Are you planning on visiting Big Ben? The famous Trafalgar Square or you just want to sing London Bridge Is Falling Down at the London bridge? Whatever your reason is, first, you need to secure your visa.
I am just a student, living alone in the Philippines whilst my family lives abroad. The processing itself is easy, however, they are very strict with the requirements.
VFS Global is the official application centre of the UK. It means that anywhere in the world, the company that handles our applications is VFS. In the Philippines, they are located at VFS Manila Visa Application Centre, Mezzanine Floor, Unit M01 Ecoplaza Building 2305 Chino Roces Ave. Extension Makati City 1231 Manila.
If you do not know how to get there, take the taxi, however, you can also take the MRT and go down at Magallanes. From there, there will be jeepneys going in the extension of Pasong Tamo, ride it and alight at the Ecoplaza Building. The fare is 7.50Php (as of 12/02/2015).
Your first step would be completing the application form found in their website. It will cost you US$135 that’s why you need someone who has credit card to prepare it for you. Please do make reading a habit. Before I applied, I read lots of blog posts regarding their application.
You have to be honest with your answers because it might be one of the reason that you’ll get refused. If you have realized, after you printed your form, that there was a mistake, make a letter stating the mistake, the true answer and the reason why did you come up with the wrong answer. The policy is to be honest. I got rejected during my first application because I lack documents for support.
After paying online, you’ll receive your receipt and the next instructions on what to do on your e-mail. The letter contains your application confirmation and the appointment date and location.
There is also a choice of applying for their VIP lounge which costs 2,500Php. There will only be queue for those who applied for the VIP lounge (of course, expect lesser and most likely businessmen are there), there are spacious leather couches, free snack, free photocopying (in case you have only brought the original documents), free passport-sized photo, and you get to have the SMS and e-mail alerts for free!
I suggest that you get your visa during off-peak hours because the queue is really quick.
You need to be at the application centre 15 minutes before your appointment. TAKE NOTE: Do not go earlier than 15 minutes because you’ll have to wait outside and there’s not much to see or place to stay within the Ecoplaza building while waiting.
The guards will ask for your appointment time and they’ll check your bag. It is advisable that you only go with your folder containing your documents otherwise, if you have bags, you’ll have to leave them at the counter for a fee of 100Php.
You are also not allowed to use your phone or any other gadget inside. After securing your bag, go to the counter and a staff will check your application form. Print it in two copies just in case. She’ll give you a number and a checklist of your documents. Then proceed to the door where there is a scanner. Here, after the guards have checked you, you’ll need to go inside another room where the processing of application is. (You go right if you applied for the VIP lounge, otherwise, wait in that room ’till your number is called.
Together with your application form, bring other documents like a sponsor’s letter in case you will be sponsored by someone else (I did not have this during my first attempt, that’s why I got rejected). Also, if you are a student like me, print your certificate of registration, schedule, photocopied school ID, school calendars, and anything that would support your claim that you are a student. Check the guidelines for the passport photos as well because it’s very strict.
Before anything else, fill-up the form that the staff outside have given you. Then wait for your number to be called. It is best when you have arranged your documents according to the checklist so the staff waiting to collect it will just get your documents. He’ll then issue you the receipt and will tell you to wait for your name to be called for the biometrics. This will only take less than five minutes afterwhich, cross your fingers and pray for the approval!
It is not possible to attach more documents once they sealed your package. So, bring everything at once.
Good luck on your trip to the United Kingdom!
Ciao,
Capricious Fate
Unconsciously Capricious 