Bringing Guitar to UK

Exacty what I would advice, make a scene. You go girl

Hi there, are you on a spouse visa if you don't mind me asking?

Did you take connecting flight also?

Haha then they will take a video of me and it would go viral! Saying, this girl is making scene just because of the guitar. Awra!! Haha

Hello, I was on a European Economic Area (EEA) Family Permit, a type of visa under European immigration rules.

Yes I did.

Manila-Dubai-Newcastle (25 hours)..

I chose Emirates airlines because they have a flight from Dubai to Newcastle. And it's practical as hubby is living in Newcastle. Though I really wanted to land in Heathrow to see a family friend that time.

I see.. Mine is manila-Muscat-France-Newcastle haha

I was about to do that as well but hubby disagreed. So no choice but to follow the boss..hehe..

Haha true! Since my fiancé booked the flight also and that's the cheapest.

Thanks @Markham are you sure about the suit carrier? I don't wanna check my dress in. I can imagine the horror it may bring. We are flying Cathay & Virgin, and not business class. I'll check the websites to make sure.

I really wanted to bring the buggy so we don't have to carry him the whole time.
If ever it gets declined, can I go outside to hand the buggy to my family?

Thanks @HaloHalo .. That's the usual scenario I observed for passengers with toddlers & buggy.
We have 1 hr & 40 mins in between flights. Hopefully that would be enough.

Wow, galing. And on your first travel you had it smoothly covered. And take note -- it was a long haul flight.

When my wife checked in Dubai last week for Cathay flight en route to Cebu via Hong Kong, they would not allow her guitar as hand baggage. They insisted it had to be in a hard case and would be counted as checked baggage. Saw the same thing happened to 2 other passengers. Maybe its just Cathay Pacific but I would make sure by checking with the airlines that you're gonna fly with.

just as well it wasnt a grand piano.

Not sure what the situation is for grand pianos, but always worth checking before flying. I think even 1st class Emirates would be pushing your luck with that.

Yes. It was. And I got my visa in 12 working days and it was free. No solicitor's fee, no financial requirement needed, no TB test, no ielts, no need to submit banking statements etc, no P60s. Just the basics... Thanks to this forum. We only spent at least P 1,000.00 for the photocopies and other miscellaneous and my plane ticket for about £800.00. In return for the generosity of this forum, I was able to provide assistance to our 2 kababayans in their EEA Family Permit applications as well. One is happily reunited with her husband and daughter in Belfast and the other one in Kent. They both arrived in the UK last month. .

(Hubby first arrived here in the UK several decades ago and never applied for a British passport, thus, I was able to use the free movement rights).

Yes. Agree. It's a nice feeling when we save some money as well.

By the way, if you wish to buy guitar here in the UK, you can go to cash converters shops, they are pre-owned, good quality, and at a reasonable price (50% or lower). They also offer 6 months payment if you don't want to pay it straight.

Also, charity shops..hehe..I got a nice quality guitar for £5 pounds at St. Oswald's. When you arrive here, you can say 'ukay-ukay' is real. hehe. I'm really enjoying it..

I'm glad you never spent on solicitor's fee! I think if your application is just straightforward, you can just do it yourself or else you'll be ripped off if you go to a solicitor.

Awwww. That's so sweet of you @PatVen
I agree, a lot of people have been helped by this forum and I'm doing the same thing. Kudos to you!

That's the perks of being an EU national and living in the UK if you want to bring spouse with you to the UK the process seems easier compared to the Brits bringing their non EEA family to the UK. I've heard a lot of Brits rant with this issue in othe forums and expressing their frustration with the process. Although I've also heard that British people can do the same if they live in other EU country they can bring their non EEA family there without too much hassle. But obviously most Brits would prefer to live in the UK so they'd be going through the difficulties bringing their spouse and family same goes to other EU national in their own territory. Life is fair after all

Indeed. It's a domino effect. Sharing the blessings to others. I was quoted with P50,000.00 then the other one with P25,000.00. Good thing I did my research first before hitting the submit button on VFS website. I quit my job and spent most of my time doing research on visa approvals and refusals. I asked a lot of questions to a lot of people as the application form for eea family permit is very tricky. My friends didn't know that I'm heading to UK, they only knew when I posted a photograph of me in Dubai airport on my fb...hehe..