Spouse visa checklist and quick questions

Hi all,

Firstly - thank you all for this great resource, I've been reading the forum avidly and it's been such a help. Hopefully I can add my experience once I've been through the process too.

I basically wanted to get a second opinion on my planned pack of supporting documents, as well as a few (hopefully minor) questions.

Current situation/background

- Met my future US wife in London while she was on her Tier 4 visa in 2013.
- Her Tier 4 visa expired in 2015 - we spent the next year or so visiting each other regularly
- She came to the UK on a new Tier 4 visa in 2016 (for her masters degree). We moved in together at this point.
- We got engaged in January 2018
- Unfortunately she had to leave the UK in March 2018 - her Tier 4 visa expired and a job/tier 2 visa sponsorship offer did not pan out.
- We're getting married in New York in 3 weeks. We plan to apply for the Spouse visa straight after the wedding (while I am there). (I am coming to the US on an ESTA waiver)

Luckily I earn over the minimum income threshold (from a permanent, full-time job) and am currently renting the same flat by myself. (Landlord is happy for spouse to move back in)

Here's the current pack of information that I have/am putting together. I am flying to the US in 2 weeks, so the biggest stress is getting everything ready before that (on top of managing the wedding!!)

Application form and receipts

• VFS priority receipt (not yet completed)
• Online application form (not yet completed)
• Appendix 2 (CAT A)
• Biometric Receipt Confirmation (not yet completed)
• Visa Fee Receipt (not yet completed)
• IHS Receipt (not yet completed)
• Return shipping labels (not yet completed)

Applicant information

• Current Passport and 2 Photocopies
•   2 Passport-sized Photographs

Sponsor information

• Introduction letter/Signed letter of sponsorship. This states that:
  
  a) I am a UK Citizen
  b) That I meet the financial requirements and how (via my permanent, full-time job)
  c) That I meet the accommodation requirements (via the 1 bedroom flat that I have sole tenancy of, landlord is happy too)
  d) That we are in a genuine relationship - short summary of our situation and trips we have taken to visit each other/how we've stayed in contact
  e) That we are applying for a UK visa as it makes more sense with my stable employment and that we intend to live in the current flat
  
• Photocopy of Passport Bio Page Certified by Post Office

Proof of Marriage

• Marriage Certificate (haven't got this yet)
• Photographs from Marriage Ceremony (haven't got this yet)

Proof of Financial Requirements

• Letter from HR showing length/type of employment and salary history
• 6+ Months of Pay Slips signed/stamped by HR. This will include my end of August payslip
• 2017-18 P60 signed/stamped by HR
• Employment contract signed/stamped by HR
• 6 months of original bank statements - i.e. the ones that were posted to me. My August statement is due to arrive on Sept 13th (my flight date). A friend (who is coming to NY later) is planning to bring this across for me if it doesn't arrive in time

Proof of Accommodation

• Tenancy agreement. This is solely in my name and lasts until August 2019. This is a printed copy of an online PDF version
• A 'no objection' letter from the landlord, stating he is happy for my spouse to move into my property when the visa process is completed. He's also confirmed the property details (i.e. one bedroom flat) with a 'wet' signature.
• Some recent, original utility bills: Gas, electricity, water

Proof of Genuine and Subsisting Relationship

• A sample of our facebook messages every few months or so over the last 5 years. I've screenshotted these from the bulk download file you can request from Facebook
• Travel documents - Printouts of receipts/boarding passes/email confirmations of trips/holidays we have taken together and visits to each other when we were separated geographically. There is maybe 10/12 examples here
• Photocopies of stamped envelopes from our correspondence in 2013, when we were getting to know each other across the Atlantic!
• A 7/8 page document with photos of key events over the past few years (i.e. Xmases spent together, holidays, visits to each other, parent visits etc.)
• A joint tenancy agreement from when we first moved in together (August 2016). Note: I moved this into a sole tenancy in August 2018 as future spouse wasn't in the country at the time

A few quick questions:

• Have we missed anything?
• I've struggled to find evidence of constant communication, other than Facebook and the physical letters. Facetime doesn't appear to have a facility to capture call logs and both of our Whatsapp histories disappeared when upgrading phones. Is that an issue?
• Spouse's old passport was retained by authorities when she renewed. Presuming this is OK?
• Obviously I have been running down savings/taken a small loan to pay for the wedding. So many of my bank statements show outgoings>incomings (although the overall balance is still well above zero). Assuming that the ECO is only looking for my salary being paid into my account, rather than looking at my overall financial picture?

Finally, could anyone provide some reassurance on my upcoming US trip. I understand it's completely legal to marry a US citizen on an ESTA waiver - but the US border authorities make me nervous! I am planning to put together some evidence that I am in no way intending to stay in the country just in case (return flight details and a letter from my manager, stating that I'm expected back in work.

Thank you so much in advance!!!

A couple of notes about your document list:

- you only need 1 passport photo of the applicant (it won’t be used anyway and will likely be returned)
- I would only include 1 photocopy of the applicant’s passport photo page... no need to send any more than that
- the applicant must include ALL passports they have ever held

- for the financial information, you just need to make sure that the payslips and bank statements cover the SAME 6 months... I.e. that every day covered by the payslips must also be covered by the bank statements

- you do NOT need any utility bills for the accommodation proof so you can take them all out. They cannot be considered as they do not prove ownership or permission from the landlord to live there

- DO NOT Include photocopies of envelopes... they mean nothing and won’t be considered. If you are including correspondence, you need the actual, original letters that were in the envelopes.

- DO NOT include your 7/8 pages of photos... they are irrelevant and will just clutter the application. You only need 2 photos maximum, simply to prove you have met one time in person, preferably on proper photo paper. I would include the wedding photo and one from early in the relationship.

