Spousal visa application... have I really got everything I need???!

Hi everyone,

I'd really appreciate some input here just to check we've covered all our bases!  We can't really afford to screw this up.  Anyway, firstly a bit of background... I'm the British sponsor, Susy is the US applicant financé girly.  In two weeks I'll be going to New York to get married in the Manhattan city hall, and then hopefully get our visa in person the next day. It's going to be a mental few days! Then in mid May she'll be moving over here.

There seems to be some conflicting information about exactly what we should take with us to the visa office...

(1) from scouting through the forums it appears that some applicants take evidence of a relationship, i.e. letters, phone cards etc.  even though that doesn't appear to be a requirement for a spousal visa application.  Am I OK to ignore this?  We'd rather not have to present personal information if we can avoid it.

(2) On the guidance notes it specifies to show "you have adequate accommodation, owned or occupied exclusively by you."  For the sake of the application, my parents are going to write a letter saying we can stay with them for as long as required before we're settled.  Do you think this will be acceptable? 

(3) Name change.  My fiancé intends to take my name.  However, when the application is made her passport will still be in her maiden name.  I know m people just opt to keep their passport in their old name for simplicity, but is there any way she can apply for a new one, complete with the visa, in her new name, a little while after she's settled here?

So here's the list of what we were going to take with us:

General Stuff
-Completed application form
-2 Passport photographs
-Marriage certificate

Susy's stuff:
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Bank statements (neccessary?)
- CV
- Employment References
- Letter explaining field of work, job availibility and anticipated salary

My Stuff
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Bank statements (six months worth)
- Letter of employment

Accomodation
- Letter from my parents saying we can stay with them (any suggestions for points to include?)
- Ownership papers for their property

Can anyone spot if we've forgotten anything? 


Many thanks for your time, it's hugely appreciated.  And I'll come back and tell the full (rock and roll) story if it all goes successfully!

Cheers
Tim

Looks good!

Hi everyone,

I'd really appreciate some input here just to check we've covered all our bases!  We can't really afford to screw this up.  Anyway, firstly a bit of background... I'm the British sponsor, Susy is the US applicant financé girly.  In two weeks I'll be going to New York to get married in the Manhattan city hall, and then hopefully get our visa in person the next day. It's going to be a mental few days! Then in mid May she'll be moving over here.

There seems to be some conflicting information about exactly what we should take with us to the visa office...

(1) from scouting through the forums it appears that some applicants take evidence of a relationship, i.e. letters, phone cards etc.  even though that doesn't appear to be a requirement for a spousal visa application.  Am I OK to ignore this?  We'd rather not have to present personal information if we can avoid it.

I tend to think of the evidence of the relationship as more important for a fiancee' visa application.  You can bring the stuff with you, of course, but they probably won't ask for it -- they didn't ask for ours (click the little world icon to the left for a rundown of our experience).

(2) On the guidance notes it specifies to show "you have adequate accommodation, owned or occupied exclusively by you."  For the sake of the application, my parents are going to write a letter saying we can stay with them for as long as required before we're settled.  Do you think this will be acceptable? 

That's fine -- make sure you include a copy of your parents' mortgage/lease/deed with the letter.

(3) Name change.  My fiancé intends to take my name.  However, when the application is made her passport will still be in her maiden name.  I know m people just opt to keep their passport in their old name for simplicity, but is there any way she can apply for a new one, complete with the visa, in her new name, a little while after she's settled here?

Since her passport will still be in her maiden name, the visa will be issued in the maiden name.  When she wants to change the name in her passport, she can do so through the US embassy in London.  If she wants the visa transferred to the new passport, she'll need to pay a fee, or she can just carry the old and new passports together.

Your list of evidence looks fine -- Suzy should have bank statements if at all possible.  I think I had 3 months' worth and DH had a year's worth.

Looks spot on.  You don't need the personal stuff unless there is some reason they may doubt it is a genuine relationship.


Victoria

Thanks very much everyone, that's given us a bit of confidence.

Tha only other thing I just thought of... on the consulate website it says that to apply in person "Complete the online application and use the online payment option."  Is this essential or can we bring the application with us?

And will print-out bank statements do (I have an internet bank account)?

Thanks very much,
Tim

So here's the list of what we were going to take with us:

General Stuff
-Completed application form
-2 Passport photographs
-Marriage certificate
 

Have been searching through the posts but unable to find the answer to this.  What do you do with the 2 passport photos you need to include in your visa application?  The application itself has a box in the top right hand corner that says, "attach two photos here."  First of all, there's only room for one.  Do you glue/tape/staple/paper clip them there?  I feel like this is a dumb question, but want to do everything correctly.  Or do you attach the little folder the photographer puts them in when you have them done?  Thanks for anyone's input!

I believe victoria said use a paper clip.

Bank statements I believe someone said had to be from the back not printed from your e-mail statements.

First of all, there's only room for one.  Do you glue/tape/staple/paper clip them there?  I feel like this is a dumb question, but want to do everything correctly.  Or do you attach the little folder the photographer puts them in when you have them done?  Thanks for anyone's input!

Are you applying in person or via the post?  If you are applying in person, just let the ECO attach them.  In fact they only attached one to mine and handed the other back.  He then stapled the one to the area.  If doing it by post, I would just affix it with a piece of sellotape/scotch tape.

Tha only other thing I just thought of... on the consulate website it says that to apply in person "Complete the online application and use the online payment option."  Is this essential or can we bring the application with us?

In my opinion, the best thing to do is fill out the online application (and you can choose not to pay at that time, but instead pay in person).  Then print out the application (you need a physical copy).  My ECO switched several times between the printed version (just glancing) and the electronic version (which I assumed was what was up on the screen).  The good thing about the electronic is that it will make sure you answer all the relevant questions, plus there is no issues with being able to read the form, which probablly makes the ECO a little more happy.

If you do decide to do it by hand, make sure you do it ahead of time.  If you have to fill it out at the consulate, you are going to be pressed for time and they make threats that if you don't have it ready when they call you, you may lose your appointment.

Thanks kitsonk.  I'm applying in person.

Noooooooo... please tell me this isn't the case.  We've both got internet bank accounts and we've printed them off.. the appointment is this week so we've got no time to get statements sent.   

This is a bizarre request anyway, you may well be in the black in your current account but have thousands racked up on credit cards elsewhere.

I believe victoria said use a paper clip.

Bank statements I believe someone said had to be from the back not printed from your e-mail statements.

If you have only got internet statements then it will do.

It is not to see how much money you have but how much income you have - they don't care about your debts, as long as you have enough coming in each month to support you both.

Victoria

Thanks Victoria, you're a real star.  I got a letter from my employer and enclosed my pay slips too, so that should help.

Dunno what we'd do without you lot, we're so rubbish with forms.  Took us three attempts to get our marriage license, thanks to me repeatedly mis-spelling my mother's name!

Tim

I tend to think of the evidence of the relationship as more important for a fiancee' visa application.  You can bring the stuff with you, of course, but they probably won't ask for it -- they didn't ask for ours

sorry lola dont mean to be a downer, but i thought the same thing for my spouse visa and almost didnt get the visa because of my lack of proof of relationship!! (he was there with me and i was about to grab him and make out with him to prove we loved eachother?? hahaha)

Karenn - I think you got someone who had a bad day!  They shouldn't even ask for evidence of relationship - the marriage certificate should be enough. 


Victoria