Hi everyone, had some very good news, my lady has been issued with a fiancee visa. Thought I'd post this as it might help others going through the same process. We applied for the standard service. Im self employed so I had to provide tax statements and both business and private bank statements, proof of tax paid, last tax year accounts etc. They dont make it easy but patience is the key thing, take your time and get everything right, tick every box! There are some gaps in our schedule while we were waiting for copy birth certificates, Cenomar etc. Here's a rundown of events... June 28 - Miss L goes for IELTS test (all is ok) July 20 - TB Test (all is ok) July 25 - I send all my paperwork to Philippines (I used Parcelforce Prority, they use 2Go in Philippines. It seems like a good reliable service and you can track it) July 30 - Documents received Aug 23 - VFS Manila appointment, they hand back paperwork but keep hold of passport Sept 1 - Docs sent back to me in UK Sept 6 - Docs received back in UK Sept 7 - Docs posted RM Special Delivery to PO Box 5852 address in Sheffield Sept 8 - RM website says 'Received at PO Box' Sept 9 - RM website says 'Collected from PO Box' Sept 15 - Get an email to say 'Online application has been received at the UK decision making centre' Oct 2 - I visit Miss L for 10 days, we drink beer and talk about one day having a visa! Nov 8 - Miss L gets a text message saying 'A decision has been made.' (nothing further) Nov 9 - I get a phone call at 5am UK time to say her passport is back and we have a visa valid from just before our intended date of travel. As I write I havnt received the docs back from Sheffield but I did enclose a pre paid Special Delivery mailing bag back to me, so fingers crossed it will be with me soon. I think taking your time and getting every piece of paperwork correct is vital. Its an expensive journey with the visa fee, IELTS, TB test, numerous copy documents, postage etc so you need to get it right! Hope this helps someone, especially if your waiting...waiting...
Hi Mr Chris, just curious you sent all your original documents to the Philippines? I could be wrong but my friend who applied last year for a fiancé visa sent all his documents to directly to Sheffield which I thought sounded hassle free. Congratulations on your success
Congratulations! I’m waiting for my fiancé visa as well. Sent my biometrics last Thursday and sent the supporting documents to Sheffield on same day visa DHL. They will recieve my parcel tomorrow. Hopefully the decision will be as fast as I expected . The waiting game is on.
Congratulations to you both on your success , and thanks for sharing the details . Useful information .
Thanks all, yes be a nice Christmas this year. Although not sure how Miss L will take to the winter in Wigan! Clothes shopping for hats and coats me thinks... We were told to send all docs to VFS Manila, it would make sense to send them directly to Sheffield...anyway we got there in the end which is all that matters. One thing I would add to help others (it caught us out)...When your applying in the Philippines for various documents, copy birth cert, cenomar etc. Make sure you get several copies, you will find you need these again and they may be still held at UKVI. You will also need them in the UK at some stage so better to have spares it will save you a lot of time.
Getting a bit worried about getting our docs back from Sheffield, tried to contact them but sent round in circles, only option premium rate phone or email. Thought to myself I would give it a couple of days.....next day docs returned in line with their 10 day guidelines. In our case 10 days from Miss L receiving her passport and visa back. I had enclosed a post paid royal mail special delivery envelope. So next hurdle is CFO appointment, should be ok as everything in order...
Congratulations. Interested to read that you did not get documents back until after decion made. I was under the impression that they returned them quite quickly and have been getting worried as now about six weeks since sent them off and nothing back.
Congratulations again,,,,,,,,,dont worry about the CFO it will be a piece of cake for your good lady as she is in a genuine relationship.If it helps when my wife went albeit in 2015 all she was asked was a couple of questions about her spouse,if I recall correctly it was things like "does he have children,""are his parents still alive" "where are you going to live in the UK". When is the visa valid from? Yes there was a tiny tiny bit of snow on the snake pass and Saddleworth moor last night, haha she will need coats in Wigan