Checklist for Fiance visa/a few questions. Wall of text sorry :o

I am an American marrying an English girl.   My deepest apologies for the excessively long text.  As I'm sure you can all understand I'm quite nervous and unsettled with all of this, but please let me know if I was unclear at any point.  I will respond as quickly as possible to any enquiries.  Thank you so much!



• 6 months paystubs + letter signed by HR or regional supervisor in her company verifying that these are correct.  She has access to paystubs online through her employer, so I assume PDFs of these are sufficient?  Same with bank statements for the same period?
  
• - scanned copy of her passport bio page
  
• - my original passport - submitted at biometrics or does this get mailed?  Is this the only thing that gets mailed in physically and everything else is a digital copy?
  
• - letter from landlord stating that I am allowed to live in the property she rents + copy of land registry showing him as the registered owner
  
• - photos - How many photos is recommended or is requisite for fiance visa. What content  demonstrates biographical and authentic  evidence of time spent with passage of time (without overkill)?
  
• - One of the application checkmarks is 'Proof that she and I intend to marry within 6 months'.  Do we need to have wedding scheduled?  We aren't planning on marrying too formally, just an appointment at the local council with her parents as witnesses.  Can we even schedule with the local council before I'm in the country (Derbyshire if it matters)
  
• - my divorce certificate - I was married from 2012-2017 and I know I need to submit that as well.   
  
• Chat logs - I've seen these mentioned many times on this site but saw no mention on the application.  We have communicated almost exclusively through Telegram for calls and texts and video chats, with no physical post to submit.  Will we need to screenshot a smattering of these over the course of our relationship as well?
     
• - Supporting letters.  The documentation says 'You should write about the following things in your supporting letter:
  
      How the UK partner meets the financial requirement;
      The accommodation that will be available to you and your UK partner for when you arrive in the UK;
      Information about your relationship, including your intention to marry & wedding plans; and
      That the UK partner promises to provide you with financial support & with adequate accommodation.'
     
     
      Do we keep it short and sweet within those?  Should we be more verbose?  Example of short and sweet:
     
      "We met online on X date, then chatted via text and email for 7 months, at which point I flew to the UK to meet her on X date. We spent 2 months together, then I flew back to the US and we chatted for another 4 months, then I flew back and we spent 4 months together.  During this time we decided to marry and live together in the UK.  We will be marrying as soon as possible with her parents as witnesses at the local council in Derbyshire when I arrive in the UK, where I will live with her at X address. 
     
      She meets the income requirement through her job at X company" 
     


    Obviously more formal than that, but is that the gist?  Should we talk more personally/lovingly?

I am an American marrying an English girl.   My deepest apologies for the excessively long text.  As I'm sure you can all understand I'm quite nervous and unsettled with all of this, but please let me know if I was unclear at any point.  I will respond as quickly as possible to any enquiries.  Thank you so much!



• 6 months paystubs + letter signed by HR or regional supervisor in her company verifying that these are correct.  She has access to paystubs online through her employer, so I assume PDFs of these are sufficient?  Same with bank statements for the same period?
  
• - scanned copy of her passport bio page
  
• - my original passport - submitted at biometrics or does this get mailed?  Is this the only thing that gets mailed in physically and everything else is a digital copy?
  
• - letter from landlord stating that I am allowed to live in the property she rents + copy of land registry showing him as the registered owner
  
• - photos - How many photos is recommended or is requisite for fiance visa. What content  demonstrates biographical and authentic  evidence of time spent with passage of time (without overkill)?
  
• - One of the application checkmarks is 'Proof that she and I intend to marry within 6 months'.  Do we need to have wedding scheduled?  We aren't planning on marrying too formally, just an appointment at the local council with her parents as witnesses.  Can we even schedule with the local council before I'm in the country (Derbyshire if it matters)
  
• - my divorce certificate - I was married from 2012-2017 and I know I need to submit that as well.   
  
• Chat logs - I've seen these mentioned many times on this site but saw no mention on the application.  We have communicated almost exclusively through Telegram for calls and texts and video chats, with no physical post to submit.  Will we need to screenshot a smattering of these over the course of our relationship as well?
     
• - Supporting letters.  The documentation says 'You should write about the following things in your supporting letter:
  
      How the UK partner meets the financial requirement;
      The accommodation that will be available to you and your UK partner for when you arrive in the UK;
      Information about your relationship, including your intention to marry & wedding plans; and
      That the UK partner promises to provide you with financial support & with adequate accommodation.'
     
     
      Do we keep it short and sweet within those?  Should we be more verbose?  Example of short and sweet:
     
      "We met online on X date, then chatted via text and email for 7 months, at which point I flew to the UK to meet her on X date. We spent 2 months together, then I flew back to the US and we chatted for another 4 months, then I flew back and we spent 4 months together.  During this time we decided to marry and live together in the UK.  We will be marrying as soon as possible with her parents as witnesses at the local council in Derbyshire when I arrive in the UK, where I will live with her at X address. 
     
