To prove my husband is British (Spouse visa)

Do I need to have a certified/notarized copy of his passport bio-data page? (Is a photo copy of it enough?)

If yes, how do I get it certified/notarized in the US?

I gave his official National insurance number paper. and just the passport number clear on alot of the papers and APPLICATION. I attached also a police check they did at work in the UK from there they can also use it to track his identity. Make sure it is accurate or they could refuse it if they cant find it. I shouldve sent a photo copy of his passport however :/

I gave his official National insurance number paper. and just the passport number clear on alot of the papers and APPLICATION. I attached also a police check they did at work in the UK from there they can also use it to track his identity. Make sure it is accurate or they could refuse it if they cant find it. I shouldve sent a photo copy of his passport however :/

So is a photo copy of the passport bio-data page ok? Do I need extra documents?

The more official documents you have of your hubby regarding idenitfication, police checks, background checks, Nat insurance numbers, is a great suppliment. Since my husband needed his passport I didnt include it in there now i feel terrible.

Birth certificates are usually not required from either the sponsor or the applicant.

However, when it comes to your passport (the sponsor's passport), there are 3 options and one of them involves including your birth certificate:

1) You send your actual passport (not advisable though if you will need it!)

2) You send a notarised copy of your photo page of the passport (this can be done in the US for cheaper than in the UK), but you don't need your birth certificate

3) You send a regular photocopy of your passport photo page PLUS your long-form (A4 size) birth certificate as proof that the information on the regular photocopy is correct and true (as it has not been notarised).



That bit of info is from an expert here:Ksand24

However, when it comes to your passport (the sponsor's passport), there are 3 options and one of them involves including your birth certificate:

1) You send your actual passport (not advisable though if you will need it!)

2) You send a notarised copy of your photo page of the passport (this can be done in the US for cheaper than in the UK), but you don't need your birth certificate

3) You send a regular photocopy of your passport photo page PLUS your long-form (A4 size) birth certificate as proof that the information on the regular photocopy is correct and true (as it has not been notarised).



That bit of info is from an expert here:Ksand24

I guess I will research about how to get the copy notarized. 

I guess I will research about how to get the copy notarized. 

For the sponsor: Documents can be certified at the UK post offices. But it doesn't need to be certified . It doesn't specify notarized in the official guidance. You just need a photocopy of the bio page.

Certified is recommended by the people here but it's not a requirement and it won't cause your visa to be rejected.

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You HAVE to send a copy of his passport photo page - that is the only document they will accept as proof of his identity and UK citizenship (unless he has no valid passport, in which case you send his birth certificate instead).

Ideally you should get it certified (about £8-10 at a Post Office), though some people have been okay just sending a regular photocopy.

sunshineusa - you did include at least a copy of his passport photo page, didn't you? Without it the visa can be refused, due to not having evidence of his UK citizenship.

You should NOT include any other documents about your husband - police checks, background checks, NI number etc. cannot be considered at all and will be ignored, as they are not considered suitable evidence of his nationality.

The only person who should send police records is YOU, the applicant, but only in the case that you have criminal convictions to declare.


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The more official documents you have of your hubby regarding idenitfication, police checks, background checks, Nat insurance numbers, is a great suppliment.

Sorry, this is not correct. I've been advising on documents required for a spousal visa for over 10 years, and I've never heard this before.

As per the suggested supporting documents list given on the UKVI website, the ONLY documents they will look at are:

Evidence of your sponsor’s immigration status/ permission to be in the UK
This could be copies of:
- bio-data pages from their passport or Travel Document
- valid UK visa or UK stamp from their passports
- Home Office letter confirming their permission to stay in the UK

3) You send a regular photocopy of your passport photo page PLUS your long-form (A4 size) birth certificate as proof that the information on the regular photocopy is correct and true (as it has not been notarised).

That bit of info is from an expert here:Ksand24

This is now out-of-date advice.

The part about including a birth certificate used to be explicitly stated on the UKVI website, however, it was taken down a while ago and for the last couple of years, people seem to have been fine sending a regular photocopy without a birth certificate.

As quoted above, the supporting documents list just says 'copies of' passport photo pages, and does not mention birth certificates or certification... though I still suggest getting it certified to be on the safe side (there's no harm in doing it).

We just sent a color photocopy of passport bio page and were approved

We sent a colour copy of my husband's bio page. Because I'm super paranoid, he went his local post office and got the copy notarized.

Ksand- my other half and I were wondering what it is that you do? Are you a visa/immigration advisor/lawyer?

Just curious because you have been invaluable!

Sorry, this is not correct. I've been advising on documents required for a spousal visa for over 10 years, and I've never heard this before.

As per the suggested supporting documents list given on the UKVI website, the ONLY documents they will look at are:

This is now out-of-date advice.

The part about including a birth certificate used to be explicitly stated on the UKVI website, however, it was taken down a while ago and for the last couple of years, people seem to have been fine sending a regular photocopy without a birth certificate.

As quoted above, the supporting documents list just says 'copies of' passport photo pages, and does not mention birth certificates or certification... though I still suggest getting it certified to be on the safe side (there's no harm in doing it).

Ksand- my other half and I were wondering what it is that you do? Are you a visa/immigration advisor/lawyer?

Just curious because you have been invaluable!

Thanks .

I'm actually none of those - I'm a meteorologist . I just participate in the forum in my spare time .

I found the forum in early 2007 when I was researching UK work visas for a fictional story, and I figured since I had studied abroad in the US (I'm British) and was in the process of applying for PhD programs and another visa for the US, I could help out with UK vs. US student life questions. I ended up spending a lot of time on the visa boards (and the UKVI website) and since most people were applying for fiancé/spousal visas, I got to know those rules very well... I've basically been advising on them ever since .


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This is now out-of-date advice.

The part about including a birth certificate used to be explicitly stated on the UKVI website, however, it was taken down a while ago and for the last couple of years, people seem to have been fine sending a regular photocopy without a birth certificate.

As quoted above, the supporting documents list just says 'copies of' passport photo pages, and does not mention birth certificates or certification... though I still suggest getting it certified to be on the safe side (there's no harm in doing it).

Thanks for clearing up the confusion! 

Thanks .

I'm actually none of those - I'm a meteorologist . I just participate in the forum in my spare time .

I found the forum in early 2007 when I was researching UK work visas for a fictional story, and I figured since I had studied abroad in the US (I'm British) and was in the process of applying for PhD programs and another visa for the US, I could help out with UK vs. US student life questions. I ended up spending a lot of time on the visa boards (and the UKVI website) and since most people were applying for fiancé/spousal visas, I got to know those rules very well... I've basically been advising on them ever since .


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Wow!! .....so impressive Ksand....
You have been invaluable to so many of us on this forum, just wanted you to know you are appreciated 

Wow! Studying the great weather of Blighty?

So this counts as volunteering!

Thanks .

I'm actually none of those - I'm a meteorologist . I just participate in the forum in my spare time .

I found the forum in early 2007 when I was researching UK work visas for a fictional story, and I figured since I had studied abroad in the US (I'm British) and was in the process of applying for PhD programs and another visa for the US, I could help out with UK vs. US student life questions. I ended up spending a lot of time on the visa boards (and the UKVI website) and since most people were applying for fiancé/spousal visas, I got to know those rules very well... I've basically been advising on them ever since .


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