UK Fiancee Visa - Information on the Philippine Application and Interview

I intend to share my encounter in particular to those fiancee visa applicants.

I initially met my fiancee in the UK online through Yahoo Chat. He, then, visited me after 6 months. Before that, we were already contemplating on applying for a visa as we were honestly and wildly in love, we could feel a fantastic future as one. We prepared enough despite the fact that our relationship was only 9 months old by the time we applied. After 1 month and a week, the UK Embassy scheduled me for an 8:00 am interview.

Here's the list of papers we submitted:

IDENTIFICATION:
Passport, NBI Clearance, NSO-SECPA Birth Certificate
Sponsor's Birth Certificate
Full copy of sponsor's passport, personal information.
Scanned photocopy of sponsor's driver's certificate

EVIDENCE OF ACCOMMODATION:
Deed of Property
Property Details (highlighted our sole use of the room)
Mortgage Statements: Year 2007 and Year 2008
Letter of No Objection from the mutual landlord

EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL CAPACITY:
Payslips
P60 end of Year Certificate
Letter of Employment, Copy of Full Contract Details, Calling cards
Bank Statements
Letter of Claim Payment for the policy surrendered
Natwest Surrender Value Illustration
Transaction Details: E-Savings Account

EVIDENCE OF RELATIONSHIP:
Letter of Support from the Sponsor
Provisional Booking for the Wedding
Provisional Booking for Wedding Lunch
E-mail Transcripts
Chat Logs
SMS Log
Screenshots of Chat Sessions
MoneyGram Receipts
Flower Receipts
Telephone Bills

EVIDENCE OF ENCOUNTER:
Boarding Passes and E-tickets, Hotel and Restaurant Receipts, Photos
Letters, Postcard, Used Phone Cards, Used Call and Text Cards

Extra supporting document:
Birth Certificates of Sponsor's Dependants

Lastly, I gave these additional docs during the day of interview:

I also included an email from his kids that will show they acknowledge me as their step-mum.

MY ADVICE/TIPS:

The day prior to your interview, take time to get to know where the embassy is. Study the area around it. I didn't know that it's not acceptable to just stay anywhere in the area. It's in a financial/business neighborhood so every stranger is considered a "threat".

Before you go to interview, relax your mind and body with a protracted soak in the tub, it eases the tensions you have. Be comfortable, wear something semi-casual, that is a blouse and slacks/skirt. I arrived there at 7.30, I wasn't permitted to hang around and the guard instructed me to come back at 7.50 and go somewhere. I think it was Mini-Stop where you can kill time and eat something. By the way, guards don't pity you even if it's showery outside. You can't go to the shed of the underpass and linger there. A guard will advise you not to hang around, they are suspicious of just anyone. A police guy will go up with you to the 15th floor once you are called for interview.

Opt to be interviewed in English. It's a big plus. A lot of applicants want to have an interpreter though they understand the language well. Be confident and constant with your answers. Some questions may be repeated in a different way. You may be distracted with the look of the ECO but please sustain eye contact.

I found out they wear very casual clothes. Well I was expecting they would wear a suit so I was astounded but then I felt comfortable right from the beginning. There are only 4 interview rooms, don't chat too much with the others while you wait because the ECO will just call up your name anytime. Between you and the ECO is a glass barrier, don't be scared to say if you can't hear well because he/she will modify the volume for you. Also, don't be frightened to ask the ECO to reiterate the question if it's not clear to you.

Some questions that were asked from me:
Why do you desire to go to UK?
When and where did you first get together and in person
When and where will the marriage take place
What does he do, what do I do
When is his birthday

The ECO will be taking notes on the computer, typing as you talk and sometimes ask another question while he/she types your answer. So be very attentive even if he doesn't look at you.

When you are told to wait outside, do so with much patience. Some were given a distinct time to go back and some were not. In my case, I was waiting for like forever there. I figured out, they normally discuss your application inside once you are done with the interview process. It's like the ECO or/and assistants will hold consultation inside whether you are permitted for an entry to UK or not.

There are hidden cameras in the embassy. Behave yourself even if you are waiting for long. I felt like they observe everything once you are inside, your look, facial expressions, gestures and behaviour count during and after the interview. Think of it as if the interview doesn't end there. A lot of applicants there were impatient of the results.

There were many refusals that day, mostly family/visit visa. I guessed I was the only one for fiancee visa. So, I was blessed somehow that mine was not the same and the long wait was all worth it, they gave me the visa that day. You'll know you are denied if there's a white paper (refusal letter, appeal form) along with your passport.

I hope you find this useful.

*Please be aware that requirements change, please check on the official government site.