Spouse Application - almost ready to submit

Hi everyone.  I'm hoping someone can help me with a few questions I have.

I've submitted an application via : visas-immigration.service.gov.uk
I found it to be much easier than the visa4uk site, but I'm a bit concerned about the consolidation of what isn't there.
Question 1: I'd first like to confirm that with the new visas-immigration service, that the VAF4A Appendix 2 is "not" needed.

Question 2: For those of you that decided not to get a UPS return postage through VFS global, how did you purchase it, do you use the Sheffield address to your address, and just pay a flat fee? I've heard some people claim that a UPS business account is needed to get a label.

Question 3: on the return envelope, what size do you use? When they return your package, is it all the contents that you sent to them as well?

I have my bio-metrics on Monday, and I want to send off quickly afterwards. All the information that I have found on this board has been very helpful, thank you all.
-J

Question 1: I'd first like to confirm that with the new visas-immigration service, that the VAF4A Appendix 2 is "not" needed.

No idea, I'm afraid - you're the only person I know of who has used it so far.

Did the online form ask you about:
- financial requirement category
- sponsor's employment details and income
- your UK accommodation
- your relationship history?

If not, then I assumed you will need Appendix 2 as well.

Question 2: For those of you that decided not to get a UPS return postage through VFS global, how did you purchase it, do you use the Sheffield address to your address, and just pay a flat fee? I've heard some people claim that a UPS business account is needed to get a label.

You have to send your application to New York - nothing goes directly to Sheffield anymore. So you get a US shipping label to New York and back to your home address.

The address you send it to is:
VFS Services USA Inc.
UKVI Scanning Hub
80 Broad Street
Floor 6
New York, 10004

(see here for address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/usa-apply-for-a-uk-visa/apply-for-a-uk-visa-in-the-usa)

Your options are:
- purchase the VFS Global shipping labels
or
- go to a UPS store and purchase the labels there

I'm not sure which will be cheaper though.

Question 3: on the return envelope, what size do you use? When they return your package, is it all the contents that you sent to them as well?

Unless they have changed it in the last few days, you don't need to include a return envelope.

I have my bio-metrics on Monday, and I want to send off quickly afterwards. All the information that I have found on this board has been very helpful, thank you all.

I would make sure you have ALL your documents ready before you attend biometrics (we can check them here for you if you post a list). You only have 5 days from biometrics to mail your documents to New York, and if you wanted to cancel the application (i.e. because you don't have all the documents yet), you cannot get a refund if you have already attended biometrics.

Will you be scanning and uploading your supporting documents to New York via the VFS Global website and then only mailing your passport, application and stamped biometrics sheet, or will you be mailing everything to New York for them to scan there?

Thanks,
So, yes. The new form does ask those questions about
- financial requirement category
- sponsor's employment details and income
- your UK accommodation
- your relationship history?

And I haven't seen the full outline of what they expect in the package.  One interesting thing my wife pointed out though was the following statement in the biometrics appointment form.
They have a list of evidence items to bring to the appointment, including
Proof of relationship,
Copy of spouses' passport bio-page
declaration of savings
personal bank statements
My passport
and spouses' proof of British citizenship.
The interesting part is the following statement:
The documents ticked in this checklist are all of the documents I wish to use to support my application

So, the question there is, is this all the evidence that is going to be in the application?  I'll know Monday.


Thanks for the information regarding shipping. For some reason I thought that it was sent to NY first, and then sent to Sheffield. and all the return passport and information would originate from the Sheffield office.

I'm hoping to have everything ready to be sent out Monday or Tuesday.  So excited about the move, it's been 10 or so years in the making.

-J

And I haven't seen the full outline of what they expect in the package.  One interesting thing my wife pointed out though was the following statement in the biometrics appointment form.
They have a list of evidence items to bring to the appointment, including
Proof of relationship,
Copy of spouses' passport bio-page
declaration of savings
personal bank statements
My passport
and spouses' proof of British citizenship.
The interesting part is the following statement:
The documents ticked in this checklist are all of the documents I wish to use to support my application

So, the question there is, is this all the evidence that is going to be in the application?  I'll know Monday.

It will be too late to find out on Monday, because you only have 5 days from Monday to submit the documents and depending on what documents you need, it can take several weeks to gather them all and make sure they are in the exact format required by UKVI, as detailed in Appendix FM-SE.

We recommend that you make sure you have gathered all your documents, and checked and double-checked them all, making sure they meet all the requirements, before you even fill out the online application.

