what do we do now

[siamsteve]

Hi

I am a UK National and in 2007 Married my wife who is from the Philippines we have just recently been awarded UK spouse visa for my wife after having our Appeal heard at the AIT in Hatton Cross last November 2008. I received documents from the AIT dated 18th of December.

Our Solicitor has asked us to wait about 4 weeks before contacting Manila about the visa and has warned us that the ECO could still appeal

My questions are as follows

1. What is the time period for the Visa?

2. What would we have to do when the visa starts to run out, what would be the correct visa to apply for, will my wife have to go back to the Philippines to apply again?

3. Where do we stand if say we want to visit the Philippines next Christmas will we have a problem also what if i wanted to take my wife for a short break in Spain in the Summer?

Sorry for all the questions but it has already cost me so much in money and stress over the last 14 months i wish i had asked questions before i started on this adventure to get married not that i have any regrets about my wife just wish i had researched everything before about the visa?

Now want to be armed for the future.

Regards

Steve

[Wanderer]

Next visa is ILR, in two years, costs £750 or £950 in person so get saving!

She applies in UK assuming ur still in a relationship etc....

Holidays are fine, the only restriction is u (or she really) must make the UK their home during this period - I u should really us the spouse visa as a glorified visit visa. Trips home are fine, as are holidays.

For Spain she'll need a Schengen visa - should be free but bear in mine there's always a long waiting list for visa appointments which you have to make via an 0906 line, costs about 15 quid to make the appointment, and utter rip off. And also bear in mind the Spanish hold the record for being the rudest embassy to deal with.

[siamsteve]

Many thanks Wanderer for your advice does this Schengen visa apply to the whole of the European Union? My wife has a brother and sister in Paris? And i better get saving though i suspect its going to take some time to recover financially but i will also be taking some legal advice before we make the next appliaction.

[Wanderer]

Many thanks Wanderer for your advice does this Schengen visa apply to the whole of the European Union? My wife has a brother and sister in Paris? And i better get saving though i suspect its going to take some time to recover financially but i will also be taking some legal advice before we make the next appliaction.

Schengen covers most of the EU plus a few others. Always best to apply for one from the main destination country if visiting a few places at one, or the port of entry place. Otherwise the issuing consulate gets the hump and generally won't give u another one.

First Schengen visa is usually (not always!) granted as single entry and just to cover the holiday u've booked - so not much leeway with that, however after they've 'trusted you' they usually give a longer multi-entry one. Remeber tho that the rule is only 90 days out of every 180 so don't stay too long.

[scorpiolady]

This link will tell you what you need to know about Schengen visas

http://www.theschengenoffice.com/explai ... _visa.html

[siamsteve]

OK I hope someone will be able to help

I have reactivated this post it is now over a year since my wife has arrived from the Philippines and we are very both very happy,

We are now currently renting a two bedroom flat I am working full time for a college and my wife has a number part time cleaning jobs and is working for an agency who is paying her tax and national insurance she is also declaring her other work to the taxman and paying type 2 national insurance the agency work only gives her about 15 hours work a week

So sometime next April (2011) we have to start new appliaction for my wifes Visa IRL? how long is this my wife does not plan to apply for a british Passport.

So my question is what else should i be doing i want to be well organised Now we have a new goverment What other steps should i be taking

Regards
Steve

[stmellon]

ILR = Indefinte Leave to Remain; therefore, the visa lasts indefinitely.

As and when your wife needs to renew her passport, she can choose to apply for a Transfer of Conditions and copy the ILR in to her new passport, or to simply carry the old and new passports whenever she travels. My wife has done this for 3 years without trouble.

It's too soon to say about any changes that the new government will make - they have a lot to get to grips with long before they start to legislate changes to the immigration system.

[siamsteve]

Ok second time in posting this

stmellon many thanks for your reply it was very helpfull

Just a quick one my wife and I recently applied for her three daughters to come to the UK they are 11 13 and 14 years old we were successful in our application and were informed yesterday they had the visa

Now what has annoyed me is that when we made the application I was the sponsor on the application form we provided all the right documentation for which must have been ok or we would not have been granted the visa’s

But since wife’s current visa is a spouse visa that expires in April 2010 the UK immigration have only granted the children visa’s as the same.

I was advised by an immigration specialist who I paid money to that the children would be given indefinite leave to remain strait away since I’m classed the UK based parent any advice on what I can do it like the government because they short of money are now going to make me pay again for my visa and the children’s visa this is not cheap I’m just disgusted that I’m been fleeced by my own government it’s not as if I’m claiming any benefits I have always paid my taxes and never been unemployed. I just want to scream aaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAHHHHHHH

Any advice I would be very grateful for….

[Wanderer]

Are the children biologically yours or legally adopted by you? If not I'm afraid it's correct - FLR for all of them until they qualify for ILR.

If they are yours then they are British already, no visas needed tho a passport is. Not sure of the rules surrounded legal adoption.