Fiance visa: Online application questions and supporting document final check

Hi all
My fiance and I are about to apply for the fiance visa.
Here's the scoop:

- I'm a EU citizen (applied for British citizenship) obtained permanent residency status in 2016.
- Fiance is American.
- Long-distance relationship since 2014
- We're planning to marry in May 2018 and live in the UK

Check list

Applicant

• Online application (print off)
• VAF4A Appendix 2 (print off)
• Applicant US passport
• Passport photo
• Receipts for charges - IHS surcharge and the priority processing
• Shipping label for return of documents

Sponsor

• Sponsor letter
• UK Residence Documentation for a national of an EEA state
• Permanent residency letter from the Home Office
• EU Passport (passport page only - certified copy by the Post Office)

Finances

• Employment letter
• Pay slips covering the last 6 months- certified copy as my employer does not issue physical statements
• Bank statements covering the last 6 months

Accommodation

• Tenancy Agreement
• Letter from the landlord
• A variety of domestic orders by Emily such as decorations, bedding, utilities and electronics

Relationship

• Statutory wedding ceremony booking at the XXX Register Office
• Wedding venue estimate quotation
• Joint bank statement
• Pictures, whatsapp screenshots, letters and emails
• Few domestic orders by Emily addressed to our flat

Sponsor letter

Dear Sir/Madam,
Re: Settlement Visa for XXX

I’m writing to you to confirm my sponsorship of my fiancé’s application for a settlement visa to marry in the UK. I’m a Bulgarian citizen and acquired permanent residence status in the UK in July 2016. Please find a certified copy of my passport which was carried out by the Post Office XXX London. I’m unable to present the original document because I’ve a pre-arranged travel to the USA.

Emily and I been in a loving relationship since June 2014 when we met in the United States. Since then, we’ve stayed in touch by texting and calling each other every day via WhatsApp, Skype or Facebook. We visit each other as frequently as possible and travel together on vacations throughout the US and Europe. Below is a summary of our trips in the last 2 years and the places we visited.

23 Sep 2017 - 29 Oct 2017 (UK, Italy, France) - Emily visits me
15 Jun 2017 - 22 Jun 2017 (UK) - Emily visits me
27 Apr 2017 - 02 May 2017 (US) - Visit Emily’s family
04 Mar 2017 - 13 Mar 2017 (US) - Visit Emily
26 Dec 2016 - 07 Jan 2017 (Bulgaria) - Ski trip with my family
23 Nov 2016 - 27 Nov 2016 (US) - Thanksgiving with Emily’s family
26 Aug 2016 - 04 Sep 2016 (US) - Vacation
24 Jun 2016 - 04 Jul 2016 (UK, Italy, Greece) - Emily’s birthday and family re-union
22 Apr 2016 - 02 May 2016 (US) - Wedding
20 Nov 2015 - 02 Dec 2015 (UK, Italy) - Emily visits me

We are now engaged and planning to start our family in the UK where I’ve been living since September 2008. We’ve chosen the UK because both of us love it here and I have a successful career which will allow me to support us. We’re planning to get married in May 2018 at the XXX Registry Office (please see email confirmation of booking) followed by a larger wedding ceremony at the XXX in May 2019.

I’ve been in full-time employment as a XXX at XXX. I meet the financial requirement on the basis of sufficient pre-tax income (£ XXX per annum) and I’m happy to sponsor Emily covering all expenses relating to the move and our life in the UK. Additionally, I’ve added her as a dependent of mine through my work benefits scheme which includes a private medical insurance.

Once Emily arrives in the UK, we’ll be living together in our one bedroom flat at XXX where I’ve signed a 2 year tenancy agreement in June 2017. Please note that the contract was completed online at DocuSign using an electronic signature. I've enclosed a copy certified by the letting agency as well as a confirmation from the landlord that there are no restrictions for Emily to live with me.

