Taking Filipina Domestic Worker to UK

[sued51]

I employ a Filipina domestic worker to care for my Mother (with all the correct paperwork, so she can work within the EU as specified), I wish to take both my Mother and her carer to the UK for 6 days in March but am struggling to find out the correct procedure for her visa etc. The employment agency just say to contact the High Commission, they in turn say to use the Gov.UK website, however this appears to be for Phillippine nationals wanting to visit the UK to live/work/study or on holiday and requires lots of paperwork which my lady doesn't have, i.e. bank statements, income tax returns etc.

I have a found a company who specialises in obtaining UK visas for foreign nationals in Nicosia but they only open Monday and Tuesday and have no telephone contact, I have sent an e mail enquiry form and hope to hear from them next week, but just wondered if anyone had any experience of taking a domestic work to the UK for a short time and who could point me in the right direction.

Thanks in Advance

[WHL]

A friend of ours tried to take here domestic help/carer to the UK a few years ago, but it was so much hassle they gave up.

[sued51]

I suspect most people would with what I've had to do so far, but my Mother really wants to go, probably for the last time and it's going to be impossible to manage on my own, so for now I'll keep trying!

[WHL]

I suspect most people would with what I've had to do so far, but my Mother really wants to go, probably for the last time and it's going to be impossible to manage on my own, so for now I'll keep trying!

Good Luck, I think their are some agencies over there, that will provide home help for a fee, as a last resort?

[Jim B]

Sued
Use the Government website and once she has completed the form she will then be given the option to make an appointment at the Visa office in Nicosia, this is a separate office from the High Commission.
Your Domestic worker can only apply through this office if she has residency in Cyprus otherwise she would have to return to her home country.
The office in Nicosia does not issue the Visa, it just makes sure all the paperwork is correct and then it is forwarded on to somewhere or other.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Jim

[Wavy Dave]

Look up the HMA website and contact Louis who runs it. He is spot on with his knowledge.

[sued51]

Thanks Jim B - I've now managed to find the right application form and don't think we'll have any problems completing it, I just need to get all her life history!

Other than the cost of £93 which seems outrageous, hopefully we'll be able to manage the trip - it does make me wonder how so many people manage to get into the UK as illegals, but also I can understand why they do with all the hassle involved in doing things properly and no doubt it will be worse after the end of March...

No doubt that will start a debate!

[Jim B]

That's good news Sued. I recall I had to pay around £800 for my wife and daughters multi entry visitors visa when we visited the UK.
The Visa office is in Grivas Street but their are about 3 or 4 Grivas Streets in Nicosia so make sure you go to the right street which is to the left off the main route into the city centre; we did the grand tour of all the Grivas Streets before we eventually found the office.

Jim

[josef k]

We went on the intercity bus and, once we got to Nicosia, we hopped in a taxi and the driver knew exactly where it was and which entrance to use.

One thing to note. You pay for the visa on line, but you also have to make a separate payment for the visa interview prior to visiting. You can't make this payment when you get there. Unless the procedure has changed that is.

[J B]

I employ a Filipina domestic worker to care for my Mother (with all the correct paperwork, so she can work within the EU as specified), I wish to take both my Mother and her carer to the UK for 6 days in March but am struggling to find out the correct procedure for her visa etc.

Does anyone really need a 'visa' for a 6 day holiday in the UK?

[josef k]

Yes, if you are from the Philippines (and many other countries) you do, even if you are just transiting and don't leave the UK airport. You have to provide exhaustive paperwork, attend an interview, and have your picture and fingerprints taken. Then you are considered for a visa. Some are refused.

I think it's fair to say that most British don't realise how lucky they are in this respect.

[smudger]

Seems unfair when 'immigrants' are finding their way into UK with little problems and are indeed speedily supplied with generous benefits and a roof over their heads , and can then bring over shoals of relatives to avail themselves of the same benefits.

[josef k]

Ah yes, more Daily Mail type nonsense. For those with no right of settlement in the UK the actuality is that the "roof over their head" is likely to be a Detention Centre, complete with guard dogs and razor wire. You will find them at:
Brook House, Gatwick
Campsfield House, Oxfordshire
Colnbrook, Middlesex
Dungavel House, South Lanarkshire
Harmondsworth, Middlesex
Larne House, Antrim
Morton Hall, Lincolnshire
Pennine House, Manchester
Tinsley House, Gatwick
Yarl's Wood, Bedfordshire

In fact the UK has the largest detention centre system in Europe.

[mike strand2]

I applied for my carer to come with me to UK in 2017. Made copies of all correct paperwork, paid 93 GBP applications fee for visa. made appaointment in Nicosia, then waited 2 weeks for a decision. REFUSED.

Reason given was that I had applied for wrong type of visa. It should have been a Domestic Worker visa. These cost 500 GBP and the worker must be paid UK min wage, National Insurance bla, bla.

My advice is merely apply for a visitor visa & make no mention of the carer working/caring in the UK. On entry to UK, mother & carer should not present themselves at the same immigration desk. Even so, the UK can be extremely bloody minded when it comes to visitor visas for 3rd country nationals! Also, the holding of a visa does grant automatic entry, it's the immigration officer at arrivals decision.

[Jim B]

It is hit and miss whether you get a visa and any money paid up front is lost if the visa is refused. The last multiple entry visa I got for my wife was over £500 and £300 For the daughter which to me is just profiteering. Decisions are made arbitrarily, I have several friends (myself included) who have been refused visas for wives and close family with no reason given, reapplied and the visas were issued.

Jim