middle of preparing the application for a visitors visa for the mother in law. Looks like they are having to supply copies of the mother in law's granchildren's passports as part of the application portfolio. They have spent a lot of time on compiling the paperwork for this and soon they, collectively, will make the application. Time will tell on approval. They are looking for a 6 month visa.
Apologies Sean. I rather think this is down to my laptop at home being the cause of some duplicate posts of mine. Post scrubbed.
hello. I'm in a genuine relationship for several months. been traveling to manila once a month to meet with her and spend time. actually I'm in kuwait now on my way back to uk. we are getting married in september 15. I spoke with a lawyer in uk and she said the fastest way to get her to uk would be to apply for a 6 months visit visa after the marriage and when she's already in the uk during those 6 months to apply for a different visa for her to remain in the uk. I would like to know how true is this and how fast it works. I'm a romanian national living in the uk for over 5 yrs. I work as self employed and I can provide invoices from work in worth of over 4k a month. would that make it possible for her to join me? once again this is a genuine relationship. thank u
Hi. Where are you intending to marry? I think I am correct in saying that you will not be able to apply for a fiancee visa or spouse visa in the UK. In other words your gf will have to leave the UK to apply for either of those visas. Having said that I notice that you are Romanian so that may complicate matters...
the lawyer I asked said it works. I don't know if it's a spouse visa or whatever she meant by that. I'll have to ask for details. the fact that I'm a romanian actually helps. I've read on official sites that if a european citizen settles with his spouse in a different european country than his own things are easier since the laws of that country (uk in my case) do not apply to him (me). the european laws come in effect and somehow it's said to be better....
I would have thought that as you are a citizen of an EU state your wife is entitled to come here under an EEA family permit. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/eea-family-permit/
As far as I'm aware, you can not apply for a EEA Family Permit for someone already in the country - that's assuming you can get your future wife a Visitors Visa, which won't be at all easy. You may find it much simpler to get her a Romanian Visitors Visa, marry her there and apply for the Family Permit at the British Embassy.
