A Few Spousal Visa Questions

I have spent a lot of time researching since my last post, but I still have a few questions.
 
1. If we get married in the US, is our marriage license valid in the UK as well?

2. Do I have to make 18,600 pound, or is it acceptable for me to be supported by my spouse until I secure employment in the UK?

3. What documents can we use to provide evidence of my spouse's financial standing?

4. His employer only provides electronic payslips. Is that a valid evidential document?

5. The site states that I am required to send 2 recent passport photos. Does that mean that I send my passport photo as well as his? Or, do I sent two copies of my passport photo?

6. Do I send his passport as well? It was mentioned that I could send a certified copy of his passport. What does that mean and how do we acquire a "certified" copy?

Thank you all so much for your help. This site is an incredible blessing!!!!

I have spent a lot of time researching since my last post, but I still have a few questions.
 
1. If we get married in the US, is our marriage license valid in the UK as well?

Yes.

2. Do I have to make 18,600 pound, or is it acceptable for me to be supported by my spouse until I secure employment in the UK?

A spouse visa gives you the right to work.  There is no minimum amount you need to make.

3. What documents can we use to provide evidence of my spouse's financial standing?

It depends on what category you are applying under.

4. His employer only provides electronic payslips. Is that a valid evidential document?

His employer will need to validate them. 

5. The site states that I am required to send 2 recent passport photos. Does that mean that I send my passport photo as well as his? Or, do I sent two copies of my passport photo?

2 passport sized photos of yourself.

6. Do I send his passport as well? It was mentioned that I could send a certified copy of his passport. What does that mean and how do we acquire a "certified" copy?

You only need to send a regular copy of his passport.

1. If we get married in the US, is our marriage license valid in the UK as well?

Yes.

2. Do I have to make 18,600 pound, or is it acceptable for me to be supported by my spouse until I secure employment in the UK?

Only your UK spouse's income is allowed to count for the visa.

You are not allowed to use ANY of your own employment income until you are living and working in the UK and are applying for the next visa in 2.5 years (you can use non-employment income or savings from yourself though).

3. What documents can we use to provide evidence of my spouse's financial standing?

It depends what financial requirement category you are applying under, because the documents required will depend on which income category he meets.

See here for financial requirement information and documents:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/IDIs/chp8-annex/section-FM-1.7.pdf?view=Binary

4. His employer only provides electronic payslips. Is that a valid evidential document?

The payslips must be original, so if they are printed from the internet they should be stamped/signed by the company as well.

5. The site states that I am required to send 2 recent passport photos. Does that mean that I send my passport photo as well as his? Or, do I sent two copies of my passport photo?

No, two identical copies of your passport photo. The photos have to be of you because they will be used to issue your visa (the visa will have the photo on it).

6. Do I send his passport as well? It was mentioned that I could send a certified copy of his passport. What does that mean and how do we acquire a "certified" copy?

You can send either:

1) His actual passport

2) A certified copy of his passport photo page (I believe a bank can do this, or you can go to a public notary)

3) A photocopy of his passport photo page, along with his original long form (A4) birth certificate.

Some people have been okay with just sending a regular photocopy without certification or the birth certificate, but if you can do either option 2 or 3, that may be preferable.

There is absolutely no need to send anything other than a regular photocopy of the UK citizen's passport.

The payslips must be original, so if they are printed from the internet they should be stamped/signed by the company as well.

When you say stamped or signed by the company, would that be from someone within HR or my line manager? I work for a Local Authority and am just curious as to what level of authority the signee would need to have... unfortunately they did away with carbon deliveries of payslips a few years back.

When you say non work related income, would that include SSI?
Thanks,
Mistylouu

When you say stamped or signed by the company, would that be from someone within HR or my line manager? I work for a Local Authority and am just curious as to what level of authority the signee would need to have... unfortunately they did away with carbon deliveries of payslips a few years back.

Either.

When you say non work related income, would that include SSI?
Thanks,
Mistylouu

I'm not entirely sure.

If the UK sponsor receives DLA (Disability Living Allowance) then they are exempt from meeting the financial requirement, but I have a feeling that if you (the US citizen) receives SSI, it doesn't count towards it.

Under Category C: Non-Employment Income (which is what I was talking about above) you can use the following:
- Income from property rental.
- Dividends or other income from investments, stocks and shares, bonds or trust funds.
- Interest from savings.
- Maintenance payments from a former partner in relation to the applicant or to the applicant and former partner‟s child or children dependent on and cared for by the applicant.
- UK Maternity Allowance, Bereavement Allowance, Bereavement Payment and Widowed Parent‟s Allowance.
- A maintenance grant or stipend (not a loan) associated with undergraduate study or postgraduate study or research

When you say non work related income, would that include SSI?
Thanks,
Mistylouu

Unlikely, since you wouldn't be receiving that once you go to the UK.