[Merged]: Assorted ilak Questions

Like your other concern with your application, it depends on your level of risk-aversion.  From the advice I've seen on this board, having the £437.45/mo extra after rent/tax/utilities puts your application in the "likely to succeed" pile, rather than the "possible rejection" pile.

So if he pays £500/mo in rent, and 1/3 of utilities each month (I'm just going to make up £50/mo for that, since you didn't list a figure), and you add in the £437.45, his income would need to be at least £987.45/mo.  If it's only £800/mo, you will risk refusal, if only because if he's supporting you, his bills will go up (you'll be buying more food, using more water/electricity, etc.)...that is why there is the recommendation of the £100.95/wk on top of rent/tax/bills, because that will cover the expenses you will add to the household.

If you plan on getting a job once you're there, you can attach your CV and a list of jobs that meet your qualifications to prove that you are highly likely to get a job, if that is the case (I don't know what you do for a living or what the job market for that field might be).  I don't think this will dramatically help your case, though, unless you have a job offer in hand (since anyone could claim that they'd be eligible for that £80,000/yr job based on their skills, but that doesn't mean they would be hired to do it).

If you prefer the advice of the immigration adviser to what I've just listed (which is what I've gleaned from reading similar questions/answers on here), that's fine, but that's all the information that I can give you.  (Other posters may provide more/different information, of course.)

Edited to note that I forgot to include council tax in my above numbers, but I think it's rather a moot point anyway.

Hi I am sorry I forgot to mention the figures...

Rent - 500/Monthly
Water - about 50 - 60/Monthly (this was the figure when I was living there also)
Electricity - same
Council Tax - 100/Month

Guess that all adds up to about 700 which is close to my husbands income of 800/monthly GB Pounds. Maybe it would be better for me to wait until he's full time again and earning more income if 800 could be a problem.

Thanks for your help & time. I appreciate it.

A list of approved visa expediters for LA is found here on the WorldBridge website: https://www.visainfoservices.com/Pages/Content.aspx?tag=Independent_visa_services--Los_Angeles_area

Their costs vary depending on each company, really. When I used Global VIP, it was $100 for her fee, and $38 to have it returned to me next business day, so it can vary based on the level of service you want from them.

A good idea is to maybe choose a couple from the list and maybe phone them up or email them and get a feel before you go with one particular company. I'd recommend Global, but I know people have used other companies and had good results as well.

Basically, the advantage of getting one is speed, plain and simple. If you mail your app directly to the consulate via FedEx or USPS, it's put in a pile; if you use an expediter, they hand-deliver the application to the visa department, and it goes to the top of the pile. They have the advantage of being allowed into those areas in order to drop off the applications, as where regular couriers can't.

I ended up having a 24 hour turnaround on my visa--yours might take a little longer since they'll need to look things up, but it'd be a bit faster than if you just mailed it directly yourself, where it can take a few weeks.

Ok, thank you very much for the information I requested.

 

Also, you can have a gander at this sticky, if you haven't yet: http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=53694.0. It gives a pretty good run-down of the process as well.

Thank you 

Also, my husband has just recently started a new job. He has only been there about 2 months. I don't know if I will be able to provide payslips, will a letter from the employer and possibly even accountant suffice? Or will the payslips be a must also?

I would like to know if anyone has any answers to this particular question. Any help is great. Thanks 

I dunno maybe that topic called COURIER REVIEWS

My husband was making more than yours when we applied, so that probably makes a difference, BUT my husband had only been at his job a couple weeks when we applied for the fiance visa and we got it.  We were only able to send one payslip.  He also got a letter from his employer stating when he started, when his contract ended, and how much he would be paid.  I think this helped, so see if your husband can get a letter.  If he has gotten any payslips (which I imagine he would at least have one after two months), then definitely send those as well.

Also, for the budget part, we did a nice clear table of income and expenses.  We also had quite a bit in savings to help us out until I started work again so we mentioned that.

Also, my husband has just recently started a new job. He has only been there about 2 months. I don't know if I will be able to provide payslips, will a letter from the employer and possibly even accountant suffice? Or will the payslips be a must also?

I seem to recall this question being asked and answered in another of your threads. 

I seem to recall this question being asked and answered in another of your threads.  

It was:

Anyone have any stories of applying for a UK Spouse Visa in USA and being weak in finances area but still managed to get a visa? My husbands got no savings and just started a new job 2 months ago, theres not much we can provide in regards to proving income other then a letter from his accountant... maybe a payslip or 2....  

I'm worried about my sponsors finances. Other then that, everything else is strong.

Any stories to give me hope will be greatly appreciated!!!

Question asked & answered. Waste of time to revisit again...ilak19 you should review your old threads...I have a feeling you've asked & we've answered 99.99999% of your questions already.

I recommend doing a budget as well, in excel perhaps.  Even if only for your own guidance to see how much is left over each month and if it's worth risking applying while your husband is in this £800/mth job. 

When looking at the expenses, you might want to consider ANY need for transportation, EVER - even if he can walk to work and, say, the grocery store, every day, will there be any regular transport costs, like to visit his family elsewhere in the country or anything like that?   

As equestriannerd mentioned, bills are likely to go up once you're there, and there will be higher food costs, for one.  When making your budget, if possible, I suggest using the cost of a utility bill that includes a period when you were visiting (for your own guidance if nothing else), and including a rough monthly cost of food for the both of you. 

I don't think you've mentioned any savings between the two of you in this thread.  Do yall have any? 

Ilak, I'm not being funny, and you are welcome to post your queries here of course, but you did say the other day your uncle is an immigration lawyer. If it was me I'd be asking him these questions, he likely has more knowledge & experience than most people posting here and you did say in one of your other threads you trust his word over anyone here ...

ilak, I mean this kindly - but I get the feeling you keep posting because you want someone to tell you it's going to be okay, or they've had your exact experience, or something similar, and it all worked out in the end.  We simply can't do that. 

I understand the stress of wanting things to work out.  I think you got a lot of valuable information in your other threads, so please re-read those for the advice you are requesting. 

So he has no phone at all?  Not even a mobile phone?