What you will not find on the UKBA website very easily.

Hello Everyone.

I decided to write this as I found it hard to find things out about certain requirements and I have to say that the UKBA really do not like giving you any real information in regards to anything in relation to Visa applications.
I can not give information out in regards to people near and around Cebu, due to me being in Manila, sorry to say, but I hope people find this very helpful.
I will however try and find out for people outside Manila and place the details when I do.

Certain requirements are needed to be able to obtain a UK visa as a spouse. Here are some of them and I include the email addresses, telephone numbers and address.

01: NSO Marriage certificate and most important of all attach the NSO receipt to it as proof.

Registration of marriages, if the parties have secured a marriage license, is 30 days from the date when it was solemnized.



After your marriage, it is advised that you coordinate with the solemnizing officer and the civil registrar for assistance in order your marriage certificate to be immediately registered. Once the marriage certificate is received by this Office, you may already request for it in our Central Outlet in East Avenue, Quezon City if it is not in the database. Processing of this document takes ten working days.
HOWEVER
If you apply for your marriage certificate via a branch through an SM mall, then expect about a 6 month wait or more.

Address:NSO Central Outlet in East Avenue, Quezon City, Manila
Telephone: (02) 926-8905
Email: Lourdes J. Hufana L.Hufana@census.gov.ph

02: Proof of English capacity.
It is also a requirement by the UKBA to ensure your spouse is capable of speaking, reading and writing English and to be able to prove that they can. There are 2 ways they can do this, either by way of having a college or University degree in english that is recognised by UKBA, which takes time to process, or go to a UKBA approved testing center.
When enlisting you will need to provide 2 passport style photos with a blue back ground, valid passport and 2 government ID's.

This certificate has no void date once issued.

CIE British School Makati Campus
107 C. Palanca St. Dolmar Goldtower G/F, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Office Nos.: +632.888.0909 /+632.750.4555
Mobile No.: +63.917.859.9137 / +63.932.889.8983

CEBU CITY

CIE Campus, 168 President Magsaysay Street, Kasambagan,
Cebu City 6000, Philippines
+63.32.412.7622
+63.2.233.2500

TACLOBAN CITY

CIE Campus, Maharlika Highway, Barangay Abucay,
Tacloban City 6500, Philippines
+63.53.325.5211
+63.53.523.1265

website: www.cie.edu
email us at: ciecares@cie.edu or Maricris Payongayong maricris.payongayong@cie.edu
check us on facebook: facebook.com/ciebritishschool

03: Chest X-ray for TB

This is to advise you that applicants are only required to have the Chest X-ray for UKTB testing that UKBA requires. Applicants need to come on specified appointment time for registration., make payment and wait to have the chest xray on given time slot within the day. If result would be read as normal....certification will be issued on the same day.
Total cost for the Chest X-ray is 3200 Php.
Please bring you a valid passport, plus TWO (2) government issued ID
3,200 medical exam fee for 11 years old and above and 500 for 0-10 years old.
If you are interested in making an appointment, it would be helpful if you could provide the following information :

Name:
Birth date:
Country of birth:
Visa Type:
Passport No.
Date of Issue:
Date of Expiry:
Present Address:
Telephone No.
Sponsor:
Sponsor’s address:
Sponsor telephone number:
Appointment Date/Time:

PLEASE NOTE: This certificate is only valid for 6 months from the date of issue.

Address: Manila Health Center – IOM
15th Trafalgar Plaza, H.V. Dela Costa, Makati
511-8770 loc.9104
Email: Manila Health Center for UK Applicants mhc.uk@iom.int

To be safe, always attach the official receipts to the original documents you have been issued and also include the emails you send as proof of records to UKBA.

I do hope this helps people out a bit more?

Good post.

Always good to get feedback on the latest information as it constantly changes.

"01: NSO Marriage certificate and most important of all attach the NSO receipt to it as proof.

Registration of marriages, if the parties have secured a marriage license, is 30 days from the date when it was solemnized."


As proof of what the NSO is supposed to be definitive although some latin countries want the D.F.A. authentication red ribbons and all.

