What does the future hold for my Filipina girlfriend and me...

Good Evening All

This is my first time using a forum like this to look for advice but from reading the previous threads it looks like there is a lot of experience here of which I could definitely use.

I've just recently returned to the UK from my first trip to the Philippines and Asia as a whole. I'd never harbored any real ambition to go to Philippines or Asia but after meeting an amazing Filipina girl online that all changed. I'm 25 and my girlfriend is 21 and we've just spent 3 weeks together in Manila and Boracay. Before meeting her I'd never thought that I'd be in this position and since returning my thoughts have turned to our future together. Usually I wouldn't jump so quickly to thinking about our future together but this is because previously my girlfriends have always resided in the UK and I've never really met someone quite like this girl. Sorry for the long winded introduction, as I said I've never really posted anything in a forum like this, so I'll get to the point. I'm looking for any kind of advice on what my options are in terms of getting my girlfriend to be here in the UK with me.

My girlfriend is due to graduate from college in April 2017 so I am planning to go back to the Philippines when she has some time off over Xmas 2016 but after this my thoughts will turn to trying to spend a longer period of time together here in the UK. It was very hard having to say goodbye this time and I imagine it will only get harder. I'm in a solid career earning around 30k per annum, which seems to be a requirement from reading previous threads, and feel that I'm at a stage where I want to take the next step in my life (i.e. living with a gf / potentially marriage ). I wouldn't be adverse to moving to the Philippines, it's an incredibly beautiful country although I feel that I'm used to a certain standard of living which I don't believe I could finance with a job in the Philippines, hence why the plan would be to bring my girlfriend here to the UK.

I've looked into the entry / visa requirements both on this site and the .gov website so feel that I have a rough idea of the necessary evidence that would be required so I'm more looking for advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation. Any help would be greatly appreciated although I feel like I may need to be a bit more concise with what I'm asking from you guys. I have a tendency to talk too much!

Thanks.

Hi and RLux

Hi @RLux ---welcome to the site. what an enviable position your in ! youve met a lady your very smitten with--and meet the financial requirement should you chose to sponsor her if you intend to bring her over as your fiancee or spouse-----in due course.

meantime--theres the internet to help you keep in close contact between visits over there--or here if she decides to.

Welcome to the forum RLux, you come across as a bright young lad with your head screwed on.

If I was in your position earning 30k pa then I would be looking at visiting my girlfriend in the Philippines every three months or so, Christmas 2016 is a long way away, visiting her more frequently will help you make the decision on whether or not you will want to bring her to the UK. In my opinion it is always better to let the novelty of a new girlfriend in new country wear off and then see where you stand in the relationship.

If you decide to take the next step and bring the loved one to the UK then you will find all the information and help you need right here on the forum to ease your way through the settlement visa process, it isn't difficult once you gain an understanding of what the visa requirements are.

Good luck and enjoy your budding relationship

RLux,

If you are earning that much, it will be easy for you to plan for your future together.
Depending on your leave schedule, plan your trips to visit her and keep all your flight tickets and hotel bills as they will be useful as "evidence of relationship" if you both marry and she applies for a spousal visa.
I married my wife in Cebu province and we enjoyed it very much.
I am not religious and there are sometimes hold-ups marrying in a church so we had a civil ceremony over there.
It is more the wife's day in my way of thinking so she was with her family and the reception was in her village.
She left her small island and we all live in England with two little ones now.
The love of a Filipina is special. IMO, Filipinas are much more loving/caring than western women and faithful too.

Hi Bigmac

Thanks for the advice. I believe the only way to get her to the UK would be to sponsor her as she's currently studying and therefore would find it almost impossible to raise the necessary funds to support herself. Ideally I'd like her to be able to work in the UK as I would want to be able to do lots of fun things together and it would be harder just with my salary.

Hi Timmers

Thanks for the advice. I would definitely like to return to the Philippines a lot earlier than December but this is the earliest date where she will be on holiday from college. I think I'd go crazy if she was having to study and attend classes whilst I sat around waiting for her. I guess I could entertain myself for a few hours but I know I'd be greedy and would want to be with her all the time. I do agree though that the "honeymoon period" needs to pass before I can really ascertain exactly how we would be together. We've been talking now for around 6 months and with skype etc. I think I could make a pretty good judgement on how well we work together.

