Last Minute Check for Spouse Visa Application

Hi Everyone! I’m about to mail off my application this week after some unforeseen delays (not visa related) and I was hoping I could run thru what I have and make sure that it’s look OK. Would greatly appreciate any wise notes or feedback

I. INTRODUCTION
1. Receipts of payment (To be added as soon as paid and printed)
   A. Priority receipt on top
2. An index of packet contents (one page)
3. Printed online application (To be added as soon as printed/submitted)
4. Completed Appendix 2 Form
5. Stamped biometrics letter (To be added as soon as its done)
SPONSOR
1. Letter of sponsorship signed and dated by husband
2. Copy of husband’s biometrics of passport
APPLICANT
1. Letter of introduction
2. Current passport
3. Previous passport
4. Two passport photos in UK sizes

II. PROOF OF MAINTENANCE - Category D - Cash Savings
1. Letter from bank (Nationwide in UK) confirming account is husband’s and EOD balance (signed and stamped on bank letterhead)
2. Stamped statements (shows funds above threshold from March 22nd, 2017 thru October 6th 2017)

III. PLANNED ARRIVAL AND ACCOMODATION
1. Letter from MIL inviting us to stay in her home
2. Deed of ownership for MIL (no mortgage)
3. Sample itinerary for flight to UK

IV. RELATIONSHIP
1. Marriage certificate
2. Photographs (2 total. 1 from wedding, 1 from a trip later on)
3. Honeymoon travel itinerary
4. Utility bills of shared address/names
    1. Car insurance
    2. Cable/Internet bill
    3. Homeowner’s Association dues


I don't think I'm missing anything, but a second/third/fourth/ninth set of eyes never hurt

Looks pretty good to me.

A couple of thoughts:

1) you don't need a separate applicant's letter and list of contents... it's easier just to combine them into one letter, stating:
- type of visa applied for
- date you wish the visa to start from
- list of package contents

2) I would put your example flight itinerary with the applicant's documents, not with the accommodation documents

3) I think you only need 1 passport photo (and it can be US or UK sized). They won't actually use that photo on the visa, as it's the biometrics photo that is used instead.

4) For the relationship evidence, do you also have any annual tax returns showing your address? They are very good documents to use for evidence of living together and might be worth including too

You don't need UK sized passport photos (will save you a tiny bit of money).  US sized photos are fine.

You also don't need your honeymoon itinerary or a proposed flight itinerary. 

For this:

4. Utility bills of shared address/names
    1. Car insurance
    2. Cable/Internet bill
    3. Homeowner’s Association dues

I wouldn't include the HOA dues as that's not overly official.  Do you have joint tax returns you could include instead?  How many documents do you have over what time frame?

You also don't need your honeymoon itinerary

I almost said this too, then wondered if there was a particular reason for including it (i.e. I think one forum member said they'd spent several months travelling for their honeymoon and so didn't have proof of living together for that time).

If that's not the case though, then I agree... take out the honeymoon itinerary as it's not needed.

You don't need UK sized passport photos (will save you a tiny bit of money).  US sized photos are fine.

You also don't need your honeymoon itinerary or a proposed flight itinerary. 

For this:

4. Utility bills of shared address/names
    1. Car insurance
    2. Cable/Internet bill
    3. Homeowner’s Association dues

I wouldn't include the HOA dues as that's not overly official.  Do you have joint tax returns you could include instead?  How many documents do you have over what time frame?

The UK size didn't cost us any extra tho you did just settle an argument between my husband and I as I was insistent that it could be US size and it didn't matter so thank you.

I have it spanning from when we got married in 2013 to now. I was thinking of including some screenshots of emails, too, but is that worth it? I'll replace HoA with something else. Maybe electric bill?

Thank you for taking the time to point these out!

I almost said this too, then wondered if there was a particular reason for including it (i.e. I think one forum member said they'd spent several months travelling for their honeymoon and so didn't have proof of living together for that time).

If that's not the case though, then I agree... take out the honeymoon itinerary as it's not needed.

Fair enough. Thank you!

The UK size didn't cost us any extra tho you did just settle an argument between my husband and I as I was insistent that it could be US size and it didn't matter so thank you.

For UK visas, they can be either size because the US size ones are bigger and can just be cut down. However, for US visas, you have to get US-sized ones and they won't accept UK ones because they are too small.

I have it spanning from when we got married in 2013 to now. I was thinking of including some screenshots of emails, too, but is that worth it? I'll replace HoA with something else. Maybe electric bill?

If you've lived together since you got married, there's no need to provide any screenshots of emails or anything... because those are to prove communication during a long-distance relationship when you can't be together in person.

Normally, people provide:
- tax returns
- tenancy agreements in both names or house deeds/mortgage statements
- utility bills (water, electricity, gas etc.)

Normally, people provide:
- tax returns
- tenancy agreements in both names or house deeds/mortgage statements
- utility bills (water, electricity, gas etc.)

I'll see what we have for tax returns. I also forgot to mention our condo insurance policy, which I have from when we bought our property a few months after marriage to today. And, yeah, I'll swap the HoA stuff for some electric bills! Thank you!