- if you lived together previously, you should ideally also include bills and other official documents mailed to you both at the same address, covering the entire time you lived together

In answer to your questions:

- as long as you have some evidence of communication, it won’t matter if you don’t have the WhatsApp messages

- the old passport won’t be an issue, but it should have been returned and she may have a case for complaint that it was not returned

- the only thing the ECO cares about is your salary being paid in. And the only reason to include the bank statements is to prove that the amount on the payslip was deposited into an account in your name. They will not look at any other transactions.

- you’ll be fine with marrying in the US. The majority of people on this forum have done it... which is hundreds over the last 10 years or so. Nothing at all to be nervous about. Just bring with you your return ticket, evidence of U.K. employment and money available to you, in case they ask. You can also print the page from the US Embassy website that tells you to marry on ESTA if you will not reside in the US after the wedding.


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My husband came to the US on an ESTA to marry me in 2014. He came with a letter from his employer stating when he was expected back and his return flight. He was very nervous (he's a pretty anxious guy in general). He had his family in tow.

At the counter the ECO asked the purpose of his visit.
My husband replied, 'to get married.'
The ECO responded, 'Oof are you sure you want to do that?'
'Um, yes. Haha.'
'Where will you be living with your spouse after the wedding?'
'The UK.'
Stamp. 'Welcome and have a wonderful wedding.'

Thanks both - amazed at the quick responses.

Some replies:

-

for the financial information, you just need to make sure that the payslips and bank statements cover the SAME 6 months... I.e. that every day covered by the payslips must also be covered by the bank statements

OK - I think that's fine, I've also checked that the same amount on the payslip shows up in each bank statement. Fingers cross the August one is OK too when it comes in.

- you do NOT need any utility bills for the accommodation proof so you can take them all out. They cannot be considered as they do not prove ownership or permission from the landlord to live there

OK - will take them out. So just a tenancy agreement/landlord letter will satisfy the accomodation requirement in my case?

DO NOT include your 7/8 pages of photos... they are irrelevant and will just clutter the application. You only need 2 photos maximum, simply to prove you have met one time in person, preferably on proper photo paper. I would include the wedding photo and one from early in the relationship.

Will do - we can get one on proper photo paper and will sort one after the wedding

- if you lived together previously, you should ideally also include bills and other official documents mailed to you both at the same address, covering the entire time you lived together

This is a bit tricky. I think we have a council tax statement from 2016/17. And I think we also have the joint tenancy agreement from August 16 to August 17.

We had a joint tenancy agreement from August 17 to August 18. My only concern is that it is in both of our names, even thought my fiancee left the country in Feb 2018. I made sure to move the tenancy solely in my name for the renewal in August 18.

Unfortunately we left most of the other bills in my name, and my fiancee paid me money directly when the bills were due.

How much of an issue is this?

- DO NOT Include photocopies of envelopes... they mean nothing and won’t be considered. If you are including correspondence, you need the actual, original letters that were in the envelopes.

So instead could I include two original letters/envelopes (one from me to NY and one from her to London) from 2013? Would that suffice?

Also one extra question I had:

- you only need 1 passport photo of the applicant (it won’t be used anyway and will likely be returned)

I've read that this needs to be a 'UK size' photo - which may be tricky to obtain in the US. Any suggestions? Could we use a US size photo instead?

OK - will take them out. So just a tenancy agreement/landlord letter will satisfy the accomodation requirement in my case?

Yep - that’s all you need.

This is a bit tricky. I think we have a council tax statement from 2016/17. And I think we also have the joint tenancy agreement from August 16 to August 17.

We had a joint tenancy agreement from August 17 to August 18. My only concern is that it is in both of our names, even thought my fiancee left the country in Feb 2018. I made sure to move the tenancy solely in my name for the renewal in August 18.

Unfortunately we left most of the other bills in my name, and my fiancee paid me money directly when the bills were due.

How much of an issue is this?

Not an issue.

Just include whatever you have that shows you were living together.

As you will be married, there’s no requirement to have lived together, but if you are lived together in the past, you’ll want to show that as part of your genuine relationship evidence.

However, once she has the visa and is in the U.K., you’ll need to get as many things in her name as possible (either joint or separately addressed) and also turn OFF paperless for everything so that you receive it all in the post. You’ll also need to save all your mail for the next 5 years... because for the next 2 visas after this you will need to provide evidence of continuously living together, by way of 6 official documents in each name, from at least 3 different sources, spread evenly over the length of each visa.

So instead could I include two original letters/envelopes (one from me to NY and one from her to London) from 2013? Would that suffice?

Yep, though you don’t need the envelopes... just the original letters.

Also one extra question I had:

I've read that this needs to be a 'UK size' photo - which may be tricky to obtain in the US. Any suggestions? Could we use a US size photo instead?

You can use either a US or UK size photo. It won’t be used anyway and will probably just be sent back to you.



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Thank you so so much.

On this one point:

Not an issue.

Just include whatever you have that shows you were living together.

I have council tax 'e-bills' which I will include, although I know not having originals is not ideal.

My fiancee also has bank statements in her name which I guess proves she lived at the address too.

Hopefully those, on top of the tenancy agreements, will be enough.

Lesson learned, will be changing everything to joint paper bills if this visa process is successful!!

I'm starting a similar process to you too, I wish you the best of luck

In regards to customs, it's easy. I've been about 10 times this year and I never get asked more than 'what is the purpose of your visit'. I just say to visit a friend, and then they let me in. This has been Chicago Airport, and also a small St Louis airport.

Don't be nervous, but don't lie either. They are used to nervous people.