When to fill out online form?

Hello,

I am currently putting together all our application documents for me to apply for a spouse visa. I have a british husband and two children with him. We are applying from the US.

Should I apply online first? It is confusing if I should wait to apply until I have all the documents together or if applying online helps provide the authoritative list of documents needed. Also, do biometrics have to be done before documents are mailed?

How long do I have to file once it is filled out online?

Also, Is the visa form different if I'm applying from the US vs within the UK?

I have more questions but will start with this. So thankful for this resource.

Thanks, Margie

Welcome to the forum, Margie .

Submitting the online application is one of the last things you should do, when you have gathered all the documents, checked and double-checked you have everything, and you are completely ready to mail your documents to Sheffield for processing. The date you submit the online application is your official application date, so you need to make sure you meet all the requirements on that date.

You can start filling out the online application if you wish, and keep saving it, but DON'T submit it until you are completely ready with all your documents.

The online application DOES NOT help you with the documents required, as it is a generic form, only about the applicant, and is pretty much the same for all visa types anyway.

However, the VAF4a Appendix 2 form is the second half of the application form and needs to be printed and completed by hand. It contains all the questions specific to meeting the spousal visa requirements (financial category, accommodation in the UK and relationship history) and can help you with your document-gathering.

VAF4a Appendix 2 can be found here. This page also has a suggested supporting documents list, though it is a little vague and ambiguous, so we can help you figure out exactly which documents you need:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-uk-visa-for-family-settlement-form-vaf4a

Biometrics are done after you have submitted the online application and paid for the visa - you will be prompted to book your biometrics appointment at a local USCIS Application Support Center in the US. You have 5 DAYS from attending the biometrics appointment to mail your application forms and documents to Sheffield for processing.

- If you are applying from inside the US, you are filing for a 'spousal visa', which is valid 33 months and costs £1,523.
- If you live in the UK already on a different visa, you apply for an FLR(M) extension visa, which is valid 30 months and costs £1,033.

So, the order of doing things is:
- Research the visa requirements
- Gather your documents
- Check and double-check your documents meet all the requirements, are in the correct format and are within the date restrictions
- Complete VAF4A Appendix 2
- Complete the online application form
- When ready to mail everything, submit the online application. You will be prompted to pay for the visa, pay the IHS surcharge, and book a biometrics appointment
- Print the online application and biometrics appointment confirmation sheet
- Purchase settlement priority processing (if using) and shipping labels
- Attend your biometrics appointment, taking your passport and appointment confirmation sheet. They will check your ID, stamp the sheet and take your fingerprints and photo, before sending you home
- Place your passport and stamped biometrics sheet with your documents in the package. Place the priority receipt and return shipping label on the top
- Write SETTLEMENT PRIORITY SERVICE in very large letters on the outermost packaging
- Mail package to Sheffield within 5 days of biometrics
- Wait for visa to be processed and mailed back to you in the US

If you can post here the specifics of your situation (financial requirement category, relationship history, where you will live in the UK), along with the documents you already have, we can help you figure out if you're on the right track .

Here are a few links to help you out:

How to apply for a UK visa in the USA: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/usa-apply-for-a-uk-visa/apply-for-a-uk-visa-in-the-usa

Appendix FM 1.7 Financial Requirements guidance: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/636618/Appendix_FM_1_7_Financial_Requirement_Final.pdf

Appendix FM-SE for the format of the specified evidence:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-se-family-members-specified-evidence

VFS Global website, where you can purchase Settlement Priority Processing and shipping labels:
https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/usa/user_pay_services.html

Biometrics are done after you have submitted the online application and paid for the visa - you will be prompted to book your biometrics appointment at a local USCIS Application Support Center in the US. You have 5 DAYS from attending the biometrics appointment to mail your application forms and documents to Sheffield for processing.

Hi! Hope it's okay if I jump in here and ask a question... Is there a long wait before you can get a biometrics appointment once you've submitted the online application or are appointments generally readily available?

Hi! Hope it's okay if I jump in here and ask a question... Is there a long wait before you can get a biometrics appointment once you've submitted the online application or are appointments generally readily available?

Generally people manage to get an appointment within 2 or 3 days. You are not limited to your local centre so if you can't get an appointment there that you are happy with, you can always look further afield.

Also,. several of our members have been able to walk in earlier than their scheduled appointment day and have had no problems being seen.

Thank you so much for you help. This is amazing!

Question on Accommodation requirement:
My sister in law is going to offer her house. Is it ok to state that our son will be sharing a room with her son? She has a four bed. That would be for her room, her daughter's room, her son's room that our son would share, and for us with our 4 month old daughter.

Would that be ok? Does she have to have a bunk bed or two beds present when they do the home inspection? She owns the house outright with her husband.

Thanks, Margie

Thank you so much for you help. This is amazing!

Question on Accommodation requirement:
My sister in law is going to offer her house. Is it ok to state that our son will be sharing a room with her son? She has a four bed. That would be for her room, her daughter's room, her son's room that our son would share, and for us with our 4 month old daughter.

Would that be ok? Does she have to have a bunk bed or two beds present when they do the home inspection? She owns the house outright with her husband.

Thanks, Margie

Hi Margie!

There is no home inspection as part of the process and no need to have one done (except in the case of houses of multiple occupation, of which this is not an example)

Assuming there is at least one living room in addition, a 4 bed house can sleep 10 before being overcrowded. See page 18 from the following link.

I would not go into any detail regarding the sleeping arrangements as it is not necessary to do so.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/452964/IDI_Adequate_Maintenance_and_Accommodation_Part_8_Annex_F.pdf

As larrabee said, no need for a home inspection and no need to go into detail.

Your sister-in-law just needs to state the following in her letter:
- she is giving you permission to live in the house
- the total number of bedrooms + living rooms
- the total number of people who will be living in the house

If there are 4 bedrooms plus 1 living room, you can have up to 10 people living in the property.

For the purpose of overcrowding:
- Adults and children over 10 count as 1 person
- Children between age 1 and 10 count as 0.5 of a person
- Children under 1 year do not count as a person

It sounds like you will have:
- 3 adults (you, your spouse, your sister-in-law)... counting as 3 people
- 3 kids (her daughter, her son, and your son)... counting as either 1.5 people (if they are all under 10) or up to 3 people (if they all are over 10)
- 1 baby... counting as 0 people

So, if that's correct, you will have a total of between 4.5 and 6 people (depending on the age of the kids) living in a house that can accommodate up to 10 people.

Generally people manage to get an appointment within 2 or 3 days. You are not limited to your local centre so if you can't get an appointment there that you are happy with, you can always look further afield.

Also,. several of our members have been able to walk in earlier than their scheduled appointment day and have had no problems being seen.

Brilliant! Thanks for the info!! I'm getting so close and feeling better about the whole process.