James Hubbard

[QUOTE=James Hubbard;236646][CENTER][SIZE="3"][B][U]Intro[/U]:
[/B]
Ok, so it took only a few days for my wife to get her visa granted. Something in the region of only 3 days' processing time.

I will try briefly to explain some of the reasons why that came together and what we did to "make it happen".
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[B]Point 1)

--Be Super Organised.[/B]

The more organised the easier you make it for the ECO. Think about it for a minute.

Don't you appreciate it in work if someone makes it easy for you? If someone cuts out all the hassle and just makes life a bit more bearable?

The ECO's are no different.

So make their job easy. I will give you a few steps here.

--Organise all your papers in the order of the "checklist". Do NOT deviate from that. Do not try to improve on their order. If they say they want to see copies of the sponsor's passport first, just do it. They have their reasons.

--Be meticulous not to leave anything out. Dissect the checklist and make sure you have included EVERYTHING.

--Make sure everything is neatly presented. This says a lot about you.

-- Start each new part of your folder with a separate A4 covering letter. This will really make it easy for them to know where the next section begins and the previous one ended.

--Invest in Dividers - for the same reason as before.

--Include a "Contents" page, and note subcontents on this page, that will really really help.



[B]Point 2... Mindset

You MUST be a bit obsessive about the whole thing.[/B]

To be as exacting as I have mentioned above, it does require a certain element of obsessiveness. Not to the point where it becomes a mental illness, but to the point where it's a [B]Mindset[/B]!

Mindset is all important.

I'll tell you what, It may have only taken a few days for the visa to get processed, but that visa has been 3.5 years in the making.

We have been obsessive about keeping every little document, no matter how trivial ... and look, it paid off.


[B]Point 3
Don't do overkill[/B]


Ok, look, as much as I have told you to include everything, don't give them every dang document in your life. If you bore them to tears, they'll not get to the meat of your application, which brings me nicely onto my final point



[B]Point 4

Application form and Letter of Intent.
[/B]

-Fill in application form properly and fully.

-Don't leave part 9 blank, as it's the opportune space for the applicant to sell herself to the ECO. Sell sell sell. Tell them why you deserve a visa, but in a humble and businesslike way.

-Don't ever use a chatty or emotional tone. The ECO cares about concrete matters in a business way - you got money, place to live, and a solid marriage. Yes or No, tick box, NEXT... so don't think that because you're emotionally involved that the ECO will be! Adopt a project-oriented approach. It will help and pay off.

-Regarding the letter of intent or Sponsor's letter ... there are a number or samples here for you to just put into your own words.

I literally cut and pasted one that Joe Bloggs had put on here (and i think it's the same one that's been put around this site many times).

It's short, sharp, succinct and to the point. That's what wins points!


SO there you have it.

I would be remiss though if I didn't include the following points:



[U][B]Additional Points
[/U][/B]-I also made sure to offer my wife a job from my company.
-I own my house outright, so it's a big plus
-We lived together in the Phils, so it's easy to establish evidence of relationship
-We had about double in savings what we're recommended. HAD is the notable word there ;) definitely don't now! lol


So there it is.

Hopefully that helps. If it does please let me know :)


James "Helpful" Hubbard![/QUOTE]