You need to visit the registrar in the area your marriage was solamised and ask for a rush registration doesnt cost much but gets it onto the nso register in 20-14 days make sure that the local of the licence and ceremony are accurate dont depend on the clergy to get that right but check before the ceremony.

European applications are exempt from language and tb test

Thank you Dave C!

By any chance, would you know which certain schools are recognized by UKBA?

Hopkins in Makati are good - TOEIC test. Seemingly also in Baguio and a few other places.

http://www.hopkins.ph/


Address:

Hopkins International Partners, Inc. (Main Office)

4th Floor PDAF Bldg., 407 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue corner EDSA

(near MRT-Buendia Station) Makati City

Telephone: (632) 895-9944; 896-5808

Mobile: +63922-8863420 / +63922-8863421 /+63922-8863422 /+63917-5872278

E-mail: inquiries@hopkins.ph

I have looked into the Hopkins website and their information is not up to date.
They do not stipulate that the requirement for a spouse or partner level is A1, which is stipulated by UKBA for a spouse visa and that test is called a K.E.T or Key English Test and has no expiry date and is awarded by Cambridge University.
The test that Hopkins is giving is TOEIC and that is awarded by the Educational Testing Service and is only valid for 2 years.

Reading and writing is part of the requirement now as the Exam has changed and is divided up into 5 sections.

Here is a link from to help you find a location near you.
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/find-a-centre/

Also take note that the only place listed by UKBA for a medical exam is the address originally given in Manila, also note: If someone from Europe has been living in the Philippines for a lengthy period of time, they are also required to take the UKTB test
So it looks like it is now going to be time consuming and expensive if you are further a field.

Sorry, I mean does the UKBA recognize any Philippine university so I can skip taking the English exam?

you can't skip taking the exam, I'm afraid. You will have to take it as most Philippine universities are not recognized in the UK.

A quick call to UK NARIC should do the trick. Some Philippine Universities degrees do give exemtion, I beleive.

That is correct but it is a very lengthy time scale for them to give you an answer, plus you would have to provide details and proof for them to investigate it, meaning more time and money!
I asked UKBA via email about my wifes college exams and got a reply stating that.
I personally think it is better in anyones case to spend the money and take the test.
That way there can be no discrepancies or arguments.

That happened to us too. But there are certain universities that they actually recognise. A quick call helps. I think the big ones, De La Salle, UP Diliman etc like I said before, are recognised, without any fannying around...

"That way there can be no discrepancies or arguments. "

Best of luck with that Dave lol

Come on, there is alway fannying around when it comes to the Philippines! (Joke)

lol I was refering to UKBA who make it up as they go along

UKBA included! LOL

Well, I went to one of the "big" universities that JohnAsh mentioned and have a double major so I hope that would help.. I would try and give them a call and see Every penny saved will go to my bag fund LOL

Hi Blue Acid, just wondering if you got any feedback from UKBA whether graduates of "big" Philippine universities would be exempted from taking the English tests. If so, which universities do they recognize. TIA

The big three. Give UK NARIC a call. They will soon tell you. It is UKNARIC who evaluate the suitability of the degree course on behalf of the UKBA,


Tel: +44 (0)871 330 7033
Fax: +44 (0)871 330 7005

Thanks JohnAsh for the UK NARIC phone numbers. Will try to give them a call later.
Btw, out of curiosity, I tried to fill in the points based calculator using these information : 4 year degree from UP Diliman, Vet Med. and 2007 as year of graduation. I got zero points for English language. I tried once again using UP Diliman, 5 year Dentistry, and year 2007 as the year the degree was awarded. Again, I got no point at all for English. Same goes for a 4 year degree course in Ateneo...zero points. Has anyone in this forum taken this route? Or is it better just to take the accredited English test and save the extra 46GBP that would have gone to NARIC.

Timmers wife applied through UK NARIC. But they got the confirmation after the visa was awarded or at least after the application went in.

Yes. People are inclined to simply do the English Language Test anyway as it is simpler and quicker. However, dont forget that you will still need to apply to UKNARIC should you wish to use your degree certs in pursuit of a career here in the UK.