Supporting document question

Hi everyone. So I have been looking through the forums and I have gotten a bit confused because there are differing answers and because some replies I see are from a couple years ago and whatnot. So I thought I would just ask straight out. I went over the pdf from the website for required supporting documents for the spousal visa. Could anyone tell me if there is anything left out that I need, if there is anything specific I should know (like if something has to be a certified copy) or just info about the item, and any other pieces of advice would be much appreciated.


Me:
•   Print out of online application
•   Appropriate appendix to visa from UKBA website (appendix 2?)
•   VAF4A Personal Details form (attach to the appendix)
•   Passport
•   2 passport photos
•   Previous passport
•   Evidence of current employment (letter from employer stating specifics of jobs, length of employment, and knowledge of situation) (I recently asked about this on another post and know that they just need to know what my current situation is and its not a big deal)

Him (UK citizen):
•   6 months of bank statements
•   Bank letter or balance certificate
•   6 months of payslips
•   Recent tax returns (is this necessary and why?)
•   Tenancy agreement
•   Job agreement/evidence of current employment
•   (certified?) copies of bio-data pages of passport
Mutual:
•   Marriage certificate (certified copy)
•   Photographic evidence
•   Skype records
•   Other evidence of correspondence
•   Copy of FL lease? (when we lived together in Florida - his name is on the lease)

Hi everyone. So I have been looking through the forums and I have gotten a bit confused because there are differing answers and because some replies I see are from a couple years ago and whatnot.

As a rule of thumb, assume everything posted more than 6 months ago is now out of date, just in case the rules have changed .

Me:
•   Print out of online application
•   Appropriate appendix to visa from UKBA website (appendix 2?)
•   VAF4A Personal Details form (attach to the appendix)

You don't need both the VAF4a and the online application form - because they are exactly the same thing. You only include one or the other as the VAF4a is only to be used if you live in a country where you cannot apply online.

So, for all countries except Cuba and North Korea, you submit:
- printed online application
- VAF4a Appendix 2

Or if you are applying in Cuba or North Korea, you submit:
- VAF4a
- VAF4a Appendix 2

You can also include a cover letter if you like, stating: type of visa applied for, list of documents included in the package, and explanation of anything unusual about your application (previous bad immigration history, criminal convictions, anything about your documents that needs explaining, such as large deposits into your bank account).

Him (UK citizen):
•   6 months of bank statements
•   Bank letter or balance certificate
•   6 months of payslips
•   Recent tax returns (is this necessary and why?)
•   Tenancy agreement
•   Job agreement/evidence of current employment
•   (certified?) copies of bio-data pages of passport

For him, you also need to include his mandatory letter of confirmation for the visa, which states how he is able to sponsor the visa (his UK citizenship), what his employment situation is and how he meets the financial requirement, where you will live in the UK, a short history of your relationship and a list of the documents he is including.

There is a sample letter here:
http://www.londonelegance.com/transpondia/sites/default/files/spousal.pdf

Plus:

his ID
- certified copy of his passport photo page

Finances:
- 6 months of original payslips
- 6 months of original bank statements
- Letter from his employer stating: how long he has worked for them, his current salary, how long he has been earning his current salary and his type of employment
- His job contract
- His latest P60 if he has one

Accommodation:
- original tenancy agreement
- a letter from his landlord giving you permission to live there too

Mutual:
•   Marriage certificate (certified copy)
•   Photographic evidence
•   Skype records
•   Other evidence of correspondence
•   Copy of FL lease? (when we lived together in Florida - his name is on the lease)

- You should just send 1-2 photos in total (maybe one from the wedding and one from earlier in the relationship)
- any boarding passes from trips to see each other during your relationship
- letters/cards you may have sent each other
- 1-2 screenshots of email inbox and/or Skype call logs (list of email subject lines/calls and dates) showing regular communication over the course of your relationship
- you can include your FL lease as well if it shows evidence of your relationship.

You only need a plain photo copy of his passport bio pages.  No need for it to be certified.

Thanks everyone. Three questions:
1- For the tenancy agreement, any particular reason it can't be a copy? I'm sure my husband will be ok with keeping the copy instead of the original, but I was just curious.
2 - Our landlord put a bit in the tenancy agreement saying that only the tenant and his wife are allowed residence at the property. Is this enough, or do we still need a letter from her?
3 - Boarding passes....my husband has used his Iphone for the past two years for his flights and I never thought to keep mine. We both should still have itineraries saved in our emails and whatnot. Would those do?