      She meets the income requirement through her job at X company" 
     


    Obviously more formal than that, but is that the gist?  Should we talk more personally/lovingly?

1- Read this. It explains the formatting. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-se-family-members-specified-evidence

The electronic payslips are acceptable if they are accompanied by a letter verifying their authenticity. This can be a separate letter or can be included in your employer letter.
Bank statements, if not original and sent through the post must be stamped on every page by the bank or accompanied by a letter vertifying their authenticity.

Be careful about the 6 month thing. Most people have to provide 7 months worth of pay slips and bank statements to make sure the exact same 6 month period is covered by both. And be aware, the most recent of each and the employers letter(s) must all be dated within 28 days of the date of the online application.

The employers letter must contain the following information.

 (b) A letter from the employer(s) who issued the payslips at paragraph 2(a) confirming:
(i) the person’s employment and gross annual salary;
(ii) the length of their employment;
(iii) the period over which they have been or were paid the level of salary relied upon in the application; and
(iv) the type of employment (permanent, fixed-term contract or agency).

2- I would scan the whole passport to be on the safe side.

3-Not quite. You need a letter from the land lord granting you permission to live there once your visa is granted and the lease or rental agreement. The land registry document is needed if you have an informal arrangement, living with friends or family.

4-Just send a few, maybe 3 or 4 from over the course of your relationship. You will also need evidence of how you kept in touch while apart and of your trips to see each other and any physical letters or cards you have sent each other.

5-Send email correspondence with the council discussing intent and possible dates. Do not book anything as even in normal times you never know when your visa will be granted. Also send receipts for ring/dress etc if you have such things but the email with the registrar is the main thing.

6-Yes.

7-Yes, these are extremely important. Do provide these.

8-Yes. Keep it factual and to the point. They do not care how much in love you are!

Thank you for your rapid response, and for wading through that pile of panic text.  So if I may, just to recap, what we need is:

1. 7 months sponsor paystubs + letter from employer verifying them
2. 7 months sponsor bank statements, will order official ones and have them posted
3. Scanned copy of sponsor's passport + my original
4. Copy of the tenancy agreement + landlord letter stating that I can live there. 
5.  3-4 photos spanning the length of the relationship
6. email correspondence with the council discussing our intent to marry and the dates we are aiming for.
7. chat logs, something like one or two per month in screenshots over the last 1.5 years
8. Supporting letters from each of us.
9. Divorce certificate


My apologies for not posting something more in this vein last night.   I was in a bit of  a state and unnecessarily loquacious.

Also, any idea what priority processing time is looking like these days?  I didn't see any recent updates in the timeline thread, which is perhaps a bit worrisome, though obviously it is what it is.

My apologies for not posting something more in this vein last night.   I was in a bit of  a state and unnecessarily loquacious.

Don't worry - the process can be daunting and confusing.

Also, any idea what priority processing time is looking like these days?  I didn't see any recent updates in the timeline thread, which is perhaps a bit worrisome, though obviously it is what it is.

Priority processing is not currently available, because all the biometrics centres have been closed since March due to Covid, and no new applications are being processed right now. There is a chance they may start opening up again in June, but we don't know yet.

So, while you can still submit the online application at the moment, it will not be possible to book biometrics and purchase the extra services like priority processing until the centres open up again.

Thank you for your rapid response, and for wading through that pile of panic text.  So if I may, just to recap, what we need is:

Financial Requirement.

1. 7 months sponsor paystubs + letter from employer verifying them
2. 7 months sponsor bank statements, will order official ones and have them posted
Also need- mandatory (b) A letter from the employer(s) who issued the payslips at paragraph 2(a) confirming:
(i) the person’s employment and gross annual salary;
(ii) the length of their employment;
(iii) the period over which they have been or were paid the level of salary relied upon in the application; and
(iv) the type of employment (permanent, fixed-term contract or agency).

Optional- Job contract
               -P60

3. Scanned copy of sponsor's passport + my original

Accommodation Requirement.

4. Copy of the tenancy agreement + landlord letter stating that I can live there. 

Relationship Requirement.

5.  3-4 photos spanning the length of the relationship
6. email correspondence with the council discussing our intent to marry and the dates we are aiming for.  Any other wedding planning such as receipts or communication with photographer,etc,
7. chat logs, something like one or two per month in screenshots over the last 1.5 years
8. Supporting letters from each of us. Only the sponsor needs to provide one unless the applicant has a criminal record, poor immigration history or anything else unusual which needs to be explained.
9. Divorce certificate
Evidence of trips to see each other- boarding passes. This is a big one.
Any letters or cards you have sent each other.