The advice is very helpful though as I've never been in this situation before and just feel frustrated that I'm unsure of the route I would need to go down to be with her all the time. If only the world that we lived in was fairer and provided everyone with the same opportunities as us lucky Brits. Sometimes I think people here do not realise how lucky they are being born here!

Hi Aposhark

Thanks for the advice, you guys really have been very helpful and I'm reassured that you all think that bringing my girlfriend to the UK would be a real possibility. I've already given my girlfriend all the copies of my tickets and hotel details for this trip as she seems to be a little bit more clued up than me on this topic. I completely agree with your outlook on marriage and about it being more of a day for the wife. I can also see where you're coming from about the love of a Filipina. I couldn't believe how positive everyone I met was about life and how kind they all were to me. I was also surprised at how open and upfront they are, especially when it comes to sex. I met a lot of my girlfriend's friends and some of the questions they were asking me took me by surprise! As I said in my original post I had never had any plan to be with a girl from the Philippines but already I'm so pleased that I was able to meet her as she really is so much fun. I'm really looking forward to discovering so much more!

From what I have read it is pretty clear to me that everything should be plain sailing for you and your girlfriend, you're very level headed and I do not envisage any problems for you in your relationship or dealing with any entry requirements for the UK settlement visa when the time comes around.

You will just have to settle into the nightly routine of Skype for the time being as most of us did here and bide your time until you experience the surreal feeling of your girlfriend walking through the arrivals gate at a UK airport

Firstly..no..she cannot work if she's in the UK on a visit visa.

The fact that she's a student will help her visit visa application..if she visits in her holiday and can show a date by which she has to be back home. You will have to be her sponsor..and show adequate funds for her visit and flight ticket. It's a cheap visa fee...about £90...so worth a try.

Welcome to the forum. As said above your girlfriend will not be able to work in the UK unless she comes to the UK as your wife on an spouse visa. I agree that should be planning to visit every 3 months or so. My Filipina wife is now with me in the UK. We managed 4 years apart and 13 visits. I Also agree that you need to let the honeymoon period pass. If I was you I would be visiting another couple times this year before you start making any more definite plans and in the meanwhile say hello to Skype.

Much the same here... there are five years and thirteen visits between these pictures:





A visit to the UK will certainly be a good idea. If I may offer a suggestion - ideally not in mid winter!

Snow could be considered a great experience

to the Forum R

Have you visited the family home and met her parents?

There are many delightfull experiences to be had dating a Filipina and some due diligence to bear in mind regarding the families expectations (or lack of them) Sometimes loverly ladies have a child that may not have been mentioned and even a spouse a Cenomar from the NSO (required for marriage) is very cheap and could clear the way in that regard as there is no devorce in the Fils as some members have discovered to there cost lol

Theres a couple of holidays last ten days of August that would give you a couple of long weekends in a two week break that you might consider

Lots of great sex ?

i'm lucky in that my--now--wife was in the UK on a student visa when i first met her--back in 2011. we ended up living together here till her visa expired in august 2012--just after the new UKVI immigration rules came into being.

we were then apart for 12 months till she was able to get a visit visa on the 2nd attempt--and came over at the end of july 2012--till jan 2013.

then followed a long 25 months apart till she got her "fiancee" visa and came back to me february 25th this year. we got wed last month--and are now about to apply for her first FLR.

We have alternative realities on a thread running today that are worth noting

This definitely seems like a good option. I hadn't thought of this so thanks. The December weather might be a bit of a shock to the system, although I'm sure a nice warm jacket, woolly hat and scarf would keep her happy.

I'm definitely going to try and get over there as much as possible. Maybe when she finished college she could come over here for a few months to see how things work.
Skype is definitely a massive help though. I can't imagine how a relationship like this could have been kept going before the Internet!

Ah wow that's a long time just visiting. I think I'd be too impatient to be able to wait 5 years for us to be together all the time. Maybe that's due to my age as well. It definitely is reassuring to know that all you guys have been through similar situations and have come out the other side. I need to tell all my friends to stop messing around with western girls and get over to the Philippines. They don't know what they're missing!

I have met her family. We went to the family home and I've met the majority of her siblings. I didn't realise that the families are all so large. She's one of 8 children. Her parents were lovely and seemed very happy for us to be together. Everyone does seem to cut to the chase straight away though, asking things like "so are you planning to bring her to the uk with you". I'm not used to that type of question being asked when I've just met someone. I have to admit though everyone there seemed incredibly honest and there was no bullshitting which is refreshing!

The August holiday advice is great as well. Thanks!