Ok, where I grew up in Yorkshire they had a saying '**** or bust' this is it! All or nothing, all in, go for it - its happening now - the CNI appointment is booked, wedding is booked, flights are booked, absolutely nothing else is booked as of this moment!!!! Another saying comes to mind 'wing and a prayer' Oh hell! here we go!!! Hopefully by Monday all will be sorted everyone (venue, guests, wedding officials) is on standby for the go ahead on Monday! This whole procedure has been a roller coaster and now I am within a few feet of the top of the biggest drop, it's going to be scary, exciting, exhilarating but I'm here and ready to go... For those of you contemplating the same - I will try to post daily updates from now on...
Keep hotel receipts, flight tickets and take photos of lots of things. You will need these to support her spousal visa application if you intend for her to join you in the UK.
Good advice but I'm a Red Horse man myself (and the Empirador shots with the men folk in the afternoon go down great when on holiday )
Ok first daily update - 3 days late :- Wedding and reception are now both confirmed bookings 29th June 2014 - flights are booked - emirates via Dubai. Boss has been informed (and invited!!) so the three week 'holiday' is on! My CNI has arrived today (even though I dont need it) and I have confirmation from UKBA that my fiancees English Test pass at Hopkins is valid as it occurred 5 days before the cutoff date (woohoo!) So now panic is starting to set in - been reading too much online The affadavit we now need for the CNI - do I just print of the form and fill it in? I assume I am the 'deponent'? and the witness?? Do I need a witness present or just someone to sign it?? Or is that the consular official? I also read that before a wedding can take place my fiancee needs marriage counselling "Pre-Marital Counseling and Family Planning Seminar: If either of you are between the ages of 18 and 25, you will need to show proof to the local civil registrar that you have received marriage counseling. If you do not receive marriage counseling, your marriage license will not be issued for three months." Does anyone know if this is the case or more false information - and what constitiutes Marriage Counselling?? On a positive note Mea loves the colours claret and blue for the wedding theme which coincidently are the colours of Burnley FC - my team
It's compulsory I am afraid. Though we managed to avoid it by using a fixer. So we aren't entirely sure what it consists of. I gather it involved a chat on contraception etc.....not sure. Claret and blue? That being the case I should have worn my West Ham kit.
This is not the same as the CFO session for the visa right? West Ham? Should be an interesting if not colourful up coming season with us, you and Aston Villa all fighting to avoid relegation! At least we've got a decent manager
No. Not the same as the CFO. Quite different. The councilling session is a pre requisite for marriage. The CFO thing is a pre requisite for leaving the country. Both partners attend the councilling. With the CFO it would be just your wife /fiancee. I think thats about right Steve. As I say, we managed to avoid the councilling so can't talk first hand of it.
Ok, latest update! Counselling session is organised! Just booked and paid for hotel in Manila for my arrival and a couple of nights 'privacy' before travelling on to my fiancees home - its also within walking distance of the embassy for the appointment on Monday 16th at 11am. I have a driver and car booked to then take us directly to the Mayors office to register the wedding with the CNI/Affirmation, after that its 10 days relaxing on the beach until the big day!
The TOEIC english test at Hopkins is no longer valid as they have had their licence removed. This happened on the 17th of April - we took our test on the 12th, at first it looked like we were going to have to re-test elsewhere but it seems now that UKBA will accept any tests taken before 17th.
