Hi everyone,
I'm new to the forum but have been reading various posts with interest. My apologies in advance if some of the below will end up repeating what other threads may have covered already, but I'll be grateful for any advice you can provide as my wife and I prepare to apply for a spouse visa early next year to move to the UK.
I am from the UK, my wife is Colombian and we have lived together in the US for the past 6 years (we got married in January 2012). We've owned a house for nearly 4 years.
A few questions:
In itself, does anyone have experience of whether applying as a citizen of a third country (i.e. not from the country you are residing in) has any bearing on the application process? Does it make it less straightforward?
In terms of providing proof of our marriage and that we live together: should we just focus on the years that we have owned our house (since January 2014) or also the two years prior to that when we were renting? For the former, we can provide our title deed, property tax bills, utility bills and homeowners insurance as examples. The mortgage is my name only, so would it be worth including mortgage statements or not? For the period that we were renting, I think I have our original rental agreement, but do I need anything more than that? I don't think I would have any utility bills for that period. We also have joint tax returns that we could include, as well as the usual wedding and family photos etc.
With regards to the documents that we provide: I'm unclear as to how 'original' these need to be. For example, for utility bills, can we print off e-bills and get them certified as original? I'm not sure i'd be comfortable sending something like the original deed to the house, either, or is that being paranoid?
Date of travel to the UK: my wife's work contract finishes at the end of April, and ideally we would plan to travel after that. Does that mean that the earliest we can apply is 3 months prior to that date? Having read some of the stories about delays in processing, we'd like to apply as soon as we can, particularly given the fact that once my wife's contract is finished we need to leave the US within 30 days anyway or else we lose status (even though our actual visas are valid for another 5 years). We may have the opportunity to extend our status in the US but we can't rely on that.
Which brings me to the next point: I'll be looking with great interest at experiences re the new gold settlement priority service. Bearing in mind the above about the end of our status in the US, it would be better for us if we can keep my wife's passport if at all possible to avoid any status complications.
Travel over the past 10 years: do we need to provide every single trip my wife has undertaken over the past 10 years? It will be an extremely long list, if so. If we miss any trips by mistake, would that be held against us?
Financial requirements: we will apply using cash savings. We've had them held in an account in the UK in my name only since July this year. The majority previously came from our joint account here in the US and the rest of an investment account I have in the UK. Would it be safer for me to provide evidence of where the funds came from, or is the fact they have been in the account since July proof enough? Secondly, in terms of the bank statements, is a paper statement sent by the bank considered original, or do i still need to get a letter from the bank confirming its authenticity? I know i have to do that for e-statements anyway.
Apologies for the long first message, but as i say, very grateful for any feedback or advice you can provide.
