Do we have to be married/engaged to get a visa?

Hi Guys, and a Happy New year to all.

I'll introduce myself properly this weekend hopefully but am currently running around like a headless chicken fixing all manner of contraptions for friends and family......

Basically I'm engaged to a Filipina and we're getting married on March the 18th in Iligan City, which is around 3 hours bus ride from CDO (CDO being an hour's flight from Manila)

Like probably most of you here, I've been discovering how abysmal the UK.Gov website is for those trying to work out exactly what to do and how to do it in relation to Visas - a bureaucratic spaghetti junction.

Wish I'd found this site earlier as it had taken me many evenings of wanting to punch my PC monitor, garnering the information I've just read in ten minutes further up this thread, so a massive 'Thankyou' for all contributors to this forum.

Before I nip out then, what I'd like to request is clarification on the early stages of the marriage process.

I downloaded the editable copy of the 'Affidavit of marital status' last month and filled in all my/our details before printing it off (just needs witness signatures etc), and also did the same with the Affirmation alternative to cover all bases.

I then emailed "Manila.ConsAppointment@fco.gov.uk" requesting an appointment date to attend the British Embassy in Manila, and received an automated response stating that I should "...provide your five preferred appointment dates", which I did; the 27th February being the first choice, followed by the 26th, 25th, 24th, 23rd and 22nd.
In their email they also said I would receive a reply within five working days.

First query then is that I sent my request off on the 18th and still haven't had confirmation of a date. Should I just ignore the five working days deadline and wait, or are the Embassy usually prompt at confirming appointments?

Second query is, does my fiance have to visit the British Embassy before I do, to register an intent to marry by UK fiancee?

I know she has made numerous enquiries as to what she needs to obtain, and I've heard her mention her Birth Certificate, and that she needs a CENOMAR (free to marry), but I wasn't aware she needed to visit the Embassy.

Many thanks in advance for any help.

Hi Christopher and welcome to British Filipino, I personally do not know much about the marriage process in the Philippines as I brought my wife here to the UK on a Fiancée visa. However, there was a discussion here a few weeks back that may help you, take a look at the link below, you may get a few pointers.

http://www.british-filipino.com/ind...he-philippines-and-settlement-in-the-uk.9718/

Good luck

So further to this I have just spoken to my local Registration Officer, then the Register Office in Brighton, then the GRO, and although no-one would say 100%, they all said marriage here would likely NOT be a problem without an anullment from the Philippines because the Japanese divorce is enough for them.
Personally, the fact nobody would say for definite aggravates me no end , but that seems to be the way of things. Avoid responsibility at all costs.
Any comments?
Happy New Year, by the way

It would make sense that a British Registry Office would accept Japanese divorce documents, they are only looking for proof of divorce after all.

If I was you Jim I would be asking myself two questions;

1. Will the UKVI accept the Japanese divorce documents without Philippine annulment when you apply for a settlement visa for the loved one to enter the UK?
2. Will you in fact be able to marry in the UK with the Japanese divorce documents?

I understand your frustration of not getting a definite answer from the Registry Office.

One thing that may help you, we had to go to our local Registry of Births and Marriages office to give notice to marry, they apparently had never seen Philippine annulment papers before and they had to send them to their main office to verify the authenticity of the documents. What I am thinking is, could you not go to your local Registry of Births and Marriages and ask them to contact Head Office to clarify that you can get married using Japanese divorce papers as evidence of divorce. Surely someone in authority can give you the nod although I witnessed for myself their negative approach to matters such as this.

Sorry I cant give you any concrete information Jim, one of the other chaps on the forum may be able to throw more light on the matter, common sense and Government agencies don't go together unfortunately.

It is about time the Philippines emerged from the Dark Ages and permitted divorce, it is the only country left in the world where divorce is not permitted. If the Catholic Church has such a grip on Government policy as it does with the divorce policy why don't they use their influence on policies that are for the common good of the people of the Philippines.

Rant over as a certain young man here at BF would say

The simple answer Timmers is because "It's more fun in the Philippines"

I cannot disagree with you HaloHalo

obviously--i'm interested in the outcome. to explain:

i met my philippina g/f over 3 years ago--here in the UK----- she was on a student visa. she was married to a phillipino guy--in their country.

she filed for divorce--here in the UK--5 year separation. ive seen the decree absolute. she has been back there now almost a year.

we thought it would be plain sailing--till we discovered the annulment was still needed. it has been suggested we simply get married--say--in Hong Kong---and then apply for a spouse visa. but she decided to go ahead and apply for an annulment---a year ago. we are still waiting for the outcome---which is getting beyond a joke now.

i'm sure i read in the visa application that she still needs proof in the philippines she is single--and free to marry.

i certainly dont want to fly to HK--get married using her UK divorce----only to still be turned down by UKVI on a technicality.

I don't understand why the facts relating to annulments and visas in the Philippines are hard to come by. The only fact I know is that my marriage in the UK to a Philippine National who had an annulment in the Philippines may not be recognised in the Philippines and other countries, and again, the RO told me it MAY not be recognised, why cant we get a will or a wont? I got the impression when we visited the RBM office that they do not wish to offend the Philippines and respect the fact that there is no divorce there.

Have you even got an inkling of when the annulment may be finalised?

yep--last month.

Thanks Timmers but this is exactly what I was attempting to do today. I started by emailing my local council registrar who said it should be fine but I should consult an 'expert' (her word) at the nearest 'designated Register Office' (where you would go to give 'notice' and deal with the paperwork) which is in Brighton. The nice lady I spoke to there said she thought it would be fine as long as the Japanese divorce paperwork was translated and in order, but they don't make that decision there, it all goes off to the General Register Office, for which she gave me the number. The lady at the GRO marriages department refused to give a definite answer (the paperwork has to go to a 'case team') but said that if the Japanese paperwork was kosher then it shouldn't be a problem. Sadly the buck stops there as far as getting married in the UK goes, so I still don't know for sure.

Both excellent questions which I'm not much closer to answering. I've called UKVI and they've been little help.

I started by emailing my local council registrar who said it should be fine but I should consult an 'expert' (her word) at the nearest 'designated Register Office'

so--have you applied for a fiancee visa yet ?

So will you be following up Jim and submitting the original and a translated copy of the Decree Absolute to the GRO and prey you get a decent answer?

If you do, make sure you use a translation service that is recognised by the UKVI, I think you already have a feel of what is required. Just an example below.

http://www.santranslate.com/blog/certified-translation/

I get your drift

Timmers--can you recall what the timescale was between your wifes last court hearing and getting the result ?

I will ask her when she gets home from the office, I cant remember myself.

ok mate.

there was a new poster here the other week--if i recall they applied for annulment same time as mine did--and were told it would take to this summer

Cheers Timmers, and I just noticed you're from Bury like myself, though I now live between Bacup and Rawtenstall.

It's a small World....but I wouldn't like the job of painting it.

Finally received confirmation of my appointment on the 27th Feb today from the British Embassy so can now book flights and a room for one night in Manilla, so just need clarification on whether my fiance will need to visit the embassy to register an intent to marry by UK fiancee.

It is a small world, I lived in Edenfield for most of my life, just moved near Bury so the missus can catch the Metro into Manchester for work. I lived in Bacup for a couple of years, everyone says its rough but I really enjoyed myself there, full of down to earth people. I take it you live in Stacksteads or Waterfoot now, more down to earth places . I will be moving back that way myself in a year or two once the loved one is settled and passed her driving test. You can buy a lot of house for a very reasonable sum in the areas we are talking about