Spouse Visa paperwork fun!

We are two months away from our Australia wedding and gathering our paperwork! My fiance printed out the sponsor application and it makes no mention of the infamous sponsor letter and/or sponsee letter.

-Do we need to write these letters in addition to the sponsor application as I have seen on this forum before, or have the rules changed and the sponsor application is sufficient?

-In addition to the online application, is the VAFA-Appendix 2 the only application that I, as the US sponsee, have to complete? Or is there an Appendix 1 that I need to submit as well?

-Is it necessary to put all of these documents in an attractive binder with labels, or stacked neatly and paper clipped?

Thank you!

Taken from a post that ksand made recently

Applicant (US citizen)
- Printed online application form (don't submit until you have all the documents in your hands and are completely ready to mail the application package to Sheffield)
- Completed VAF4a Appendix 2 form
- Stamped Biometrics Confirmation Sheet (when you have attended the biometrics appointment)
- IHS number/receipt for IHS surcharge payment
- 2 passport photos (they can be US size (2 inches by 2 inches) or UK size (45 mm by 35 mm, which is 1.77 inches by 1.38 inches))
- Your passport
- All of your previous passports
- Refusal paperwork/details if you have them
- Optional cover letter (you can explain your refusals here)
- Proposed flight itinerary (optional)
- Receipt for priority processing (if paying for priority)
- Return shipping label/details

Sponsor (UK citizen)
- Certified copy of his UK passport photo page

- Sponsor letter of support for the visa, stating:
i) how he is eligible to sponsor the visa (his UK citizenship),
ii) how he meets the financial requirement (which category and details of current employment),
iii) where you will live in the UK (accommodation details),
iv) a brief history of your relationship (no more than 1 paragraph, where/how you met, if you visited each other, when you got engaged and married, and why you are choosing to settle in the UK and not the US)
v) a list of all the documents he is including in the application package to support the above requirements

Accommodation
- your husband's original rental agreement
- a letter from his landlord giving you permission to live in the property after you get your visa


Finances
Category A:
- 6 months of original payslips showing £1,550 per month before tax - the latest must be dated no more than 28 days before the date you apply online
- 6 months of original bank statements showing the deposit of every payslip -  the latest must be dated no more than 28 days before the date you apply online
- original letter from his employer (dated within 28 days of applying online) stating:
1) his job title and current salary
2) length of employment,
3) how long he's been earning his current salary (must be at least 6 months prior to the date of the letter)
4) the type of employment (permanent, temporary etc.)

Optional but recommended as the guidance says they may ask for them:
- his original job contract
- his latest P60 if he has it

Relationship evidence (in order of importance)
- marriage certificate
- 1 or 2 photos of you together (i.e. one at the wedding and one earlier in the relationship)
- evidence of living together in the US (rental agreements, tax returns, utility bills etc.)
- evidence of regular communication since he returned to the UK:
   - (boarding passes from trips to see each other
   - any physical letters and cards sent to each other
   - screenshots of  call logs/email inbox showing a selection of emails (subject line
     and date only)

Regarding the paperwork organising, stack them in a neat pile in a folder (eg. a carded three sided organiser) with no paperclips (if possible). Also, if you can, to get on the ECO's good side, photocopy all your documents and put them all in a plastic sleeve in the organiser with a post-it note saying 'copies' (or something along those lines)

Thank you! So YES, a letter needs to be written in addition to the sponsor application that goes over what will be written.

Thank you! So YES, a letter needs to be written in addition to the sponsor application that goes over what will be written.

Correct. I've gone through some of your previous posts and you will need to include your divorce decree, also.

Yes, I have that!

Regarding the paperwork organising, stack them in a neat pile in a folder (eg. a carded three sided organiser) with no paperclips (if possible). Also, if you can, to get on the ECO's good side, photocopy all your documents and put them all in a plastic sleeve in the organiser with a post-it note saying 'copies' (or something along those lines)

No need to use a folder. You can just stack in 2 piles, (original and copies) and secure with rubber bands.
The photocopying for the spouse visa is not to get on the good side of the ECO, it's because if you don't provide copies, they may not return your original documents to you.   

Ensure you have all your documents before applying.

When you think you have all your documents in check, post on here what you have in your application pack and we will confirm. Somebody the other day did that and ksand24 realised she was applying under the wrong financial category. She would have been instantly refused.

Always good to check!

Yes, I will do.

The other HUGE question is what documents to include for his specific financial situation. He makes 16,000/month through work (so we have all that info: contract, bank statement, employer letter). He makes the last 3,000/month through his property that he owns. We can show deeds, rental agreement with tenants, and bank statements. I wondered if anyone on here had been in a similar situation re: providing financial requirements met through property ownership.

The photocopying for the spouse visa is not to get on the good side of the ECO, it's because if you don't provide copies, they may not return your original documents to you.   

Whewwwwww!!!! Definitely do NOT want that to happen. Thank you!