All done and dusted - back home and back at work! I just heard that we have the marriage certificate already so the visa application process can begin - she still needs the TB test though and having trouble getting through to the test centre in Manila - anyone else had any problems recently?
OK. Job virtually done. Cant help you with the TB test as it wasnt a strict requirement when my wife applied 3 years ago. How was Tagaytay, Steve. Did you get across to the Taal vent?
Phone calls to the TB test centre all day and the phone just rang and rang - I sent an email asking why and had a reply in 5 minutes! Hopefully they will give us an early appointment... Didn't think I was going to make Taal John, we went over there one day and arrived lunchtime so we went and ate first, by the time we finished eating the rain was torrential, practically had to swim to the Jeepny back home but not before we had been collared for a trip by half a dozen guys touting for business, we took the card from one who seemed reasonable and didnt push too hard and said we'd call him when the weather was better. I checked the weather carefully for the next day and it said clear in the morning rain affternoon so we got up early and tried again, we called the guy and he was waiting - took us to his trike driver and headed off down - thats a trip in itself!!! We opted for the trip into the crater and the boat took us to a small village where we were kind of railroaded into buying a guide for 1500pp since we had no idea where we were going, we were followed buy two guys on horses and after about 20mins the new Mrs McVey gave up hiking and paid 500 for a horse, I carried on for a little while more then decided to ride too - it was bloody hot!! The guide at this point said we didnt need him anymore and went back, Mrs was furious!!! anyway - long story short we made it into the crater and walked round to where the lake is 'boiling' etc got some coool photos too! On the way back the boat caught a rope in its propeller and we floated loose for 30mins before a rescue boat came for us - best thing was we got back just as the heavens opened up! It was a great day for me once in a lifetime but Mrs wasn't over enthused - don't think hiking and the wonder of nature is part of filipino culture!
thx - hundreds, no, thousands more where that came from, not to mention all the ones the wedding guests posted on facebook for us!
Update on the TB Test, finally got appointment via email, test taken and immediate result - pass! Also as discussed on another thread - the marriage certificate issued by the local registry office ISN'T NSO certified so she has had to pay a visit to the NSO office in Manila and now we have to wait another two weeks to get the certified certificate!
That was the same for us. Initial marriage certificate wasnt enough. But the NSO version was and is fine. I was at home in Britain when my wife received the NSO certificate.
nso certificate due 5th August, finally got to the end of my VA2 forms, last question is did you fill this form or did u use a representative? Since I filled it in technically I am acting as representative. Should I indicate this, just let her take it in as if it were hers or ask her to copy it out onto a blank form? Are there any pros or cons in doing it one way or another?
I believe that is what you put if you use an agent. So we took that option. So for yourselves you would leave it unchecked as if you wife had filled it out.
Cheers John, So thats it then - all done, a few things to add to our presentation like this months bank statement and an updated joint personal statement and we're finished! The application will go in the day after the NSO certificate arrives - lets hope we are one of the 10% dealt with in 2 weeks (according to UKBA stats) Some hope!!
Yes. My wifes friend got hers the following day. Amazing. It is possible. Ours took 2 weeks. But as Timmers says, you need to just assume it will take a couple of months.
