Visa advice please

Can anyone tell me please whether applying for a visit visa is pointless without compelling reasons to return? The only reason he has is the fact that he has family there - I guess that isn't enough? His job is freelance so he can do that from anywhere, and he doesn't own property there.

From what we've read it seems that fiancee/spouse visas are much easier to get than visit visas? Is that right? And if so, which is most likely to get granted with the minimal of fuss - fiancee or spouse?

Also, do you think chances are better when using an agency?

Thanks in advance.

Visit visas are notoriously difficult to obtain for a Filipino, better if they own property and have family they are supporting back in the Philippines so they have a good reason to return. You are right in saying the Fiancee/Spouse visa is easier to get. I think its a toss of a coin which is easier to get though, in theory the Fiancee visa is more difficult as you have to prove you will get married six months from entering the UK.

You do not need to use a agency, all the information you require to secure a visa can be found within the forum here at British Filipino. If you have any specific questions about the visa then you can ask here.

Good luck

Remember that if you apply for the Fiancee visa that you will have to prove that you have met in person and have a sustaining relationship.

A Fiancee/Spouse visa may be easier to get than a visit visa but a lot of work and time is required getting your application up to scratch.

Yes :/ It's just very difficult to know the best route to take. The visit visa seems hard because of lack of compelling reasons to return, but the fiancee/spouse visa seems hard because although we've talked lots daily for 10 months we've only spent 11 days together - not sure if they'd see that as enough.

Its possible that 11 days together along with regular Skype chats and so on is enough, the UKBA only stipulates that you should have met in person I have read nothing about how long you should have been together and so on. Its all about painting a bigger picture of the time you have spent together.

Give it a try

Do you know what the failure rate is on fiancee/spouse visas? Or even on visit visas? You can at least appeal on fiancee/spouse can't you? Could that fail too though? I mean thinking about worst case scenario.

It seems you are planning on getting married here from what you are saying. So why would you be applying for a visit visa? You have no choice other than the fiancee and/or spouse route.

I think I might have heard 90% visit visa applications are denied, one of the other boys could confirm that. You can appeal if the Fiancee/Spouse visa is denied though.

Worst case scenario, you lose a few hundred quid for a visit visa or a thousand quid for Fiancee/Spouse visa.

We obtained a Fiancée visa a couple of weeks ago, with help from the people here it wasn't too bad but you always have nagging doubts when you submit the application. The visa took 50 days including weekends.

I see you went to see the chap then, I remember your posts from a while back, good to see you don't give up

Yeah we met in Morocco Just got back yesterday. He was everything I knew he would be <3

Wow - 90% is high. Do you know what the failure rate is on fiancee visas?

I don't know the failure rate for the Fiancee visa failure rate, but remember this, they cannot deny you the visa if your application is in order.

Oh really? So there's no personal opinion involved or depending on whether they're in a good mood or not, like visit visas? I didn't know that - that's reassuring.

Is this the correct visa for fiancee - https://www.gov.uk/join-family-in-uk/overview

The case officer dealing with your application has no leeway whatsoever regarding the financial documents you submit, if there is anything wrong in that department then your application is declined. I am lead to believe reading the cover notes from the UKBA site that they may give you a little leeway on other stuff but I wouldn't count on it.

You need these forms I believe, but double check.

The forms will give you food for thought for a while, enjoy

Thank you - you've been very helpful.

I have seen success rate figures for Fiancee and Spouse visas and they were amazingly high at over 90%

There is a little leeway. Final decisions are based on the balance of probabilities and are subject to ECO discretion. This is why some people fail with their application when clearly they shouldnt.

This is why ones application needs to be water tight. Ones case might be good but the evidence needs to be comprehensive.

That's great, where did you come across the figures John?

I read only yesterday though that their is no discretion relating to the financial side of the application.