From left to right: Adam and Lucy, Lucy and Pat wait at the NAIA for their UK flight, Lucy and Jean, Janice with fiancee Alex, Winnie with ECO secretary Jazmine Ceria while the latter gives Winnie's passport with the UK Visa vignette
Manila, Philippines - When the nationwide lockdown was declared here in the Philippines last March 2020, our firm ECO Immigration Consultancy had just finished filing UK Settlement Visas for four clients.
Three of the applications filed for the UK Fiancée Visa while the other filed applied for the UK Spouse Visa.
When we filed the applications, these four ladies were full of excitement and anticipation hoping that a wonderful, exciting and abundant future awaits them.
But then the lockdown was declared and because of this, all four became very nervous and concerned that their applications were going to be affected. This after the UKVI announced it was going to temporarily stop operations in major parts of the world (including the Philippines) in an effort to stop the spread of the pandemic.
The months of April, May and the better part of June came and went but still was no word from the Home Office. Take note that official UKVI rules prescribe that processing for any type of UK Settlement Visa is 60 days, but more than 100 days after we filed, there was still no news from the Home Office.
In the latter part of June, the Home Office sent word that the applications were placed on hold due to the covid-19.
“We apologize for the inconvenience, but due to the worldwide impact of covid-19 and resulting visa application centre closures in your region, your application has been placed on hold,” the UKVI explained.
The Home Office however assured the applicants that the deferral was due to the pandemic and applicants need not worry that there was something wrong with their papers.
“We would like to reassure customers that this is due to the operational impacts of the covid-19. Customers should not be concerned that there is something wrong with their application. Once the VAC’s re-open and your application can be processed, we will contact you,” the Sheffield office guaranteed.
Thus, we patiently waited as the restless and worried clients called and texted ECO-Friendly from time to time asking for news or any development. All we could say was for them to stay calm, relax and stay safe because no use having an approved application if they get the covid-19 themselves.
As the days passed, the Sheffield office would send assurances in the email that the applications were being processed slowly and that applicants should just wait for the result of their application.
True enough, when July stepped in, the passports came a-rolling in!!!
One by one the passports with the UK Visa vignettes started to arrive and one by one, the ECO-Friendly clients started to rejoice!
By now three of the happy clients are with their loved ones in the UK enjoying each other, while the last one is awaiting her flight by the end of September. Of course the three had to undergo 14-day quarantine before they can set out and enjoy the UK scenery.
No worries, they are together with their loving British partners for 14 enjoyable days inside the comforts of their UK home!!!
Congratulations Lucy, Pat, Janice and Winnie!
Have a good life in the UK and stay safe!
AS FOR NEW APPLICANTS PLANNING ON LODGING THEIR RESPECTIVE APPLICATIONS, THE VISA APPLICATION CENTRE HERE IN MANILA IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US FOR DETAILS OR QUERIES REGARDING YOUR INTENT TO FILE A UK SETTLEMENT VISA APPLICATION.
JUST CLICK THE ECO-FRIENDLY CONTACT BOX BELOW TO EMAIL OR CONTACT US.
Click this ECO-Friendly contact box for your queries
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