My name is Dory and I am a naturalised British Citizen. I am in the process of applying online for my Filipino marriage partner to come and live with me in the UK on an Appendix FM Family Visa.
I've nearly completed the online application but I haven't submitted it yet.
1) ACCOMMODATION PROOF - at the end of the online application a list of supporting documents is generated showing what must be submitted together with the application - IT DOESN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT ACCOMMODATION PROOF.
Why not? I surely have to submit Proof of Suitable Accommodation.
I am living in my sister's / brother-in-law's house together with my daughter. They mortgage the house. What proof do I need to send? Any suggestions?
2) EMPLOYER - my employer will be providing me with a letter of employment as required with all of the relevant information on. I also have the last 12 months salary slips as required.
Do I need the Employer to date stamp and sign each of the 12 salary slips or is this not necessary?
3) CASH SAVINGS - to satisfy the financial earnings aspect I the sponsor am using SALARY and CASH SAVINGS. For the Cash Savings my question is about THE DECLARATION of where the Cash Savings have come from. There seems to be no Template Declaration to complete - are they just expecting a handwritten/typed letter from me stating where it has come from - is this acceptable?
4) WHOSE NAME 'DECLARATION' for COMPLETING THE ONLINE APPLICATION - normally I guess the Applicant (my husband in the Philippines) should complete the application - the reality is that I have completed the application in his name.
For declaration purposes, should we leave it stating that he has completed the application or should we state in the relevant section that I (as the sponsor in the UK) have completed it on his behalf?
Are applications looked upon less favourably if the sponsor completes it on the applicants behalf or is this really not an issue or a concern?
5) UPLOADING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION (online VFS Philippines link) - Once the application is submitted online and you have a Reference Number, you have to Register with VFS Philippines and Upload The Supporting Documents.
The Applicant is my husband in the Philippines and I am the Sponsor wife in the UK.
He has some of the documents in the Philippines and I have most of them here in the UK with me.
Is this a straightforward process? Did anybody have any problems with this that they could share with me?
Is it easy for him in the Philippines to upload his documents via the link provided and is it also possible for me to upload the documents that i have here in the UK with me via the same link?
* ORIGINALS - Once all have been uploaded, DOES THE APPLICANT in the Philippines need to take all the originals with them to the future appointment with VFS Philippines - or is this not necessary?
6) SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION via VFS UK service - I've read that since June/July 2020, applicants and sponsors can use this service to submit by post copies of all supporting documents to a VFS UK address for Scanning and Attaching to the application.
Am I correct in thinking that this is not just for all UK based applications but even for our application (Applicant in Philippines / Sponsor in the UK)?
At £100 it is not cheap but if anybody has any experience with this, was it straightforward and did it work. (As most of the documents are here with me, my husband could send his documents to me here in the UK and I could send them all for Scanning and Uploading by VFS UK using this service at £100).
7) FAMILY VISA online - Has anybody been in this exact position - that is applying for their Filipino marriage partner (or other nationality marriage partner) to come to the UK on an Appendix FM Family Settlement Visa?
Any problems that happened / any advice in general?
VFS PHILIPPINES Manila - does anybody know the contact details of the relevant VFS Philippines Manila Helpdesk for an application to the UK. That is Email address and Contact telephone Number. I've found it hard to locate on their website - the one that I did find turned out to be the Helpdesk for applications from the Philippines to Norway and they didn't give me the applications from the Philippines to the UK Helpdesk contact details.9) PRIORITY VISA - Did anybody pay for a Priority Visa (for settlement or migration service) with VFS Philippines Manila - was it worth the extra money / did it speed things up?
Thanks for taking the time to read all my questions. If anybody can answer any of the above questions I look forward to reading your replies.
Best wishes, Dory.
