EU National in UK has Filipina girlfriend: which visa?

Long story short, a Polish guy I know with settled status in the UK has built a friendship with a Filipina in the Philippines and wants to meet her, with the possibility of marriage if they hit it off in person.

She’s just graduated from college after qualifying to be a care worker but doesn’t have a job at the moment.

A Standard Visitors Visa allows for up to a 6 months visit, and he could sponsor her, pay for the flights and provide accommodation.

However, after consulting ‘a few lawyers’ my friend was advised by one that this visa could be refused unless she has ‘proof she’ll return, such as a job or college’.

This lawyer advises that the two of them first travel to a country where she doesn’t need a visa, and then if they do hit it off they can apply for a Marriage Visa in the UK.

The same lawyer wants to charge £1,500 to deal with the visa application so I’m suspicious of whether the advice is self-serving or not to put it mildly.

I’m going to try and find out the success rate of Standard Visitor Visas for Filipinos and get more clues up in general, but if anyone here has any input please feel free to chirp in, even if it’s to direct me elsewhere.

The Polish guy in question is in the North West near Bolton so any information about a reputable advisor would also be welcome.

Finally, the Filipino in question is my wife’s sister so fingers crossed she can end up over here eventually.

Have a look here
https://www.gov.uk/family-permit

Thanks but she’s not his spouse and she doesn’t have a family member in the UK who’s from the EEA.

just out of interest--ask you polish friend what it would cost him to import her into poland .

Bit of googling indicates a lot cheaper.

https://partnersontheroad.com/2018/...lish-citizenship-by-marriage-how-does-it-work

Advice on visitor visa is good in that would have to qualify for visa on her own circumstances. Likewise she would have to convince that planning on leaving. Visiting your wife would probably have higher chance of success than visiting a potential EU husband.

Without hard Brexit then eu family permit after marriage would be way to go. Probably better for him to visit philippines to meet and make call on whether would work. If decide on marriage together then other options are open but very dependent on 31st October.

You friend is the one from the EU so Matt is correct he would need to be married and brexit either not to have happened or happened with a deal and transition period in which case wouldnt cost a penny Free Movement

Visitor visas ARE notoriously difficult to get - for the reasons quoted by the 'lawyer' - but if the applicant (the Filipina) has not been previously married and has no children then there is absolutely no need to pay an immigration lawyer/adviser to apply for a Fiancee or Spouse Visa...

I’ve read a few accounts written by Filipinos who have successfully received the Standard Visitor Visas despite not having jobs or a UK citizen relative in the UK. They just need to produce copies of their sponsor’s bank balance to show they will be financially supported during the stay.

Taking the Marriage Visa route, they’d need to prove they were getting married in the UK during the visit so a booking confirmation for the Marriage, maybe reception etc.

As for Brexit, even with No Deal EU nationals status remains the same until Dec 2020.

Their status to remain in the UK without PSS or SS (PR) remain the same but that would be by British law is we leave with no deal that does not mean for new family members after that date will be able to come under free movement more likely they will come under normal UK immigration "Rules"

Haven't got the experience of having a visit visa refused but definitely lot of assumptions that will be refused. We got marriage visit visa for my wife and visit visas for both of her children. Marriage visit visa requires you to leave at end of six months. Only significant tie at time was rented house. She had bank accounts but not hugh balances. Not strictly visit visas and key reason to justify visit but should have been judged on visit visa criteria.

We had a lot of relationship evidence and had done the basic engagement with register office and had email from them to say that can't do anything until in UK.

As such I think there is potential to get visa to visit but would need to plan application evidence. Only costs about £100 to do application so may be worth doing to see what happens but do put a lot of thought into application evidence to ensure not wasted.