Emily and I picked the flat together and have co-funded the purchases of house furniture, electronics, kitchen appliances and decorations. Please refer to the enclosed orders for items relating to the flat as a proof of joint financial responsibility and intention to live at the property long-term.

Here’s a summary of the documents I’m providing in support of Emily’s application.
...
I verify that all extracts of online materials I have provided are a true and correct copy of the original document/content.


Yours faithfully,
...

Last few questions

Online application

1. Is this the correct category?
Settlement -> Settlement -> Marriage

2. Under the sponsor section there's a question about my status in the UK:
- What is their status in the UK?
- Do I put in EEA national or Permanent resident? I'd imagine permanent resident refers to outside of EEA nationals correct?

Sponsor letter

1. I've put in all the times we've been together in the last 2 years.
Is this level of detail required? 
Is there any requirement around "min number of days" we have to have spent together? We've had about 10 trips together last 2 years (usually around 1-2 weeks) but we're in contact every day.

Do you have any comments or suggestions?

Thank you VERY much!

In regards to your last few questions:

1. Yes, that's the correct category.

2. I believe you'll need to put 'permanent resident' because an EU national without permanent residency cannot sponsor a fiance visa.

Sponsor letter
1. It depends how many times you've been together and how much there it to write. Your entire relationship section of the sponsor letter should not be more than 1 paragraph in total. So, just a summary of trips is fine.

For example, "she has visited me in the UK 4 times between X and Y dates for 2 weeks at a time and I visited her 6 times between A and B dates for 2 weeks at a time. We also keep in contact every day through (email/Skype/Whatsapp etc.)"

So, in regards to your sponsor letter, it's too focused on your relationship and not enough on how you meet each section of the requirements for the visa.

You also need to be more specific in terms of where and when you met, got engaged and plan to marry.

It should read something like this:

To The Entry Clearance Officer,

I’m writing to you to confirm my sponsorship of my fiancé’s application for a settlement visa to marry in the UK. I’m a Bulgarian citizen and acquired permanent residence status in the UK in July 2016.

I've been in full-time employment as a XXX at XXX since DATE. My annual salary is £XXXX and I have been earning this salary since XXXX. I meet the financial requirement under Category (LIST CATEGORY).

Once Emily arrives in the UK, we’ll be living together in our one bedroom flat at XXX where I’ve signed a 2 year tenancy agreement in June 2017. I've enclosed a copy certified by the letting agency as well as a confirmation from the landlord that there are no restrictions for Emily to live with me.

Emily and I met in CITY, STATE, US on XXX date and entered into a relationship on XXX date. I visited her in the US 4 times between May 2016 and May 2017 for 1-2 weeks each time and Emily visited me in the UK 5 times between December 2015 and June 2017 for between 1 and 4 weeks each time. When we are apart, we communicate daily by texting and calling each other every day via WhatsApp, Skype or Facebook. We became engaged on XXX date and plan to marry in CITY, UK on XXX date and are choosing to settle in the UK because Emily loves it here and I have good career prospects here as well.

Yours Faithfully,

Your Name

In regards to your document list, it looks fairly good, though a couple of suggestions:

Applicant
- she also needs to include any previous US passports she has held

Finances
I would include:
- your original job contract
- latest P60
These are not mandatory, but they may ask for them, so we recommend you include them

Relationship
You need to include the following:
- at least 1 photo of you together to prove you've met at least once in person
- boarding passes from all the trips you've taken to see each other to show you actually travelled and spent time together


You DO NOT need the following documents, so take them out:
Accommodation
- A variety of domestic orders by Emily such as decorations, bedding, utilities and electronics

Relationship
- Few domestic orders by Emily addressed to our flat[/li][/list]

Can I ask how you have a joint bank statement?
It shouldn't be possible for her to open a joint bank account with you in the UK without her being legally resident.

Thanks very much! This is all great advice. Absolutely a life saver

I've been in full-time employment as a XXX at XXX since DATE. My annual salary is £XXXX and I have been earning this salary since XXXX. I meet the financial requirement under Category (LIST CATEGORY).

