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Me myself and Irene

Discussion in 'Introduce Yourself' started by TigerMights, Apr 27, 2021.

  1. TigerMights
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    TigerMights New Member

    Hi, I’m new here. Met my missus online, chatted for a year or more? I Can’t remember, booked a flight on New Year’s Day, met her, took her to Boracay. I’ll never forget the way she gripped my hand on take-off. 9 months later kid pops out and I was not there, changing jobs. Let the misery begin.

    We are married, our child is 5 years old, they both have Filipino passports, I was not at the birth their-fore my name is not on our child’s birth certificate. We were married after.

    We are in process of doing our child’s British Passport, they are not making it easy.

    So far, my wife has uploaded the child’s photo, has paid, is now being asked to have someone with a professional job, known her for 2 years, ideally with UK passport, in her province? How can they expect a province girl to know someone from UK or EU with a professional background who is not related in any way?

    Will my child be here in time for the start of school year?

    Apart from that there is something on my mind about our child’s development and education. Would anyone know a source of;

    Free English and maths lessons,

    Free British accent films, tv series. (to be able to put these on the laptop for the family would be excellent)

    Relationship guidance counselling, motivational teaching, speeches, (either language)

    I have bought and scanned 3 age groups of Collin’s easy learning Math and English books. I have Netflix, and reading eggs app. Unfortunately, my wife and child do not have great access to the internet, it is quite poor in her province. Let’s just say Leyte.

    I am in process of sending her a laptop and phone. She insists it’s a ball ache to leave her humble town to go somewhere and buy a laptop for P30 and a decent phone costs P10. So I’m sending good refurbs.

    I find it difficult to accept that they must be sent as separate packages, this increases the cost to a great degree. Quote from one Fedex provider is £180 for laptop £150 for phone –(£30) for DHL (each parcel) this is with a company called Mail boxes ect, a courier service who informed me there are rules against sending things together with lithium batteries. So a phone company does what?

    Its almost an airfare for a human being.

    Who doesn’t want my shirt?

    I’ve had a chat with LBC express inc..why can’t the professionals do it?

    I’ll be very glad if anyone is willing to help.
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2021
  2. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    Welcome to the site :welcome:

    It's a pity your name was not on the Birth Certificate, I got mine on my son's Birth Certificate even though I was not there at the time, I was there for my daughter the second time and I was the one who filled in all the details for my daughter's birth registration.

    You should be able to apply for Right of Abode which would allow the child to travel to the UK on their Filipino Passport but the proof required will be similar, are you not in the process of applying for a spouse visa?

    I would not expect your child or wife to be here for the start of the school year, not least because of the travel restrictions in place now.

    At age five has your child had any early education over there my kids were in Pre-School for a year from age 4.

    The state schools in the Philippines are not that bad, they are not great but not that bad, English is taught to a high standard some kids progress quicker than others my son speaks very good English these days my daughter is a little behind but getting a lot better. Maths education is pretty good too, you should try to get your child into a state school if possible if you can't get the family to the UK but this coming year in person classes might be patchy, in the Metro Manila area my kids are stuck with 2021-2022 school year being online again.

    Don't know where you could get free resources like that for tv and films.

    Other guys here might have a better idea on shipping costs some will suggest Balikbayan boxes but I don't know the rules for laptops in Balikbayan boxes, I always take second hand ThinkPad computers over in my luggage, we have several over there.
    • Informative Informative x 2
  3. Druk1
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    Druk1 Well-Known Member

    Hi TigerMights,hope you don't mind me asking but what's the Ozone wing in your avatar?
  4. TigerMights
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    TigerMights New Member

    Thanks for your reply, I'm going to have to rush this as I'm off to work,

    We only got married in 2020,
    Around last December time I received affidavits with which I could go to Philippines London embassy to get my name on my child's birth cert, when they opened up after lockdown (April)2021 the appointment I got was in Late August. So I got onto a free immigration lawyer and asked best course of action, to which he said, Childs First UK Passport. Spouse Visa.

    Wife can't do both UK passport and Visa at the same time, I don't expect her to, they are getting stuck on one. She say really needs better phone and or laptop. Also saying internet connection is only stable after midnight.

    Hasn't been able to move away from childhood home in province as that's where official stuff seems to have been getting done, people know her. Also Covid restricts movement. I was thinking stay province for child's passport move to manila for Visa

    (I've met my kid twice, she see's me all the time and knows who I am)
    If child has a UK passport, different Sir name, would I be permitted to collect my child and do 10 days quarantine with them in hotel? (Costing £1750 as stated by the UK gov) If so, for the same money I would think its possible to go Thailand for "10 days" or some other non red listed country. That should be a good work around. The Lawyer said so. So my plan is get the UK passport and hopefully the Visa done in time for travel in August.

    We have two dates in UK when things are changing, May 17th and July 21st. I am not sure how this may effect travel as things change all the time but I'm hopeful of more leniency.

