Documents required

So we're almost finished with the online application. Will not submit until everything is ready.
Financial requirements is easy were using my wife 401k information.
Looking at some other posts it looks like we need a marriage certificate to prove were married (we've been married for 31 years)
Accommodation , we plan to get the visa and then return to the US because we have pets to sort out and a house to sell. I plan on renting somewhere at first , but at the time of application we will give my sister's address and say we're staying there until we find our own place.
I know we need the biometrics and the passports , do I send my passport tour just a copy ?
A cover letter and all receipts pertaining to this application.
After this is done I have to work on getting the animals travel documents !
Thanks
Colin

Okay, here's my basic, general list of what you need to send. Of course, everyone's situation is slightly different, so you may need to tailor the documents slightly.

Also, they have changed the system so it appears you can now send copies instead of originals of supporting documents (a few weeks ago, it HAD to be originals), and there also seems to now be an option to upload your documents instead of mailing all of them

My document list:

Applicant (US citizen)
- Receipt for priority processing (if paying for priority)
- return shipping label
- Optional cover letter
- 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)
- Receipt for IHS surcharge payment
- 1 passport photo of applicant (they can be US or UK size)
- US passport
- All previous passports
 
Sponsor (UK citizen)
- Copy of UK passport photo page
- Sponsor letter of support for the visa, outlining how you meet each requirement for the visa (financial requirement, UK accommodation details, short history of the relationship and reason for deciding to settle in the UK together)

Finances
- 6 full months of 401K statements showing at least £62,500 held for the entire time
- written confirmation from the 401K company that the money can be immediately withdrawn (with or without penalty)

Accommodation
If you will live with family or friends:
- a letter from the homeowner giving you permission to live there and stating that the home will not be overcrowded
- their Land Registry document
Optional:
- their latest original mortgage statement

Relationship evidence
- marriage certificate
- any divorce decrees, if either of you have been previously married
- 1 or 2 photos of you together, for example, one recent and one from early in the relationship
Evidence of living together for the last 31 years
For example:
- annual tax returns from each year
- house deeds
- utility bills
(I would send 1 document per year)

Sending evidence of living together for your entire marriage is important - we have had a couple of applicants refused their visas, despite being married and living together for over 20 years, because they only sent their marriage certificate and a photo, but no evidence that they actually lived together for 20 years.

Okay, here's my basic, general list of what you need to send. Of course, everyone's situation is slightly different, so you may need to tailor the documents slightly.

Also, they have changed the system so it appears you can now send copies instead of originals of supporting documents (a few weeks ago, it HAD to be originals), and there also seems to now be an option to upload your documents instead of mailing all of them

My document list:

Applicant (US citizen)
- Receipt for priority processing (if paying for priority)
- return shipping label
- Optional cover letter
- 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)
- Receipt for IHS surcharge payment
- 1 passport photo of applicant (they can be US or UK size)
- US passport
- All previous passports
 
Sponsor (UK citizen)
- Copy of UK passport photo page
- Sponsor letter of support for the visa, outlining how you meet each requirement for the visa (financial requirement, UK accommodation details, short history of the relationship and reason for deciding to settle in the UK together)

Finances
- 6 full months of 401K statements showing at least £62,500 held for the entire time
- written confirmation from the 401K company that the money can be immediately withdrawn (with or without penalty)

Accommodation
If you will live with family or friends:
- a letter from the homeowner giving you permission to live there and stating that the home will not be overcrowded
- their Land Registry document
Optional:
- their latest original mortgage statement

Relationship evidence
- marriage certificate
- any divorce decrees, if either of you have been previously married
- 1 or 2 photos of you together, for example, one recent and one from early in the relationship
Evidence of living together for the last 31 years
For example:
- annual tax returns from each year
- house deeds
- utility bills
(I would send 1 document per year)

Sending evidence of living together for your entire marriage is important - we have had a couple of applicants refused their visas, despite being married and living together for over 20 years, because they only sent their marriage certificate and a photo, but no evidence that they actually lived together for 20 years.

Thank you for the list. I don't think I have documents going back 31 years to show we've been living together. I tend to clear old receipts and papers every few years. I have probably got tax returns for the last 6 or 7 years and deeds to the house in both our names .
We don't have utility bills as we are renting from a relative and the rent includes utility bills. Our phone bills are paperless, I suppose I could go online and print old phone bills but I don't know how far back that will take us.
I've also got some letters from work from 1997 and 1998 . We've been at this address for the whole time we've been married but I shredded a lot of old stuff I didn't think were of any use.
I really don't think we can account for every single year , I mean who keeps old receipts for 31 years ?

