Its good you were successful with the application using an immigration solicitor Nimbus, several people here at BF have used them and been unsuccessful. At least now we have another reputable solicitor to consider. The application is easy enough to do if you have a straight forward case, especially if you ask one or two questions here as I did when my application was going through. I was thinking of starting my own company before my visa application but waited until we secured the visa first as the paperwork and documents you have to submit when self employed looked a little more complicated.
The fact that visit visas are often declined for Filipinos is frustrating to say the least, my then girlfriend had already visited the UK once to attend a friends wedding before having two declined when she wanted to visit me. If I could go back in time knowing what I know now I am confident I would get the visa. Like many people here I thought it was just a formality to get a visit visa, I think if the applicants finances are solid then they can apply for a UK visit visa as a tourist, and do not mention they are coming to the UK to visit a loved one. The wife's sister and friend have just secured visas to visit us in March and we are waiting on the decision for her mother. All three are very well travelled so I'm sure that a good travel history helps in the application. Having said that, my wife was well travelled, excellent job in Dubai, lots of money in the bank and was still declined, I personally think that stating she was coming to see me was the reason for the negative result.
Wow. The more i learn the more unfair the visit visas are. There was talk that the Government here would introduce the same system as in Australia. Where the sponsor makes a cash deposit that the Government keeps if they do not leave the country within the visa period. I would support this but expect this would be far beyond the ability of the UKBA to administer.
I personally think that stating she was coming to see me was the reason for the negative result. yes--we thought that could be a problem--so my g/f put she was visiting her sister here --near me-------and staying there and was supported by her. plus she had kids back home to return to.
I support the Australian system too but it discriminates against those who cannot afford to put the money up front, I bet there are not many Filipinos who are coming to see their loved ones here in the UK that can afford to foot the travel costs themselves. I often said to the missus that I wish we could just deposit some money with the UKBA so that the visa will be granted. The visit visa to the UK seems really unfair as it is often just left to the gut feeling of a particular case officer to grant you the visa or not. Another thing that annoyed me when we applied is that when I went to the British Consulate in Dubai second time around that there was no British person there for me to discuss our case with, I really didn't like that I was attended to by an Indian.
Hi Nimbus. Best of luck to you and Cecile, she must miss her family. Can you speak any Tagalog yourself?
Only konti! She is on skype/facetime regularly and we will go back regularly. So i hope she will be happy here. I have made contact with Malchard and our wives have been chatting. So the post is working! Thanks everyone!
Hello Nimbus, I know this thread was ages ago but I am new to Woking and I am looking to meet some new friends around Woking area
I don't think that the 7-8 hour time difference makes it all that difficult to speak to people in the Philippines at all. It is a lot different, to what it is when it is somebody in like Australia or New Zealand. you have all morning, and most of the afternoon. You also have a window late at night from about 10pm. Filipinos tend to wake up so early. when you are in the Philippines and want to speak to somebody in Britain it is also not so hard. You have from 4pm onwards, and if you wake up early you have 2-3 hours.
Do you know what this thread is about? Did you even read all of it before deciding to give us all the benefit of your deluded wisdom? This thread is not about telephoning someone in the Philippines nor strangely is it about telephoning someone in the UK.
excuse me. Why don't you actually look at post #1 on the thread, where the OP says she finds it difficult to talk to people in the Philippines, because of the time difference. I don't think it is all that difficult at all. It is certainly a hell of a lot easier to talk to somebody in Cebu city than it is in Sydney.
Nothing against the OP of the thread, but in whipsters defence, after having just read the whole thread, I also immediately thought... where's the problem with communicating with people in the Phils (which I do every day)? This has been an enjoyable and heartening thread to read through, and it's a shame HughMae felt it necessary to (rudely ?) jump the gun when another member picked up on something... IMHO.
I agree been a member since 2013 only made 2 posts both today in 8 minuits both of which demonstrated lack of comprehension and were attacking perhaps a sleeper cell has been activated