My apologies for not posting something more in this vein last night.   I was in a bit of  a state and unnecessarily loquacious.

Also, any idea what priority processing time is looking like these days?  I didn't see any recent updates in the timeline thread, which is perhaps a bit worrisome, though obviously it is what it is.

It feels like you are in a bit of a hurry. Please take a step back and read fm-se, linked above.
Only once you have all of your documents in hand will you be ready to apply. I'd confirm again here when you have them all.
Nothing is happening in terms of processing at all right now as all the biometrics centres are closed.

1. 7 months sponsor paystubs + letter from employer verifying them
2. 7 months sponsor bank statements, will order official ones and have them posted
3. Scanned copy of sponsor's passport + my original
4. Copy of the tenancy agreement + landlord letter stating that I can live there. 
5.  3-4 photos spanning the length of the relationship
6. email correspondence with the council discussing our intent to marry and the dates we are aiming for.
7. chat logs, something like one or two per month in screenshots over the last 1.5 years
8. Supporting letters from each of us.
9. Divorce certificate

Just to note, you only need a supporting letter from the UK sponsor, not from the US applicant.

I'm just going to organise your documents into the different sections of the application, so it's easier to see what you have. Highlighted in blue are notes and the things you don't have yet, but will need to submit:

Applicant Documents
- application barcode (I think you need this)
- your US passport
- IHS surcharge payment number/receipt
- stamped biometrics sheet (once you have attended biometrics)
- return shipping label
- return packaging for your passport
- priority processing receipt, if available/if using

Sponsor Documents
- her UK passport
- her letter of support outlining how she meets each requirement to sponsor you

Financial Documents
1. 7 months sponsor paystubs + letter from employer verifying them
2. 7 months sponsor bank statements, will order official ones and have them posted
3. Letter from sponsor's employer, dated within 28 days of the online application submission date, detailing ALL of the following:
i) current employment and salary
ii) length of employment
iii) length of time earning current salary
iv) type of employment
Optional but recommended:
4. Original job contract
5. latest (April 2020) P60

Accommodation Requirement
1. Original tenancy agreement
2. Letter from landlord confirming tenancy and giving you permission to live there once your visa has been granted

Evidence of plans to marry in the UK
1. email correspondence with the council discussing our intent to marry and the dates we are aiming for.
Optional extra:
2. Any other evidence you have of planning the wedding, such as receipts for the dress, rings, provisional bookings etc.

Relationship Evidence
1. Divorce Certificate
2.  3-4 photos spanning the length of the relationship (I normally recommend 1-2 photos maximum, since the requirement is  just 1 photo to show you have met in person 1 time, but sending up to 3-4 will be okay... just don't send more than that)
3. Boarding passes/e-tickets from all your trips to see each other - this is the most important
4. any physical letters or cards you have sent to each other
7. screenshots of emails, call logs, chat logs etc. covering the last 1.5 years
I would send up to 60 emails/calls/messages of each type of communication - so maybe 2 or 3 per month. You don't want to include ANY content, just a list of dates and times... so screenshot each message, paste into a Word doc (or similar) and crop out everything but the name, date and time. You should be able to get all 60 messages on 2-3 sheets of paper.

Thank you all again for all of the responses.  Also was good advice to step away for a minute and come back to it with a fresh head. 

I have three remaining questions as I finish gathering documents.

1. Am I only able to apply for priority processing if I go to a UKVCAS centre?  I have to apply through normal channels if I do biometrics at the local Customs and Immigration office?

1b. On the pay page for the Visa it says "Standard service at a Department of Homeland Security Application Support Center(AKA Not priority if I understand correctly): pay 1934.00 USD now. It takes up to 15 working days for most people to receive a decision"  Is that 15 day number even remotely accurate?  From what I heard on here even before Covid 15 days was fast even for priority.  I'm wildly confused

2. On the subject of a supporting letter, is extremely poor credit history/minor criminal record a reason I might want to write my own as the applicant?  The only criminal history I have is a misdemeanor theft charge from 13 years ago, but I have had a bankruptcy and a court judgment for debt within the last 5 years, which I of course listed on my application. 

3. Which documents do I need to have posted vs being able to upload digital versions of?  Or does everything but passport get submitted electronically these days?

Is it poor etiquette here to bump?  I realize of course that as I'm writing this I'm bumping this thread, but I'd hate to step on any toes when y'all are such a tremendously helpful resource and have been nothing but kind to me. 

Most urgently, I'm preparing to pay for my application and #1 question directly above this regards paying for service at a UKVCAS centre vs paying and doing biometrics at the Homeland Security office.

I don't particularly want to drive the 250 miles to Seattle for biometrics but if that's the only way to get priority processing and speed up my application I will.

