Just applied for a Spouse Visa at British Embassy Manila

[rmariecp]

Hello Everyone! How are you? I am Marie, 39 yo, a BS Architecture graduate but presently working in a school as a Media Developer.
I had just filed my Spouse visa application last Nov. 23, 2006 at the British Embassy Manila. I just need some support on my application and its good thing that i found your website accidentally as i browse for info.

To give you info of me and my husband, we met through the internet last April 2004, my husband first visited me here in the Philippines last April 2005 and stayed for 3 weeks. His second visit was this year July 15, 2006 , stayed for 3 weeks again and we got married last August 2, 2006. He flew back to UK on August 3, 2006.

About my application, I went to UKVACS office with all my compiled documents on folders and all my evidences were neatly put in albums and folders. All were complete. But when they were accepting my evidences and documents they tooked off all my documents out of the folder and ask me to just select the photos out of the albums i brought. They said, it wont fit in to the package pouch. So in short all were not as in order as before. But we managed to staple together all other requirements like the phone bills, payslips, bank statements and etc. The Evidence of Relationship includes...emails (2005- 2006), chats from 2004 - 2006 ( yet not that complete due to some lost records ), snail mails like cards and postcards, card from her mom and sister ( given on our wedding day ) , photos and some print outs of sms messages from my mobile phone, and phone bills too. The UKVACS checked on my requirements and said they are all complete. The UKVACS told me my application will be at the British Embassy on the next day..and i just have to wait for my visa up to February 2007.

As for now, i am waiting for some updates, ( somehow, i wanted to call the British Embassy to follow up my application, would that be okey? )
I do hope my schedule to be interviewed arrives soon.( Do you have any idea on how long for me to wait for a schedule of interview? ) Also, my husband were asking me if there is something we can do to make the processing faster. Would it be okey if my husband faxmail the Visa section to request if it is possible for me to get a visa on christmas day so as to spend the holidays with him?

As for me, i feel so helpless that i wanted to do something more than just waiting for it. I too wanted to make the process faster because i am gettign worried on my husband condition taht he is feeling some pain lately. I am sorry for giving you all a long email. its just i dont have anyone ( except my husband ) to talk to about my application and how to make sure all will be okey.

Do you think if i be very persistent in updating my application could help them realize i am serious with my application because i wanted so much to be with my husband?

Why does it takes 3 months for them to process spouse visa? does it means my application is sent to UK and back to the Philippines? Where do you think my husband can follow up my application in UK?

Thanks for reading my email patiently, sorry for so many questions and would be very glad to hear from you soon. Thank you very very much.

yours truly,
Marie

[rmariecp]

hey everybody...its me again..just want to ask if the info of my husband having a 350 pounds per week plus bonus plus benefits and a 2000 pounds plus balance on his latest bank statement would be enough to convince the ECO that my husband can support me? i would really appreciate for a reply. thanks. God bless. marie

[John]

just want to ask if the info of my husband having a 350 pounds per week plus bonus plus benefits and a 2000 pounds plus balance on his latest bank statement would be enough to convince the ECO that my husband can support me?

The answer is probably yes, that is enough, but there is one important factor you don't mention. The cost of housing? Either mortgage payments, or rent? Simply how much is paid?

[rmariecp]

just want to ask if the info of my husband having a 350 pounds per week plus bonus plus benefits and a 2000 pounds plus balance on his latest bank statement would be enough to convince the ECO that my husband can support me?

The answer is probably yes, that is enough, but there is one important factor you don't mention. The cost of housing? Either mortgage payments, or rent? Simply how much is paid?

He bought a house last 30th September 2005 and had open a mortgage account with a loanable amount of 60,855.00 pounds fixed rate. He started paying the mortgage last Oct. 2005 of 398.56 pounds per month. Mortgage payment is automatically deducted to his bank account so that it would prevent him from late payments and prevent penalties. He has been spending lots of money renovating the house. I included some pictures of him as he is renovating the house and finished rooms he accomplished. He sent me these pictures to show me his works.

Another question : Would my credential as a BS Architecture graduate but no license, knowledge on computer specifically on desktop publishing and working as a Media Developer is good enough? I checked YES to the question if i will be working. But i didnt put my original diploma as a proof i am a college graduate.

I do hope to hear from the Embassy soon... its almost 2 weeks now. i am getting worried... would it be okey to follow it up at the Embassy from time to time? And would it be okey if my husband faxmail them at the Visa Section requesting the British Embassy to grant me an access to spend christmas with him? ( do we sound like a wishful thinkin move? hahahha ) ... any suggestions you can add up to make our processing faster? or any inputs that you think would be very helpful on me? Thanks, i really appreciate the reply...and it keeps me a little calmer coz i get to hear people behind me....to support me...and being here help me express what i feel inside and i feel that i am not alone. You all are such an angel. take care and have a nice day.

