UK Spouse Visa Application Checklist and Questions - Please Help!

Hi all,

My American husband and I were married on August 1st in Florida after four years of long distance, and we’re in the process of compiling our UK Spousal Visa documents ready to *hopefully* send next month!

I have searched through the Visa threads to gain more clarification on the process, but I’m hoping that someone will be able to help us answer our own pressing questions!

Currently, this our to-do list for our application:
Applicant:
- Printed online application
- The VAF4A Appendix 2
- Biometrics appointment confirmation with the stamp (will be stamped at appointment)
- IHS surcharge number/receipt
- Current and all past passports
- Passport photo
- Return shipping label purchased through VHS Global

Sponsor
- Sponsor letter of support

Finances - 3A - Salary of £18,600+ in UK
- My payslips - 6 full months (Employer will write letter as digital copies + sign each payslip with school stamp)
- Letter from my employer confirming the following:
- job title and current salary
- length of employment
- length of time earning current salary
- type of employment
- My bank statements - 6 full months (7 statements) These are copies but they will be stamped by the Bank Branch with a letter to validate if possible
- My job contract (copy, stamped and signed)

Accommodation
- My parents' House Title Summary and Title Register as they own the property (currently trying to get ahold of these)
- Letter from my parents inviting my husband and live with us
-confirms rent free
-confirms # of bedrooms
-confirms occupants of property

Relationship
- Marriage certificate (does this need to include a copy alongside the original?)
- Photos together
- Boarding passes from trips to see each other
- Letters and cards sent to each other
- Evidence of regular communication through our relationship... email inbox screenshots, call logs, message logs etc.


Questions:
1.   Is there anything that we’ve missed above? If so, please let us know!

2.   How/Where do we get a copy of the land registry document? I understand I can get one for £3 online, but unsure where to go and want to make sure I get it from the right source!

3.   As a teacher, I currently make over the £18,600 and have done for the last five years. However, most of that money has been spent on flights/our wedding and therefore my bank balance is regularly quite low/into my overdraft. As they look at my bank statements in the application process, will this affect the Visa decision? Or are the statements included simply just to verify that I am indeed receiving the payments over £18,600 threshold?

4.   We are hoping to split the Visa payments and I would pay for the NHS surcharge using my bank debit card. Will this be a problem? Or does the receipt need to be in my husband’s name?

5.   Upon arriving in the UK, how soon is my husband able to find work?

6.   Upon arriving in the UK, how soon are we able to travel outside of the country?

Very sorry for all of the questions! But I’m feeling quite overwhelmed with the process and hoping we can get it done smoothly and without hiccups and that he’ll be here either before Christmas (here's hoping!) or soon into the New Year!

Just to add on: I've found the correct website for the land registry but as my parents have been in our family home for over 30 years, there is no land registry or title available!

They have, however, paid off their mortgage. Would I be able to use any of these documents instead? Please advise!

Just to add on: I've found the correct website for the land registry but as my parents have been in our family home for over 30 years, there is no land registry or title available!

They have, however, paid off their mortgage. Would I be able to use any of these documents instead? Please advise!

If the house is not on the land registry, you should use the title deeds. Your family lawyer may be holding them for safe keeping. You can send a certified copy of the deeds.

Please see my comments in red.

Hi all,

My American husband and I were married on August 1st in Florida after four years of long distance, and we’re in the process of compiling our UK Spousal Visa documents ready to *hopefully* send next month!

I have searched through the Visa threads to gain more clarification on the process, but I’m hoping that someone will be able to help us answer our own pressing questions!