Is it poor etiquette here to bump?  I realize of course that as I'm writing this I'm bumping this thread, but I'd hate to step on any toes when y'all are such a tremendously helpful resource and have been nothing but kind to me. 

Ah, sorry - sometimes posts get missed.

Most urgently, I'm preparing to pay for my application and #1 question directly above this regards paying for service at a UKVCAS centre vs paying and doing biometrics at the Homeland Security office.

You can't do biometrics at a UKVCAS centre, because UKVCAS is a company located in the UK and they only deal with applications being made from within the UK. In the US, you would go to a VFS Premium Centre instead.

However, ALL the VFS Premium centres are closed until further notice, so it is not possible to give biometrics in Seattle anyway:
https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/us/en/news/important-information-regarding-visa-application-centres-in-usa

Some of the USCIS ASCs will be opening on 4th June though, so you may be able to book a free appointment at one of those and then purchase priority on the VFS website:
https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings

So, the normal biometrics options are:
- free appointment at a USCIS Application Support Centre (ASC) (run by US immigration on behalf of UKVI)
or
- you pay an extra $2,000 for Settlement Premium Processing at a VFS Premium Centre

The Settlement Premium Service is just a waste of money though. It includes priority processing, but you're essentially only paying the extra $1,200 on top to be able to keep your passport while the visa is processing... the service is no faster.

To expand a bit more:

1. Am I only able to apply for priority processing if I go to a UKVCAS centre?  I have to apply through normal channels if I do biometrics at the local Customs and Immigration office?

As mentioned above, there are no UKVCAS centres in the US. They are a UK company that is used for in-country applications made from inside the UK.

The US centres are VFS Premium Centres and they are all closed until further notice. But the 'normal channel' USCIS ASCs are supposed to be starting to open up again from June 4th.

Priority processing is purchased through the VFS Global website for £573 and is applied when you apply through the normal channels, after attending biometrics at a USCIS ASC.

In order to use the Premium Centre in Seattle, you have to purchase the $2,000 Settlement Premium Service, which includes priority processing, document scanning, document checks, and allows you to keep your passport. It's basically a waste of money and doesn't get your application processed any faster than the 'normal channels'.

1b. On the pay page for the Visa it says "Standard service at a Department of Homeland Security Application Support Center(AKA Not priority if I understand correctly): pay 1934.00 USD now. It takes up to 15 working days for most people to receive a decision"  Is that 15 day number even remotely accurate?  From what I heard on here even before Covid 15 days was fast even for priority.  I'm wildly confused

Well, no visas are being processed right now, but before Covid, it was taking around 15-20 or so working days for priority and 30-60 working days for non-priority. Who knows what the processing times will be like once everything opens up again though - there could be large backlogs.

Processing of 15 working days doesn't usually apply to settlement visas, as those processing times are up to 12 weeks (the 15 working days is for other types of visa, like work, student and visitor visas).

The $1934 quote is just the cost of the visa (£1523). It does not include any priority services.
See:
https://visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk/y/usa/usd/join-family/family-of-settled-people-settlement/family-visas---joining-your-partner-parent-proposed-civil-partner-or-child-also-applicable-to-ec-to-the-isle-of-man-baliwick-of-jersey-and-bailiwick-of-gurnsey

If you want to purchase priority, you do it when you book your biometrics appointment at a USCIS ASC on the VFS Global website. It costs $727 with the current exchange rate:
https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/us/en/premium-services/priority-visa-for-settlement

2. On the subject of a supporting letter, is extremely poor credit history/minor criminal record a reason I might want to write my own as the applicant?  The only criminal history I have is a misdemeanor theft charge from 13 years ago, but I have had a bankruptcy and a court judgment for debt within the last 5 years, which I of course listed on my application. 

I would definitely write a letter. The letter should include:
- type of visa applied for
- date you want 30-day visa vignette to start (as you've listed on the application form)
- an explanation of any criminal history and any previous bad immigration history
- an explanation of anything unusual about your documents (i.e. large bank transactions)
- a list of documents included with your application

Your US credit history will not have a bearing on the application as it does not transfer to the UK. I don't believe a bankruptcy will affect the application, but it may affect your ability to gain UK citizenship in future.

However,  you will need to declare your misdemeanour and provide your police record and any paperwork you have from the charge. You must also declare any court judgements and include paperwork.

3. Which documents do I need to have posted vs being able to upload digital versions of?  Or does everything but passport get submitted electronically these days?

Basically, everything but your passport is uploaded.

The only documents you mail to New York are:
- your passport
- your stamped biometrics sheet (once you have attended the appointment)
- priority processing receipt
- return packaging and shipping label
- you may also need to include the first page of the application form with the barcode on it, but I'm not sure

Thank you so much for the clarifications!  This entire process has felt like a game with particularly arcane rules, and any failure to follow them results in my life being delayed by months potentially.  You have been a lifesaver, and I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel