Good day! I am new in this forum, been here in UK since 5th Oct.2015 on Fiance visa, getting married next week, visa expires on Feb 2016 and currently confused what to do after the wedding. Me and my husband to be wants to have my passport amended and have his last name before I apply for FLR before Feb. Unfortunately, Phil. embassy rules in London doesn't amend passports anymore, the only way to change my last name is to renew the passport which for sure will take longer than a month or two. My passport was renewed last 2014 and will expire in 2019. Any advice please? Will I be at risk on my application if I haven't changed my last name?
Hello Elaine, welcome aboard British Filipino Yes this name changing business can be quite confusing and can also lead to issues as time moves on. In order to change your name in your Filipino Passport will take considerably longer than one month. I believe currently it will take between 12-18 weeks for renewal to married name. Your immediate priority is to get married then immediately apply for FLR(M) before the expiry of the Fiancee visa. The FLR(M) application will also involve application for BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) The BRP must be in the same name as your passport. Once you have your FLR(M) which is valid for 30 months you'll have plenty time to 'regularise' your name in both your passport and BRP. Sadly there'll be a cost on both counts. There is no risk at all in not changing your passport to married name. All subsequent visa applications will be linked only to the name shown in the passport. I would advise though that you have your passport (and BRP) updated to your married name well before you get involved in the Naturalisation and British Passport application process. Get it all changed after FLR(M) when you'll have the time to do so.
Hi Micawber, thank you so much for the prompt reply. I'm planning to apply FLR(M) by post. However, I don't have any idea about this BRP. Thank you for letting me know about it. How can I apply for that one? Is it applied along with my application for FLR(M)? I know this is too much, please guide me with the process. We don't want to pay for solicitor anymore as they are so expensive and didn't do much on my fiance application before I came here from UAE. Your help is really appreciated.
Here's the FLR(M) form:- https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/478064/FLR_M__11-15.pdf Here's the FLR(M) Guidance notes:- https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...a/file/477876/FLR_M__guidance_notes_11-15.pdf I can't emphasise enough the importance of carefully reviewing both. This forum can help you with specific questions, but you must take time out to understand the requirements of UKVI Yes the BRP application is part of the FLR(M) application. No worries. In principle you'll need similar documentary evidence to your Entry Clearance application plus some additonal. Enjoy the bedtime reading Good luck
Thank you so much for the links you've provided us. We're grateful we have found this forum, such a great help to all those in need, your prompt response is really appreciated. Goodnight.
Hello Ellaine. Welcome to British Filipino. I totally agree with Micawber that applying for FLR (M) is your top priority. I am just a year ahead of you in applying one. Been thinking of changing my name into my married one but it's too much of a hassle knowing that it would take up to 4 months to get my passport back from the Ph Embassy. I got no problems applying with the GP, dentist, National Insurance, etc. using my married name though my passport is on the maiden name. The marriage certificate is the key. By the way, if you are planning to renew your Ph passport and change it to your married name, please be advised that you have to report your marriage in the Ph Embassy. You have a form to fill out in triplicate. It will take up to 3 months before they send back the stamped form which would be one of the requirements for passport (change of name) renewal. Luckily, there was an outreach program of the PH Embassy here in Gloucester just right after I applied for my 1st FLR. It saved us travel time going to London for the report of marriage. Anyway, I already got my stamped form and I guess I can renew my passport anytime I want. I am planning to do it just right before my 2nd FLR which is due in mid 2017. I just hope I will get the right timing as I said, renewing the passport through the embassy will take 3-4 months. In general, you don't have to worry about not changing into your married name. Best wishes on your upcoming wedding and good luck with your FLR journey.
The only complication occurs when it's time for naturalisation and British passport. Be sure to regularise all documents before that time comes. Plenty of time yet
Dear Micawber and Anne, Thank you both for your usual support and advice. I was even planning to send my passport early January to report my marriage but knowing our embassy, they might hold my passport or process it for a long time. So, thank you so much for letting me know about it, now I am sure that I just need to apply for FLR first and report my marriage after that, the last one will be change of last name and just renew my passport. I was only worried that UK border will have some doubts or not approve my FLR if I wont have my last name changed. Did you just bring your marriage cert. every time you register for GP and National Insurance etc.? Thanks both for your weddngwishes. I'm glad I joined this forum and had a nice chat with you both.
FLR is a process that takes 5 years. A Filipino passport lasts five years, so will expire long before you apply for ILR in 5 years time. For me, the obvious thing is to worry about name changes when the passport expire and needs to be renewed anyway. UKVI will not worry about name change. Just put your married name in the part that asks for other names by which you are known.
Thank Maharg, I just don't get why our embassy keeps changing their policies/rules regarding our passports. A new friend of mine here in Kendal had her amendment which took 1-2 weeks only before they applied FLR, that was years ago. I have a peace of mind now what to do. Thank you all for the help..
Hello to all, Happy New year! Sorry to ask again, we are in the process of applying for the FLR(M) and was wondering if we need to pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge(IHS) and where to apply? Do we need to get through the online for the surcharge application? It was mentioned on the form regarding the IHS ref. no. Please help us. Thanks
Yes, as the new rule, we have to pay for the IHS surcharge. If you follow the link in the UKVI in how to apply to remain in the UK, https://www.gov.uk/remain-in-uk-family/overview you will be led to a link in how to pay the surcharge. https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/pay
Hi Anne, Thank you so much for the help and we really do appreciate the links you have provided. You are all prompt at all queries. God bless you all. Take care and Cheers!
Hello Anne, Sorry for the late reply, I am planning to apply by post. May I know how did you get your BRP? Is it when you submit your documents to be sent through post, you asked for BRP at post office so it will all be sent at once?
During the FLR postal application you will be requested by the UKVI to enrol for biometrics at a participating Post Office, the UKVI will contact you about this once your application has been submitted.
You applied recently Graham, did you just get a letter from the UKVI once you'd applied with special barcode or similar to toddle off to the Post Office with, get the biometrics done and then you received new BRP by post once the application was finished?
Hello Maharg, Thanks for the quick response, sorry bout this, I was just confused because when I applied in UAE before, my biometrics were done on the same day I submitted my documents at VFS Abu Dhabi. Do they have the same procedure here in the UK if I submit my documents by post? Can I do my biometrics(I believe at post office) on the same day I will submit or send my application(documents) through post or biometrics should be done before submitting my docs?
