Fiance or Spouse Visa - Our journey to marriage

The messages need to cover the entire length of your relationship (the times when you were apart - I.e. you don’t need to show them during times you were together in person).

The dates on the messages will depend on your personal situation... you’ll want to include about 40-60 messages, spread across the length of the relationship.

So, for example:

- if you have only been together 6 months, you might send 2 messages per week (about 50 over 6 months).

- if you have been together 1 year, you might send 1 message per week (about 52 in total)

- for 2 years, maybe go with 2 per month (48 in total)

- for 5 years, perhaps 1 message every month (60 in total)

- for 10 years, maybe 6 messages per year (60 in total)


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Amazing, thank you. I may rustle one up here over the weekend and share to see how you think it looks

So we are currently in the 'Sponsor Details' on the online application form and it is asking for place of issue.

My passport says United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is that what we enter?

We have entered my authority as HMPO.

Also since I have an irish passport, do we add 'Ireland' as my other nationality?

So we are currently in the 'Sponsor Details' on the online application form and it is asking for place of issue.

My passport says United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is that what we enter?

We have entered my authority as HMPO.

Place of issue will be UK.

Issuing authority will be whatever it says on the passport... because they keep changing the name of the department that issues passports!

My passport says IPS (Identity and Passport Service) as the issuing authority, but IPS is now called HMPO. In the past, it has also been called UKPA (UK Passport Agency)... so just depends what it was called when your passport was issued.


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Also since I have an irish passport, do we add 'Ireland' as my other nationality?

Yes.


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Yes.


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Place of issue will be UK.

Issuing authority will be whatever it says on the passport... because they keep changing the name of the department that issues passports!

My passport says IPS (Identity and Passport Service) as the issuing authority, but IPS is now called HMPO. In the past, it has also been called UKPA (UK Passport Agency)... so just depends what it was called when your passport was issued.


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Thank you, yeah thankfully it has authority so we added HMPO.

And added 'ireland' as a my other nationality. interestingly does not ask for my irish passport details, but another thing to tick off the list 

So we are on the VAF4A appendix 2 form and:

1.6 "How often do you meet?

Is this in the form of when my fiance was in Northern Ireland when we were dating and how often we dated?
Or is this how often we see each other since we have been doing long distance?

So we are on the VAF4A appendix 2 form and:

1.6 "How often do you meet?

Is this in the form of when my fiance was in Northern Ireland when we were dating and how often we dated?
Or is this how often we see each other since we have been doing long distance?

It's as of the time of the application, so currently how often you meet.

It's as of the time of the application, so currently how often you meet.

In the sense that, since she has been back in the USA and I am in Northern Ireland, we have met 3 times?

In the sense that, since she has been back in the USA and I am in Northern Ireland, we have met 3 times?

Yes. You can say that you see each other every x months for y length of time.

Yes. You can say that you see each other every x months for y length of time.

Ahh okay thank you!

next one! It asks in Part 5 about previous jobs I have held. But since I fit CategoryA - meet the requirements of makng £18,600 per tax, do i still need to do add all my previous jobs?

Ahh okay thank you!

next one! It asks in Part 5 about previous jobs I have held. But since I fit CategoryA - meet the requirements of makng £18,600 per tax, do i still need to do add all my previous jobs?

That part only applies to Category B. You do not have to give previous jobs if you are Category A.

For Category A, you answer the questions as follows:
3.1 - No
3.2 - Tick first box
3.3 - Tick first box and Category A
3.4 - Yes
3.5-3.10 - give employment details
3.11 - give total annual income
3.12 - Yes
Skip to 3.21
3.21 - Yes
3.22 - leave blank


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That part only applies to Category B. You do not have to give previous jobs if you are Category A.

For Category A, you answer the questions as follows:
3.1 - No
3.2 - Tick first box
3.3 - Tick first box and Category A
3.4 - Yes
3.5-3.10 - give employment details
3.11 - give total annual income
3.12 - Yes
Skip to 3.21
3.21 - Yes
3.22 - leave blank


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Excellent thank you!

Okay so I have a draft of my sponsor letter, I would love yourself or someone to do a once over if thats okay?



To The Entry Clearance Officer,

I am writing to confirm my sponsorship of (Spouses name) for a spousal visa to join me in the UK. I am a British citizen and a permanent resident in the UK.

I am currently employed full-time at (company name) as a (role), and have been employed here since 1st of September 2013. My current salary is (x amount) and I have been earning this salary since 1st of June 2017. I will therefore be using this salary to meet the financial requirement under Category A and I am including the relevant supporting documents as evidence.

When (spouse name) has been granted her visa, we plan to live at (current address), which is a 3 bedroom house that I rent. I am including the most recent letting agreement statement and further supporting documents including a no objection letter from the landlord to meet the accommodation requirements.

(spouse) and I first met in person at our church, (name of church), on 9th of July 2017. We met as we were both part of the worship team that would play the morning of each Sunday service. We were friends up until when we started dating on the 5th of September 2017 as we realised there was a great connection between us and our core values when looking for someone to date. As we moved forward in our relationship, we found out we shared many interests including music, films and travelling. During the time of (spouse) living in Belfast, we were able to see each other regularly as she lived close to where I am currently situated.

