The Final Checklist!

That's awesome . We've had one member of the Met Office living on St. Helena for about the last 2-3 years (they do 4-6 months at a time) - they've been working with the government to get the airport up and running and have been forecasting the weather for the planes landing and taking off.

For comparison, here are some of my photos of the various overseas locations I've worked at:
Ascension
Falklands
Antarctica
Gibraltar

Thank you so much for sharing those beautiful photos!! Simply breathtaking! Loved the photos of Barbary macaques  Your description of Gibraltar has kind of put me off now LOL And I definitely see what you mean by it being just a giant rock!  It's interesting, several of these territories have such natural beauty but horrible air quality! I'm sure you guys are the Met Office know all about this!

Also good to know that it's still possible for us to go abroad while on the spouse visa! Thank you for explaining.

Going anywhere else anytime soon? Bermuda maybe?

On another topic, I have organised a DHL pickup for tomorrow for my application. I was told that if I am sending my passport, then I need to specify this in the contents section on the shipping label. Otherwise, if customs decide to open my package and then discover it, there could be delays with the delivery (according to DHL). I'm just a bit apprehensive about drawing attention to what's inside, especially my passport. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

On another topic, I have organised a DHL pickup for tomorrow for my application. I was told that if I am sending my passport, then I need to specify this in the contents section on the shipping label. Otherwise, if customs decide to open my package and then discover it, there could be delays with the delivery (according to DHL). I'm just a bit apprehensive about drawing attention to what's inside, especially my passport. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

If you are using the vfs labels you mentioned in your checklist, you will need to take your package to a UPS store.  They are pre-paid UPS labels.

eta, Ah, you're using the return service only so that doesn't apply! 

If you are using the vfs labels you mentioned in your checklist, you will need to take your package to a UPS store.  They are pre-paid UPS labels.

eta, Ah, you're using the return service only so that doesn't apply! 

Hmm, yea my return label doesn’t specify contents so I’m a bit incredulous about drawing attention to my passport on the manifest...just wondering if it’s a good idea or not

Hmm, yea my return label doesn’t specify contents so I’m a bit incredulous about drawing attention to my passport on the manifest...just wondering if it’s a good idea or not

I don’t recall anyone saying anything about mentioning their passport before, but I don’t know that it will matter.


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Thank you so much for sharing those beautiful photos!! Simply breathtaking! Loved the photos of Barbary macaques  Your description of Gibraltar has kind of put me off now LOL And I definitely see what you mean by it being just a giant rock!  It's interesting, several of these territories have such natural beauty but horrible air quality! I'm sure you guys are the Met Office know all about this!

Thanks . Lol - I just think I didn’t have the best experience there as I felt quite isolated, so that affected my view of the place.

Well, we don’t cover much in regards to air quality at my job, because I forecast for the military and so am mainly concentrating on take-off/landing conditions (wind, cloud base, weather) and flying conditions at height, though the air quality in the Falklands seemed pretty good (and Antarctica is pretty much untouched).

Also good to know that it's still possible for us to go abroad while on the spouse visa! Thank you for explaining.

While it is possible, it’s probably not really recommended unless it’s unavoidable.

Going anywhere else anytime soon? Bermuda maybe?

Not at the moment - I haven’t worked in Cyprus yet, so that’s on the list. There are also some vacancies in Ascension and the Falklands but not sure if I will sign up for them.

Bermuda unfortunately doesn’t have an RAF base, though there was a temporary job opportunity there a couple of years ago... I think in the end they filled the position with a local person.


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That shouldn't matter. The only thing you have to make sure is that the latest payslip and bank statement (and the employer letter) are not dated more than 28 days BEFORE your online application date.

And you need to make sure you have at least 6 full months of payslips and bank statements... so if the latest payslip is dated 27th March 2018, then the first payslip and bank statement must be dated on or before 27th September 2017.

.

Thanks for the explanation. Makes sense - probably just overthinking things. We’re meeting the financial requirement under 3A category B so are showing payslips/bank statements from March 2017- March 2018.

Hey guys,

I know I'm not doing myself any favours by going over this again and again in my head, so can someone please help to calm my nerves?

