Re: originals sent back?

Hello all. This might be a silly question, but should I include a letter in my packet identifying what original documents I would like to be sent back to me, or will they simply send back everything I've sent over?

Just trying to wrap up the last bits now before I apply next week. Thank you again for your help. This forum has been invaluable to me.

As long as you include photocopies of everything you would like them to return, they should send all the originals back. But if you don't send photocopies, they may keep the originals.

What they do normally keep anyway:
- the application forms
- any letters addressed to them, such as sponsor letter, employer letter etc.
 
It's also a good idea to make photocopies to keep for yourself, especially the application form as you may wish to refer to it when you apply for the next visa (as some questions will be the same).

Thank you! Mostly I'm concerned about the passports and the marriage license, but I'll comb through to double check that there's nothing else I'm interested in requesting back. Thank you again!

Thank you! Mostly I'm concerned about the passports and the marriage license, but I'll comb through to double check that there's nothing else I'm interested in requesting back. Thank you again!

Well, they aren't going to keep your passports, because that would be illegal (your passports are the property of the US government and the UK government is not legally allowed to keep them).

You shouldn't send your husband's actual UK passport, but just a certified copy of his passport photo page.

The marriage certificate should be returned to you, but if it isn't you can always contact them to complain and request it back (you should also be able to get more copies from the county where you got married if you need them in the future).

Will your husband want any of his original documents back too? Things like bank statements, payslips, job offer/contract, your in-laws' land registry document, mortgage statements etc.

I would send photocopies of basically everything you are sending, just in case.

We have nearly all the other documents as electronic copies (bank statements, payslips, job offer/contract, and the land registry). I will include a copy along with the original council tax document for our parents. Sounds like a good idea to have copies of all things just in case. And I do expect to order more copies of my marriage certificate just in case anything happens to go awry! Thank you again!