Getting married / filipina wife coming to the UK

[ad4ms3]

The time has come to start thinking, stressing, worrying, taking some steps to bring my wife (to be) here to the UK. Me polish, have been in this country almost 7 years. How difficult it was for you guys to bring your wives over here? I'm worrying that having two dependents from previous relationship may unable to come Lyn over here, especially as I don't earn much. Accommodation, savings (I hope 2000 pounds will be enough) prove of our love, photos, etc won't be a problem.
My uncle who is also here is married to an African woman (can't remember what country she came from). He said that getting her here was a nightmare. He had problems everywhere (she had to stay a year in Poland, during this time police was coming many times to visit her, invitation letters has been denied, her marriage visa has been refused, no one was willing to help him, he had to get a solicitor) on the airport when she finally arrived after everything has been granted. When I think I will have to go through solicitor, many people who are not willing to help me makes my blood pressure high...
I'm thinking whether it is worth of her coming here to the UK on tourist / fiancée visa to make a record of her visit? Maybe this will ease things a bit? Or maybe fiancée visa and civil wedding here?
I really want to rush civil wedding for a certificate to start processing all the documents (church wedding can wait).
I have no idea how to start..

[Kuya]

The EEA route is open to you and is far, FAR easier than the spouse visa route open to myself. Give some thought to marrying in the Philippines and then the EEA route would be as easy as any other visa.

[Aromulus]

What are you panicking and stressing about...???:erm:

You live in the UK as an EEA National.......... Your wife to be, Family Permit, will be an undeniable "Right", and not a privilege...


Even a bare minimum of money in the bank will be sufficient to secure it, provided all documentation is correct, and you have proof of personal contact, pictures of the both of you together, with family, without family, receipts of hotel stay, plane boarding card stubs, chat logs, letters. And whatever else is asked for.

So take a deep breath, sit down, watch match of the day and relax.........

[ad4ms3]

Ya, I'm stressed after what I was told by my uncle and his problems of getting her over here.. So I'm wondering why he had such tough times with border agency, home office, etc? Is it cause of her origin? He's got nice big flat, no dependents, enough savings, etc but had to involve a solicitor.
We both want to marry in Philippines, cheaper for me, and she's gonna be happy too :D

[Howerd]

Don't know too much about the EEA route myself but one thought comes to mind...

You say you are Polish but are you now a naturalised British Citizen? If you are now a naturalised british Citizen, could that effect any EEA permit application?

[ad4ms3]

I am not British Citizen.. Permanent Resident

[Aromulus]

I am not British Citizen.. Permanent Resident

The situation with your uncle may be different, we don't know the exact ins or outs of it so we cannot comment..

You do not need to waste money on a solicitor, it is easy and straight forward.

Go there, get married, collect all the paperwork, get the mrs to take it everything, including the filled online application form to the Emassy in Manila, after making an online appointment.
No visa fee is necessary for EEA Family Permits.

[ad4ms3]

thanks a lot.. :vhappy:
I'm gonna murder this man ::oops:

[Kuya]

EEA route! Dom is correct, it is a right! If you marry in the Philippines then all you need to produce will be:

Proof of ID (Passport, possible your birth certificate as well)
Wedding Certificate
Proof of address (tenancy agreement, utility bills, council tax)
Income (wage slips, bank statement - and only for one month I think)

Not sure about the EEA fiance route though... Dom?

[Kuya]

One more thing... The cost of applying for the EEA family permit is NOTHING!

The cost of a spouse visa for a British citizen is £826

[ad4ms3]

British citizen only or also those settled here (just like me)? I read that on ukba website and I understood I will have to pay £826 towards her visa..

[Kuya]

She could apply for a spouse visa, but why?

Permanent residents can bring their spouses to the UK but the fiance/spouse route is far more difficult than the EEA route. Plus, that £826 would pay for your flights, and perhaps a good portion of your wedding (depending on how you get married, how many guests and so on).

