How far in advance can/should I apply for a (spousal) visa?

We're planning on moving in July 2019. My wife is a UK resident and we are in the process of getting our two kids residency.

I'm planning to apply for a spousal visa and in preparation, wondering when I should plan on kicking off the process. When I go to start an application on Visa4UK the "Date of Intended Travel" only lets me select a date 6 months out.

Should I just plan on getting the application going at the end of January? If my date of travel changes, what does that do the application?

Thanks!

We're planning on moving in July 2019. My wife is a UK resident and we are in the process of getting our two kids residency.

I'm planning to apply for a spousal visa and in preparation, wondering when I should plan on kicking off the process. When I go to start an application on Visa4UK the "Date of Intended Travel" only lets me select a date 6 months out.

Should I just plan on getting the application going at the end of January? If my date of travel changes, what does that do the application?

Thanks!

It only gives travel date 6 months out because you can only apply 6 months 'in advance.' You would be issued a vignette in your passport that allows you to enter the UK within 30 days of your intended travel date (mostly they honor the start date as the travel date you indicate). Don't change your travel date. Don't book tickets before you get your passport back.

You can always enter the UK during your given 30 day window, collect your BRP (which is basically your visa) and leave the UK to tie up any loose ends.

I cannot stress this enough: Do not change your intended travel date. This would cost you both time, money and sanity.

And do not submit the online application until you are completely ready to submit all of your documents because at that point, you only have 5 days to do so.
You can save the application as you go, just don't submit  it until you are ready.

Got it, thanks for the advice.

If I use a service like VFS Global to help with my visa, how does that work in terms of me submitting the application on Visa4UK and engaging with them (and the 5 days to submit documents that was mentioned)? I need to get a reference number before I can register with them online, but do I only get that once I submit the visa application?

VFS Global is the website where you can purchase the following:

- round trip/return shipping labels to send your package to New York

- settlement priority processing for $793... this gets your application put to the front of the line when it has been received by UKVI in New York/Sheffield

- premium settlement service for $1900... where you submit your documents and biometrics in person at a premium service centre. They are then scanned and forwarded to Sheffield for processing. This service includes the shipping labels and priority  service above, though personally, I think it is a waste of money and really, you’re just paying an extra $1100 to be able to keep your passport while the visa is processing.

In order to purchase any of these services you have to:

- submit your online application on the Visa4UK website, where you will pay for the visa, pay the IHS surcharge and either book a biometrics appointment at a USCIS ASC (for most applications) or at a Premium Centre (if purchasing the $1900 premium service). The day you submit your online application will be your official application date, so you don’t want to submit it until you are completely ready to mail everything for processing.

- register with VFS Global using the GWF application number generated on the visa4uk website and purchase your shipping labels and/or priority service


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Ahhh, that's so helpful ksand24, thank you!