Applying For UK Spouse Visa From Philippines

(A) How to apply for a UK Spouse Visa from Philippines?

One who lives in Philippines and wants to stay in UK with his/her spouse in UK can apply for the UK spouse visa from Philippines.

This UK spouse visa will be valid for two and half years. In case the visa holder wants to extend his UK spouse visa he/she can apply for extension of the visa when he/she is in UK. Those who have lived in UK for five years can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.

For spouses from Philippines, applying for the UK spouse visa from Philippines and obtaining the visa is the first step for their entry into UK and live in UK with their spouse. The application for UK spouse visa from Philippines is to be completed online and submit to UK Visas and Immigration.

Those who live in Philippines and want to live with their spouse in UK can take the help of a UK Spouse Visa solicitor to prepare the application for UK Spouse Visa.

(B) Spouse Visa requirements

1. The Filipino who want to apply for UK spouse visa from Philippines must be married to a British citizen or an individual who has Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK or a person who has Settled Status or Permanent Residence in UK. The applicant is required to provide the proof of his/her marriage with the UK spouse.

2. The sponsor of the visa who is either a British national or a person settled in the UK and who is also the spouse of the applicant must have a gross income of not less than £18,600 annually in case he/she is employed. In case the sponsor is not an employee he/she must have been maintaining a savings of not less than £62,000 for the last 6 months or more. It is understood that the sponsor will be relying on these savings to bring his/her spouse from Philippines to UK. The above financial requirement is applicable when there is only single applicant.

In case the spouse takes one child also with him/her to UK, the gross income of the sponsor should be £22400 annually. For each additional child £2400 will be added. Even if the applicant for UK spouse visa from Philippines is also working there, only the income of the British sponsor will be considered.

For calculating the savings of sponsors who are not employees, the savings either of the couple in Philippines can also be used.

3. The applicant is required to prove that he/she is in genuine as well as subsisting relationship with the sponsor. The applicant should provide evidence such as photograph of the applicant and the sponsor together and conversations they had among them. The applicant may also produce their Filipino marriage certificate, proof of co-habitation, bank statements, birth certificates of children, if any, joint bills or proof of joint travel.

4. The UK sponsor of the UK spouse visa must prove that he/she has sufficient facilities to accommodate the spouse who comes from Philippines. Evidence of the UK property where the UK sponsor and the spouse from Philippines where both will be living is to be provided.

5. The applicant for UK spouse visa from Philippines is required to meet the suitability criteria as per the Immigration Rules. The applicant must prove that he/she had no criminal convictions in the last ten years.

6. The applicant from Philippines is required to clear the English language test at CEFR level A1 in accordance with the UK Immigration Rules.

7. The applicant from Philippines is required to undergo screening to examine whether he/she has active TB (Tuberculosis) infection and the TB test certificate must be provided while applying for the UK spouse visa from Philippines.

8. After securing the online application form, booking the appointment and paying the visa fee, the applicant has to go personally to the visa centre to submit the document and to provide biometric information.

(C) English language test centres

Applicant for UK spouse visa from Philippines can take the English language test at any one of the following test centres where English language test at CEFR level A1/A2 is conducted throughout the year.

1. BC | PH001 | BC Manila

STI College – Cubao, STI Academic Center, Cubao, P. Tuazon Blvd. corner 5th Ave, Cubao, Quezon City 1109, Manila. (IELTS computer based testing)

2. BC | PH001 | BC Philippines

Cebu Parklane International Hotel, Corner Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Escario Street,

Cebu City, Philippines. (IELTS {all facets} Life Skills)

3. BC | PH001 | BC Philippines

Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Ortigas Avenue Corner, Asian Development Bank Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines. (IELTS {all facets} Life Skills)

4. IDP | PH152 | IDP Cebu |

Seda Ayala Center Cebu, Cardinal Rosales Avenue, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City (IELTS – all facets )

5. IDP | PH152 | IDP Education Ltd |

Unit 104 G/F. Keppel Center, Cardinal Rosales Avenue, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City 3000, Philippines. (Life Skills IELTS computer based testing)

6. IDP | PH009 | IDP Manila |

16th Floor, Marco Polo Ortigas, Sapphire Road, Pasig City (Manila)

IELTS (all facets) Life Skills IELTS computer based testing.

