We're gettin' hitched - Spousal Visa Questions and Document Check :)

Just wanted to give a quick update for other people applying- I finished filling out my application yesterday evening around 9 ish and the only option was a standard 8 week processing time.  I logged back on at 12:55 am, refreshed right at 1 am and the super priority option popped up.  First appointment I could get  was September 28th.  It was £230!  Feels like they're taking the piss there, but just glad it's in the diary now. 

Get used to it! Citizenship is such a relief mentally and financially!

@Ben1989 lol right! looking forward to that day!!

One more question for everyone - I'm about to upload all my documents.  My appointment is Wednesday, I just noticed in teh FAQ section it says documents should be uploaded 48. hours before the appointment.  I'm going to be liek 44 hours before my appointment - is this going to be an issue?

One more question for everyone - I'm about to upload all my documents.  My appointment is Wednesday, I just noticed in teh FAQ section it says documents should be uploaded 48. hours before the appointment.  I'm going to be liek 44 hours before my appointment - is this going to be an issue?

It won't be an issue, but they ask you to submit them no later than 48 hours beforehand so that they can be checked through before the appointment (though they may only check them if you have paid for the 'document checking' service - I'm not sure).

The 'Submit' button for the uploaded documents will disappear 48 hours before your appointment, so if you leave it later than that to upload, the documents will not be submitted into the system until after you have attended the appointment.

ok thanks Ksand!

So I will attend my appointment, come home and submit my documents then? I have paid for priority so that doesn't seem to leave them much time?

Also - another quick one- the dates on the documents do they need to be 28 days before when I made my application or my appointment? (and is it 28 days? I wasn't sure)

ok thanks Ksand!

So I will attend my appointment, come home and submit my documents then? I have paid for priority so that doesn't seem to leave them much time?

No, you still need to upload the documents before your appointment.

It's just that you won't be able to 'submit' them into the system for the caseworker to look at in advance. Once you have attended the appointment, they will be made available in the system so that the caseworker can access them.

However, if it's at all possible for you to upload them and submit them before the 48 hours, I would advise doing so.

Also - another quick one- the dates on the documents do they need to be 28 days before when I made my application or my appointment? (and is it 28 days? I wasn't sure)

All documents must be dated on or before the date you made your application. The financial documents specifically (latest bank statement, payslip and the employer letter)  must be dated no more than 28 days before the online application date.

Any document dated AFTER you applied online cannot be considered.

The date you applied online and paid for the visa is your official application date and you must be able to show that you met all the requirements on that date.

ohhh ok ok - makes sense!

Re: the dates- ok perfect.  That's what I thought and what I had. 

I think I knew all of this, but I'm having a last minute panic as my appointment is approaching this week haha

Anyone know what the typical timeline for super priority has been lately?  It's been 25 hours now, I was really hoping I would hear yesterday.  I had my appt in the City yesterday morning at 9.  I can't stop refreshing my email haha

Anyone know what the typical timeline for super priority has been lately?  It's been 25 hours now, I was really hoping I would hear yesterday.  I had my appt in the City yesterday morning at 9.  I can't stop refreshing my email haha

Lately, most people have been getting their approval email 3-5 hours after their appointment.

However, the Super Priority service only actually states that a decision will be made by ‘the end of the next working day’… so I would give it until the end of today.

If you ended up not uploading your documents until less than 48 hours before the appointment, that could be the reason why it’s taking a bit longer.


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Hi Everyone,

I have a couple quick questions and thought I'd piggy back off of my last post- which wow time flies!

1. E-Visa/ BRP.  So my physical BRP obviously expires January 1st 2025.. I will be in America for xmas and flying back on the 31st, landing the morning of the 1st.  I've tried to check in on my e-visa, and a bit confused.  I can log in to my UKVI accoutn and it has my passport & details saying my BRP expires April 26th 2025.  Is this sufficient? There doesn't seem to be anywhere to actually 'apply' for an e-visa? I can get a share code if I need for my flight, but I'm confused if I actually need to do anything else?

