Spouse Visa Application start - finish

Hi, after many years my Wife and I are almost ready to apply for the settlement visa. She is in the UK but flys home in two weeks..and she has to renew her passport before applying but I wanted to start getting prepared.

Can somebody give me the link to the online application, we can start this at anytime correct but just don't hit finish or apply until we are 100% ready?

I'll use this thread for all my questions. Thanks to those who contribute!

Also, is this the correct location for the appendix 2 financial requirement we provide. This is printed out and added to the visa application correct?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-uk-visa-for-family-settlement-form-vaf4a

Yes, it's the second link down - the first one (VAF4a) is the paper version of the online form and then the second link is Appendix 2.

You fill out the online application instead of VAF4a and then print Appendix 2 and fill it out by hand.


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The online application is here: https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/home/welcome

Yes, don't submit it until you are completely ready to mail everything to Sheffield.


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Hi, I'm struggling a bit on what to include for relationship evidence. We obviously have our marriage certificate for the formal proof and my research has shown that two photos of us together are fine for the physically met part.

It's the Skype logs etc that I don't really have. Because we've lived together for 15 years we don't really communicate in an electronic way. Would utility / phone bills in both our names help. How about tax returns to prove a relationship, or joint bank statements - I have those going back years.

I do have boarding passes and tickets etc that show we've taken the same holidays together.

How would you show emails anyway, print outs of the inbox?

Since you live together you don't need the same evidence as people who live in different countries to each other.

Things like Skype calls, letters, emails and boarding passes are only required if you are in a long distance relationship because you need to show you actually have regular communication with each other, showing that your relationship is not a scam and that you do genuinely stay in contact and visit each other.

For your relationship evidence, since you have been living together you don't need any of those things because you see each other every day anyway.

So instead you provide proof of living together for the last 15 years. Things like:
- both names on rental agreements
- proof of joint homeownership
- mortgage statements
- joint tax returns
- utility bills
etc.


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Question regarding payslips.

My US ones are all original mailed out slips that obviously look legit I have 12 months of those.

My first two UK ones are terrible. Our MD just emails them to us almost as screen grabs. They look so fake. Obviously the bank statement will show the deposit adding an authenticity to it but are these printouts from my email going to be a problem?

My husband only gets his emailed to him. His job printed them out and signed them, and also mentioned in an accompanying letter that they have supplied his payslips. Should be fine if you do something similar :-)

Can I get a confirmation I'm doing appendix 2 correctly.

I'm filling 3A as I'm currently working in the UK on a salary.
As I've not been employed for 6 months I'm redirected to a have I had employment in the UK during the last 12 months question. Again a negative on  there then leads me to a final question of what I made in the previous 12 months. Under that it states to add some details to part 5 if you've had multiple jobs. I haven't - but as my job was in the US I figured I'd just explain in part 5 that I was employed and made the £18,600 during the last 12 months prior to my job in the UK which started in March.

So I have 12 months of US payslips from March 15th 2015 - December 15th 2015 (when I resigned). Then a gap. Then my UK payslip from March 2016. Luckily I made the £18,600 despite the 2 month gap. Depending on when we submit I'll just substitute as needed.

Does that sound correct?

I'm still slowly filling out Appendix 2 and I missed something in the previous post.

How do you know what sub category to choose in part 3?

3.3 From the list below, please indicate the main method of meeting the  nancial requirement.

Income from salaried employment in the UK >
- Complete Part 3A
>
category A
category B

Not to be dense but where is the explanation on what A or B is for option 3A?

Category A is as listed in appendix fm 1.7 - you have been with your current employer and earning £18,600 for more than 6 months. Category B is if you've been with your employer less than 6 months but you have earned £18,600 in the last 12 months.


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Just wanting some clarity on the evidence required to show I've made the 18,600 in the previous 12 months.

As this was not from UK employment there is nowhere to fill out the details but section 5. As this section is blank I can type what I wish. How much detail would they require - the same as in the "current employment" section?

So: name of employer, job title, address, landline, mobile, email, length of employment.

Then for evidence I will have 12 months original payslips, original banks statements covering the period and tax returns for the final year.

Would that cover the requirements?

I'm starting to confuse myself on the amount of payslips to show I've made the required wage in the previous 12 months.

I left my US job in December and started work in the UK in March. 

Should I show all payslips from 2015 or do I count the 12 months from when I started work in March. So Id show my US payslips from March 2015 - December 2015 (when I left) and then pick up with my March 2016 and onwards payslips up until I submit the visa.

If that makes sense.

I'll have my 2015 tax return showing totals but I'm just a bit confused on if the officer doing the application will work out I made enough money without having to work Jan and Feb.

Thanks

I'm starting to confuse myself on the amount of payslips to show I've made the required wage in the previous 12 months.

I left my US job in December and started work in the UK in March. 

Should I show all payslips from 2015 or do I count the 12 months from when I started work in March. So Id show my US payslips from March 2015 - December 2015 (when I left) and then pick up with my March 2016 and onwards payslips up until I submit the visa.

You have to show 12 months of payslips right up to the date you apply online for the visa.

The most recent payslip you provide must be dated within 28 days of your online application date (no more than 28 days before)... then you count 12 months back from that date and include all your payslips from those 12 months.

So, for example, if you apply for the visa tomorrow, on 18th May 2016, you must provide 12 months of payslips dating from 18th May 2015 to 18th May 2016 (or April to April depending on issue dates), and those payslips added together must come to at least £18,600 before tax.

Then you provide the accompanying 12 months of bank statements to show every payslip being deposited.

So, say you are using May 2015 to May 2016, you provide:

- May - December 2015 payslips from your previous job
- March - May 2016 payslips from your current job.

- No payslips from December 2015 to March 2016 as you were not working, but I would include the bank statements from the whole 12 months anyway

Hi, few questions thanks.

Does the applicant (my wife) need a letter of introduction, like I'm providing as the sponsor?

The letter from my employer is great covering salary and length of employment but they failed to mention my printed payslips. However the printed payslips (3 all on one sheet) are on official letterhead and has the MDs signature at the bottom. My contract is on official letter too and has the same original signatures from the MD so when seen as one I feel it wouldn't mater as its pretty obvious they're endorsed. Think I'll be ok?

The letter of accommodation from my brother (landlord) is great (saying we will be living there rent free, and it's big enough) but the evidence I need to have somebody just say it's fine? The house is too new and he doesn't have the land registry yet. So he's given me an original letter from the council regarding him opting to receive council tax bills via email. He gave me a utility bill for the house in his name, and the Nationwide welcome letter from his mortgage company stating his account number. Will I get away with that as evidence?