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Applying for a fiance visa (same sex couple)

Discussion in 'Introduce Yourself' started by mathdurks, Nov 25, 2018.

  1. mathdurks
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    mathdurks New Member

    i would like to ask regarding the application of the fiance visa on same sex couple. I and my british boyfriend been together for 6 years already and we are planning to get married but we don't know really want to do, lol...

    i just wanna ask, if we do need to prepare all the documents needed before applying online? and also, i want to ask if, i will be the one to send all the documents here in manila? i mean his documents, like certificate of employment, bank slips/ payroll slips, etc.?

    hope that someone will help us in our journey and to our future family!
  2. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    hi--welcome to the site.

    you do the application form online--then send everything except your passport to your partner in the UK, who then adds his stuff to the package and sends it to Sheffield.
  3. mathdurks
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    mathdurks New Member

    i'm still confused though. sorry, can you explain it more further? please
  4. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    youre the applicant. you start an online a/c with UKVI. you fill out the online application form. you can both access it by sharing the email and password.

    https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/account/register

    each of you gather up all the required documents. send all yours except your passport to your partner in the UK. he bundles yours and his and sends the lot to sheffield here in the UK

    hopefully @Brom27 will help out here.
    • Like Like x 1
  5. Brom27
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    Brom27 Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Documents are now submitted in Sheffield (UK), I’m sure your partner knows where that is, it’s not done in Manila anymore. You can send me a PM if you want further explanation and I’ll try to help you out.
  6. Aki
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    Aki Member

    I'm on the same boat..but jus to clarify, gather all documents first before applying online?
  7. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    I would recommend starting the application on line as you gather the documents. Don't complete and do payment until you have everything.

    It takes time to get everything together and you have to hit certain dates for bank statement and pay slip evidence with regards to application date. It you miss a key date or bit of evidence may fail the application. Knowing you have everything when you submit makes life a lot easier especially if you have to wait an extra month to get everything. Likewise you do not want to have everything ready and then start the application in case it makes you think of something you have missed or takes a bit to long.

    Only reason going faster would be the potential change in IHS cost which is due to be implemented very shortly but unless your application documents are virtually ready now then unlikely to beat that date.
  8. Aki
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    Aki Member

    Thank you.
    I have filled an account but on the first page of application there is an expected travel date to fill. We're still talking about that since we don't know yet the time scales if I start the application by March.
  9. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    If you want a travel date in March need to be thinking about submitting very soon unless applying for priority. If you apply in March you will be assuming a travel date in June.

    We submitted on line application on 23rd September, biometric appointment on 2nd October and are still waiting. There are no guarantees on how long it takes. Assuming it takes at least three months will be a good starting point.

    Final travel date can be changed in application although system keeps showing the original planned date so not sure if they take note of the change. Can always use that one as a trial application and then recreate it when ready to complete the application.
  10. Aki
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    Aki Member

    Noted. We are considering other things too before proceeding the application. I am working in Middle East whic is not so friendly about this. We thought I should resign first by March and proceed the application in PH. But, my passport is expiring on Feb 2020, I'm not sure if that affects the 6 month rule on passport validity since the application process has indefinite duration.
  11. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    Good points which I dont tend to think of as we are opposite sex couple.

    Was going to suggest visa checking processing time where you are as I thought that some countries out there had quicker processing time but normally have minimum job notice time which could be an issue as normally expected to travel within 30 days of travel or visa issue date, issues with embassey retaining passport and some countries out that way wanting to hold employee passports. Plan to return to PH and apply from there sounds good and avoids risk of as you put it of not being so friendly about this.

    Not sure how easy it is to get your passport renewed as seem to remember that in some counties in middle east employer keeps passport. Other problem is could be stuck there if start renewal process until get new passport and in London takes potentially 12 weeks so may be similar. Again renewing in PH sounds like good idea.

    In your situation and thinking of timing getting a new passport sounds good as will cover the full visa to citizenship period at a cost of a month in delayed application time, maybe less if organise a passport appointment before you come back for shortly after arriving back.

    Hope it all goes well.
  12. Aki
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    Aki Member

    Surprisingly, getting a passport renewal appointment in other country is easier than getting the appointment in PH. I suppose it's the parcel sending that takes it longer since all passports comes from DFA-PH.

    We're looking forward to proceed for the application in June. We both agreed it's less conflict than hurrying it in March.

    One more thing about the requirement is the wedding plan. How did you guys do it?
  13. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    We got married on a marriage visitor visa (which is visit visa and differenct to the fiance visa) which means can come here for six months but then have to leave and if want to stay have to apply for settlement visa. It suited us at the time but means we are now waiting for settlement visas.

    For the marriage visa we went for simple ceremony and organised most of if when she was here. I contacted the registry office by email, asked what needed to be done and used that as evidence of plan to get married. The email stated that needed to her to start most of it so limited what we could do in advance.

    Can't do a lot before your arrival unless you want to book somewhere in which case could do that although run risk of having to change date. You both have to be in country for seven days with evidence that you have been living at a specific date. As we stayed at my house I filled out a form the supplied to state that we stayed at my house. Booked appointment to give notice when we were both here and think that email said we both needed to be here in UK to make the appointment. Saw the registrar and then made appointment for marriage ceremony at registry office.
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2018
  14. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    Worth having a look on the dfa website for passport appointments as things look like they have got a lot better recently which is why was thinking of getting appointment online before returning to philippines. I remember the problems getting an appointment and going on dfa website and nothing there but seems to have improved.

    If they will still accept you as OFW when back think you could use priority lane so dont need appointment. Not sure if can hide fact that you have resigned when go dfa but you may still have requirements to show you are OFW.
  15. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    just to clarify--you got married with a marriage visitor visa--rather than a standard visit visa
  16. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    LOL.

    Thanks for that. Wrote that comment to make clear that we were on a visitor visa and had meant to include that very important word. I've editied it to make that fact clear.

    They should be on fiance settlement visa where they can apply for settlement after the marriage unlike us.
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2018
  17. Aki
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    Aki Member

    Wedding arrangement can be registered if I have stayed in UK for 7 days? This is quite cheeky, how can we do that If this also required as supporting docs? Are they trying to turn us as gay James Bond? LOL
  18. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    You do the same as we did. Email the registrar and ask what you need to do. They will reply that you cannot do the registration until you have been in UK for 7 days. Can't remember if they said that can't request the appointment until there for seven days or appointment has to be 7 days after arrival.

    You use the email as evidence that you have been in contact with registrar and that they require you to wait until in UK.

    Could make booking for venue if you want which would be additional evidence although run risk of having to change dates.

    ECO should be aware of these issues so should not be an issue
  19. Aki
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    Aki Member

    That's sensible. The wedding should happen between 6 months from arrival, right? Is earlier the better? Or doing it 4 months after the expected arrival is fine, so just not to compromise this date changing for the venue? Well, a simple celebration in the house is way thrift, but, Is a caterer service transaction a good evidence?
  20. Brom27
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    Brom27 Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    As long as you get married within the 6 months validitiy of the fiancé visa then that’s what matters. The best evidence as advised previously is to get in touch with a designated registrar and asked for a provisional booking but not every registrar would allow this so an email with them should also suffice. When I applied for my fiance visa I also included a receipt of our wedding ring plus an email correspondence from the restaurant where we had a meal with our guests afterwards.

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