Hi there, I'm Evie and I wanted to say hello I'm British and have met and fallen in love with the most wonderful Filipino man (we both work on cruise ships) - however I am also painfully logical and aware of the issues with us trying to continue our relationship now that we're both back home, and our industry is collapsing because of the Corona situation... The main thing that I'm thinking of is that we need to spend some real proper physical time together - not just snatching hours here or there while in a work environment - for it to be enough to be certain I want a permanent relationship with him. And I really want that time to be in the UK. I know myself well enough to know that I need to be close to my family and while I'd be thrilled to vacation in Negros, I can't see myself living there permanently. I also want Joe to see if he can consider settling here before we go too far. But in case it comes to it, are there any expats in Negros who can talk to me about life there from a Brits point of view? Once flights open up, I want to try to bring him over for a vacation. Is this going to impact any plans down the road for other visa types if he's had a visitor one in his passport? Thinking very far to the future, is there anything we need to do when we're together (or even now when we skype every day) to start the ball rolling to establish a relationship for authorities? If i just want to spend time with him in the UK, are there reasonable employment visas that a filipino sailor could apply for if we don't want to go so far as to getting married? Both his brother and uncle already live in the UK (they're nurses) if family connections make any difference? We're both in our 30s and aware that we've picked a stupid time to fall in love with someone from the other side of the world, but the heart is not known for its sensible life choices!
Hi Evie and welcome to the Forum So nice to have a British lady who has fallen in love with a nice Filipino man join the forum, we have had one or two before but it has been a very long time. Some of the guys will no doubt be along to help shortly but it is a bit late for me and I'm about to sleep, there are certainly challenges ahead for both of you but many people here have succeeded in their dream to be together.
Which part of Negros evie?I stayed there for a few months maybe 30 years ago, a forum member here still lives there
The long and arduous path through the maze of bureocracy and government sponsored financial blackmail begins... Welcome aboard...........
hi if--he can get a visit visa--then it wont make any difference to any future visa applications..provided he doesnt overstay or misuse the NHS. if you decide to go the settlement route ( to marry), you will be the sponsor, and you will have to meet certain financial requirements and have a place to live. but thats for another day.
Hello Evie01, I live on Negros Oriental Dumaguete to be exact. Where abouts on Negros does he come from? Welcome to the forum.
thanks all for the welcome Joe lives in Bacolod City The visitor visa doesn't seem to be an issue in terms of criteria - he owns a business, has a house and has plenty of ties to the community and a healthy bank account so no issues with funds there - just the bureaucracy that will be fun!! I'm much more concerned about settlement (albeit a long way away) as we're both seafarers - so I don't have employment in the UK (I'm a contractor being paid by a company registered in Switzerland). Am I right in thinking that if i have sufficient savings then I don't need to show employment income? because that could be a good alternative route... We'll also cross the bridge where he's going to need to find a land based job to keep within the limits of days in the UK when we come to it I suppose!
Would prefer not to say - there's a bit of a stigma attached to being in a cross-cultural relationship on board and it'll get him into lots of trouble (which is ridiculous and racist and a totally separate issue that makes me furious) but just on the wild off chance, I don't want to mention.
I beg to differ, I have sailed for a number of years on cruise ships, from Royal Viking Star in 1980, to various ships of RCCL and my last one was on the QEII, which I signed off from in 1998 after several contracts lasting a few years. I will always miss that old grand Lady of the seas. Safest bit of british steel that ever sailed the seven seas, with the charm and athmosphere to go with it. I actually cried on liverpool dock, when she embarked on her last Atlantic crossing I have seen relationships going on of all shapes and forms and no one ever batted an eyelid. Pinoys and shop assistants, casino croupiers, Spa girls, even the ships food and beverage scretaries were not immune. I never saw anyone chastised for such relationships, the only tabu for the crew was not to engage with passengers on an intimate or too close level. Not that it worked a lot.... You can always pm me.......
Without looking at the figures its around about £65k ish in savings if you dont wish to show employment income.
Certainly for my company it's very strongly frowned upon. I have seen colleagues pulled into a meeting with captain and manager to ask if they were being forced as it was the only reason they could think with a european woman and a filipino man together. Any time the relationship does become known then there's an effort to make sure that the couple cannot work on the same vessel again and the filipino will find that their contract isn't renewed or there's a demotion or other unspecified penalty. It's not fair, it's not right but it's life in our corner of the seas - especially if it's more than a fling.
Try pm to @Tansy who think is in a similar situation to you http://www.british-filipino.com/ind...l-about-to-have-pinoy-baby.16574/#post-188400 Try pm to @Tansy. Think she is in similar situation. Might pick up this thread by being mentioned.
Really? That is good news! I thought since I work outside the UK on a ship it was going to cause issues there, but good to know otherwise!
A bit late - but welcome. My wife and I have a saying: The bigger the hill, the harder the climb - but the better the view from the top! You'll make it with determination from both of you and with the knowledge AND support from people on here.
