Fiance or Spouse Visa - Our journey to marriage

Yes, the employer letter should state why the dates are different.

Great thank you.

and possibly October as well, depending on your bank statement cut-off date (you can probably get a partial statement printed from the bank).

Would I need October in case the payment went in on say the 2nd October? Or is this the case of just giving them the latest bank statements?
So if I flew out on the 3rd, I need to get the bank statements till the 2nd?

Also in regards to the online vs paper, it seems votes are swayed to doing it the paper based way, but has the online system been improved? I clicked on the link as night and it seems they are making improvements currently.

Maybe not worth the risk?

Great thank you.

Would I need October in case the payment went in on say the 2nd October? Or is this the case of just giving them the latest bank statements?
So if I flew out on the 3rd, I need to get the bank statements till the 2nd?

Also in regards to the online vs paper, it seems votes are swayed to doing it the paper based way, but has the online system been improved? I clicked on the link as night and it seems they are making improvements currently.

Maybe not worth the risk?

You are confusing in-country applications with out-of-country applications.  Out-of-country applications MUST be done online.  You then print Appendix 2 and complete that by hand. 

You are confusing in-country applications with out-of-country applications.  Out-of-country applications MUST be done online.  You then print Appendix 2 and complete that by hand.

Got you, thank you for the clarity!

Also in regards to the online vs paper, it seems votes are swayed to doing it the paper based way, but has the online system been improved? I clicked on the link as night and it seems they are making improvements currently.

As KFDancer said, you don't have a choice. The application MUST be submitted online. The paper form hasn't been accepted for many years now, and the online service has been running for more than 10 years and is perfectly fine.

The only country in which you can apply using a paper form is North Korea... because they cannot apply online there.

It's the in-country application system that has issues with online applications... because paper forms have always been used but the online form is new and still seems to be in beta mode (even after 1.5 years).

So, for applications made outside the UK (i.e. in the US), you fill out the following forms:
- Online application: https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/home/welcome
- VAF4a Appendix 2: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-uk-visa-for-family-settlement-form-vaf4a

So, for applications made outside the UK (i.e. in the US), you fill out the following forms:
- Online application: https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/home/welcome
- VAF4a Appendix 2: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-uk-visa-for-family-settlement-form-vaf4a

Amazing, thank you for the links

It's the in-country application system that has issues with online applications... because paper forms have always been used but the online form is new and still seems to be in beta mode (even after 1.5 years).

Also, whilst Maria is a out of town for a couple of days, she read somewhere about, she may need to do a interview after the initial application? Was this the biometric part of the visa she maybe saw?

She just got worried incase it was a thing she needs to prep for, as from being through the system before getting her 'working for a charity visa' for N.Ireland.

Also, whilst Maria is a out of town for a couple of days, she read somewhere about, she may need to do a interview after the initial application? Was this the biometric part of the visa she maybe saw?

She just got worried incase it was a thing she needs to prep for, as from being through the system before getting her 'working for a charity visa' for N.Ireland.

There’s no interview. The visa is processed by post, in Sheffield.

The biometrics appointment takes no more than 5-10 minutes and is done by US immigration anyway... so they won’t even care what visa you’re applying for.

It will go like this:
- she shows up to the appointment
- they will check her passport and stamp her appointment confirmation sheet
- they will take her fingerprints and photo
- they will send her home



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There’s no interview. The visa is processed by post, in Sheffield.

The biometrics appointment takes no more than 5-10 minutes and is done by US immigration anyway... so they won’t even care what visa you’re applying for.

It will go like this:
- she shows up to the appointment
- they will check her passport and stamp her appointment confirmation sheet
- they will take her fingerprints and photo
- they will send her home



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome thank you, I will pass that onto Maria

In regards to the proof of the accommodation: just thinking of our options at the moment since I currently rent with a friend. i have the original rental form we signed last year, but:

1. If the landlord signs a letter agreeing to my fiance staying in the house, is the original tenancy form fine without her signature?
2. If the landlord is not accommodating to Maria living with us, can we provide proof that she can stay at a friends house, with the same style of letter?
3. Do I need the land registry form for proof?
 

In regards to the proof of the accommodation: just thinking of our options at the moment since I currently rent with a friend. i have the original rental form we signed last year, but:

1. If the landlord signs a letter agreeing to my fiance staying in the house, is the original tenancy form fine without her signature?
2. If the landlord is not accommodating to Maria living with us, can we provide proof that she can stay at a friends house, with the same style of letter?
3. Do I need the land registry form for proof?
 

1.  Yes, that's fine.  She can't be on a tenancy (legally) until she has a visa to live in the UK anyways. 

2.  I doubt they'll object.  But if they do, yes, living with a friend would be an option.  Proof needed would depend on if the friend rents or owns.

3.  You don't need the land registry, as you don't own the property.

1.  Yes, that's fine.  She can't be on a tenancy (legally) until she has a visa to live in the UK anyways. 

2.  I doubt they'll object.  But if they do, yes, living with a friend would be an option.  Proof needed would depend on if the friend rents or owns.

3.  You don't need the land registry, as you don't own the property.

Thank you KFDancer

2. Okay cool, what proof would they need if they own or rent?
 - rent - tennancy agreement, letter saying Maria can stay with them?
 - own - mortgage agreement, letter saying Maria can stay with them, land registry?

Thank you KFDancer

2. Okay cool, what proof would they need if they own or rent?
 - rent - tennancy agreement, letter saying Maria can stay with them?
 - own - mortgage agreement, letter saying Maria can stay with them, land registry?

Yup, you've got it right above.  If rented, the letter needs to be from the landlord.

Yup, you've got it right above.  If rented, the letter needs to be from the landlord.

Awesome thank you

Howdy folks

We've had a few weeks away to get some things organised whilst Maria was in the country, (got our venue, band and photographer booked for May 2019! major stress relief there)

I have also booked my travel to head to Minnesota (I fly via Canada) on the 10 September. We plan to get 'married' that week. The next steps are:

1. Maria will post her passport the next day (est. 13th september) to get her last name changed to mine.
2. I fly back to N.Ireland at the end of the week.
3. Maria's passport returns hopefully two weeks later.
4. Start collecting and posting all the requirement sheets from my end to her in Minnesota.

In regards to 3:

1. We have our boarding passes from her coming here in June and also me in April and can provide Septembers as well once I return to N.Ireland.  A useful thing to add to the documentation?
2. We spoke to a couple who has been through all this (F - UK, M- US) and they suggested we put in photos of us with other people? is this a good idea rather than just 2 photos of just us?
3. Also with the photographs, I understand they have to be printed on photo paper - So then do we just stick these (think photos are normally A5?) to an A4 page and annotate where and when they were?

1.  Yes, add the boarding passes
2.  You are only providing a photo of the two of you to prove you have met in person.  No other people need to be in the photo.
3.  As only one photo is required (though most send two, one from early on in the relationship and one from the wedding), you don't need to do anything fancy with presentation of the photo(s).  Literally just paperclip a photo to the application and call it a day.

Just something for planning ahead as you are in Northern Ireland.  The first time your (future) wife enters the UK on her spouse visa, she will need to enter an airport OTHER than one in the Republic of Ireland.  So she may need to get a connection in London, to get her visa vignette stamped to collect her BRP.