Fiancee visa advice needed

DebbieR

My ex-husband has applied for and successfully got a fiancee visa for his Filipino girlfriend. He went through an immigration solicitor to do this but the solicitor wasn't aware that she needs anything else to come over to the UK.. His fiancee since done a bit of googling and realised that she needs to have a CFO stamp on her passport, which she's in the process of sorting out, but she also seems to think that she needs a sponsorship letter from my ex to show at the airport. I've tried to research this and it looks as though the fiancee visa is enough but she's petrified that she gets turned away at Manila airport if she doesn't have one. Has anyone been through the process to advise please? My ex has had no joy whatsoever with his solicitor who doesn't seem at all experienced in the process. Thanks. 

Pollycat

Start with gov.uk

DebbieR

I've been on the Gov.UK site and it explains all the process for getting the actual visa, which they do have. It's the sponsor letter that we're trying to find out about, which is something to do with the Philippines side of it. The only reference I can see to sponsor letters on the Gov.UK website in in scenarios where you're trying to apply for a relative to come to the UK. He's tried to contact the Philippines Embassy to get some advice but they don't seem to answer the phone.

Annisele

You might get better advice on a forum aimed at Filipinos than on a UK forum. I'm not hugely surprised that your ex's UK solicitor is stronger on the process to enter they UK than they are on the process to leave the Phillipines, and again the fiancee might do better getting in coutry advice.

This is a US site (which I can't vouch for), but it seems to suggest the whole point of the CFO stamp etc is to protect Filipinos from human trafficking, and it gives a list of documents that might be needed for leaving the Phillpines for the purpose of entering the US. It looks as though Filipino side is going to want to know that your ex's relationship with his fiancee is genuine and he's not trying to harm her.

DebbieR

Thanks for the link Annisele, that explains things a bit better.

smudge56

Also note that if they have children and want to apply for a British passport for the child she will have to supply a CENOMAR - Certificate of no marriage - before the passport will be issued.

tightauldgit

A fiancee visa is enough for you to enter the UK and no sponsorship letter is needed. However, yes, the Philippines has loads of internal paperwork to prevent human trafficking none of which is really related to the UK immigration process but purely for any Filipino going to live overseas. Not surprised a UK immigration lawyer wouldn't necessary know about these things as its really something that you would talk to the Filipino authorities about. 

A sponsorship letter is easy enough to provide in any case so may as well provide one on the off chance it's needed?