lost passport/interview

How long have you been married again?

Married for three and a half years.  It's a little complicated, though... we only lived together for the first 11 months of our marriage.  Here's a timeline of our relationship:

--Met in 2006, in England while I was traveling.  Started a long-distance relationship.
--I moved to Japan in late 2007.
--He moved to Japan in 2009, if I remember correctly.
--We started living together (in Japan) in July 2012. 
--Got engaged in Aug. 2013.
--Got married in Dec. 2014. (In Japan.)
--He moved back to the UK in Nov 2015.  (Father had cancer.)
--I moved back to the US in Dec. 2015.  (Mother was dying, needed full time care.)

We've been living in separate countries since then.

The bills I'm sending are to prove that we did live together as a couple for 3.5-ish years in Japan.  As they are all in Japanese, I need them translated.  It's expensive, so I'm wondering if they really want all 3.5 years worth, or if just a sample will suffice.  (I've already had our tenancy papers translated, as well as our marriage certificate.)

For example, if I were to send one mobile phone bill, for each of us, for each year of living together?  That would be 8 pages total.  Would they want more than that?  Assuming I also sent translations of our old residence cards, and the tenancy agreements. 

Sorry to be so nitpicky... I'm stressed beyond belief about messing this up.  It's keeping me up at night, making my heart race, making me feel sick. 

Hey, everyone.  Mr Snowfish here again, with some questions of my own, and a couple of comments on things my wife has posted.

First, the comments:

How many of the utility bills should I include? Getting then translated costs about £40 per page... Say I use the cell phone bills... Should I include all 4 years worth? The translation cost would be astronomical...

We've been advised, by the solicitor that does NOT specialise in US Visa applications, that something we can do is have the first one of each document type translated, then include a letter stating that we are willing to have the rest translated, but request that we do not have to on the basis of the cost of translation.  Is this sound advice in this situation or should we ignore it?

Here's a timeline of our relationship:

--Met in 2006, in England while I was traveling.  Started a long-distance relationship.
--I moved to Japan in November 2007.
--He moved to Japan in January 2010.
--We started living together (in Japan) in July 2012. 
--Got engaged in Aug. 2013.
--Got married in Dec. 2014. (In Japan.)
--He moved back to the UK in Nov 2015.  (Father had cancer.)
--I moved back to the US in Dec. 2015.  (Mother was dying, needed full time care.)

In case it makes any difference, I've updated the above list with slightly more specific date information.

Now, on to my questions:

I've been asked to provide my job contract.  Do I need to provide the original document (which I'd obviously rather not, seeing as I have to send it overseas) or will a copy of some kind suffice?  Is there any way to "validate" a copy of a job contract in their eyes?

Similarly, I've been asked to provide a copy of my birth certificate.  Can any copy work or does it need to be authorised in some way?

I can’t help with what you can get away with on the translations, as it’s not normally needed with USA applications.

I’d include two to three items per year for the time you lived together.  One for every four months or six months.  I’d pick tenancy agreements first, then whatever is shortest.   

The job contract is optional but recommended.  If you really don’t want to send it, you don’t have to.  But I would send it.  Surely your employer would give you a copy if it was lost.  Just be sure to use UPS, DHL, or FedEx to send your documents.  Not Royal Mail or ParcelForce.

A birth certificate is not required.

Is there a reason why you are using a lawyer?  Please tell me they haven’t told you to get a property inspection report.   

Is there a reason why you are using a lawyer?  Please tell me they haven’t told you to get a property inspection report.   

We're not really using a solicitor.  One of my work colleagues is going through the same thing as I am, except that her husband is from Pakistan.  When she found out that I was trying to get my wife over here, she recommended her solicitor to me, with high praise.  Amongst other things, he offers free advice by telephone, as he doesn't believe that people in our situation should have to book an appointment and pay for it just to get advice.

He has given me an amount of this free advice by telephone, most of which has proven incorrect as he specialises in non-US visa applications (in his own words, he only deals with one or two per year).  However, a couple of things he's said have proven useful.

We've not paid any money to see or speak with him.  And whilst I was given a list that told me I needed a property inspection report, we won't be doing that thanks to advice given on this forum (in this very thread).  Honestly, I'm now taking everything he's said with a pinch of salt, which is why I'm asking here for clarification before following it.

We're not really using a solicitor.  One of my work colleagues is going through the same thing as I am, except that her husband is from Pakistan.  When she found out that I was trying to get my wife over here, she recommended her solicitor to me, with high praise.  Amongst other things, he offers free advice by telephone, as he doesn't believe that people in our situation should have to book an appointment and pay for it just to get advice.