- This should be CATEGORY 3A right? How long do I need to have been on this salary?
I've payslips from April and I've been on that salary I believe since Feb. I've a P60 from last year which should prove that before that I meet the requirement as well.

Can I ask how you have a joint bank statement?

It's not actually a joint bank account. Sorry for the confusion. I called my credit card company to issue a secondary card under her name so that she can use it in the UK. They never asked me any questions around that. Should I exclude this?

Thanks very much! This is all great advice. Absolutely a life saver

- This should be CATEGORY 3A right? How long do I need to have been on this salary?

No, it's Category A
(Category A is Salaried Employment, with Employer for at least 6 months)

Part 3A is just a section of the application form, it's not a financial requirement category.

You must have been with your current employer, earning a salary of at least £18,600, for at least 6 months.

I've payslips from April and I've been on that salary I believe since Feb. I've a P60 from last year which should prove that before that I meet the requirement as well.

Okay, you need to provide:

- a full 6 months of payslips, showing a minimum of £1,550 before tax on each one. The most recent one must be dated within 28 days of the online application date.
- a full 6 months of bank statements showing the deposit of every single payslip. The most recent one must be dated within 28 days of the online application date.
- employer letter dated within 28 days of the online application date, stating ALL of the following:
i) job title and current salary
ii) length of employment
iii) length of time earning current salary
iv) type of employment

Optional but recommended:
- original job contract
- P60 issued April 2017

It's not actually a joint bank account. Sorry for the confusion. I called my credit card company to issue a secondary card under her name so that she can use it in the UK. They never asked me any questions around that. Should I exclude this?

Yeah, I wouldn't include it - not only is it irrelevant to the application, but it will only confuse things because they may question how she has been allowed to get a credit card with her name on in the UK

What you need to show are:
- a photo to show you've met
- visits to see each other (boarding passes)
- communication between you when apart (cards, letters, emails, messages etc.)

Online application done! Thanks to @ksand24

So I believe there are a few outstanding things

- Receipts for charges
IHS surcharge
Priority processing
- Shipping label for return of documents


So got a few more questions:
1. Do we need to pay for an IHS surcharge or is this included in the application fee?
I thought it's separate but I couldn't see anything around that during the online application

2. We've booked an appointment at VFS Premium Application Center - Chicago 564 West Randolph Street. How and when do we pay for the priority processing? It said on the online application that there's a "Premium Service" but from what I gathered that's no applicable for a Settlement Marriage Visa. Is the Premium Service different than the "Priority processing"

3. How does the shipping work? Is it done through VFS? Is that the most straightforward?

Thanks

Online application done! Thanks to @ksand24

So I believe there are a few outstanding things

- Receipts for charges
IHS surcharge
Priority processing
- Shipping label for return of documents


So got a few more questions:
1. Do we need to pay for an IHS surcharge or is this included in the application fee?
I thought it's separate but I couldn't see anything around that during the online application

2. We've booked an appointment at VFS Premium Application Center - Chicago 564 West Randolph Street. How and when do we pay for the priority processing? It said on the online application that there's a "Premium Service" but from what I gathered that's no applicable for a Settlement Marriage Visa. Is the Premium Service different than the "Priority processing"

3. How does the shipping work? Is it done through VFS? Is that the most straightforward?

Thanks

If you have applied for the fiancé visa, there is no IHS to pay. (You should arrange your own insurance for the UK)

You should have booked a biometrics appointment, not a premium application appointment.

Shipping and priority service are both paid separately through VFS global.

So got a few more questions:
1. Do we need to pay for an IHS surcharge or is this included in the application fee?
I thought it's separate but I couldn't see anything around that during the online application

There is no IHS surcharge for a fiance visa - if you were supposed to pay it, it would have been part of the online application submission.

