Manila UKBA Visa timeline?

Do you really think the UKVI need to see a certified copy of your passport? Why?

My lawyer explained to me that the birth certificate would be subject to additional checks and that a passport was preferable because it 'encompassed' the birth certificate that was used at the time of application and it further proved identity in a way the birth certificate did not.
As I said, I understand that the UKVI will accept a birth certificate rather than the passport, but that the application would be subject to further checks. which is why i said I believed that it was best to include the passport copy, if it at all possible.

Frankly this is a waste of time. I don't intend to argue about this point anymore. I have better things to do, even if you, with 728 posts today, do not.
Goodnight.

It is a waste of time. You are correct. Remember it is a forum where there is an exchange of ideas. Sometimes there is more than one way (sometimes not). In the case of this example, there is more than one way. I am not sure that you saw it like that.

I do know one thing. Often with MDs they are never wrong.

Did you pick a solicitor that is conversant with Immigration Law?

So. Your photocopy of your passport has not been certified. Thats £50 you have saved. You submit it. Do you mean to say that with all the other information you have submitted that the UKVI dont know who you are. How long do you think it would take to check your passport details?

I was speaking to an Immigration officer just a few weeks ago. They have access to all sorts now. I am sure it would be just a formality for them to check your passport detail.

I think a passport is better than a birth certificate to prove right of residence in the UK as British Citizens can renounce their citizenship, even if born British (I think) Even better is to submit the sponsor's birth certificate plus a copy of their passport, which is what I did. To cross all the T's and dot the I's you may also want to submit a copy of the affidavit that was legalised by the British Embassy in Manila, assuming that you got married in The Philippines as you have to show the original passport in person to have gotten that affidavit legalised.

You did what I did, Howerd. Exactly the same. Actual birth certificate and a photocopy of my passport.

More than one way to skin a cat as John says, it is also worth remembering that the hiring of an immigration lawyer does not guarantee a successful visa application as we all know from our experiences on the forum.

Its all about satisfying the UKVI by all the means at your disposal, as we all know here, we have all gone a little over the top on some of the information supplied with our applications............. but it worked

No, I chose a solicitor conversant with skateboarding. I'm also happy that you have such faith in my ability to be always right. I'll try my best to never dissapoint you.

is it safe to crawl out from under my stone yet ?

My impression with Visa lawyers is that they are focussing on the lolly from an appeal.

Absolutely.. One quote from an immigration lawyer to assist with my submission was seven thousand pounds. After first hand experience of spending six figure sums on legal fees in other areas, I'm pretty sure that this remark about appeal fees is close to the mark...

I really wanted some other people's experiences of timelines but looks like I'll have to chew my nails for some time to come.

yours is a bit different on 2 counts------your self employed--which means more paperwork to be scrutinised----and --as you say--multiple applicants.

by the way----where did you get the time frame from--? last i heard it was 100% in 6 months.

Yes. Its annoying that I had to submit so much documentation. The visa processing times were taken from:
https://www.gov.uk/visa-processing-times for settlement visa in Manila.

Which gives: 55% at 30 working days, 97% at 60 working days (and 100% in 90 working days).

I ignored the final 90 day figure because it could well be 100% in 80 days or even 63 days its impossible to say and I wanted to stay optimistic.

So that means 6 working weeks for just over half of all settlement applications and 12 working weeks for 97% of them (or I suppose 18 working weeks for 100% if you wanted to be pessimistic about it). Then we have to take the public holidays into account - which I haven't bothered with either.

After reading of other people's experiences, I'm going to mentally guesstimate I should hear something by end of august (almost 9 working weeks). It gives me something to aim for. If it doesn't work out by then I'll just have to keep waiting

seems like a chunk of this thread has gone missing----?

ooh--thats good news then--only 90 days --for 100%.

only 3 months to wait then now.

No. There is nothing missing. Mr Ash seemed to want to continue a discussion that began in the thread entitled 'My Original Birth Certificate' - that's why the remarks don't seem to make much sense.

I guess I'm a glass is half-full kind of person so I'll continue to wait one month at a time.

I have been watching others time lines for some time now. As I said, it varies, without obvious reason.