Experiences with embassies in the Philippines.

...and what happens when Duterte "hunts" some criminals down? In the context of who it was written to, what that person's history with "hunting" criminals is and with the anger shown in the letter it seems - to me - there was quite a bit of malice in the comment.

Applicant A seems to have made a mistake. Applicant B seems to have knowingly lied and falsified documents. Applicant B should be arrested, thrown in prison for awhile, deported and banned from ever entering that country IMO.

However, they are both examples of why Filipino visa applicants should be highly scrutinized, you simply can't trust what they write down. They either don't follow instructions, they don't understand them or they straight up lie on the forms to try to get what they want. When a significant portion of people are doing this then you have to take a closer look at what everyone from that country is claiming. People that do that nonsense are not a benefit to your country and should be kept out. If your country has a lot of integrity and discipline in the culture (such as Japan) you don't want to be letting in people who have basically zero of those traits. If Filipinos are upset about being scrutinized by immigration maybe they should look at the people from their own country and blame them.

In the US being a mother gives you no right to visit the US (not until the child is 18 or 21). I do not know German/EU immigration law.

That 35 year old Filipina was trying to get two different types of visas. Just because you were given 3 tourist visas does mean you are entitled to a different type of visa. Without seeing the paperwork or reason for being denied I will side with German immigration. I will almost always give the benefit of doubt to immigration until someone can show me proof that all the forms and procedures were properly filled out. Working with the government for most of my adult life I can say that almost all people are denied (for whatever they are applying for) because 1. they didn't fill out the forms correctly 2. they didn't meet the requirements or 3. they have something on their record that prohibits them from getting said thing. Basically, 99.9% of time it is user error/ignorance.

 

Ok, let us assume that all the paperwork was completed correctly and all requirements were met. My next question would be "why are they denying it?"

"Arbitrary exercise of power in a third world country" is not a reason I would buy. They are exercising their power in their embassy, not in a third world country. The country they are operating in has no say over foreign immigration law.

Since I don't know EU immigration law I have to ask: Does this immigration law give sweeping powers to staff at the embassy to deny visas at their own discretion? I think most countries do give their immigration staff quite a lot of power when it comes to this. They may not have to give you any valid reason for denying a visa.

What I would do after being denied is (while leaving all emotion at the door):

1. Set up a meeting at the embassy with the person in charge of this decision and ask "What do I have to do/provide to satisfy your requirements and get this (very specific type of) visa for my spouse?" (Preferably get this down in writing...so maybe an email from them would work better.)
2. Make sure it all gets done exactly as instructed and dot all my i's and cross all my t's.
3. Present these requirements to the appropriate person.
4. If that fails I would then hire an attorney (from the country I want the visa for) that specializes in immigration law and have them send out the appropriate, and legal, threats to immigration/the embassy.
5. Follow through with any needed lawsuit(s).

Duterte (and anyone in his cabinet) cannot do anything to help you or your friend. Absolutely nothing will be achieved by writing him. This is a legal matter that only concerns Germany/the EU. After (if) it makes it through the courts it will set a legal precedent (which, to note, might not be in your favor). Also, by contacting a lawyer you may find out that you are wasting your time and what they are doing is perfectly legal (there might already be precedent for their actions) and there isn't a d*mn thing you can do about it...sometimes life isn't fair.

Also, I may be inclined to believe that the marriage was a sham...especially if they haven't spent any actual time together or barely know each other. A lot of things would go into consideration with that decision. How old is the husband, how old is the wife, will she become a burden of the state when he passes away or is there enough saved up to take care of the spouse after death, etc? You may know a 100 stories of people getting denied a fiance/marriage visa but perhaps the embassy knows of 10,000 stories of people trying to get in with actual scam marriages (or worse). It is likely there is a very good reason for some people to be denied. And for those 100 you know that were denied...how many were approved? What's the actual ratio of approval:denial?

 

I get you are making this claim but you have provided no proof for it.

Of course they won't take a Philippine lawyer in Germany, it would be silly to hire a Filipino lawyer to deal with the matter. It makes perfect sense to hire a German lawyer for German immigration law. I'm glad you sorted it out and the guy can get his wife a visa.

Well that sounds like the problem there. You have to file for the visa in the EU country you are trying to enter through/live in right? It sounds like the issue is stemming from a complicated living/relationship arrangement more than some conspiracy by the government.

Meh, Europe used to give us (the US) a lot of crap for being strict on Mexicans entering our country. Human rights and all. I find it kind of funny that now the European people are facing a similar dilemma. Sucks to have a bunch of unskilled people flooding your country and sucking up all your social benefits, eh?

The "alleged" former bodyguard of Bin Laden. Remember where that information came from, another Muslim from Tunisia sucking on the German social welfare tit. How would that guy know? If he knew where Bin Laden was did he try to turn him in at the time? If not maybe the guy making the claim should be deported as well. He can't be relied on to report terrorist activity. Germany is trying to deport the alleged bodyguard...but they will need more proof than some idiot's word to do so.