Thanks everyone. Three questions:
1- For the tenancy agreement, any particular reason it can't be a copy? I'm sure my husband will be ok with keeping the copy instead of the original, but I was just curious.
2 - Our landlord put a bit in the tenancy agreement saying that only the tenant and his wife are allowed residence at the property. Is this enough, or do we still need a letter from her?
3 - Boarding passes....my husband has used his Iphone for the past two years for his flights and I never thought to keep mine. We both should still have itineraries saved in our emails and whatnot. Would those do?

I would recommend sending originals of all your documents, AND a copy. That way they can view the original (and send those back when they're done) and retain the copy for their records. You don't want to be put in a position where they either deny your visa based on not getting originals, or the processing is delayed because they need to ask you for the original.

I would get a letter from the landlord. Short and sweet.

Printing out itineraries should be enough. Most people don't keep their boarding passes, anyway.

UKVI requires originals.

The letter from the landlord is also a required document.

Thanks - Question about the P60, Ksand24......my husband will have had his current job for 6 months in October. We will apply in November. He said he will not have a P60 for this job. He does, however, have one from his old job. He was a contract archaeologist who worked a few contracts for a commercial company in the previous fiscal year. This position would not have met the financial requirement (the current one does), but should we include it just as a bonus to show that he has had employment in the past?

Thanks - Question about the P60, Ksand24......my husband will have had his current job for 6 months in October. We will apply in November. He said he will not have a P60 for this job. He does, however, have one from his old job. He was a contract archaeologist who worked a few contracts for a commercial company in the previous fiscal year. This position would not have met the financial requirement (the current one does), but should we include it just as a bonus to show that he has had employment in the past?

No, he won't have a P60 for his current job yet, as they are only issued at the end of each tax year (April), and so I doubt UKVI will be expecting one from him.

As only the last 6 months of income are considered for the visa under Category A, I'm not sure if it's worth him including the old P60 because it won't have any evidence of his current employment on it and won't relate to any of his other financial documents. I guess he can include it if he likes, but I don't think it will really be relevant.

You can also include a cover letter if you like, stating: type of visa applied for, list of documents included in the package, and explanation of anything unusual about your application (previous bad immigration history, criminal convictions, anything about your documents that needs explaining, such as large deposits into your bank account).

So - must I send information about my bank account? I thought that this was unnecessary and that we only needed to send about his.

For him, you also need to include his mandatory letter of confirmation for the visa, which states how he is able to sponsor the visa (his UK citizenship), what his employment situation is and how he meets the financial requirement, where you will live in the UK, a short history of your relationship and a list of the documents he is including.

There is a sample letter here:
http://www.londonelegance.com/transpondia/sites/default/files/spousal.pdf

Should we both include cover letters? Also, should his cover letter be included with all the supplemental materials that I will be submitting, or should he send it on his own?

As a rule of thumb, assume everything posted more than 6 months ago is now out of date, just in case the rules have changed .

Does anyone have any updates? I will be applying next month. Thanks.

UKVI requires originals.

Are we sure about originals? It seems strange that they want originals for contracts and such and my husband is very trepidatious about sending the originals of his contracts and the lease. So I just wanted to be sure before he sent the supplemental materials over to me.

For him, you also need to include his mandatory letter of confirmation for the visa, which states how he is able to sponsor the visa (his UK citizenship), what his employment situation is and how he meets the financial requirement, where you will live in the UK, a short history of your relationship and a list of the documents he is including.

There is a sample letter here:
http://www.londonelegance.com/transpondia/sites/default/files/spousal.pdf

Something just dawned on me - this sample letter is from 2012. I know that all materials now go to the UK, right? So what should he address this letter to? Again, should it just be to the same people I will write to and be included in my application?

You need to submit original documents.

Yes, you are correct to send it to Sheffield.  The letter is a bit old but is a good reference.  You could probably address the letters to the Entry Clearance Officer or To Whom It May Concern. 

All documents need to be original.  Include copies of the documents with your application so that the originals will be returned to you.  You'll also want to keep copies of what you send for yourself.

Your husband needs to include a letter supporting your application.  You can include your own cover letter if you like.

Are we sure about originals? It seems strange that they want originals for contracts and such and my husband is very trepidatious about sending the originals of his contracts and the lease. So I just wanted to be sure before he sent the supplemental materials over to me.

The UKVI clearly states that all documents must be originals.