Hi everyone. I'm engaged to an Indonesian lady, not a Filipina. Hence: my forum name. However, I'm of need of visa advice, and I think that maybe the situation is similar. They say that if you don't ask, you don't get, so here I am asking I'll summarise the situation. We met online in 2020, and met in person for the first time (in Bali) in April this year. I then went out for the second time in July this year to stay longer (about a month), and I will be back in December to January this year on her home island of Sumba. Both of us have one adult son. My age: 59, hers 50. I am a full British citizen by descent, though not born here, and have a job that pays well above the requirements for sponsors (as far as I am aware - and I'm aware I don't know a lot.) And, I believe I have suitable savings. She has a responsible job and has a masters degree if that makes a difference, and will be able to retire because of the way things work in Indonesia, I think. I live in a fairly large rented house, just myself and my adult son. So, plenty of room. She's divorced, some time ago, and I'm never married. (I have had long term partners.) She is Christian, I am not religious. I would like her to come to England in June next year. I think the fiancee visa would be most appropriate and that gives her time to get used to the UK, and then time for us to get married if she decides she still wants this (extremely keen at present ). We have already been through a traditional engagement ceremony in Indonesia, but no documents have been signed. I know the welcome text message says that the forum is not all about visa, visa, visa, but currently I am certainly all about the visa. For any chit-chat, is there anyone out there who met someone online, and only worked out how it might be a bit complicated to get to where she lives and it requires island-hopping?
Feeling lazy so will post link to one of my previous posts. Ignore the stuff about child as not relevant. http://www.british-filipino.com/index.php?threads/new-member.19752/#post-237602 Time for spouse visa approval is apparently now about 6 months so fiance visa will be less. Marriage visit visas are normally quick - used to be three weeks as opposed to three months and low cost. Downside is have to leave and apply for spouse visa after marriage but gives a try it and see opportunity. If her son is adult then almost certainly a non-starter to get him here. Welcome to forum.
Thank you. I will carefully read the thread you link to. A marriage visit visa may not work as we will most likely live in the UK after marriage. I thought that a visit visa might work, but I think that might cause trouble if we then got married and tried to convert to another visa. We are aware that her 25 year old son won't be able to accompany her (and he has his own life in Bali and an Australian girlfriend ).
With marriage visit visa have to leave UK and apply for settlement visa from abroad. No option to convert in the uk. We did that route and wife got spouse settlement visa but had to wait for about 4 months in philippines before return. Plus side was allowed her to see life in UK before doing full settlement visa. That was back when in theory 3 months for settlement visa and about 4 months out of UK to get the settlement visa and return. Supposed to be nearer six months now for settlement visas. Fiance visa allows conversion to spouse visa in the uk but takes longer to get in first place and is more expensive. We did marriage visit visa then return to Philippines to get spouse settlement visa which took about 4 months out of UK for wife but it suited our circumstances at the time. Also have the opportunity to see UK before permenant move decision. Not many people choose that route. Most do either fiance visa, marry them settlement visa or marry abroad then spouse settlement visa.
Hi everyone. Just an update. I really found it confusing about visas, and the more people I talked to (both in the UK and in Indonesia), the more confusing it got. Eventually I decided that this all appeared to be going nowhere and just decided to apply for a visit visa (marriage is planned for 2024 for family reasons) for this time. We made the application ourselves online, and it was granted. My fiancee arrives in the UK in early July, for a three month visit. I've heard so many stories about visa applications being a complete nightmare that it's a relief that this visa, at least, was fairly straightforward. My plans are to apply for a fiancee visa after she has visited, stayed in the UK three months, and returned to Indonesia.