Currently, this our to-do list for our application:
Applicant:
- Printed online application
- The VAF4A Appendix 2
- Biometrics appointment confirmation with the stamp (will be stamped at appointment)
- IHS surcharge number/receipt
- Current and all past passports
- Passport photo
- Return shipping label purchased through VHS Global

Sponsor
- Sponsor letter of support

Finances - 3A - Salary of £18,600+ in UK
- My payslips - 6 full months (Employer will write letter as digital copies + sign each payslip with school stamp)
- Letter from my employer confirming the following:
- job title and current salary
- length of employment
- length of time earning current salary
- type of employment
- My bank statements - 6 full months (7 statements) These are copies but they will be stamped by the Bank Branch with a letter to validate if possible
- My job contract (copy, stamped and signed)

Accommodation
- My parents' House Title Summary and Title Register as they own the property (currently trying to get ahold of these)
- Letter from my parents inviting my husband and live with us
-confirms rent free
-confirms # of bedrooms
-confirms occupants of property

Relationship
- Marriage certificate (does this need to include a copy alongside the original?) Send a copy of everything which you would like returned.
- Photos together
- Boarding passes from trips to see each other
- Letters and cards sent to each other
- Evidence of regular communication through our relationship... email inbox screenshots, call logs, message logs etc.


Questions:
1.   Is there anything that we’ve missed above? If so, please let us know!  Sponsor's passport.

2.   How/Where do we get a copy of the land registry document? I understand I can get one for £3 online, but unsure where to go and want to make sure I get it from the right source! 

3.   As a teacher, I currently make over the £18,600 and have done for the last five years. However, most of that money has been spent on flights/our wedding and therefore my bank balance is regularly quite low/into my overdraft. As they look at my bank statements in the application process, will this affect the Visa decision? Or are the statements included simply just to verify that I am indeed receiving the payments over £18,600 threshold? It doesn't matter what the balance is. They just need to see the pay being deposited.

4.   We are hoping to split the Visa payments and I would pay for the NHS surcharge using my bank debit card. Will this be a problem? Or does the receipt need to be in my husband’s name?  Either of you can pay.

5.   Upon arriving in the UK, how soon is my husband able to find work?  He can start working immediately. He'll need to sort out a NI number though.

6.   Upon arriving in the UK, how soon are we able to travel outside of the country? As soon as you have picked up the BRP

Very sorry for all of the questions! But I’m feeling quite overwhelmed with the process and hoping we can get it done smoothly and without hiccups and that he’ll be here either before Christmas (here's hoping!) or soon into the New Year!

Questions:
1.   Is there anything that we’ve missed above? If so, please let us know!

You're missing a copy of the sponsor's passport photo page

]3.   As a teacher, I currently make over the £18,600 and have done for the last five years. However, most of that money has been spent on flights/our wedding and therefore my bank balance is regularly quite low/into my overdraft. As they look at my bank statements in the application process, will this affect the Visa decision? Or are the statements included simply just to verify that I am indeed receiving the payments over £18,600 threshold?

The only thing that matters is that the pre-tax amount on your payslips meets the £18,600 annual requirements

And the only reason you are including bank statements at all is to confirm that the payslip amount was deposited into an account in your name, and that the amount deposited matches the post-tax amount on each payslip.

They will not look at any other transactions.

4.   We are hoping to split the Visa payments and I would pay for the NHS surcharge using my bank debit card. Will this be a problem? Or does the receipt need to be in my husband’s name?

It doesn't matter whose card you use, but as it will all be charged in US dollars, if you use a UK debit card, you will be charged foreign transaction fees by your bank... usually about 2.75% - so it'll likely cost you about £15 more to pay the IHS with your card than his card.

5.   Upon arriving in the UK, how soon is my husband able to find work?

From Day 1 of arriving - though he'll need his BRP to show employers his right to work, and he'll need to apply for an NI number.

6.   Upon arriving in the UK, how soon are we able to travel outside of the country?

As soon as he has picked up his BRP card, which must be done within 10 days of arriving.

If the house is not on the land registry, you should use the title deeds. Your family lawyer may be holding them for safe keeping. You can send a certified copy of the deeds.

Thank you - I know that my Mum actually has the official copy of the deeds at our home however it's quite a hefty document to send.

You're missing a copy of the sponsor's passport photo page

The only thing that matters is that the pre-tax amount on your payslips meets the £18,600 annual requirements

And the only reason you are including bank statements at all is to confirm that the payslip amount was deposited into an account in your name, and that the amount deposited matches the post-tax amount on each payslip.

