UK Visa

[riksy07]

^sis, VFS is just a collecting agency for the Embassy. You simply submit your documents to them. They don't decide on your visa kasi the documents will be forwarded by them to the Embassy. Tapos ibabalik nalang sa kanila the documents pag may decision na. The VFS people don't even know if approved or denied ang application mo. Basta sis dapat maprove mo saan galing the funds you will be using for your trip. As for the Schengen visa, I suggest magpaschedule ka na sa Embassy where you plan to lodge your application. For sure kasi niyan for next month na ang mabibigay na apppointment schedule sa iyo.

[melvel]

The online application form is weird.  I can't enter all the details of my travel for the last ten years.  Ganito ba talaga to?

[riksy07]

^oo sis. What I did was I had to shortcut my travel details. For example, I consolidated all my HK travel. Nilagay ko lang "HK: 4/27/07, 9/9/10" ganun na lang sis. Sigueo pag super dami na sis the most recent ones na lang ilagay mo.

[melvel]

Thanks!  Ang labo, I can only enter my trips for the last couple of years.  So you only entered the date you left the Philippines?

[riksy07]

^yes sis. Kasi pag nilagay ko pa the return date eh di na kasya. Makikita naman nila sa passport ko the return date nung trips ko. I think the list is only para makita nila how much you've traveled na.

[candy_tone]

hi! ask ko lang ilan days ba yung waiting period para malaman if your visa is approved? Nag personal appearance na kasi ako sa UK- VFS last week. Ilan days ba talaga yung processing time akala ko kasi 2 weeks our travel period is on April 20 di pa kmi naka apply ng Schengen visa kasi di pa binabalik yung passport schedule of pick up of documents is on Mar 22 Ask ko lang kung aabot pa kaya kmi? hayy.. im super worried all of our travel expenses are already paid including land arrangements, hotel and airfare  yung visa na lang ang kulang..... wah!!!

[riksy07]

^sis, mine took 7 working days. The UKBA site I think states the average number of days ng processing ng visa. I suggest na magpaschedule ka na ng appointment sa embassy where you will apply for Schengen visa. Ako kasi noon I estimated lang na in one month marerelease na my UK visa. Kaya after ko magsubmit ng documents sa VFS, I scheduled na agad with the French embassy for an appointment. Sakto ang next available schedule is in one month (bale January 4 ako nagsubmit sa VFS, ang nakuha ko namang schedule sa French Embassy is February 4 kasi iyon na lang ang earliest available date for appointment). Usually maraming nagpapaschedule ng Schengen visa appointments kaya baka ang mabigay na sayo na schedule is one month after pa. Pero siguro depende rin kung saang Embassy ka mag-aapply. For Schengen visa naman it took me 5 working days bago ko nakuha.

[candy_tone]

ok thanks sis riksy07  for the reply. At least medyo nawala yung worries ko anyway our personal appearance sa UK-VFS is last March 7 sana ma - release naman kaagad yung results. Nag worry lang talaga kmi kasi tumawag yung travel agency kanina to inform us na baka 15-30 working days ang approval ng UK visa... our travel period is on April 20 na kaya medyo natakot kmi....

[little_princess]

^ usually 7-10 working days but it will also depend on their liad of applications as well as the documents that you presented. My last visa application, i availed of the fast track processing and i got my passport after 2 days lang but you have to have a valud us or schengen visa na. Do you have an appointment na ba for your schengen visa? It takes around 7 working days as well for the passport to be released depending on the country.

[candy_tone]

wah... wala pa nga kami schengen visa kasi advise sa amin ng travel agency na unahin yung UK visa kasi our first port of entry is UK... Scheduled pick up ng courier for the Schengen Visa is as scheduled on Mar. 22 kung di nabalik yung passport namin by that time hindi na matuloy yung trip.. Today is Day 8 na sana ma-release na kaagad... Super worried na

[little_princess]

^ did you sign iup for the email updates? Or there is usually a tracking nimber that you can inquire in the website. Give it at least 7 working days or around 10 days minimum. If march 22 pa schengen mo, kaya pa yan as it's just about 2 weeks processing with then maximum time

[candy_tone]

yes i tracked it online at Vfs global  it just says visa under process at the British High Commission. I also availed of their text message service latest text on Mar 14 your visa application is being processed at the British Embassy. All applications are assessed individually whuch may result in varied processing times. This is currently our peak season hence applications can take longer to process.


