Priority Spouse Visa FALL Timeline (Oct-Dec)

Problem with facebook groups, if they are not moderated correctly things can spiral out of control and the amount of misleading information provided is frightening. It can turn nasty at times. But there are some groups like the I love my spouse one that is pretty decent and everyone there seems to get on and the information provided is accurate.

Personally i prefer the forums

I'm getting anxious enough, and losing enough sleep, that I need to post my list of what I sent (before I found this forum  ) so that I can steel myself for a potential rejection or ideally get prepared for what they'll hopefully just ask of me in follow up. Here's what I sent. Where am I in trouble?

VFS receipt for Priority Settlement Visa service and Roundtrip Courier
Return UPS label
Current passport (original and copy)
Previous passport (expired)
Visa application with biometrics receipt on page 1
Appendix 2 (VAF 4A)

Accommodation documents:
Statement regarding intent to live together permanently
Statement from family members providing an initial residence, including copy of their ID

Maintenance documents:
Offer letter for employment, contingent on receiving a family visa
6 months of investment statements, showing funds have been in both names all that time (and more), with a transfer to liquid cash showing on the last statement
4 months of Discover bank statements, showing cash in both names far exceeding visa requirements for amount of funds
* It turns out, these were funds from the proceeds of a house sale, which I only recently discovered are eligible for the length of time we owned the house (12 years). I've since sent them unsolicited copies of the deed, a letter from our agent attesting to proceeds, and the HUD statement showing sale amount and proceeds.

Relationship documents:
Marriage certificate
Family photos from 25 years of marriage
Travel itinerary for last family trip to UK last year
Homeowner’s insurance policy for previous address (don’t have utility bills for my current address yet and I haven't received a utility bill for my previous address for years)

mungogrubb - it’s hard to tell, to be honest.

I’m not sure whether your accommodation documents will hold up because a statement of intent from you means nothing, and if you will live with family, you must include proof of their homeownership (deeds and mortgage statements). If you only sent a written statement from them, this may not be considered sufficient evidence that they are the homeowner and are legally able to give you permission to live there.

For your finances, you can’t add any documents afterwards unless they request them... so unless you have received confirmation that Sheffield have linked your extra documents to your application, you may find they are never seen and therefore not considered. However, if you meet the requirements with your 6 months investment statements, this is unlikely to be an issue anyway.

You didn’t need to send the offer of employment as they are not allowed to consider the applicant’s employment prospects. They also won’t consider the 4 months of statements unless they do link your extra documents to the application.

You didn’t need to send all the family photos (just 2 photos total, one older, one recent, is enough).

You didn’t need to send the travel itinerary from your family trip.

You DID need to include evidence of living together at the same address for the last 25 years, by way of mail addressed to both of you at the same address... for example, tax returns, utility bills, rental agreements/house deeds/mortgage statements, covering the last 25 years.

So, in summary:

- I think you should be okay with the financial requirement
- you may not meet the accommodation requirement due to lack of homeownership evidence
- you may not meet the relationship requirement due to lack of evidence of living together since you got married


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...you must include proof of their homeownership (deeds and mortgage statements).

You DID need to include evidence of living together at the same address for the last 25 years, by way of mail addressed to both of you at the same address... for example, tax returns, utility bills, rental agreements/house deeds/mortgage statements, covering the last 25 years.

Not to rail against the machine or to blame anyone here or to be a pain, but I'd really like to see where it says these things are required. We got our list from an immigration consultant in Edinburgh (incl the things you say not to include). Seems like lots of hidden or buried rules.

I can get the family members' deed/mortgage statement, but would a rental agreement for ourselves of some kind do as well? If it was just 6 weeks?

Who on planet earth keeps 25 years of ANY documentation? I keep 10 years of tax docs maximum, and even mortgage/deeds from 2000 are long gone. I'm not sure how I could ever prove our relationship from 15 or 20 years ago other than the marriage certificate and photos.

