How do I send my supporting documents to NY for a Fiance(e) Visa?

Hello! I am a US citizen living in Atlanta, and I hope to join my Fiancé in the UK in December!
My biometrics appointment is Oct 20th, and I am extremely nervous about having all the documents I need, having them in the right format, and mailing them to the NY office in the correct way by then. It's so hard to find any good information on this, which is why I am really grateful to have stumbled across this forum! Any advice you can give would be so wonderful!

My questions:

1. What are good resources to find formats for cover letters, relationship proof, etc? I heard that a cover letter should be simple, to the point, and put in the beginning. But then there are also supporting letters from the both of us? How are these different? I also heard that I should write out in more detail the timeline of our relationship and include my photos and screenshots of our FB messages there, but I assume this is something totally different?

2. Should I make headers or titles for each section?

3. Most importantly, how do I mail all of this to NY? I was given an address but no other helpful information. I've seen some talk about needing return packaging and postage, but honestly I'm so confused. Do I put it all in a box? I paid for priority service, do I have to send it in a special way? Help!

Any advice you could give me would mean so much. Thank you in advance!!!

Hello! I am a US citizen living in Atlanta, and I hope to join my Fiancé in the UK in December!
My biometrics appointment is Oct 20th, and I am extremely nervous about having all the documents I need, having them in the right format, and mailing them to the NY office in the correct way by then. It's so hard to find any good information on this, which is why I am really grateful to have stumbled across this forum! Any advice you can give would be so wonderful!

My questions:

1. What are good resources to find formats for cover letters, relationship proof, etc? I heard that a cover letter should be simple, to the point, and put in the beginning. But then there are also supporting letters from the both of us? How are these different? I also heard that I should write out in more detail the timeline of our relationship and include my photos and screenshots of our FB messages there, but I assume this is something totally different?

2. Should I make headers or titles for each section?

3. Most importantly, how do I mail all of this to NY? I was given an address but no other helpful information. I've seen some talk about needing return packaging and postage, but honestly I'm so confused. Do I put it all in a box? I paid for priority service, do I have to send it in a special way? Help!

Any advice you could give me would mean so much. Thank you in advance!!!

Welcome. 

It might be easier if you list the documents you already have so we can tell you what is missing. How are you meeting the financial and accommodation requirements?

You need to provide a cover letter from the sponsor, the applicant only needs one if explanation is required for out of the ordinary circumstances such as a criminal history.

We always advise to gather all your supporting documentation before actually applying for the visa.

Thank you!

We do have all of what I think are the most essential supporting documents! It's just basically organizing it all that is stressing me out. I also haven't printed anything out yet because I am unsure if there is a specific way that I should do that. This is what we have so far that I know I need to send:

- The receipt for my payment of the Priority Service

- My online application form

- the VAF4a Appendix 2 application form

- my current passport

- my cover letter that I have assumed is just basic and to the point. Basically explaining our situation, that my sponsor makes well over the amount for the financial requirement, that he has adequate housing for me when I arrive, and that we intend on marrying as soon as possible within the 6 months of my arrival (our date and place isn't super set yet because multiple plans have failed due to Covid, but I can provide emails with the airbnb we had to cancel, the photographer, and now the email correspondence I have with Oxford's register office to book a time to have a simple civil ceremony in the office.)

- a photocopy of my fiancé's passport' photo page

- his sponsor letter of support: his eligibility to sponsor (Portugal citizen but living UK with indefinite leave to remain), how he meets the financial requirements, the accommodation, and relationship requirements for the visa.

- 6 months of his payslips

- 6 months of his bank statement

- a letter from HR proof of employment (company letterhead, signed, and stating form of employment, job title, salary, start date, and that pay slips are genuine)

- his job contract

- his tenancy agreement of his flat in Oxford 

- Receipts of paying council tax for the duration of time he's been living there

- pictures of our engagement and my ring

- an invitation to my bridal shower

- letters of congratulation from friends and family

- screen shots of discussions I've had trying to book an Airbnb to have a small ceremony with our families in Oxford. We had to cancel these plans because they had to take the house off the app due to Covid.

- email conversations between me and the people from the Oxford registrar office trying to book a time to get married.