2. I'll be applying for my ILR in the new year -which yay can't wait to be done! So if my visa expries 26/4/2025, I can apply 2 months beforehand? Is that right?

3. Since I went the spousal visa route, when I'm granted my IRL am I able to apply for my citizenship right after.  And what are the overall fees for that process.  I've looked on the website but I just wanted to double check becuase sometimes I find the gov.uk website to be confusing lol

TIA

1. E-Visa/ BRP.  So my physical BRP obviously expires January 1st 2025.. I will be in America for xmas and flying back on the 31st, landing the morning of the 1st.  I've tried to check in on my e-visa, and a bit confused.  I can log in to my UKVI accoutn and it has my passport & details saying my BRP expires April 26th 2025.  Is this sufficient? There doesn't seem to be anywhere to actually 'apply' for an e-visa? I can get a share code if I need for my flight, but I'm confused if I actually need to do anything else?

You don't 'apply' for an e-visa, you just need to get access to it via your UKVI account and link it to your passport number:

If you already have a UKVI account and can log in and see your visa status, then it sounds like you already have your e-visa sorted out and don't need to do anything, other than to get a share code before you travel in case you need to show it.

See here for more information:
https://www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa

2. I'll be applying for my ILR in the new year -which yay can't wait to be done! So if my visa expries 26/4/2025, I can apply 2 months beforehand? Is that right?

I see from your previous posts on this thread that you entered the UK on your spousal visa on 26th February 2020... which means you will reach 5 years in the UK on 26th February 2025.

You can apply for ILR up to 28 days before you reach 5 years, which means you can submit your online application from 29th January 2025 onwards.

3. Since I went the spousal visa route, when I'm granted my IRL am I able to apply for my citizenship right after.  And what are the overall fees for that process.  I've looked on the website but I just wanted to double check becuase sometimes I find the gov.uk website to be confusing lol

Yes, as long as you are married to a UK citizen, you can apply as soon as you get your ILR.

You just have to show that you have not been outside the UK for more than 270 days in the last 3 years, and that you were physically inside the UK exactly 3 years prior to your citizenship application date (i.e. if you apply on 1st April 2025, you have to show you were in the UK on 1st April 2022).

The current fee for citizenship is £1,630.

Thanks for that @ksand - always so helpful!!

I'm about to submit my application today... wanted to do this earlier but had a load of work travel to get through first. Here's my documents, I think I've got everythign?

Documents:
Samantha Jinks Passport (Photo and Signature page)
Michael Jinks Passport (photo page)
Samantha Jinks BRP (front and back)
Samantha & Michael Jinks Marriage License
Expungement Letter from Franklin County Municipal Court for underage drinking minor misdemeanor

Current Tenancy Agreement
Council Tax Bills, 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022
Declaration from Michael Jinks
Life in the UK reference number

Financial:
P60
Payslips from March, February, January, December, November, October, September, August and July
Job Contract
Employment Letter
Samantha Jinks Bank statements from March, February,  January, December November, October, September, August, and July

Cohabitation:
January 2025: ovo energy bill and letter from the NHS
November 2024: joint bank account statement
July 2024: Ovo energy bill, and letter from HMRC
June 2024: joint bank account statement
January 2024: joint bank account statement
August 2023: joint bank account statement
March 2023: joint bank account statement
October 2022: joint bank account statement

What I was confused about is when it came to my partner's passport (who's English) the following comes up "This should be your partner’s current passport or travel document. You may send copies instead of the original document if you are applying on a partner 2-year or 5-year route. Every page of the passport mustbe copied including any blank pages."

So do I actually have to provide every single page of his passport? That feels excessive?

Just wanted to give an update - I tried a couple weeks ago but think the site has been down for a couple of weeks?!

My IRL came in! I submitted around 5 pm and found a super priority appointment for the next day at 8:30am right by my office. Didn't realize biometrics were all automated now.  I showed up 15 minutes early, got in right away and think I was there for a total of 10 minutes max.  Got my email confirming my IRL about an hour and half later!

Thanks for everyone's help during this process, it's much appreciated This forum has helped me so much teh past 5-6 years! Onto citizenship now

Congratulaions