ECO clients David and Ann as they tie the knot in May 2023. After entering the UK on a Fiancée visa, the Filipina holder is given six (6) months from the time the visa was issued to marry.
One of the main requirements in filing for a UK Fiancée Visa is proof that the applicant from the Philippines will marry in the UK within six (6) months from her entry. The best proof of this is the Provisional Booking for the venue of the wedding.
According to UK rules, before any foreigner may be allowed to marry in the UK, a Notice of Marriage must be given in the Register office where the British fiancé/sponsor resides.
The notice of marriage should be conducted at the Register office where both partners have been living for at least seven (7) days. After the Notice of Marriage is given, the future bride and groom must wait at least 28 days before they can carry out and celebrate the wedding ceremony. The marriage must be celebrated within 12 months after giving notice.
AFTER THE WEDDING
The wedding celebration is the main event for all UK Fiancée visa holders. In fact it is mainly the reason why they apply for the UK Fiancée visa... To marry in the UK and eventually apply for a UK spouse visa, in order to finally become a citizen after a few years.
So the question now is, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE MARRIAGE? WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BY THE NEW FILIPINA WIFE?
After the grand celebration… after the wining and dining… after the dancing… after the champagne toasts and the honeymoon, the newly-wed couple must now get back to work on the application and continue the arduous task of applying for a Further Leave to Remain (FLR-m) and file it with the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS).
FURTHER LEAVE TO REMAIN
The process of filing for an FLR-(m) is carried out in order to convert the UK fiancée visa into a UK Spouse Visa. It is basically the filing of a UK partner visa inside the UK.
Under the general law of the UKVI, UK spouse visas can only be applied from outside the UK. So if you are in the UK on a Visit Visa or on a UK Marriage Visit Visa, the Filipina bride must return to the Philippines and file for the UK Spouse Visa if her ultimate goal is to settle in the UK with her British husband after their marriage in the UK.
However, if the Filipina enters the UK on the basis of a Fiancée visa and celebrates the marriage within six (6) months as laid out under the conditions of the UKVI rules, then she is allowed to file for the UK Spouse Visa even inside the UK and there is no need for her to return to her country of domicile to file for the UK Spouse Visa.
This process of filing the UK Spouse Visa inside the the UK right after the marriage is celebrated is called the Further Leave to Remain or the FLR-(m).
In the case of a Filipina holder of a UK Fiancée Visa, it is the process of converting her present visa into a UK Spouse Visa without the need of going outside the UK anymore.
It therefore allows her to extend her stay in the UK as a spouse for another 30 months or 2.5 years. If she stays in the UK for a period of five (5) years, she will be eligible to file for an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and eventually, British citizenship.
For more information on how ECO Immigration Consultancy can help you with your fiancée visa and eventually convert it to a UK Spouse Visa or FLR-(m), please do not hesitate to contact us by clicking the contact box below.
Or you may contact us at these numbers: +63 9175273009; WhatsApp/Viber: +63 9178305575; landline: +63 285465400.
One of the main requirements in filing for a UK Fiancée Visa is proof that the applicant from the Philippines will marry in the UK within six (6) months from her entry. The best proof of this is the Provisional Booking for the venue of the wedding.
According to UK rules, before any foreigner may be allowed to marry in the UK, a Notice of Marriage must be given in the Register office where the British fiancé/sponsor resides.
The notice of marriage should be conducted at the Register office where both partners have been living for at least seven (7) days. After the Notice of Marriage is given, the future bride and groom must wait at least 28 days before they can carry out and celebrate the wedding ceremony. The marriage must be celebrated within 12 months after giving notice.
AFTER THE WEDDING
The wedding celebration is the main event for all UK Fiancée visa holders. In fact it is mainly the reason why they apply for the UK Fiancée visa... To marry in the UK and eventually apply for a UK spouse visa, in order to finally become a citizen after a few years.
So the question now is, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE MARRIAGE? WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BY THE NEW FILIPINA WIFE?
After the grand celebration… after the wining and dining… after the dancing… after the champagne toasts and the honeymoon, the newly-wed couple must now get back to work on the application and continue the arduous task of applying for a Further Leave to Remain (FLR-m) and file it with the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS).
FURTHER LEAVE TO REMAIN
The process of filing for an FLR-(m) is carried out in order to convert the UK fiancée visa into a UK Spouse Visa. It is basically the filing of a UK partner visa inside the UK.
Under the general law of the UKVI, UK spouse visas can only be applied from outside the UK. So if you are in the UK on a Visit Visa or on a UK Marriage Visit Visa, the Filipina bride must return to the Philippines and file for the UK Spouse Visa if her ultimate goal is to settle in the UK with her British husband after their marriage in the UK.
However, if the Filipina enters the UK on the basis of a Fiancée visa and celebrates the marriage within six (6) months as laid out under the conditions of the UKVI rules, then she is allowed to file for the UK Spouse Visa even inside the UK and there is no need for her to return to her country of domicile to file for the UK Spouse Visa.
This process of filing the UK Spouse Visa inside the the UK right after the marriage is celebrated is called the Further Leave to Remain or the FLR-(m).
In the case of a Filipina holder of a UK Fiancée Visa, it is the process of converting her present visa into a UK Spouse Visa without the need of going outside the UK anymore.
It therefore allows her to extend her stay in the UK as a spouse for another 30 months or 2.5 years. If she stays in the UK for a period of five (5) years, she will be eligible to file for an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and eventually, British citizenship.
For more information on how ECO Immigration Consultancy can help you with your fiancée visa and eventually convert it to a UK Spouse Visa or FLR-(m), please do not hesitate to contact us by clicking the contact box below.
Or you may contact us at these numbers: +63 9175273009; WhatsApp/Viber: +63 9178305575; landline: +63 285465400.
Lewis couple visiting the sights in Cebu - May 2018.
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