- and for proof of relationship I was going write out a time line of our relationship, including in it photos of our trips to visit each other, screenshots of our Facebook messenger conversations, flight conformation emails, and if I can figure out how to do it FaceTime logs.

I know I will also need to bring my biometric Appt Letter to my appointment to get it stamped. I feel pretty good about what we have! But if you have any advice I would love it. The main concern I have is how to mail it all after my appointment!

Also: I had an appointment at a BPAS in slough the last time I was in England. We paid for it, actually my fiancé did, and I know we need to prove that any medical treatment I've had in the UK has been paid for. I was planning on just showing in his bank statement that it shows it was paid. But I'm not really sure where to include that.

Again thank you so so much!

You don’t need the following:

- My online application form (only the first page has to be included)

- the VAF4a Appendix 2 application form (this no longer exists for US applications as it has been incorporated into the online application)

- my cover letter that I have assumed is just basic and to the point.... a cover letter is not required. If you do include one, it should just be a document contents letter.

An example of a cover letter:

To the Entry Clearance Officer,

Please find attached my application and supporting documents for a settlement visa to join my fiancé in the UK. I would like the visa to start on DATE, as per the intended travel date listed on my application form.

The following documents are included with my application:
[Document List]

Yours Faithfully,
Your Name

- Receipts of paying council tax for the duration of time he's been living there

- letters of congratulation from friends and family

- photos of your relationship... only 2 photos should be sent maximum..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You don’t need the following:

- My online application form (only the first page has to be included)

- the VAF4a Appendix 2 application form (this no longer exists for US applications as it has been incorporated into the online application)

- my cover letter that I have assumed is just basic and to the point.... a cover letter is not required. If you do include one, it should just be a document contents letter.

An example of a cover letter:

To the Entry Clearance Officer,

Please find attached my application and supporting documents for a settlement visa to join my fiancé in the UK. I would like the visa to start on DATE, as per the intended travel date listed on my application form.

The following documents are included with my application:
[Document List]

Yours Faithfully,
Your Name

- Receipts of paying council tax for the duration of time he's been living there

- letters of congratulation from friends and family

- photos of your relationship... only 2 photos should be sent maximum..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry I'm just replying to this now! I've been so incredibly overwhelmed and anxious over this whole thing! But your advice was so so helpful. I am so grateful! I do have a question about the picture thing. You said there should only be 2 max. Is it bad if I have more?
It's just because I've seen people on here say they put in like 30 + pictures in theirs. A part of me feels like maybe it's better to have more instead of less than they require?

Sorry I'm just replying to this now! I've been so incredibly overwhelmed and anxious over this whole thing! But your advice was so so helpful. I am so grateful! I do have a question about the picture thing. You said there should only be 2 max. Is it bad if I have more?
It's just because I've seen people on here say they put in like 30 + pictures in theirs. A part of me feels like maybe it's better to have more instead of less than they require?

The only requirement is that you have to send 1 photo of you and your partner together to prove you have met in person 1 time.

We do recommend sending 2 photos, one recent and one from the beginning of the relationship just to show progression.

However, they just need to tick a box to say they have seen 1 photo. You don’t get a bigger or better tick for sending more photos.

So:
0 photos = no tick, requirement not met
1 photo = 1 tick for 1 photo requirement met
30 photos = 1 tick for 1 photo, requirement met. Other 29 photos will likely be ignored.

So, by sending tons of photos, all you are doing is cluttering your application with unnecessary documents, thereby giving the ECO extra work to do... and you could risk your important documents getting lost or missed amongst the clutter of photos.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The only requirement is that you have to send 1 photo of you and your partner together to prove you have met in person 1 time.

We do recommend sending 2 photos, one recent and one from the beginning of the relationship just to show progression.

However, they just need to tick a box to say they have seen 1 photo. You don’t get a bigger or better tick for sending more photos.

So:
0 photos = no tick, requirement not met
1 photo = 1 tick for 1 photo requirement met
30 photos = 1 tick for 1 photo, requirement met. Other 29 photos will likely be ignored.

So, by sending tons of photos, all you are doing is cluttering your application with unnecessary documents, thereby giving the ECO extra work to do... and you could risk your important documents getting lost or missed amongst the clutter of photos.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ah, this makes sense. Thank you so so much for your help!