    Weight of phone and laptop together is under 2kg, LBC quote 75 + 30 + 30 How Trustworthy are they? I mean

    Thanks Oss, Thanks everyone.
  5. TigerMights
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    TigerMights New Member

    Buzz z4, you a Pilot? I'm still reaching for my Pilot Certification.
    • Like Like x 1
  6. Aromulus
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    Aromulus The Don Staff Member

    I just sent one of my older laptops refurbished by my son and a brand new printer in a balikbayan box, scheduled to arrive at the end of May. Total cost for sending two huge boxes full of various goodies £170.
  7. Druk1
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    Druk1 Well-Known Member

    Done a bit over the years, different parts of the world, there's a couple of places in the Philippines, where do you fly? 30728700_10212251062974152_3156179034115670016_n.jpg.276f3d066e051d6a3a5ee4736314f136.jpg
    • Winner Winner x 1
  8. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    ha haa..just wait till you see the cost of the spouse visa !
  9. aposhark
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    aposhark Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

    And the rest of the stuff that follows that :eek:
  10. aposhark
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    aposhark Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

    Hi TigerMights,
    Hello and :welcome: here in the forum :)

    I would like to say that I am so sorry that you have only met your kid twice. That is so difficult for you.

    These are certainly very challenging days :(
    • Agree Agree x 1
  11. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

  12. TigerMights
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    TigerMights New Member

    Aromulus I just paid that for Fed-ex to send a phone and laptop supposedly in 8 days....as international priority. Had a domestic collection on the morning of Wednesday 28th, through France, India, China. By Saturday Afternoon it was in Pasay. It got to Pasay real fast, but as of now it says in transit..
  13. TigerMights
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    TigerMights New Member

    I have flown no more than 10 UK sites, passed CP at Fly Sussex. Did an SIV in Turkey. I sometimes look for potential sites on google earth, looking at Philippines just for a bit of fun.
    • Like Like x 1
  14. TigerMights
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    TigerMights New Member

    Guys many thanks for the warm welcome, it does go someway to relieve the pressure and stress.

    Back to doing my kid's UK Passport. We married during the festive period, years after the Birth, but didn't have time to do more important things. So I am not on the birth cert and have not done a proper DNA test. I have here in UK two affidavits. An appointment at the embassy in London at the end of September.

    Although it would put me on the Birth cert in due process. That's too long for me.

    I had a chat with a free UK immigration advisor. He mentioned going to Philippines to get my name on the birth certificate. Going around the need for Philippine Embassy London affidavit route.

    May 1st The Philippines opened up 9a Visa route for Spouses.

    Cheaper option

    He said we could get my name on the birth cert by doing a proper DNA test. He mentioned Anglia DNA.

    Called them.

    Quote £688, I don't mind paying. Seems quick, Covid means they may have to get swabbed and quarantine on return to the province because mentioned in the phone call was Manila and Angeles for test centres.


    In my mind DNA is Guaranteed, going to Ph is risky, I might get in a covid log-jam run out of time. Also money and days off spent abroad would be missed in spending time with my family in UK

    So its decided. DNA, UK Passport, Visa.

    No more waiting till September, I find this totally unacceptable. My child needs to be in UK school on the first day of school.
    Last edited: May 5, 2021
  15. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    I think they use a local courier after arrival in Manila. Also may have to go through customs and be assessed for import duties. Both of which may cause delays.
  16. TigerMights
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    TigerMights New Member


    PASAY CITY PH In transit
    Package available for clearance

    Was hoping no import duty as they are both refurbs. Could they be on a boat right now as last message was "in transit"?
  17. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    Googling it seems to indicate waiting for customs clearance.
  18. Druk1
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    Druk1 Well-Known Member

  19. TigerMights
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    TigerMights New Member

    Well, don't use Fedex from UK I guess is the moral of the story, were still waiting..2 weeks past its due date, that would be an advertised date non corona times. The latest Email states not to worry everything is ok its been handed over to the ODA agent. Wonder if DHL would have been quicker, heard a young wives tale that DHL skip all the 190121903_928709937696181_1204211887057914267_n.jpg customs. E2A Recipient was asked for 4000 peso's. cost to sender £150..paid on arrival.
    Last edited: May 23, 2021
    • Informative Informative x 1
  20. TigerMights
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    TigerMights New Member

    In other news; I've had a DNA sample taken at home and over in the province, they will be giving samples shortly. I've been told 3 days after the arrival of samples from the Philippines, I'll have my results, which I will send quickly to the Passport place. Hopefully during this time the Wife will be cracking on with getting her Spouse Visa Requirements.

    Does anyone know a route out of the Philippines for a person on a spouse visa? Like to spend 14 days in a Green or an Amber Listed country? Is the Philippines likely to be on the red list for the remainder of this year? Making some sort of nomadic adventure a necessity for anyone wanting to travel out of the Philippines with a family member on a visa?

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