Spousal visa questions

When actually applying does the UK.gov site link to VFS or does the applicant just go to VFS Global site after paying etc for the visa app and sign up/book biometrics that way?

You just go to the VFS site and create an account.

Also looking at the VFS site which package do you actually go for? I know we wil be doing priority for the actual visa, so probably priority for VFS aswell.

I’m confused - there‘s only 1 place you can purchase priority and that is on the VFS website.

You have the following options:

1) VFS Settlement Priority = $765… this gets your visa processed in about 30 working days. You upload your documents yourself and mail your passport to NYC. You select USA - Application Support Centres for the location, and you give biometrics at one of the 126 USCIS Application Support Centres in the US.

2) VFS Premium Centre Standard= $1320 - does not include any priority service. Gets visa processed in 60-120 working days. They upload your documents and you can keep your passport. You select the Premium Centre you will submit the documents at and give biometrics there.

3) VFS Premium Centre Priority= $2200 (includes the $765 priority service). Gets visa processed in 30 working days. They upload your documents and you can keep your passport. You select the Premium Centre you will submit the documents at and give biometrics there.

To be honest, I would only recommend option 1 for $765. The other two are a waste of money, as you are basically just paying $1320 for document scanning and to keep your passport.

£1538 UK Visa , £1875 NHS £625 × 3 , any priority ££ on visa?? Then whatever VFS $2200 /$1320

You have:
£1538 visa fee
£1872 IHS surcharge

And I would recommend adding:
$765 VFS priority processing

And:
VFS round trip or return shipping if it’s still available


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When actually applying does the UK.gov site link to VFS or does the applicant just go to VFS Global site after paying etc for the visa app and sign up/book biometrics that way?

Also looking at the VFS site which package do you actually go for? I know we wil be doing priority for the actual visa, so probably priority for VFS aswell.
 

We decided not to go for priority and it was still pretty quick. In case it helps with your decision, here was our timeline. Biometrics were taken in Boston.

Spousal Visa application made 18 February 2023
Biometrics: 28 February 2023
Visa Approved: 18 April 2023

Regarding bank statement print outs, do you have to show all the pages of each month's statement or just the page/s where it shows the main account info and the employment giro payment?

Regarding bank statement print outs, do you have to show all the pages of each month's statement or just the page/s where it shows the main account info and the employment giro payment?

Provide all the pages. Don't highlight anything or redact anything, send them as they come.

Now waiting for the bank statements to arrive in the post    Apparently Barclays doesn't stamp/sign to authenticate in the branch anymore!?

Walked in, explaining situation and the greeter guy was like "Ok, you can print via this machine but that only goes back 3 months!" No bleeding good,  you can print off at home and we can sign /authenticate..

Went back , he lied, after a heated discussion with him and 2 managers the only option was to order the statement print outs which will come authenticated and mailed snail mail....

Don't know whether this is Barclays wide or just my local branch, just a word of warning.

Also with the letter from my dad regarding the housing what is the basic outline/wording he has to include/put down? Like wise for the cover letter which my Wife has to do. 

Now waiting for the bank statements to arrive in the post    Apparently Barclays doesn't stamp/sign to authenticate in the branch anymore!?

Walked in, explaining situation and the greeter guy was like "Ok, you can print via this machine but that only goes back 3 months!" No bleeding good,  you can print off at home and we can sign /authenticate..

Went back , he lied, after a heated discussion with him and 2 managers the only option was to order the statement print outs which will come authenticated and mailed snail mail....

Don't know whether this is Barclays wide or just my local branch, just a word of warning.

Also with the letter from my dad regarding the housing what is the basic outline/wording he has to include/put down? Like wise for the cover letter which my Wife has to do.

For the accommodation permission letter, your dad needs to confirm that he owns the property, that he gives the two of you permission to live there, and it's useful to include the terms, for example "rent free for as long as is required".

He needs to include the number of current occupants and the number of rooms, excluding kitchens and bedrooms, and to confirm that the property won't be overcrowded. See page 20, here for overcrowding standards.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1039268/Part_8_-_Family_members_Adequate_maintenance_and_accommodation.pdf

As the applicant, your wife really only needs to include a cover letter if there is anything out of the ordinary to explain, like a criminal record or poor immigration history.

