Hello everyone, We were finally able to get married 2 days ago and awaiting the marriage certificate in the next month. Should my wife change her surname in her passport which expires 2020 and other documents before applying for a spouse visa? We appreciate this may cause some delay but gather the transaction costs will be cheaper to do so before arriving in the UK. Advice most welcome. Many thanks.
Congratulations ! I don't know about transaction costs, but I would have thought there would be less likely to be any confusion during the visa process if your wife's important documents all had the same name on them. She doesn't HAVE to change her surname, and my (first) Filipina wife didn't, until several years after arriving in the UK... for the reasoning I have indicated here. My second and current Filipina wife changed her surname when her passport became due for renewal, a few months ago, here in the Phils, with no problems at all. We had been married for 3 years by then.
my wife hant changed her name--so all her documents and BRP match. she has to renew her phili passport late next year--so she might change it then. just a rigmarole we dont need.
My wife changed hers although she had a few years left on it. It's not absolutely necessary but we did it because we felt it displayed something a bit more genuine about our relationship. She had the passport name changed within a week but the only pain was she had to travel to Manila to do it. Like I say not necessary but in my mind it adds weight to the sincerity of an application.
Big advantage would be the 10 year passport duration and also quicker to get passport in philippines (6 to 12 working days after appointment) compared to processing through philippines embassey in London (12 weeks according to the website). Passport in philippines is cheaper 1200 pesos compared to £55 and trip to embassy in London. Easier to get the PSA birth certificate in philippines and the PSA marriage certificate. Also save on the cost of updating the BRP. If she wants to change name on passport and doesn't mind waiting the main benefit would be the 10 year passport and which would last the duration of the visa process and no need to replace BRPs. If can beat the date for IHS increase that would probably save more but will be a challenge as I believe it is a date of government choice after 19th december which probably means 19th December.
Good Morning All. Could anyone please clarify the position viz my wifes Filipino passport? Our wedding went fine in the Philippines and we will be collecting the validated licence hopefully in next few weeks. My wife will be changing her name in her 2020 passport which we expect could take another few weeks, if we are lucky. Since I return to the UK on 31/1/19 I propose posting the spouse visa documents to Sheffield when I arrive in the UK with a prepaid registered envelope to my home and then return her passport by secure carrier to the Philippines. Is this the best approach? Many thanks.
Her passport is kept at vfs global when she does biometric appointment. She will be without it for duration of visa application. I returned to uk after submission and sent documents to sheffield via royal mail with the pre paid royal mail envelope. Think that is best way to do it. There are a couple of addresses given out for where to send it, some with PO Box address and sone with proper address in sheffield. Think vfs gives the PO Box address whereas the email after application from ukvi gives the proper address. When you say validated license do you mean the NSO version ? Experience is that they want NSO version of everything for things like passports and I never expect the NSO to do anything quickly but hopefully wrong.
Why would you have your wife's passport? She will need to submit that to the visa application centre in Manila from where it will go to the British embassy in Manila and will remain there until Sheffield makes a decision. The only thing you need to send are the supporting documents.
Thank you both for your helpful responses. Yes, by validated I meant NSO/PSA and the passport clarification great. The practical advice provided on this site is second to non and very helpful to newbies! My wife, a former deputy headteacher and English teacher at an International English School had her English test today. It was very straight forward and if others require a description of the process do let us know. Best wishes to everyone for Christmas and the New Year and lets hope £ does not depreciate any further!
i really dont know why she is going to change her name in her passport--why ? it will only delay everything. keep her present passport name on everything--same name throughout--she can change her name when it runs out. my wife still uses her previous name--and has just got her 2nd flr with it. has your wife done her TB test ? its only valid for 6 months--check the date--it must be valid when she does her online visa application. dont forget the cfo is she good to go otherwise ?
Good day to everyone. My fiance and I have decided to have our civil wedding in the Philippines and apply for a spouse visa later. We learnt that my fiance and I need to secure the Certificate of No Impediment/Legal Capacity in consulate embassy in Manila but first we need to ask for an appointment. Now my questions are: A) does my UK partner need to submit his original copy of his birth certificate? (which our very main concern since he was born in Zimbabwe and might be difficult for him to secure a new original one) B) can we set an appointment according to the date we desire? C) can we get the said document on the same day on our appointment? D)does this document has its expiray/validity date? About the marriage license, how many days does it take? Any information is very much appreciated. Thank you.
My wife held off from applying for a name change until after either she gets ILR or Citizenship. I feel the cost & hassle outweighs the benefits of the immediate name change, personally. Although I completely respect other couples may have a different view on this.
Hi, did you (the UK citizen) also need a copy of your birth certificate to get married in the Philippines? Thank you.
I did! When we gave notice of intend to Marry at my wife's local Church in Cebu, they wanted my Birth Certificate. They even wanted to keep it! (As it was the original we had brough with us, just in case) which I disagreed and they took eventually took a photocopy and handed it back!
Yes, you will need your original birth certificate (and 'divorce certificate', if you are divorced). You will need these to show them at the British Embassy anyway, when attending your Affidavit appointment... if I remember rightly. Have a look at the embassy website.
Hi thank you for the info. I’m a little confused because it was not on the gov’t.website nor the requirement list posted by the QC gov’t. But I think we should have it ready anyway. https://assets.publishing.service.g...Checklist_for_marriage_in_the_Philippines.pdf