You will need:

Applicant documents:
- optional contents letter
- priority receipt if using
- return shipping label
- Application print-out
- stamped biometrics appointment sheet
- original passport
- previous passports
- 1 passport photo

Sponsor's Details:
- Copy of spouses' passport bio-page
- sponsor's letter of support, detailing how they meet each requirement of the visa, and a short history of your relationship

Financial requirement (Category D: Cash savings)
- 6 FULL months of original bank statements, covering every single day of those 6 months (usually this means sending 7 months of statements to make sure).
They must show that the savings amount has not dipped below £62,500 for even 1 day during those 6 months. The most recent statement must be dated no earlier than 28 days before your online application date.

The statements must be either:
- originals mailed to you in the post,
or
- internet printed statements stamped by the bank on EVERY page OR accompanied by a letter from the bank confirming their authenticity... this letter must be dated within 28 days of the online application date.

Accommodation evidence
- evidence of guaranteed accommodation for you and your spouse (and any children) to live in once you have arrived in the UK
If you own a house in the UK you need:
- Land Registry document
- optional: latest mortgage statement

If you will be renting in the UK, you need:
- valid, current tenancy agreement in the sponsor's name
AND
- a letter from the landlord giving the applicant (and any children) permission to live in the property

If you will be staying with family or friends, you need:
- their Land Registry document
- a letter of permission from them for you to live with them, stating the home will not be overcrowded
- optional: their latest mortgage statement

Proof of relationship:
- marriage certificate
- any divorce decrees from previous relationships if applicable
- 1 or 2 photos of you and your spouse together (i.e. one early in the relationship, one recent

If you live together in the US:
- evidence of living together for every single year of your marriage.
For example:
- annual tax returns
- utility bills
- tenancy agreements
- house deeds
- mortgage statements

If you don't live together, or have had periods where you have lived apart:
- evidence of trips to see each other (boarding passes/flight itineraries)
- letters/cards sent to each other
- evidence of regular communication while apart (screenshots of email inboxes, call logs, message logs etc. covering the duration of the period you were apart)

Thanks for the information regarding shipping. For some reason I thought that it was sent to NY first, and then sent to Sheffield. and all the return passport and information would originate from the Sheffield office.

Not anymore - none of your documents will leave the US.

What happens is you either:
- mail your documents to New York, then they scan them and transmit them to Sheffield electronically
or
- you scan your documents and upload them to VFS, then send your passport and application to New York. Your documents will be transmitted to Sheffield electronically.

Then New York keeps your passport (and any documents you sent them) and when Sheffield have made a decision, they notify New York and New York issues the visa and mails it back to you.

Thank you so much ksand.

Here is what we have ready to go, based on your list.

Applicant documents:
- IHS number, and receipt.
- priority receipt if using (This is now included in the new interface as well)
- return shipping label
- Application print-out
- stamped biometrics appointment sheet (I'll get this Monday)
- original passport
- previous passports
- 1 passport photo ( I need to get this - Thank you )

Sponsor's Details:
- Copy of spouses' passport bio-page
- sponsor's letter of support, detailing how they meet each requirement of the visa, and a short history of your relationship

Financial requirement (Category D: Cash savings)
We are applying based on Appendix FM 1.7 section 7.4.10 Based on sale of our home.
for these qualifying documents we are including our Deed when we purchased the home in 2016,
7 months of the most recent mortgage statements
mortgage interest documents
information regarding the sale of the home, and the amount that was transferred to our bank after taxes and fees.
a letter of deposit from the bank showing that the amount was transferred into our bank account (Stamped and signed)
a current statement from our account showing that the funds are in our bank account (Stamped and signed).
A declaration by us regarding the source of the cash savings in our account. 


Accommodation evidence
We have an interesting situation here: We are renting a house that is owned by my grandmother-in-law. But rented to use by my Aunt-in-law through Power of Attorney.
We are including the lease agreement, with a statement that I am allowed in the home once my UK visa comes through.
We are also including the Land Registry document, and Power of Attorney documents.
 

Proof of relationship:
- marriage certificate
- 1 or 2 photos of you and your spouse together (one early in the relationship, one of our recent vacation to Paris)

If you live together in the US:
- evidence of living together for every single year of your marriage. We were married in 2006.
- annual tax returns from 2011 onwards.
- house deeds - We bought our first home in 2005, and have be in a few homes together.
- Tennancy Agreements when we have lived in apartments in-between home ownership.


Cheers,  I'm hoping this goes quickly.