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(D) TB clinics

As part of the UK spouse visa from Philippines application process all the applicants including dependent children over the age of 11 years are required to undergo screening for active Tuberculosis (TB) infection. For this rule there is no exception. Each applicant is required to undergo the mandatory medical scanning before submitting the UK spouse visa application at the British High Commission in Manila. The applicant should undergo the screening in a clinic that is approved by the UK Border Agency.

The British High Commission will accept only the certificates issued by IOM (International Organization for Migration) Health Centre, Manila. Certificates from any other doctors will not be accepted. In case the test report shows that the applicant has active infection of TB he/she cannot apply for UK spouse visa. In such cases, treatment will be recommended and additional tests will be conducted after 6 months to confirm that the treatment was successful.

The applicant is required to pay the prescribed fee for TB testing. The doctors decision will be final. The TB test certificate is valid for only 6 months. The certificate is to be produced at the time of entry to the UK. Hence when you travel to UK ensure to take the certificate also with you.

(E) Visa Centres Location

The applicant for UK spouse visa from Philippines should personally go to the visa centre with the appointment letter and all other documents. He/she must be at the centre 15 minutes  before the appointment. Addresses of visa centres are given below.

Manila 

VFS Global Services Philippines Private Inc.,
Mezzanine Floor Unit M01, Ecoplaza Building,
2305 Chino Roces Avenue Extension Makati City, Metro Manila 1231

Cebu 

VFS Global Services Philippines Private Inc.,
9th Floor, Keppel Center, Unit 905, Samar Loop
Cor. Cardinal Rosales Avenue,
Cebu Business Park, Cebu City 6000F

(The British Embassy in the Philippines is at 120Upper McKinley Rd, Taguig, Metro Manila)

(F) Prices in local currency

The UK spouse visa fees for Filipino nationals come to ₱99,459. The priority service charges come to ₱37,419. 

So, total UK spouse visa fees for Filipino nationals including priority service charges come to ₱136,878.

The UK embassy fees charged in Philippines will be the same for fiance, proposed civil partner, child’s parent and dependent child applications under Appendix FM.

(G) Visa processing times

The processing time for UK spouse visa application from Philippines is normally 60 days. With the priority service, the processing time is 30 days.

For all non-settlement type applications, UK visa processing time from Philippines is normally 15 days. With priority service it will be 5 days.

(H) Priority Service

Those who require the decision on their application for UK spouse visa from Philippines in 30 days instead of 60 days from the date of lodging of their application can avail the Priority Visa Settlement Service. Those who ask for Priority Service are required to pay additional fees ₱37,419. The 30 days time is just an indication/estimate. In case various issues that are to be considered arise during the processing of the application there will be delay in releasing the decision.

In case the application for UK spouse visa is found not straightforward, the process will be hindered and there will be delay in making the final decision.

The visa application centre wants to give priority to such applications as well as contact the applicant to inform that the visa will be ready within 30 days. However, this timescale may not be applicable if the application is found as not straightforward. Even in such cases the application will be given priority at every stage of the visa application processing.

UK visas and Immigration is committed to process the applications as per global customer service standards.

When your visa application will be considered as not straightforward?

The visa application will be considered as not straightforward against any one of the following findings:

1. You were refused visa for UK

2. You were refused leave to enter UK

3. You were deported, removed or otherwise asked to leave UK

4. It was found that you overstayed your period of leave in UK

5. Your leave to remain in UK was curtailed by the Home Office

6. Home Office refused you leave to remain in UK

7. You were refused visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the US or the Schengen countries

8. While you were in UK, the police detained, interviewed or prosecuted for some offence

9. You have record of an unspent criminal conviction in any country

10. According to criminal records, you have committed a criminal offence in any country.

It is highly suggestible to REQUEST A FREE CALL BACK for your requirements before the planning process. Having complete information empowers you to make clear decisions.