I just  read a document that states we only have to prove we've been living together for at least 2 years.
If that's true why would I have to go back 31 years ?

2. Apply as a partner or spouse
To apply as a partner, you and your partner both need to be 18 or over. Your partner must also either:
be a British citizen
have settled in the UK (they have ‘indefinite leave to remain’ or proof of permanent residence) have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK
You and your partner must intend to live together permanently in the UK after you apply.
What you’ll need to prove
You must be able to prove one of the following:
you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK
you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
you are a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner and will marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arriving

I just  read a document that states we only have to prove we've been living together for at least 2 years.
If that's true why would I have to go back 31 years ?

That’s for a different visa.

For the initial spousal visa, you have to show evidence of a subsisting relationship for the entire length of your marriage/relationship.

Then for the next visa after 2.5 years in the UK you have to provide evidence that you have lived together in the UK since arriving on your spousal visa (up to a maximum of 2 years)... to prove you have been meeting the requirements of your visa for the entire time you have been living in the UK. For this requirement you have to show 6 documents in each name, from at least 3 official sources, spread evenly over the last 2 years of your spousal visa.


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The part you have quoted above is for people who are applying as Unmarried Partners, who are not married but must have lived together for 24 consecutive months before they can apply for the visa. They need to provide 24 months of evidence to prove their relationship is ‘akin to marriage’, because they don’t have a marriage certificate.

As you are applying as spouses, you provide your marriage certificate in place of the 2 years of evidence, but you ALSO have to provide evidence that your relationship has subsisted since you got married.


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Have a read through this thread:
https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=90071.msg1166115#msg1166115

They had been married and living together in the US for 21 years, and applied for a spousal visa. They only sent their marriage certificate because they assumed that the fact that they had been married so long would be enough.

The visa was refused because they didn’t provide any evidence of their 21-year relationship... the Entry Clearance Officer did not believe they had been in a subsisting relationship for the entire 21 years.

They applied again, providing 20 years’ worth of evidence of living together, and the visa was approved without issue.

The thread regarding the documents they provided for their second application is here:
https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=90109.msg1166326#msg1166326


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I still don't see an official document other than the one I have that states I need to prove we've been together for 31 years.
The document I have is not just referring to extension visas after 2.5 years.
I see nothing that requests documentation for every single years we've been together.
The 20 year married couple that were refused did not provide anything at all to show they have been together.

I still don't see an official document other than the one I have that states I need to prove we've been together for 31 years.
The document I have is not just referring to extension visas after 2.5 years.
I see nothing that requests documentation for every single years we've been together.
The 20 year married couple that were refused did not provide anything at all to show they have been together.

The onus is on you to prove that your relationship is genuine and subsisting. Ksand has given you the best advice. It's up to you whether you take it or not.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263237/section-FM2.1.pdf

Okay, here you go, the official rules on how they assess whether a relationship is genuine and subsisting:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263237/section-FM2.1.pdf

From page 3:

Factors which may be associated with a genuine and subsisting relationship

(i) The couple are in a current, long-term relationship and are able to provide satisfactory evidence of this.

(ii) The couple have been or are co-habiting and are able to provide satisfactory evidence of this.

(iii) The couple have children together (biological, adopted or step-children) and shared responsibility for them.

(iv) The couple share financial responsibilities, e.g. a joint mortgage/tenancy agreement, a joint bank account and/or joint savings, utility bills in both their names.

(v) The partner and/or applicant have visited the other’s home country and family and are able to provide evidence of this. (The fact that an applicant has never visited the UK must not be regarded as a negative factor, but it is a requirement of the Immigration Rules that the couple have met in person).

(vi) The couple, or their families acting on their behalf, have made definite plans concerning the practicalities of the couple living together in the UK. In the case of an arranged marriage, the couple both consent to the marriage and agree with the plans made by their families.

And in the section where it might be considered that the relationship is NOT genuine and subsisting:

(xvi) Matrimonial co-habitation is not maintained (except where one party is working or studying away from home) or there is no evidence that they have ever co-habited since the marriage.





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