People on fiance visas are not entitled to use the NHS for 'free', so they do not pay the IHS. Instead she has to take out health insurance and pay for any and all medical treatment in the UK.

If she does not take out insurance, she will be charged 150% of the full cost of the treatment (not the NHS subsidised cost).

2. We've booked an appointment at VFS Premium Application Center - Chicago 564 West Randolph Street. How and when do we pay for the priority processing? It said on the online application that there's a "Premium Service" but from what I gathered that's no applicable for a Settlement Marriage Visa. Is the Premium Service different than the "Priority processing"

There is no premium service for settlement visas and you should not have been able to book an appointment at a VFS Premium Application Centre, since you are not eligible to apply that way.

You have to attend biometrics at a USCIS Application Support Center. The biometrics are taken by US immigration on behalf of UKVI and then you mail the application and documents to Sheffield for processing.

There is only one office in Chicago where you can give biometrics:

USCIS Application Support Center
5160 South Pulaski Road Suite 101,
Located next to Super Mall Chicago, IL 60632-4253.
Chicago, IL.

You should have been prompted to book the biometrics appointment at this office (or another office in Illinois) as part of the online application.


Priority processing is a service offered by UKVI Sheffield, where they put your documents to the front of the line when they arrive in Sheffield. You go to the VFS Global website, purchase priority processing for $771, print the receipt, put it with your documents and write SETTLEMENT PRIORITY SERVICE in large letters on the very outside of the package.

3. How does the shipping work? Is it done through VFS? Is that the most straightforward?

You can either ship it yourself with UPS or DHL (and then include an online account number so your account can be charged for the return shipping), or purchase pre-paid UPS shipping labels through VFS Global.

If you purchase through VFS, you'll want to pay for both priority processing and the shipping labels in the same transaction.

Ah I already booked with the premium office and confirmed the application.

How can we change it ?
Should I update the location and re-print the application ?

I think this one also takes biometrics right ?

USCIS ASC Chicago-Norridge Application Support Cen
4701 N. Cumberland 1-3 BCD
Norridge

How did you actually book it though? I’m not understanding how it was even possible for you to book a premium appointment.

The online application should have guided you through the process to book a biometrics appointment at a USCIS ASC.

You have to go to a completely separate website to book a premium appointment - so what exactly did you book when you submitted the online application?


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How can we change it ?
Should I update the location and re-print the application ?

I think this one also takes biometrics right ?

USCIS ASC Chicago-Norridge Application Support Cen
4701 N. Cumberland 1-3 BCD
Norridge

Yes - the list of USCIS biometrics locations in Illinois is here:
https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.summary&OfficeLocator.office_type=ASC&OfficeLocator.statecode=IL

You should be able to go back into the online application and reschedule your biometrics to a different USCIS Center.


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How did you actually book it though? I’m not understanding how it was even possible for you to book a premium appointment.

The online application should have guided you through the process to book a biometrics appointment at a USCIS ASC.

You have to go to a completely separate website to book a premium appointment - so what exactly did you book when you submitted the online application?


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So I was given a list of a couple and picked the premium one as it’s closest. The website even says that you can choose whichever is best for you. However, once you select the option there’s another field that appears with the type of the service. The premium one only says Premium Service which I didn’t think of much. The others I did just now actually say Biometrics Appointment...

So I was given a list of a couple and picked the premium one as it’s closest. The website even says that you can choose whichever is best for you. However, once you select the option there’s another field that appears with the type of the service. The premium one only says Premium Service which I didn’t think of much. The others I did just now actually say Biometrics Appointment...

Ah, okay - that makes sense. I’m surprised it gave you the option, to be honest, though I think someone had a similar issue in New York where they booked at a centre that didn’t even do biometrics!

Yeah, the premium appointments, a) cannot be booked for settlement visas and b) don’t do biometrics only appointments.

I would log back into your account and change your appointment to another centre .


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Do we need to print the receipt for the online application itself ?