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Standard Visitor Visa - Demonstrating strong ties

Discussion in 'UK Visa and Immigration Help' started by tomas2909, Oct 30, 2019.

  1. tomas2909
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    tomas2909 New Member

    Hi Britfils people,

    My filipina gf and I are intending to apply for a visitor visa for her to visit the UK for a month or so. We met back in july this year when I was visiting fam in Manila (I'm half filipino) and have been in constant contact with her since. I recently have returned from fili having been with her for 2 weeks staying with her fam and mine.

    We've decided on a visitor visa as I have no holidays left to take from work until mar-apr next year and we'd love to spend more time together, visit friends and fam in the uk and enjoy london together. She's in her mid 20's and me mid 30's. She's never been married and has no kids. She's self employed and has a house in her name with a mortgage payment. She's got a passport ofc but has never left fili (no stamp). I have a full time job and can comfortably support her entire travels here.

    Now I've started the app online via the gov.uk website and I've read on many forums demonstrating STRONG TIES is ofc a must. As she isn't employed by a business and therefore can't obtain a holiday note of sorts, this is a disadvantage. Her house supports her parents, nephew and brother so I would regard this a strong tie because if she doesn't keep up the mortgage payments monthly (roughly 20k) she loses the home and ofc they become homeless. Also her work provides good income so she would need to return in a month to maintain her life in fil. She has evidence of cash going into her bank accounts regularly via physically depositing it and this money is used to pay the home, bills and whatnot.

    Will she need to explain these deposits or is simply stating her business enough with proof she has money and has had a regular income over 1-2 years sufficient? Proof as in bank statements and payment slips for her home in her name.

    How else can we fully demonstrate STRONG TIES? She will definitely return home but how can we fundamentally prove this?

    Any advice would be great. We're a genuine couple. Like best friends yet soo attracted to eachother and just want to spend more time together and get to know each other more and more with a possible view next year of taking it further. Atm we see a visitor visa as a good solution especially with xmas looming.
  2. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    hello and welcome to the forum.
    yes--visit visas are often refused--and there is no appeal...but--its a cheap visa and if you get refused first time--ukvi will give the reason so if you can overcome the reason--just try again, thats what happened to my girlfriend.
    i think she has a good chance--having property--a mortgage--a paying business and a bank a/c over there. Does she have enough money in her a/c to cover her visit expenses--without relying on you ?
  3. tomas2909
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    tomas2909 New Member

    Thanks for the reply.

    Well that's positive. When she goes to submit the visa she will be formally interviewed? Does having message transcripts, pictures of us with fam and plans for her stay here in the UK help?

    If anyone has stories similar and was successful we'd love to hear from you to give us a better understanding of the process.
  4. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    There is no formal interview! Complete the online application form and gather required documents submit application and make an appointment for your gf to attend a biometric centre to have documents scanned and biometrics taken.
    she will need a tb scan at an approved centre prior to submission of documents as the TB certificate is required
  5. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    Only month long visit so no need for tb certificate.
  6. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    Ah Yes!
  7. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    i had wondered...
  8. Stevie8285
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    Stevie8285 New Member

    Hi I’m new to the forum and looking for some help , just applied 2 times for a Uk visitor visa for my gf of 5 years , but have been refused on the crap excuse of not showing strong family , social or economic ties . My gf doesn’t work , I support her fully , which we had shown this . She has a daughter that goes to school here , she had shown daughters birth certificate, letter from the school to prove her enrolment at the school , her parents are deceased and she lives with her brother his wife and 3 kids , so she had shown his birth certificate , , employment , land registration documents with her and her brothers names on , to show they own the house .
    Any way she has still been refused so I’m kinda out of ideas on what more evidence she can show to prove she has strong family , social or economic ties if her own daughter isn’t enough prove . I would be very greatful if u could give me any advice on this . I can provide u with the refusal letter of that will help , if u can provide me ure email I can send it over thanks again
  9. DavidAlma
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    DavidAlma Well-Known Member

    Sorry to hear you've been refused twice, bummer. It does happen a lot, and it's usually for the reason you mentioned.
    Unfortunately, your gf case isn't a very strong one. She has no job to return to, that is one of the main things they look for. Also, the fact that she has a daughter of school age will not help her case. It is widely known that many Filipina's leave their children back home with their family, whilst they go overseas to work, with the aim of sending money back to support them. They may well suspect that this is what your gf has in mind. Living with her brother and his family doesn't show a strong reason to return either, regardless of whether her name is mentioned on the house documents.
    Does she have any history of previous overseas visits, I'm guessing not. That would be helpful if she had.
    If she isn't working, could she enrol in a full time study course in a local college? Showing something like that would help.
    Having a job and showing a letter from the company approving her leave application, is a big help, as would be if she owned and lived in her own house.
    It is difficult and very unfair, but those are the things that your gf needs to demonstrate, in order to be successful with a visit visa application.
    • Agree Agree x 2
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  10. Stevie8285
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    Stevie8285 New Member

    Thank you for your reply , only overseas history is she went to japan for 3 months vacation visiting her aunty who lives there , and also went to Vietnam last month with me , these were both mentioned in the application and prove of entry and leave stamps shown in her passport. She is also 2 months pregnant should she of mentioned this ? Would it of helped or not ? . So basically she needs to show that she has a job or work here to return to . Thanks again for ure advice help
    • Like Like x 1
  11. Druk1
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    Druk1 Well-Known Member

    Congratulations on the child Stevie :)
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  12. Stevie8285
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    Stevie8285 New Member

    thank you , will be my first 1 so looking forward to it
    • Winner Winner x 1
  13. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Wouldnt it be a lot simpler to get married and then apply for a settlement visa ?
  14. Stevie8285
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    Stevie8285 New Member

    Hi mate thanks for ure reply , I went through all that with my ex Thai wife 5 years ago , I’m not ready to go down that road again just yet . Would like for my gf to visit first and see if she’s likes it or not .
  15. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    just be aware--if she is successful in getting a visit visa--and comes over during her pregnancy--she will not be covered by the NHS for ante-natal treatment...or--if she stays the full 6 months of the visa--and has the baby in that time..you will be getting a big bill from the nhs. one of the members got a fiancee visa--she came over and fell pregnant soon after. he had a 2000 pound bill for the ante natal care.

    if you are both free to marry--and do so--she could then apply for a spouse settlement visa. you pay 1000 pounds for IHS surcharge--and she is then covered

    ( cant type pound signs on this keyboard )
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    • Informative Informative x 1
  16. Stevie8285
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    Stevie8285 New Member

    Thank you for telling me , I never even gave that a thought , thank you
  17. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    @bigmac you have regional settings on hit capslock + ctrl + shift keys alltogether should let yoi change the keyboard
  18. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    Hi
    Agree that getting a visit visa can be difficult as they look for strong ties to return from the applicant.
    I think youve possibly focused on the wrong things (we have been successful with 2 visit visas for my wifes eldest daughter and her daughter aged 2)
    You say shes got travel history that demonstrates her return home in your invite letter focus on this, focus on you have seen her country now its her turn to see yours focus on the potential future you have together if she likrs the Uk from her visit and that you have to ensure that you would not jeopordise future visa applications by falling foul on the visit visa.
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  19. Stevie8285
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    Stevie8285 New Member

    Thanks very much for your advice , Do you have any sample invitations letters that I could use or get ideas from on how to word my invitation letter for next time . Thanks again
  20. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    nope--nothing has occurred. i tried several suggestions online. nothing changes $ still a dollar

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