First steps on arrival - correct sequencing

I've read that the spousal visa BRP doesn't come with a NIN.

The National Insurance website says that you need to call to apply: https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number

Then, you "may attend" a meeting; but from what I've read on here, it seems like most people attend a meeting (don't know how true that is).

It's correct that there will be no NI number on the BRP - only certain visa types get it assigned on the BRP (i.e. Tier 2 work visas).

I believe you just apply by post... there should not be an interview required for people who hold a spousal visa issued outside the UK.

Usually only people who have switched to FLR(M) from inside the UK need to attend an interview for the NI number.

It's correct that there will be no NI number on the BRP - only certain visa types get it assigned on the BRP (i.e. Tier 2 work visas).

I believe you just apply by post... there should not be an interview required for people who hold a spousal visa issued outside the UK.

Usually only people who have switched to FLR(M) from inside the UK need to attend an interview for the NI number.

Maybe you have to call for them to send it to you via post? I've had to fill out stuff like that before.

Oooo and good to know!

Maybe you have to call for them to send it to you via post? I've had to fill out stuff like that before.

Oooo and good to know!

Yes, you do have to call. They will send you the form and will tell you if you need to attend an interview or not.

Yes, you do have to call. They will send you the form and will tell you if you need to attend an interview or not.

Thanks for all this. It's so helpful.

Well, that's good to know for when I get in.

Good for you-congratulations!

In no particular order but i would say

1-Get paper bills & bank statements in joint names to start keeping for your future FLR & ILR

2-Send a letter to the main credit agencies explaining why your wife isnt on the electoral roll. getting credit will be hard. Look at Martin  Lewis website we followed his advice to get my partner a credit card after being here a few months - rubbish fees and limit but better than nothing

3- Dont get downhearted if your wife gets homesick and has a bad day & everything british annoys her

4- Roll your eyes if your wife laughs at how small english sizes for everything from laundry tablets to boxes of aspirin - though why one needs a box of 500 aspirin is beyond me   

5 - Dont underestimate  the rising prices of the future visas as people have been posting in this forum - we started saving straight away

6 - Ignore the right wing media (usuallly the mail and telegraph) hysteria about immigration-instead laugh at their stories of how people can just walk into the UK at the drop of a hat and reflect on how, after all the hoops you had to jump through, untrue the stories are that then factions of the public believe

Finally be happy - took us 20 years of long distancing but next uear we are going for the ILR and are so happy

Hope your wife settles here quickly and loves it and you are both happy for ever

My partner misses boxes of 500 aspirin and walk in closests but has never looked back since arriving - he marvels at the BBC; the NHS; public transport and such things and says we brits dont know how,lucky we are

Good for you-congratulations!

In no particular order but i would say

1-Get paper bills & bank statements in joint names to start keeping for your future FLR & ILR

2-Send a letter to the main credit agencies explaining why your wife isnt on the electoral roll. getting credit will be hard. Look at Martin  Lewis website we followed his advice to get my partner a credit card after being here a few months - rubbish fees and limit but better than nothing

3- Dont get downhearted if your wife gets homesick and has a bad day & everything british annoys her

4- Roll your eyes if your wife laughs at how small english sizes for everything from laundry tablets to boxes of aspirin - though why one needs a box of 500 aspirin is beyond me   

5 - Dont underestimate  the rising prices of the future visas as people have been posting in this forum - we started saving straight away

6 - Ignore the right wing media (usuallly the mail and telegraph) hysteria about immigration-instead laugh at their stories of how people can just walk into the UK at the drop of a hat and reflect on how, after all the hoops you had to jump through, untrue the stories are that then factions of the public believe

Finally be happy - took us 20 years of long distancing but next uear we are going for the ILR and are so happy

Hope your wife settles here quickly and loves it and you are both happy for ever

My partner misses boxes of 500 aspirin and walk in closests but has never looked back since arriving - he marvels at the BBC; the NHS; public transport and such things and says we brits dont know how,lucky we are

Aww this is really lovely thank you!  Wow you really did long distance for 20 years - so strong. Excellent that you're nearly at your ILR.

Martin Lewis website is helpful isn't it? Thanks for that tip. I also spoke to bank about position for future mortgages.

She's only been here twice. I've visited most as my work is more flexible. And yep she was astonished by the 'small' cars. I got the next size up of washing machine to normal just so she would acclimatise better 

I think she may get aspirin on prescription so we'll probably be ok - ha!

Yes the cost is frightening. We'll try to keep the savings that we've used for this. Just hope she gets work!

