English test

I've just looked online at spouse visa and according to current figures as i understand it, should cost me approximately 4 or 5 grand ROUGHLY for the first application.

Thats...

Aprrox £1400 for application

Approx £2500 for nhs fees

and leaving room for possible ducument translation cost, which i honestly don't know fees for, so my 5 grand tops is a hopeful guess based on my lack of knowledge for any possible translation costs involved. Hopefull there will be none though.

Does that sound about right?

Yes.

My wife just applied for her spouse visa last week and it costs us about £5K. We went for priority service as well.

Great, thanks.

Did your application get accepted? Priority is next day decision right? And compared to what, 3 months if not priority?

Super priority is next day but only available if already in UK
Priority is within 30 days for family visa

using these services does not influence the decision

Historically paid for three years of NHS surcharge with spouse visa from outside UK as visa duration is 2.5 years plus three months to allow time to move and so they round up to three years so 3 x £1035.

Looking up Visa fee it is I believe about £2k. Fee for applying outside the UK as opposed to inside UK

https://visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk...n-baliwick-of-jersey-and-bailiwick-of-gurnsey

Visa fee from Philippines is normally priced in USD at bad exchange rate.

Add in TB test(circa 5k peso plus traveling costs) and English test circa 10.5k peso plus traveling costs), CFO certificate costs (although looks more online and less costs these days).

Based on above suspect will be bit more than 5k.

Then repeat at the 2.5 year point although Visa fee less as it is in country (£1.3k) and only 2.5 years of NHS surcharge (2.5k) and need A1 English test although better to get B1 as can be used again.

Then 5 year point need ILR cost £3k plus B1 English test and life in UK test. And then if sensible get citizenship £1.7k.

I know it's a bit off-topic but is birth hospitalisation covered by the NHS surcharge?
Or do I have to pay for it when my wife does give birth in the UK?

Yes it's covered

Also remember that she can't claim child benefit without ILR but you can so any claim needs to be in your name.