Not to rail against the machine or to blame anyone here or to be a pain, but I'd really like to see where it says these things are required. We got our list from an immigration consultant in Edinburgh (incl the things you say not to include). Seems like lots of hidden or buried rules.

It says it right here in the Maintenance and Accommodation document:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maintenance-and-accommodation-maa/maintenance-and-accommodation-maa--2#maa10-legally-owned-or-exclusively-occupied

I can get the family members' deed/mortgage statement, but would a rental agreement for ourselves of some kind do as well? If it was just 6 weeks?

Surely it’s much easier just to get the Land Registry? The mortgage statement is only optional and you can download the Land Registry document for a small fee.

Much simpler to do that than try to sign a rental agreement (which would likely require up to 6 months rent up front and evidence of your visa).

Who on planet earth keeps 25 years of ANY documentation? I keep 10 years of tax docs maximum, and even mortgage/deeds from 2000 are long gone. I'm not sure how I could ever prove our relationship from 15 or 20 years ago other than the marriage certificate and photos.

We had someone get refused earlier this year for not providing enough evidence of their 20-year marriage. They just gathered up everything they had to show they had lived together all that time, and they successfully got the visa on the second application.



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I'll ask for the Land Registry download. Sounds simple enough.

On the relationship evidence, here's what I was able to find:
- past 10 years of tax returns, including mortgage interest statements
- a will we had written up in 2002
- a life insurance policy with her as beneficiary (no address) from 1994
- birth certificates from our three kids: 1994, 1999, 2000 (no addresses)
- notice from INS for her green card to our address in 1995 (my name not on it)
- my graduation completion document to our address in 1995 (her name not on it)

Compelling enough?

I'll ask for the Land Registry download. Sounds simple enough.

On the relationship evidence, here's what I was able to find:
- past 10 years of tax returns, including mortgage interest statements
- a will we had written up in 2002
- a life insurance policy with her as beneficiary (no address) from 1994
- birth certificates from our three kids: 1994, 1999, 2000 (no addresses)
- notice from INS for her green card to our address in 1995 (my name not on it)
- my graduation completion document to our address in 1995 (her name not on it)

Compelling enough?

Yeah, most of that looks good, though it's things with your address on that are important (and that's what you will need for the next visa in 2.5 years and ILR after 5 years - it's all about having official mail in both your names).

However, you'll only need those documents if this application is refused. You might be fine and you may get approved with what you sent .

I suspect what you sent will be just fine.  If for some reason it's not, hopefully they'll request additional documents.

Today I feel so sad.. That I am not their with my spouse...

My Spouse invited all his friends and their family home for the weekend , to our newly organized house. I was supposed to be their.. But I do not have my visa yet..

I am hurt and upset with my husband, because he did not even tell me about their friends and their wives kids ( 4 families) coming over for the weekend. Second, I was sad that he could not wait until I was at the house, So we could host the dinner together.. I feel like I am not part of his plans and m considered an outsider/ unimportant..

My husband calls me crazy because I was mad at him for not telling me this. I was sad because I wanted to be in that newly organized first along with him and then invite all of his friends together.

I am counting days to see him.. But I am scared on the inside.. How my married life is going to be once i am with him.. I am going to be an year old in Marriage this December.

Sorry guys since the post is too personal.. I just wanted to share.

Today I feel so sad.. That I am not their with my spouse...

My Spouse invited all his friends and their family home for the weekend , to our newly organized house. I was supposed to be their.. But I do not have my visa yet..

I am hurt and upset with my husband, because he did not even tell me about their friends and their wives kids ( 4 families) coming over for the weekend. Second, I was sad that he could not wait until I was at the house, So we could host the dinner together.. I feel like I am not part of his plans and m considered an outsider/ unimportant..

My husband calls me crazy because I was mad at him for not telling me this. I was sad because I wanted to be in that newly organized first along with him and then invite all of his friends together.

I am counting days to see him.. But I am scared on the inside.. How my married life is going to be once i am with him.. I am going to be an year old in Marriage this December.

Sorry guys since the post is too personal.. I just wanted to share.