He has given me an amount of this free advice by telephone, most of which has proven incorrect as he specialises in non-US visa applications (in his own words, he only deals with one or two per year).  However, a couple of things he's said have proven useful.

We've not paid any money to see or speak with him.  And whilst I was given a list that told me I needed a property inspection report, we won't be doing that thanks to advice given on this forum (in this very thread).  Honestly, I'm now taking everything he's said with a pinch of salt, which is why I'm asking here for clarification before following it.

Got it.

Property inspection reports always get my back up.  The lawyer gets a kick back, which is why they say you need it.

Nothing wrong with checking a few sources.  But remember the ultimate source is the official UKVI guidance.     Which isn’t always easy to interpret.

Here is what I'm thinking of sending, for evidence of the time we lived together in Japan.  (June 2012-Nov. 2015.)

--Tenancy agreements for both flats we shared, with certified translations.  We are both listed as tennants at each flat.

--One Japanese driver's license and one Japanese resident card each, showing that we lived at both addresses. (Four cards total, with certified translations.)

For the first flat (where we lived June 2012-Dec 2013) as further evidence that I lived there:

--2 Mobile phone bills in my name, dated Dec. 2012 (earliest bill I kept in my name,) and Feb 2013, with certified translations.

--3 statements from Lloyd's GoRemit, a money transfer service, in my name, dated July 2013, Sept. 2013, and Oct 2013. These are written bilingually in English and Japanese.  Address is all in English on the front.

--Envelope from a card addressed to me, from my mom in the US, stamped/dated May 2013.

--Change of Address form faxed to me by my company, showing my new address and move-in date.

First flat, as further evidence that husband lived there:

--Mobile phone bills dated Aug 2012, Jan 2013, and Dec. 2013, with certified translations.

--Envelope from a letter from his parents, addressed to him, from the UK, stamped/dated Nov. 2013.


For the second flat, (where we lived Dec. 2013-Nov. 2015) as evidence that I lived there:

--I have 19 of the Lloyd's GoRemit statements in my name.  I'm tempted to send all of them, since they are in English and don't need translations.  Dates cover almost every month between March 2014 and Dec 2015.

--A letter, in English, on company letterhead, from Lloyd's GoRemit, informing me that my new address has been registered with their service.  Dated Jan 31, 2014.

For evidence of husband living there:

--4 mobile phone bills, dated Jan 2014, Oct. 2014, Feb. 2015, and Nov 2015, with certified translations. 

Keep in mind, these bills are in addition to our tenancy agreements, drivers licenses, and resident cards.

I'm also including an envelope from a letter addressed to "Mr. and Mrs Husband's Name" from his parents, sent to our second address, dated Dec 2,2 2014.

Also thinking of throwing in a wedding invitation addressed to both of us at the second address.

Now for my questions: Have I included enough evidence?  Should I use only mobile phone bills, or should I replace a few of those with other bills?  I have internet bills in husband's name for both flats, gas bills in my name for the second flat.

Should I include a mobile phone bill addressed to me at the second address, as well as the money transfer stuff? 

I'm probably looking at a minimum of £500 to translate all this stuff.  I reeeeeally hope it will be enough evidence.  Please let me know your honest opinions!

That’s way too much stuff.

Go with:
- tenancy agreements
- 1 bill in your name from each year: 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015
- 1 bill in his name from each year: 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 (preferably dated in the same month as each one of yours)

You don’t need to include driver’s licence, residence cards or envelopes with your address on it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not a huge deal but I would use bills other than mobile phone bills if you have them, it's better to use bills  for a service which is tied to the residence like electricity/gas/landline.

And remember, you're not just proving that you have lived together, you're proving that you have a genuine and subsisting relationship, so if you have any letters or cards between the two of you, include those too.

Also provide evidence of communication for any times that you have been apart and don't forget a few photos of the two of you together, over time.

It's not a huge deal but I would use bills other than mobile phone bills if you have them, it's better to use bills  for a service which is tied to the residence like electricity/gas/landline.

And remember, you're not just proving that you have lived together, you're proving that you have a genuine and subsisting relationship, so if you have any letters or cards between the two of you, include those too.

Also provide evidence of communication for any times that you have been apart and don't forget a few photos of the two of you together, over time.

I went with mobile phone bills, because we each had our own bills for that at each address. I have internet bills in his name from both addresses, and gas in mine from only the second address. I do have electric bills, but they misspelled my name in English on it, so I'm wary about using those. We never had a landline.

