Help- How do I buy return postage for spouse visa???

Please keep us updated on your situation, I hope it turns out ok! I'd love to see how your turnaround time is.

Does this letter have to be signed by him? This would require that he mail it to me, which will set us back a bit in sending out our application packet.

Yes, the document must be original and signed.

However, you can always send your package to him in the UK and then he can add the letter (and any other documents) before sending it on to UKBA.

You still need to include the return international waybill as they will only send your visa and documents back to the US.

I hadn't seen any requirements of a letter from my sponsor on any of the UKBA website, and did not include one. I sent my application last week they signed for it on Tuesday the 21st. I haven'g got a single email from them. I am dying on the inside the more and more I read. I'm pretty sure mine is going to be refused because of a stupid letter. Can they just ask me for it? Tell me they need more info? At what point do I start trying to track my application down? I see others time line similar to mine, and I haven't heard a thing.   

I don't believe you can track your application down unless it has been more than 120 working days since it arrived at the consulate - you just have to wait.

They may contact you to ask for it, or they may refuse the visa - there's no way of knowing until you hear something from them.

I do remember people being refused their visa in the past due to not including the sponsor's letter of confirmation though, so I'm not sure what will happen with your application.

It is stated on the supporting documents guidance that you should send a letter (where they say 'this could be', they actually mean 'this must be'):

Evidence of your relationship to your sponsor and any contact between you
This could be a letter from your sponsor confirming your relationship and that they are supporting your application along with copies of:
- birth certificate or adoption certificate
-marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
- death or divorce certificate
- photographs of your wedding, civil partnership ceremony or other time spent together
- phone records
- emails, letters or cards

It's also explained in a fair amount of detail on Transpondia's website (link in my post above):

Sponsor's Confirmation
If the sponsor is not accompanying the applicant to a personal appearance at the issuing consulate, a confirmation must be provided. This normally takes the form of a letter in which the sponsor explains his awareness and support of the application and confirms that he/she is present and settled in the United Kingdom (or being admitted at the same time for settlement). A sample letter can be found here.

Although it is not strictly necessary, a brief summary (one or two paragraphs) of the relationship can be included which addresses: [1] how and where you met; [2] how you have maintained contact; [3] the date and location of your marriage; and [4] plans you have made for living in the UK (or more specifically, why you are opting to live in the UK).

Finally, if there are exceptional circumstances about the application, or if the sponsor is seeking a concession, it should be thoroughly explained here.

Thank you. Sigh, another setback. Hopefully he can mail me that letter tomorrow so I can send all of this off asap. I'm just getting to the point where I want it out of my hands.

I am thankful for all your help along the way here Ksands. I read that page with a fine tooth comb, and included as much information as I possible could. It has all be so frustrating because there is no where which states send this..and this..and this. all it says is you do not need to send all of this info, just what you feel you need to support your application. I should have caught on to the letter from my sponsor, but was busy with all the other info needed, just looked over something so basic.
Well keep your fingers crossed.  I'll keep you posted.

Quick update and a few more questions:

I had my biometrics taken yesterday, it was very painless and the woman was actually really nice!

Questions:

1. I had my 2 passport sized photos taken at CVS last week, but they did not have me take my glasses off. On the UKBA website, it only says no sunglasses, but I am worried about this. Has anyone ever sent their photos with glasses, and was it an issue? Should I just get new ones? Another one on the photos, they gave me 2x2 inch square photos, but the UKBA website says they should be 35mmx45mm. Will this be an issue? Should I crop them?

2. Is there any reason to include information about my current job/field of work? I am a social worker and I know this is a high demand field in the UK, so I thought it might make me seem more desirable. But if it isn't relevant and they won't look at it, I will leave it out. Just wondering what the consensus on that is.

3. On Appendix 2 when it asks if you have ever lived together, we haven't, because we can't legall work and stay long term in each other's countries. I said something to this effect on appendix 2 as it asks for an explanation, but does this sound suspicious? I am trying to be very careful as it really is as simple as both of us having steady work in our respective countries, we were just married in December, and before that we weren't really eligible to live/work in the other country. Has anyone ever had an issue with this question?

Thanks again for all your help everyone!

1. I had my 2 passport sized photos taken at CVS last week, but they did not have me take my glasses off. On the UKBA website, it only says no sunglasses, but I am worried about this. Has anyone ever sent their photos with glasses, and was it an issue? Should I just get new ones? Another one on the photos, they gave me 2x2 inch square photos, but the UKBA website says they should be 35mmx45mm. Will this be an issue? Should I crop them?

The photo size doesn't matter - they will accept 2x2 inch photos. You don't have to crop them.

Glasses are fine as long as they don't have glare or hide your eyes. They recommend that you don't wear glasses if possible, but it's not a problem if you do.

I've worn glasses for all of my UK passports except one and it's never been a problem.

In fact, with my latest passport, I didn't wear my glasses and when I travelled to the US, the immigration officer made me take my glasses off because he didn't recognise me with glasses, compared to the passport picture!

2. Is there any reason to include information about my current job/field of work? I am a social worker and I know this is a high demand field in the UK, so I thought it might make me seem more desirable. But if it isn't relevant and they won't look at it, I will leave it out. Just wondering what the consensus on that is.

No, they are not allowed to consider your income or your employment prospects for the visa, so there's not much point in including it.

They will only look at the UK citizen sponsor's employment and will ignore yours completely.

3. On Appendix 2 when it asks if you have ever lived together, we haven't, because we can't legall work and stay long term in each other's countries. I said something to this effect on appendix 2 as it asks for an explanation, but does this sound suspicious? I am trying to be very careful as it really is as simple as both of us having steady work in our respective countries, we were just married in December, and before that we weren't really eligible to live/work in the other country. Has anyone ever had an issue with this question?

No need to be careful - your reason is the same as many other people applying. It's normal not to have lived together yet and they will probably expect that you haven't done so before.

In fact, if you had lived together, this might cause suspicion, because UKBA would then question HOW you could have lived together if you didn't have a visa for the UK... they might then wonder if perhaps you were an illegal overstayer.

So, just say 'no' and for your reason: 'because we don't legally live in the same country, so haven't been able to live together yet' (or something to that affect).

Thank you ksand! You have been so helpful!

Got my VISA today! OMGEEEEE!
Timeline
Jan 3 apply online
Jan 9 biometrics
Jan 21 arrived in Sheffield
NO EMAIL CONFIRMATION
NO A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE EMAIL
JAN 31 VISA IS IN MY HANDS!
Thanks for you help ksand!

Congrats! Such great news!! 

Hoping to have the sponsorship letter from my hubby by Tuesday, so I can mail our packet out on Wednesday! What did everyone put down as the value for this fedex shipments? I'm not sure what to say because I don't want to be charged duties and I know I shouldn't for immigration documents anyway.

Ok this is turning into a huge headache, I called fedex to ask how I should value my shipment and the woman told me that since I was including a passport, it made my shipment a commodity and I had to declare it and possibly pay duty on it. This doesn't seem right to me. Can anyone please tell me how I'm supposed to complete the online waybill? Now I'm afraid of my documents and passport getting lost because nobody can help me.