Hi All, My wife's visa got denied as the embassy applied a wrong immigration rule. The appeal was lodged on 10th of May and was sent to Manila on the 11th of June, which was then received by the embassy on the 26th of June. The embassy has been given the deadline of 27th of August. I sent an email to the embassy to ask about the appeal and I was told that they aim to process non-settlement appeals within 4 weeks upon receipt, which means by 26th of July. It has been three weeks and I stil have not heard about the ECM review. Can anyone please advice what to do? I really want my wife to be here asap as it is our anniversary on the 14th of August. Also, how many of you here know an appeal being dealt before the deadline given by the Tribunal? I really hope to have some answers. Thanks Jai
Hi Jai Sorry to hear about your refusal. I think the rule with appeals is to go by the dates given by the tribunal as they do take a long time. A manager will review the decision and if he agrees with the refusal then they will have to submit a pack to the tribunal which you get a copy of together with a date for the hearing. Have you opted to attend the hearing and are you arranging representation ? These can go right to the wire Jai so be patient. My wifes went to the day before the hearing before they realised they'd been silly buggers and decided to issue the visa. Good luck
Hi, Yeh I am attending the hearing but no lawyer. After how long did you get the hearing date? This whole thing is driving me nuts They denied her visa because we did not prove that we have been living together for 2 years but we didn't need to as we are legally married.
Hi Jai, Sorry to hear your wife had her visa application rejected.. I've litterally been there, done that. I too went down the appeals route. However, as soon as I knew the Manila hub had our appeals bundle, whew... I became that departments biggest pain in the arse! I emailed them every other day, emailed my MP (who emailed the minister for immigration), emailed the British Ambassador to the Philippines.. They capitulated soon after. But I was going for a spouse visa, if the appeal had failed I would have spent months going with something else so I had nothing to lose. Here is some of my story
Hi Kuya, I have been emailing them just generally asking where the appeal is and I have already emailed my MP who has not done anything. HE is also waiting for the UKBA! What sort of messages were you sending? I really need to get this done asap. I am in the UK on a tier 2 visa and badly need my wife with me
Hi Kuya, Thank you for the message. In terms of my MP, what support can I get from him? I have already explained my situation and he is not doing anything apart from waiting. That was the whole point why I asked for his help. Also, where can I get the email of the ambassador? When you said you were emailing the embassy almost everyday, was it just to follow up? Can you please guide coz I think I have been very polite with them hence they are not taking me seriously. Thanks
To email the Ambassador send emails to: ukinthephilippines@fco.gov.uk When I emailed, I emailed different questions or different points I wanted to make. Almost as if I was in a conversation with an imaginary debate partner. And as it took them a few days each to get to a single email I sent, they had about 3-4 emails by the time someone got round to checking them out. Don't send the same email again and again, instead focus on asking questions. Making points, even complaining about the lack of response for a British taxpayer, hard working, loyal and all that. Make out like you are disgusted with their lack of response. As for the MP.. Mine was actually pretty good. Who is yours? I think it all depends on your MP really.
Hi Kuya, I emailed the Ambassador yesterday and also sent an email to my MP to act on it. I really wan this to be overturned as I haven't got time to do with courts and stuff. I am sending you what I sent to the ambassador. Can you please tell me what my chances are? Thanks
I don't know about chances, but from the PM you sent to me I would say pretty good. That said, take my initial thought with a good pinch of salt... If I was the ECM it would have won me over, but I guess they see things differently.
Like yours it was a strange one. They had a problem between the date of my divorce and the date we got married despite me being apart from the ex for a long time. They said I'd never been to the Philippines and never provided proof that I'd met my wife. We had supplied loads of photographs as well as a copy of my passport with entry and exit stamps. But the most important thing they overlooked was our marriage certificate for which I needed a local CNI which as you are no doubt aware has to be obtained from the British Embassy in Manila. It was so stupid and that's why it never made it to the tribunal. However it took them a long time before they realised their stupidity.
