Well, I guess I'm not feeling as reassured as I was a couple of days ago. Neither of us has a job in the UK, so initially, our income will be zero. Using the the basic assistance amounts as a guide, we have about 50 weeks of savings. My husband plans to go ahead of my daughter and me to look for work, and we hoped to come after two or three months. We thought we could shorten our time apart by not waiting to apply until he actually HAS a job, given that we can live with his parents free of rent and council tax. Fifty weeks seems like more than enough time for one or both of us to become employed, but it doesn't sound like the UKBA sees it that way. What I hoped to see were recently approved applications where the couple had no job in the UK, at least 6 months of savings, but nowhere near 27 months. Any takers? Thanks for listening.
Mtnfamily,
You must have been reading my mind because this is the EXACT same problem we have. We may move over sometime next year but I am self employed, wife is part time, we have two kids, some savings and are figuring out do I move over ahead of them, stay with my sister and have her sponsor me and apply for a visa based on 3rd party support or do I move over, stay with my sister, get a job and then do the visa based on my income and savings. I don't know what to do first. I think it would be better to already have a job.
It comes down to a balance of probabilities. Will the visa application be looked at more favourably with a job and savings or 3rd party support and savings?
It might be possible to combine all three, a job, 3rd party support and savings which makes for a stronger application.
Let me know what you decide to do.