Hello! I just want to share my visa journey as FIANCEE VISA applicant. It was quite stressful for me because I had no idea before how it goes. Luckily, I met some wonderful people along the way who generously provided me the information and things I had to do during my visa application.
My husband and and I had our plan of staying in the Philippines for one year or two before we permanently stay in Belgium. Unfortunately, his working commitments did not allow him so we decided to apply for fiancee visa. I had a doubt before because I thought it should be at least 2 years in relationship and more than 40 days together to be qualified for the mentioned visa. We were not yet one year together in relationship when we decided to apply for fiancee visa. We just both thought to give it a try. It was the best solution for us to be together for good at that time.
It was the last week of May 2014 when I went to Manila to start processing all my papers. I complied with all the general requirements stated in the official website of Belgium Embassy in Makati. In the mid of June I sent all the necessary papers to my husband in Belgium for him to be able to apply for our Marriage Declaration Act in the town hall. We both thought that it would not take long because some couples were able to get theirs in just a couple of days or one week. But then we realized that it depends in the town hall where the sponsor lives in. Unfortunately, the town hall in my husband's place did not release our Marriage Declaration Act in the time we expected. We waited for more than a month before we had it.
While we were waiting for our Marriage Declaration Act, I made myself busy preparing all the proofs of our relationship. It includes our pictures, e-mails, chat logs, letters, hotel reservations, money remittance, etc. I submitted more than 500 pages of proofs to the embassy when I lodged my visa. It is required to submit 1 set of original and 2 sets of photocopies. Can you imagine how thick of papers I brought all by myself to the embassy? I thought it would be better to have a lot of proofs because I was really hoping for the approval of the consul. Just my way of convincing the concerned people that my husband and I have a genuine relationship.
After more than a month of waiting, we finally got our Marriage Declaration Act. My husband mailed it to me together with his papers. The list of requirements for sponsor is also stated in the official website of the Belgium Embassy. It was August when I called the embassy to have an appointment and September was the earliest available date that they gave me.
It was September 10 when I went to the embassy to lodge my visa application. Luckily, I brought all my papers so when the visa officer asked for a certain document I was able to submit it on the same day. After one month, October 10, my reference number was already in the site where every visa applicant can check the status of their visa application. Every passing day was stressful for me and my husband because we were not 100% sure to get a visa approval.
One month had passed but still no update in the site about the status of my visa application. My husband did follow-up every now and then to the town hall and Ministry of Foreign Affairs but they told us to just wait. It was the first week of December when my husband received a phone call from the Justice Department for his interview. After his 2-hour interview, he was instructed to call on the next day for the result. He called the town hall on the next day and he was informed that everything was fine and the Justice Department gave us approval. They were just waiting for the confirmation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So my husband called again on the next day to confirm the news. I checked my visa status in the site and it already changed from my previous status. It stated there that they would grant the visa upon the submission of additional documents. It was September 10 when I got my visa approval. It took 3 months from the date I lodged my visa. I left the Philippines last December 2014.
Applying for visa can be really stressful if it is the only possible way for the couple to be together again for good. Many factors can affect the decision for visa application. I hope this helps! Good luck to all visa applicants!