Sana nga i would hear from them soon kasi sa March 22 dapat nasa amin na yung passport for our Schengen visa applcation i would update you all kung may progress.... Kinda worried because our travel agency advised us to send a letter to manilavisaenquiries@fco.gov.uk to follow up on the status of our visa application. I think its a system generated email and this is what i got.

Thank you for contacting the UK Border Agency in Manila.  We aim to provide a substantive response to your query within 7 working days.
 
For more information about how to apply for a UK Visa in your country of residence please visit http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/wheretoapply/
 
Your views are important to us. We welcome customer feedback and would appreciate any time you are able to take to send us your comments. We will use your comments to identify potential opportunities for us to improve our service.
 
If you have already submitted an application for a visa for the United Kingdom please take a few minutes to complete the UK Border Agency Customer Satisfaction Survey at http://feedback.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/v.asp?i=37412smumc.
 
If you have not submitted a visa application but have any comments or feedback please email us at manilavisaenquiries@fco.gov.uk including the word ‘Feedback’ in the subject line.
 
 
 
Correspondence Team - Manila Visa Hub
International Operations and Visas
UK Border Agency

[little_princess]

The web and text service would be the same talaga and once it is ready for pick up or delivery, it will appear there. The email naman would be answered though the people there give generic answers lang. It's really a wait and see process unlike schengen visa na may specific time frame. Basta minimum 2 weeks yan. Goodluck!

[candy_tone]

update ko lang i finally received an email from UKBA Manila visa hub. I called them up today to follow up the status of our visa application buti naman nag reply via email

Your visa will be despatched shortly. Passports can normally be collected from the Visa Application Centre after 3 days. Applicants in Australia and New Zealand should allow 3 days before tracking their documents via the local post. UKBA-Manila Visa Hub


This is an automated message. Please do not respond to this email address as incoming mail is not answered.

Forwardred the message to our travel agency as well. Sabi nila they will try to pick up our passports today if wala pa hopefully by tomorrow sana makuha na. Need it by March 22 for our Schengen visa.
Super excited na ako... Btw, ask ko lang saan kayo nagpapalit ng euros? Mas mura ba sa bank magpapalit?

[candy_tone]

Our itinerary is for 1 month at these countries: London, France, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany & Netherlands.

Ask ko lang yung currency na papalit ko Euros ba lahat? or kelangan ng british pound? Saan ba mas ok magpapalit sa bank ba or money exchange? Pls suggest. Thanks

[little_princess]

^ if i'm not mistaken all countries except UK is Euro then UK is Pounds. Better to change sa mga money changer but canvass ka din sa rate congrats! if you got an email today, baka tomorrow or the day after pwede na to pick it up.

[riksy07]

^@candytone:

Sis, sa Sanry's GB1 ako nagpapalit ng money. I bought GBP and Euros from them. Okay naman their rates and I got my foreign currency the following day na agad. 24 hours reservation. Tapos they texted me pa na available na my foreign currency for pick-up.

[little_princess]

a family friend is a money changer, very compatitive rates niya and i always get my euros from her if you want, i can give you her contact details.

[melvel]

Is there parking at the UK Visa Application Center?  Sa Monday na kami and I was wondering if I should bring a car or mag cab na lang ako.

[candy_tone]

hi! may parking space doon sa eco plaza building

hi Sis little_princess Pls PM na lang yung contact details.... Saka na kami papalit pag malapit na yung departure. Anyway, canvass kami ng lowest rate kasi 5 pax kami