As the sponsor, you need to provide a letter which provides a brief history of your relationship and addresses how you will meet each of the requirements (financial, accommodation and relationship) and your reason for wanting to move to the UK.

As the applicant, your wife really only needs to include a cover letter if there is anything out of the ordinary to explain, like a criminal record or poor immigration history.

As the sponsor, you need to provide a letter which provides a brief history of your relationship and addresses how you will meet each of the requirements (financial, accommodation and relationship) and your reason for wanting to move to the UK.

She has none of those exceptional things to explain,  quite a normal person lol. Would it be worth a cover letter explaining our 15 year marriage and reasons moving to the UK?

Thanks for the information!

She has none of those exceptional things to explain,  quite a normal person lol. Would it be worth a cover letter explaining our 15 year marriage and reasons moving to the UK?

Thanks for the information!

You'll have that in your letter so no need to duplicate it.
It's best to be as concise as possible with your application. Sending extra evidence and paperwork that's not needed just makes it harder for the application to be assessed and easier for something vital to be missed.

Having said that, don't rely on just the length of your marriage to prove your relationship is genuine, you still need to evidence this, the same as someone who is a newlywed would have to.

Regarding VFS global and the uploading of evidence/documents.. You pay the money etc on the government site for the Visa and NHS surcharge,  then make the account on VFS..

Do you pay the priority processing ($765) and book biometrics and have a period of time to upload documents say a couple of days? Or is it best to have everything ready to go before paying/booking the biometrics?

Also when scanning our marriage license its larger than A4 so you cant fit it all on the scanner bed. Is it ok to scan it in two scans ?

Regarding VFS global and the uploading of evidence/documents.. You pay the money etc on the government site for the Visa and NHS surcharge,  then make the account on VFS..

Do you pay the priority processing ($765) and book biometrics and have a period of time to upload documents say a couple of days? Or is it best to have everything ready to go before paying/booking the biometrics?

Also when scanning our marriage license its larger than A4 so you cant fit it all on the scanner bed. Is it ok to scan it in two scans ?

As I recall, you only pay the fee after you have submitted the application. We then had up until shortly before the biometrics appointment to upload the documents ( I think it was the day before the appointment). However, we had everything ready to be uploaded when we submitted the application. As I understand it, from advice on this site, UKVI will not have regard to documents required to be provided to establish eligibility if they are dated after the date you submit your application e.g. if a payslip relied upon is dated after the submission date. It is the submission date that is the operative date.

You could scan the marriage licence as two PDF documents and then combine them into one PDF. There is a free utility to do that on Adobe's website.

https://www.adobe.com/uk/acrobat/online/merge-pdf.html

Thank you to all who have given help and advice!

Regarding the bank statements, it runs through pages 1-18 in small font vertically in left hand edge..

1 being cover letter obviously to be included,  but a couple are literally just bank terms and conditions do I need to add those to keep it all 1-18 or be fine to have just the core statements with to and from date for each month..

Don't want to give them reems of paperwork that isn't relevant but also dont want to leave anything out or appear to on purpose.

Thank you to all who have given help and advice!

Regarding the bank statements, it runs through pages 1-18 in small font vertically in left hand edge..

1 being cover letter obviously to be included,  but a couple are literally just bank terms and conditions do I need to add those to keep it all 1-18 or be fine to have just the core statements with to and from date for each month..

Don't want to give them reems of paperwork that isn't relevant but also dont want to leave anything out or appear to on purpose.

We only included the core statements.

We only included the core statements.

Thanks! Its 50/50 would they or wouldn't they wonder where page 13 out of 18 is? Seeing as its printed at the same time.  Hate all this second guessing and will they or won't they..

Thanks! Its 50/50 would they or wouldn't they wonder where page 13 out of 18 is? Seeing as its printed at the same time.  Hate all this second guessing and will they or won't they..

It's a little more work but I sent every page, including the small print type pages. My approach was, when faced with a choice and no clear answer, go with the more conservative approach. For peace of mind as much as anything.