Yes, I'm also working on the stuff from our time apart... That's a whole 'nother can of worms, lol.

That’s way too much stuff.

Go with:
- tenancy agreements
- 1 bill in your name from each year: 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015
- 1 bill in his name from each year: 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 (preferably dated in the same month as each one of yours)

You don’t need to include driver’s licence, residence cards or envelopes with your address on it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do you think mobile phone bills are ok? Someone else said the bills should be more tied to a residence, like gas or electric. Problem is, I only had gas in my name from the second address, and the electric bills have my name misspelled in English. I do have Internet bills in his name for both addresses.

Do you think mobile phone bills are ok? Someone else said the bills should be more tied to a residence, like gas or electric. Problem is, I only had gas in my name from the second address, and the electric bills have my name misspelled in English. I do have Internet bills in his name for both addresses.

You can use mobile phone bills, but if you have other bills, use them first, or at least mix it up a bit!

You can use mobile phone bills, but if you have other bills, use them first, or at least mix it up a bit!

Ok, will do. I'll replace a few mobile bills with gas or Internet. Thank you!

Hey, everyone.  Mr Snowfish here.

My wife has been filling in the Appendix 2 - VAF 4A form, and we've come up with a bit of a weird problem.

Page 6 of the document, part 3.11, asks "What is your sponsor's annual income from this employment before tax?" and part 3.12 asks "Has your sponsor been in employment with the same employer and earning the amount, as detailed in 3.11 above, continuously for 6 months prior to the date of the application?"

In April, I was a recipient of a wage increase through the annual National Living Wage Increase.  This has led to me getting about an extra £15 a month before tax.

What do we need to put in the box for 3.11?  Do we put my annual wage in from before the wage increase or from after the wage increase?  And, if I put the amount from AFTER the wage increase then do we then need to give the answer "NO" to 3.12, as whilst I was in employment with the same employer, I was NOT earning the same amount?

Hey, everyone.  Mr Snowfish here.

My wife has been filling in the Appendix 2 - VAF 4A form, and we've come up with a bit of a weird problem.

Page 6 of the document, part 3.11, asks "What is your sponsor's annual income from this employment before tax?" and part 3.12 asks "Has your sponsor been in employment with the same employer and earning the amount, as detailed in 3.11 above, continuously for 6 months prior to the date of the application?"

In April, I was a recipient of a wage increase through the annual National Living Wage Increase.  This has led to me getting about an extra £15 a month before tax.

What do we need to put in the box for 3.11?  Do we put my annual wage in from before the wage increase or from after the wage increase?  And, if I put the amount from AFTER the wage increase then do we then need to give the answer "NO" to 3.12, as whilst I was in employment with the same employer, I was NOT earning the same amount?

Honestly?  It doesn't REALLY matter, as they will calculate your employment themselves (by taking your lowest payslip and multiplying it by 6).  Also your employment letter will state your current salary and the date of your payrise (and should also have your previous salary).

Honestly?  It doesn't REALLY matter, as they will calculate your employment themselves (by taking your lowest payslip and multiplying it by 6).  Also your employment letter will state your current salary and the date of your payrise (and should also have your previous salary).

Thank you.  That makes a lot of sense.


So, I've gone and gotten my wife and I in a mild spot of bother, but hopefully it won't affect the application too badly.

I applied for a job in a different department at my company at the end of last month.  Last Friday I was interviewed for the job and today I found out that they've chosen me for the position.  Which would be great and all, except that it's going to throw a spanner in the works of our application, which we'd like to make in the next couple of weeks.

At this point in time I've signed nothing for the new position.  I've accepted it verbally only (but don't intend to take that back).  I'm not yet certain of my new salary, though it will be equal to or greater than my current salary.  The way that my work handles internal transfers is that the two department heads will have a meeting to negotiate when my current department can afford to let me leave and when my new department will need me by.  Depending on what the two of them agree, I could transfer over at any time between two and five weeks from now.

My wife and I had a long video chat yesterday about the VAF 4A form, where we were planning on applying under Income from Salaried Employment in the UK (specifically Category A) supplemented by Category D (cash savings).  With me changing my job in the near future, does this now mean that we need to change this to Income from Salaried Employment in the UK (Category B) supplemented by Category D, and have to answer questions 3.13-through-3.20 which we didn't have to do before?

With this potential change in my employment circumstances, albeit at the same company, do I need to have my company mention this in the employment letter?

Is there anything else I need to be aware of in this situation?