uk and macedonian - visa refused, pls help!

[chocaholic81]

I am british and live in the UK but i am in a relationship with a Macedonian bloke and we want to get married in the future. I met him out there and have been going back and forth but we decided it was time for him to meet my family and experience english culture so we applied for a visiting visa for 3 wks. We had a sponsor thanks to a family member who wrote a letter and said they'd be willing to cover all costs etc. We didnt put any mention of our relationship in the application just that he was visiting a friend. However today he was refused the visiting visa because they did not believe that he would come back into the country as he has no job there as he has just graduated and therefore nothing to hold him there in their eyes.

Long term wise he would like to study here or maybe come as a volunteer and then study. We would like to get married too, but my family would like to meet him before we're married.

Any advice? Are we likely to be refused another visa because we were refused this one? Do i need to go and live in Macedonia for a while, or do we need to get married out there? What is the best way of approaching this?

Please help!

[chocaholic81]

Please can somebody help?

Is it worth us applying for a volunteer visa or will he be refused all visas now hes been refused one?

Please can anyone give us some guidance. I really love this guy there has to be away for us to be together somehow.

[Biggie]

Chocaholic81,

I think applying for a volunteer visa, if there is one is a waste of time, energy and money. You need to offer a more robust case to the EC officer showing that your future husband has strong links in Macedonia and will be RETURNING to Macedonia.

Strong links could be property he owns or a job offer on return to Macedonia and possibly more links than just these. Or alternatively get your family to pack their bags and head off for Macedonia and meet the future in-law there.

You may have to consider moving out to Macedonia, marrying and living there and then reapplying showing your relationship is continuing.

Biggie.

[chocaholic81]

Thanks thats helpful

We would like to live in the UK in the long run, do you think I need to live in Macedonia before that could happen?

He really wants to study here to train to be a methodist minister (cos they dont have training in macedonia) - the reason for volunteering was so he could gain some experience and get to know the UK culture - is this out of the question? Or is it a case of providing evidence that he is being sent to train by the macedonian church?

thank you

[Biggie]

Chocaholic81,

There is a link on the BIA website about religious ministers, so you may consider looking at that.
But once again it comes back to filling the gaps on the initial refusal and you need to show he has strong links to return to in Macedonia.
Or alternatively like l said pack up and go over there!!!

Biggie.