[John]

Firstly the financial aspect ... housing costs nearly £400 per month .... I cannot see any reason why the financial test would not be passed ... based upon the information you have posted.

Would my credential as a BS Architecture graduate but no license, knowledge on computer specifically on desktop publishing and working as a Media Developer is good enough?

Whilst your qualifications might be useful in showing what you might earn in the UK, it is absolutely not necessary for an applicant for a spouse visa to have any qualifications. So there is simply not a question about whether or not your qualifications are "good enough"!

I do hope to hear from the Embassy soon... its almost 2 weeks now. Sad i am getting worried

Waiting times vary considerably around the world. Based upon what others have posted on this Board, two weeks is nothing in Manila. Suggest you use the search facility, searching on say Manila, and read about the experience of others.

[rmariecp]

Thanks for the answers..i really really appreciate it. at least i am a little confident on the application. I just hope my visa be granted. Prayers and prayers to all i need. I will be updating you about the development.
Again thanks. Have a nice day and God bless.
Marie

Firstly the financial aspect ... housing costs nearly £400
per month .... I cannot see any reason why the financial test would not be passed ... based upon the information you have posted.

Would my credential as a BS Architecture graduate but no license, knowledge on computer specifically on desktop publishing and working as a Media Developer is good enough?

Whilst your qualifications might be useful in showing what you might earn in the UK, it is absolutely not necessary for an applicant for a spouse visa to have any qualifications. So there is simply not a question about whether or not your qualifications are "good enough"!

I do hope to hear from the Embassy soon... its almost 2 weeks now. Sad i am getting worried

Waiting times vary considerably around the world. Based upon what others have posted on this Board, two weeks is nothing in Manila. Suggest you use the search facility, searching on say Manila, and read about the experience of others.

Thanks for the answers... and thanks for the suggestion. i will update you on any development to my application. Have a nice day and God bless.
Marie

[rmariecp]

Hello John its me again Marie. I came back to inform you that i finally got my visa. I will be with my husband soon. thanks a lot for your replies during my time of distress and worries.
Your replies on my questions had help a lot...it had keep me company.

If i get to count the waiting time i got from my application, it tooked me a month and 2 weeks time.

Last December was the most depressing period for me, Christmas and New Year time is the saddest because i am still away from my husband.
Not hearing from the British Embassy in Manila makes me more sad and depressed.
So, after new year...Jan 2 to be exact....i told myself that it is time to make a move and follow up my spouse visa application... so i faxed them a letter stating what my mother -in-law wishes for her son on her coming birthday this february 2007...and that is me to be on her birthday to see her son happy. then i added on the letter that i have a regular communication with Adam's niece through email and attached a copy of our emails between us. Ending my letter by saying that i would wish that they give me a schedule for an interview so that i can give them more evidence of our relationship and prove to them that my marriage is true.

Then on Jan 3, i got a faxed reply to the british embassy to let me know that a spousal visa takes 3 months to process.

So at least, i said they got my faxed letter.

Then last Saturday, January 6...i got a packaged from the British embassy..all of what i had given to the British Embassy was there... i looked for a letter stating when will be my schedule for interview...there was none.

I got worried...i felt they just returned it. Then later, i looked for my passport...and opened it...page per page...and WHOOLAA!!!! i got the UK Entry Clearance stamp on the 3rd page... its MY SPOUSE VISA!!! i got it ...without interview!! OH THANKS BE TO GOD!!
i am very happy now that i can be with my husband...i really appreciate for the prayers...many prayed for me ( Prayers can really move mountains ) and i really appreciate the replies you made...it somehow help me answer some questions...and had given some confidence on my application.

I would email you back as soon i am with my husband in UK.

Thanks again and more power to all of you ...God bless. marie

just want to ask if the info of my husband having a
350 pounds per week plus bonus plus benefits and a 2000 pounds plus balance on his latest bank statement would be enough to convince the ECO that my husband can support me?

The answer is probably yes, that is enough, but there is one important factor you don't mention. The cost of housing? Either mortgage payments, or rent? Simply how much is paid?

[John]

Marie, many congratulations! Spouse visa granted without interview! Great!

Have a long and happy life in the UK with your husband!

[rmariecp]

Thank you John....you are an angel.
You too my friend...have a happy life always. I will email you when i am in UK. My husband bought me a ticket and i will be traveling to UK on February.
take care my friend and God bless.
marie

Marie, many congratulations! Spouse visa granted without interview! Great! Have a long and happy life in the UK with your husband!