I understand how you feel. The distance can be very difficult at times. But just remember, he’s there waiting for you and soon enough you’ll be together and can have that dinner party. The balance between waiting for the spouse and still trying to live your life is hard. I’m sure he meant no harm. Just try to calmly explain why you’re upset. Communication is crucial....without it we’ve got nothing. I hope you’ll feel better about this and be able to express to your husband why you feel the way you do....and I hope he’ll understand.

I understand how you feel. The distance can be very difficult at times. But just remember, he’s there waiting for you and soon enough you’ll be together and can have that dinner party. The balance between waiting for the spouse and still trying to live your life is hard. I’m sure he meant no harm. Just try to calmly explain why you’re upset. Communication is crucial....without it we’ve got nothing. I hope you’ll feel better about this and be able to express to your husband why you feel the way you do....and I hope he’ll understand.

Thank you so much for your kind words Mojo

P.S I am luckily watching Orange is the New Black.. Still in Season 1 .. I feel like Chapman in Prison, While her Boyfriend is busy hosting Thanksgiving..

Today I feel so sad.. That I am not their with my spouse...

My Spouse invited all his friends and their family home for the weekend , to our newly organized house. I was supposed to be their.. But I do not have my visa yet..

I am hurt and upset with my husband, because he did not even tell me about their friends and their wives kids ( 4 families) coming over for the weekend. Second, I was sad that he could not wait until I was at the house, So we could host the dinner together.. I feel like I am not part of his plans and m considered an outsider/ unimportant..

My husband calls me crazy because I was mad at him for not telling me this. I was sad because I wanted to be in that newly organized first along with him and then invite all of his friends together.

I am counting days to see him.. But I am scared on the inside.. How my married life is going to be once i am with him.. I am going to be an year old in Marriage this December.

Sorry guys since the post is too personal.. I just wanted to share.

I certainly remember feeling exactly the same way.  I hated it.  But once I got here, I realized how lonely he had been without me most of the time, so I understood the socializing he had done without me present.  We think, while we are stuck in limbo, that we are the only ones suffering, but that’s not true.  The uncertainty affects both.  I guarantee you this upset will wash away once you get here.  Don’t worry, there’s an end to this.

I'll ask for the Land Registry download. Sounds simple enough.

On the relationship evidence, here's what I was able to find:
- past 10 years of tax returns, including mortgage interest statements
- a will we had written up in 2002
- a life insurance policy with her as beneficiary (no address) from 1994
- birth certificates from our three kids: 1994, 1999, 2000 (no addresses)
- notice from INS for her green card to our address in 1995 (my name not on it)
- my graduation completion document to our address in 1995 (her name not on it)

Compelling enough?

It was me who was refused for not documenting enough our 20 year marriage.  When I resubmitted, I wrote a statement demonstrating point by point of the refusal the evidence I was including.  I also included a copy of the refusal letter.  While you are separated make sure you save evidence of contact, i.e. FaceTime logs, emails, texting back and forth, phone records.  You might get lucky, and not need it.  I only could provide 8 years of income tax returns.  I also included house sales, life insurance, and paperwork showing him as beneficiary and vice versa on our individual 401k savings.  Pictures of us showing us aging together.  I was determined and resubmitted 6 days after initial refusal.  It worked.

Happy Sunday!

Here’s to hoping we receive some good news tomorrow!

The waiting game is hard but will be so worth it when we are with our spouses.

It was a 10 month wait when I did the K-1 for my husband to come to the US 4 years ago, and I know it really really shouldn't be that long this time, but I'm just as anxious (if not more so) this time around. I just hate the immigration stress/anxiety so much!

Where are you October filers all settling in the UK?

I'm settling in London!

 btw I'm a bit concerned that my application isn't being processed in the priority batch. For some reason I put Expedited all over my envelope instead of "Priority Processing." The VFS receipt was at the top of my pile.

 Does anyone know how I can find out if it's being processed priority or not? I'm nervous that it is too late now