Right wing media and anti immigration nonsense - ugh I know!

Only 50 hours to go. Not that I'm counting!

Hey there, you sound like a great admin!

Here's what we've found, since I arrived on 6 June.

Adding me to council tax.  Takes about 5 to 6 weeks.  Still waiting.
Adding me to checking/savings account.  Can't be done until can prove address, and only certain things are accepted, like for instance, council tax.  Still waiting.
TV license was quick and easy and in my name.  1st piece of mail.
Surgery and dentist sign up.  Easy peasy.  They asked for no proof, didn't even look at bpr card.
I do not plan on driving anymore, my vision is too bad, and I have no sense of direction in England.  My joke is that we seem to just keep spinning in circles and miraculously get to different places.
Changing address with UKVI, yeah you guessed it, waiting for council tax.

I do feel normalcy now, and waiting for things WHILE YOU GET TO KEEP ON LIVING WITH YOUR HUSBAND AND HAVING A REAL LIFE, isn't bad at all. 

Hey there, you sound like a great admin!

Here's what we've found, since I arrived on 6 June.

Adding me to council tax.  Takes about 5 to 6 weeks.  Still waiting.
Adding me to checking/savings account.  Can't be done until can prove address, and only certain things are accepted, like for instance, council tax.  Still waiting.
TV license was quick and easy and in my name.  1st piece of mail.
Surgery and dentist sign up.  Easy peasy.  They asked for no proof, didn't even look at bpr card.
I do not plan on driving anymore, my vision is too bad, and I have no sense of direction in England.  My joke is that we seem to just keep spinning in circles and miraculously get to different places.
Changing address with UKVI, yeah you guessed it, waiting for council tax.

I do feel normalcy now, and waiting for things WHILE YOU GET TO KEEP ON LIVING WITH YOUR HUSBAND AND HAVING A REAL LIFE, isn't bad at all.

Thanks Katoo! Great that you're settling in. What part of UK are you in? And where were you in US?

That all fits with what I've been  gathering. Good to hear about GP. Surprised council tax is taking that long - the person I spoke to said she'd close my individual account (and single occupancy benefit) and open joint account and send it out that day (or following morning at latest). I'll let you know when it arrives! I hardly slept a wink last night. Tomorrow night!! So near, so far!

Thanks Katoo! Great that you're settling in. What part of UK are you in? And where were you in US?

That all fits with what I've been  gathering. Good to hear about GP. Surprised council tax is taking that long - the person I spoke to said she'd close my individual account (and single occupancy benefit) and open joint account and send it out that day (or following morning at latest). I'll let you know when it arrives! I hardly slept a wink last night. Tomorrow night!! So near, so far!

We're in the North near Lancaster, a little town called Garstang.  Our council tax is taking time because it is new for both of us.  John rented a holiday cottage when he first arrived and then we bought a canal boat and have a permanent live aboard mooring.  Most people claim they don't live aboard to avoid council tax.  We are actually saying, please let us pay you money, so it's taking time. 

I lived in St. Augustine, Florida for the past 12 years, but I've lived in lots of places in the U.S. including Los Angelos, New Orleans, and Northern California to name just a few.  It's really no big deal at all for me to move to England, I've always been an adventurous sort.  You'd have to be to contemplate canal boat living as a retirement plan, right?

So we are completely gutting and redoing the inside of this boat while living in it, and I'm loving it.

We're in the North near Lancaster, a little town called Garstang.  Our council tax is taking time because it is new for both of us.  John rented a holiday cottage when he first arrived and then we bought a canal boat and have a permanent live aboard mooring.  Most people claim they don't live aboard to avoid council tax.  We are actually saying, please let us pay you money, so it's taking time. 

I lived in St. Augustine, Florida for the past 12 years, but I've lived in lots of places in the U.S. including Los Angelos, New Orleans, and Northern California to name just a few.  It's really no big deal at all for me to move to England, I've always been an adventurous sort.  You'd have to be to contemplate canal boat living as a retirement plan, right?

So we are completely gutting and redoing the inside of this boat while living in it, and I'm loving it.

Oh wonderful! Yes I remember reading about your canal boat plans now! That makes sense then for bit more of delay. Just heard back from Phone Coop they added her on account but not on statements, as not liable. Going to have to attempt to get her an account in her name separately for her to get that mail in her name, and that'll be fun with credit checking. The admin challenge begins! Keep us posted on the canal boat renovation - so exciting. My wife is a closet adventurer whose finally having her first major adventure at 57

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