They will not look at any other transactions.

It doesn't matter whose card you use, but as it will all be charged in US dollars, if you use a UK debit card, you will be charged foreign transaction fees by your bank... usually about 2.75% - so it'll likely cost you about £15 more to pay the IHS with your card than his card.

From Day 1 of arriving - though he'll need his BRP to show employers his right to work, and he'll need to apply for an NI number.

As soon as he has picked up his BRP card, which must be done within 10 days of arriving.

Great - thank you for all of your help. Slowly but surely getting my head around all of the process and the papers etc.!

Thank you - I know that my Mum actually has the official copy of the deeds at our home however it's quite a hefty document to send.

I wouldn't send the original. But if sending a copy, it does need to be certified.

I wouldn't send the original. But if sending a copy, it does need to be certified.

That's what I thought - where would you suggest getting the document certified?

That's what I thought - where would you suggest getting the document certified?

https://www.gov.uk/certifying-a-document

And the sponsor passport copy can be certified at the Post Office.

Just an update:

My parents visited their solicitors today and obtained a copy of the deeds (not original, but stamped and certified), a letter from the solicitor to say he had seen the original copy and have the original copy at their office, and a letter to confirm that my parents own the home/have paid off the mortgage. Each document is stamped and signed.

Will this be enough?

Just an update:

My parents visited their solicitors today and obtained a copy of the deeds (not original, but stamped and certified), a letter from the solicitor to say he had seen the original copy and have the original copy at their office, and a letter to confirm that my parents own the home/have paid off the mortgage. Each document is stamped and signed.

Will this be enough?

That's great.    You just need the letter of permission from the parents too.

I have start to compile all of my evidence as the sponsor and just need some help making sure I’ve got everything and not missing any vital information!

Accommodation: I have the house deeds photocopied and certified by the solicitor, a letter to say the mortgage is paid off (also certified), and the letter from my parents detailing how many rooms etc and that we are allowed to live there rent free. 

Payslips: As I work as a teacher in a primary school, I have a letter from my head teacher (on headed paper) explaining that I am permanently employed, including start dates, with my gross annual pay (over the £18,600 threshold) and my additional, temporary teaching allowance of £2667 per annum.

It also goes on to say that they have certified my electronic payslips/enclosed them, and explains that I am employed by a Trust academy and I am therefore paid by Rotherham Council although on my bank statements it says the name of my school as the company/payer. Will this be enough?

I have the last six months of payslips - signed by my head teacher and school business administrator - and stamped with the school stamp.

I have also enclosed a copy of my P60 (a copy of an eP60 as I didn’t receive one in post) which is also signed by head teacher and school business administrator, as well as a copy of my extended ‘contract changes’ for my teaching and learning additional pay as well as my appointed salary.

However I have just noticed a small mistake in that my annual pay increased in May and therefore will need to edit the letter pro forma from my head teacher and redo it.

Is there anything else I will need?

Passport: Photocopied and certified by the post office.


Bank Statements: I went to HSBC and have had them printout bank statements for last six months as well as dating back to January 2018. It’s on HSBC headed paper, with my address on it as if posted to me, but not stamped. I do have a letter printed saying that they have provided me with the information requested (previous statements) and this is signed and dated,  but has no further information on it or stamp. Each of the statements matches with my payslips and the paid in amounts. Will this be enough?

My Sponsor Letter: I have this written using a template I had from a friend who previously and successfully completed a spousal visa and explains main importance etc. How we met, circumstances of our relationship and wedding, why we chose to live in England. 

Okay - is there anything I’ve left? I’ve read somewhere that I need a passport photo of myself in the application. Is this true?

Sorry to ask so many questions! Just trying to get everything done as soon as possible. Starting to feel both excited and terrified that we could be filing next week! 

You need to include your relationship evidence. You mentioned it earlier in the thread. 

No sponsor photo is required for the spouse visa.

Yep - just sorting out all of the evidence! How much would you say is needed? We have photos, boarding passes, phone conversations and call logs etc.