[ad4ms3]

Ah ok, I get now.. , I only have to provide my and her applications as well as all the requirements (photos, tickets, hotel bookings, etc) and wait for good news without paying anything (ok, stamp maybe :) )
But to be honest I'm getting confused with spouse route, EEA route..

[Kuya]

Yeah, pretty much :like:

You could go the spouse visa route or fiance visa route as you will be classed as settled here if you have lived in the UK for more than 5 years, but still, £826 and a chance the decision going against you? I think from now on, you should focus on the EEA route and nothing but that visa route! Also, the EEA family permit can be applied at any British diplomatic post that issues visas. So you could apply (in theory) whilst in the Philippines after getting married. Though, I know first hand it takes about 3 months to get a Filipino wedding certificate.

Still, the British embassy in Manila would be where your wife would apply, and collect her entry permit (or Cebu consulate).

[Kuya]

This is what you need to know....

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/eea-family-permit/

[redbricks]

so if a bitish man gets married in phil he can get a eea visa no cost , isthat right

[Aromulus]

so if a bitish man gets married in phil he can get a eea visa no cost , isthat right

No.............:rolleyes:

As a british man, you could do so in any other european country, if you work and reside there,
but not the UK.

[redbricks]

thankl s , well i know now

[ad4ms3]

This is what you need to know....

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/eea-family-permit/

Although the UK is a member of the EEA, a non-EEA family member of a British citizen should not generally come to the UK using an EEA family permit. However, a non-EEA family member of a British citizen living abroad can apply for an EEA family permit to join the British citizen on their return to the UK if:
-the British citizen has been living in an EEA member state as a worker or self-employed person; and
-the family member, if they are the British citizen's spouse or civil partner, has been living together with the British citizen in the EEA country.

================================================== ========

Here are only British citizen mentioned. I am permanent resident. I understand that both conditions must be met as there is "and":
-the British citizen has been living in an EEA member state as a worker or self-employed person; and
-the family member, if they are the British citizen's spouse or civil partner, has been living together with the British citizen in the EEA country.
How all of these relate to me?

[Aromulus]

How all of these relate to me?

This relates to you..............:frust:


What is an EEA family permit?

An EEA family permit is a form of 'entry clearance' to the UK (similar to a visa). It is for nationals of countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who are family members of EEA nationals.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/eea-family-permit/

And this..............


Do you need to apply?

Under European law, you do not need to obtain documentation confirming your right of residence in the UK if you are a national of a country in the EEA.

However, if you want to support an application for a residence card by any of your family members who are not EEA nationals, you must demonstrate that you are residing in the UK in accordance with the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 and are 'exercising Treaty rights' in the UK. You are said to be exercising Treaty rights if you are:

employed or self-employed; or
studying; or
economically self- sufficient (meaning that you have sufficient funds to support you without requiring public funds); or
a jobseeker; or
retired; or
someone who has had to cease working in the UK owing to permanent incapacity.


http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/documents-eea-nationals/

I thought that our resident polish bloke would have crawled out of the woodwork by now..............

[oss]

They don't relate to you, you are not British.

The whole point mate is you are a Polish person living permanently in the UK, that means you have exercised your rights of free movement in the EU, thus even living here in the UK you have the right to bring your family members to the EU to live with you, we in the UK are part of the EU and the fact that you are living in the UK means you can bring your wife to the UK.

British Citizens are not able to do this, not if we are living and working in Britain.

Yes this is confusing but you are in the best situation possible, as all others have said relax you don't have a problem :like:

[oss]

This relates to you..............:frust:



And this..............


I thought that our resident polish bloke would have crawled out of the woodwork by now..............

Well stated Dom ;) :like:

But I think ad4ms3 really is a Polish bloke :) one can find this place via Europinoy after all :)

[ad4ms3]

No more questions.. you've answered all of them.. thanks a lot..

woodwork, huh? :)

[ad4ms3]

I know now why my uncle has had such problems.. He has never ever been in Africa to see his wife to be. She also put down on application form that they haven't seen each other before marriage and as a proof of relationship ONLY printed emails were provided.
So yes, thanks guys, it will be easy for us :)