When (spouse) moved back to the States after her visa ran out, we both wanted to continue the relationship through long distance, with communication across Facebook Messenger, FaceTime and personal letters. During this time we realized we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. (spouse) came to Belfast on a tourist visa on the 31st May 2018 to 10th July 2018. During this trip, we got engaged on the 16th June 2018.

We held a civil ceremony and got married in (church in USA) in the presence of family and friends on the 12th September 2018. We have made the decision to settle in the UK based on various factors. This includes the high quality of education, level of skilled jobs, excellent healthcare system and the safe environment that it provides, thus enabling us to start a family.

I am including the following documents to support the application:
•   Verified copy of my UK Passport
•   7 months of payslips – Electronic statements certified by the CEO (ceo name)
•   7 months of bank statements showing deposits of each pay slip – Electronic statements certified and stamped by Nationwide
•   Original job contract - Electronic and certified by CEO (ceo name)
•   P60 - Electronic and certified by CEO (ceo name)
•   Detailed letter from employer including length of employment, current salary and type of employment
•   Current rental agreement
•   No objection letter from landlord
•   Marriage certificate
•   Proof of relationship – photos, Facebook messages, Facetime call logs, flight boarding passes and letters

Yours Sincerely,
(my name)

Okay, your sponsor letter is too long and you don't need to be so formal with it. No need to write dates out in full (i.e. THE 12th OF September 2018)... just write 12th September 2018 or even 12/09/18. Also, you don't need to big up the UK in your reasons for settling here (you don't need to use words like excellent, high quality, environment etc.) - just be honest. Your reason could be as simple as "(spouse) likes the UK' or 'sponsor doesn't like the US'. You don't really need to list the documents either, because your spouse will list them in their cover letter anyway.

I would go with something more like:

To The Entry Clearance Officer,

I am writing to confirm my sponsorship of (Spouses name) for a spousal visa to join me in the UK. I am a British citizen and have lived in the UK since birth (assuming that is correct).

I am currently employed full-time at (company name) as a (role), and have been employed here since 1st of September 2013. My current salary is (x amount) and I have been earning this salary since 1st of June 2017. I will therefore be using this salary to meet the financial requirement under Category A and I am including the relevant supporting documents as evidence.

When (spouse name) has been granted her visa, we plan to live at (current address), which is a 3 bedroom house that I rent. I am including the most recent letting agreement statement and a letter from the landlord giving (spouse name) permission to live there with me.

(spouse) and I first met in person at our church on 9th July 2017 and we started dating on 5th September 2017. While (spouse) lived in Belfast on her (X type of) visa, we were able to see each other regularly. When (spouse) moved back to the States, we communicated (daily/weekly etc) using Facebook Messenger, FaceTime and personal letters. (spouse) came to visit me in Belfast from 31st May to 10th July 2018, and we got engaged on the 16th June 2018. We got married in a civil ceremony in (city, country) on 12th September 2018. We have made the decision to settle in the UK because we feel it is a better place for us to start our lives together. (or you could write something like 'we feel that education, healthcare and job prospects are better in the UK').

Yours Faithfully (you only use Sincerely if you know the recipient's name)
(my name)

Okay, your sponsor letter is too long and you don't need to be so formal with it. No need to write dates out in full (i.e. THE 12th OF September 2018)... just write 12th September 2018 or even 12/09/18. Also, you don't need to big up the UK in your reasons for settling here (you don't need to use words like excellent, high quality, environment etc.) - just be honest. Your reason could be as simple as "(spouse) likes the UK' or 'sponsor doesn't like the US'. You don't really need to list the documents either, because your spouse will list them in their cover letter anyway.

Thats great thanks ksand24, I have made those changes.

Do I need to add a header to the letter at all (e.g. my address or the title of the document)?



Also I know you checked this before, but here is my employment letter. Just a double check on that would be great 

Also just a note:
1. Including 7 payslips and bank statements, because my statements start on the 10th of every month, not the 1st.
2. We intend to get this all sent off at the end of october, or the beginning of november, just by the time we get it all packaged up.
3. I usually get paid on a later date than stated on my payslips due to banking issues at the company.


XX/XX/2018
To The Entry Clearance Officer,
Ref: Employment confirmation - my name

I am writing to confirm that (my name) is currently employed at (company and role). (my name) has been employed on a permanent, full-time, salaried contract with us since 1st September 2013. (my name) current annual salary is (salary) and they have been earning this salary since 1st June 2017.

I can also confirm that the payslips and P60 provided with this application are authentic and correct, as follows:

April 2018 – Basic pre-tax salary of £XXXXX paid into bank account on X date

May 2018 – Basic pre-tax salary of £XXXXX, paid into bank account on X date

June 2018 – Basic pre-tax salary of £XXXXX, paid into bank account on X date

July 2018 – Basic pre-tax salary of £XXXXX. paid into bank account on X date

August 2018 - Basic pre-tax salary of £XXXXX, paid into bank account on X date

September 2018 - Basic pre-tax salary of £XXXXX,  paid into bank account on X date

October 2018 - Basic pre-tax salary of £XXXXX, paid into bank account on X date

If you require further information please contact (ceo email address)

Yours Faithfully,
(ceo name)