As I said above, I applied under Category B (current salaried employment < 12 months). However, looking back at Appendix 2 question 3.31 Has your sponsor had other salaried employment, in the UK, in the 12 months prior to the date of application?...I ticked No obviously because we were working abroad. I didn't think much of it because it then says if no go to question 3.20 where you enter total income for the whole 12 months (not specifying in the UK or abroad). I'm just wanting to make sure that Category B can be met by employment both in the UK and abroad? It just seems strange that they would specify "in the UK".

I'm just wanting to make sure that Category B can be met by employment both in the UK and abroad?

Yes, it can .

From Appendix FM 1.7, regarding Category B:

5.3.9. Second, the person must in addition have received in the 12 months prior to the date of application the level of income required to meet the financial requirement, based on:
- The gross amount of salaried or non-salaried employment income of the applicant’s partner (in the UK or overseas) and/or the applicant (if they are in the UK with permission to work);

Yes, it can .

From Appendix FM 1.7, regarding Category B:

Thanks ksand24 for the direct quote! Really appreciate it

It goes to show that this forum is 10000x better than hiring a solicitor! Back in November 2017 when I was in the UK, my husband and I went to this solicitor for a one hour session to get some advice on applying. The first thing he said when we walked in was "that'll be £150...cash only". I wish we didn't stay after that, but alas we did. Long story short, after explaining our situation and how we were just getting back from working abroad, he says "oh, you definitely can't apply yet. You (my husband) need to be in work for 6 months." After taking our money, he gave us the wrong information. To this day I don't know if it was on purpose or ignorance.

Oh! And another example of a lawyer who didn't know what he was talking about. Also back in November, I called one of those free legal advice numbers (will not mention name here as I don't know rules around that). Spent over an hour talking to him and he basically says the same thing as the guy before. But this time, he says if we pay £1600, he can write a "legal letter" to the home office on our behalf which we absolutely need if we want our application to be successful. Embarrassingly, I considered. My husband was like uhhhhh no 

Please, don't waste your money on a lawyer!

Thank you UK-Yankee (rant over lol)!

If you are using the vfs labels you mentioned in your checklist, you will need to take your package to a UPS store.  They are pre-paid UPS labels.

eta, Ah, you're using the return service only so that doesn't apply! 

Curious, does any one know what the difference is between repurchasing the UPS shipping label and just taking the package to the UPS store to ship it?  I get that I should buy the return shipping label from VFS but what's the advantage to buying pre paid shipping and return?

Curious, does any one know what the difference is between repurchasing the UPS shipping label and just taking the package to the UPS store to ship it?  I get that I should buy the return shipping label from VFS but what's the advantage to buying pre paid shipping and return?

I think it’s cheaper to get shipping labels through VFS. But I’ve seen others who didn’t use VFS. I think it really doesn’t really matter as long as you mail it to the correct address in Sheffield. And supply a return label for your passports & originals.


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Curious, does any one know what the difference is between repurchasing the UPS shipping label and just taking the package to the UPS store to ship it?  I get that I should buy the return shipping label from VFS but what's the advantage to buying pre paid shipping and return?

I found it a lot cheaper to send my package through a different website rather than VFS. Saved over £100. The company I used was transglobal express, but there are others that I’ve used in the past that all worked well. I was able to arrange free collection to my house and 2-day shipping to Sheffield for £20.

The return waybill however we bought using VFS. That’s the only way (or create a USP, UPS, DHL, FedEx account and give Sheffield your account number to charge. However DHL only allows you to create an account if you ship internationally regularly. Not just for one offs).

I found it a lot cheaper to send my package through a different website rather than VFS. Saved over £100. The company I used was transglobal express, but there are others that I’ve used in the past that all worked well. I was able to arrange free collection to my house and 2-day shipping to Sheffield for £20.

The return waybill however we bought using VFS. That’s the only way (or create a USP, UPS, DHL, FedEx account and give Sheffield your account number to charge. However DHL only allows you to create an account if you ship internationally regularly. Not just for one offs).

Sheffield won't deal with FedEx any more so you can't use them for the return of documents.

Sheffield won't deal with FedEx any more so you can't use them for the return of documents.

Thanks larrabee. I’ve edited my post.