Can we apply for a Spouse Visa with No Current UK address.

When we took a closer look at page 6 on the Check List On the page where me wife, (the applicant), needs to sign. It states:-

IMPORTANT: do not sign until you are at your appointment.

So I assume, this document must first be taken with her to the ‘Biometric Appointment’ I suppose so they can witness the signature being written..? Right next to where the signature is to be made it also asks for the ‘Date’.  I assume this will be the date the signature was made and not June 15th 2020, the date on her Application..?

Under the Box where my wife has to sign, there is another Box for ‘Official Use Only’ where a ‘Submission Officer’ has to write his name, date and then sign..!

So in a nutshell, I assume that we can’t scan and upload this document today, but need to wait until after the biometric visit..?

Another confusing thing on this 6 page “Document Checklist’ document, is adjacent to the 12 Tick Boxes my wife has to tick, (which she did as we uploaded all 12 requested documents), there’s also 12 Tick Boxes for ‘Official Use Only’. If this 6 page “Document Checklist’ document Is to be taken with us to the USCIS Biometric Centre, then who there will be eligible to tick those ‘Official’ boxes, as they haven’t witnessed my wife doing the uploads..?  OR...  Do we need to take those 12 requested documents, (already uploaded), with us to the Biometric Centre, so they can see them there..?

This is really confusing..?

When we took a closer look at page 6 on the Check List On the page where me wife, (the applicant), needs to sign. It states:-

IMPORTANT: do not sign until you are at your appointment.

So I assume, this document must first be taken with her to the ‘Biometric Appointment’ I suppose so they can witness the signature being written..? Right next to where the signature is to be made it also asks for the ‘Date’.  I assume this will be the date the signature was made and not June 15th 2020, the date on her Application..?

Under the Box where my wife has to sign, there is another Box for ‘Official Use Only’ where a ‘Submission Officer’ has to write his name, date and then sign..!

So in a nutshell, I assume that we can’t scan and upload this document today, but need to wait until after the biometric visit..?

Another confusing thing on this 6 page “Document Checklist’ document, is adjacent to the 12 Tick Boxes my wife has to tick, (which she did as we uploaded all 12 requested documents), there’s also 12 Tick Boxes for ‘Official Use Only’. If this 6 page “Document Checklist’ document Is to be taken with us to the USCIS Biometric Centre, then who there will be eligible to tick those ‘Official’ boxes, as they haven’t witnessed my wife doing the uploads..?  OR...  Do we need to take those 12 requested documents, (already uploaded), with us to the Biometric Centre, so they can see them there..?

This is really confusing..?

Okay, you're overthinking it.

Just tick the boxes and upload the checklist along with your documents.

The part with the official boxes and submission officer signature does not apply to your application unless:
a) you are paying for the Settlement Premium Service where they scan your documents for you (in which case they will tick off the checklist at the appointment)
or
b) you are paying for the New York scanning service where you mail the checklist and all your documents to New York and they scan them for you (in which case they will tick off the checklist when they upload)

If you are not using either of the above services, you tick the checklist yourself, sign it and upload it along with your documents.

You DO NOT need to take the checklist, or any of your supporting documents to the biometrics appointment. You ONLY take your US passport and the printed biometrics appointment confirmation sheet.

At a USCIS ASC your biometrics will be taken by a US immigration officer on behalf of UKVI. They have nothing to do with your visa application and they have no authority to sign that checklist.

What happens at biometrics:
- they check your passport and stamp your printed biometrics confirmation sheet
- they take your fingerprints and photo
- you go home

The whole appointment takes about 5 minutes.

You then mail your passport and stamped biometrics sheet to New York within 5 days.

OK Thanks for that Ksand24,

I guess then the date next to my wife’s signature, wants to be no later June 15th 2020, the date on the application..?

OK Thanks for that Ksand24,

I guess then the date next to my wife’s signature, wants to be no later June 15th 2020, the date on the application..?

Don't think it matters. I guess you just date it based on when you have uploaded all your documents.

This is all it says on the VFS Global website about the checklist, if you are uploading yourself:

1. You can upload your supporting documents online free of charge. If you wish to self-upload your supporting documents, you should refer to the document checklist you have received as part of your online application;

Hi Ksand24 I'm appreciated to answer my question
For spouse visa I want to use my wife cash saving which is held in non regulated bank for more than 6 months the source of saving is from my wife's clinic
We can show all of these for many years by bank statements now we moved the saving 63000 to into regulated bank recently as she been in control the saving all that time is it acceptable or no
We need to wait 6 months
If we need to apply we have only up to 5th of Jul 2020 as her English test was 5 Jul 2018 and date of result of English test 11 Jul 2018
Your answer so helpful
Thanks so much

**** CONFUSION REIGNS ****

Why is it that nothing is ever simple with this application process.. 

My wife, (the applicant), has managed to progress with her application on the VFS website and has been given an appointment for her Biometrics at the end of July.

So far, so good....

She was also able to make payments of $45 for a UPS Return Courier Service and $5 to receive SMS Processing Updates.

She was able to download and print out the UPS Shipping Label which includes a unique tracking number.  We assume this is to be used to pay for the return of her Passport etc from UKVI at the end of the application process.

She was able to download and print out her registration details, which included payments made, a short summary, (but not all), of the uploads received and at the end of this document an Appointment Letter with the date and time and location of the ASC Biometrics Centre.

This latter document I assume she needs to take to take with her to the Biometric Appointment plus her Passport.   

Again.... So far, so good....

Now the confusion starts...

About a couple of hours after making this progress, my wife received an email from UPS saying there was a parcel on its way to her from
VFS SCHENGEN and it should turn up the next day..  The Tracking Number for this parcel, was the very same tracking number that’s on the UPS Shipping Label, which she had just downloaded and printed out..??

What on earth is going on..??  It’s as though they were immediately trying to return her passport, which she’s not even sent in yet as she’s still to have the Biometrics done..?

UPS have since said they couldn’t make a delivery on their original specified date and will inform her when they can... we’re still waiting...

My wife has written to VFS Customer service, but they can take a week to reply, so in the meantime we’re more than puzzled..

Our main Concern is the fact that the Unique UPS Tracking Number has now been used, and we’re worried that this Return Postage Label will no longer be valid..??

Has anyone else experienced what we are experiencing now..??

Part of the Registration Details my wife downloaded from VFS includes the following statement..

“ Thank you for registering with us. Please mail your visa application and supporting documents to the following address for processing after enrolling your biometrics at the Application Support Centre:

UKVI Visa Processing Centre
145 West 45th St, Fl 5
New York, NY 10036 “

We assume the “Visa Application” is the 16 page printout of all the questions we were asked doing the online UKVI questionnaire prior to being transferred to the. VFS website..?

As for supporting documents we can only assume this would be the 4 pages of VFS Registration Details, (including the Bio Appointment Letter), we have downloaded and printed out..?  As we have uploaded all our other documents ourselves..?

If push comes to shove, and we don’t get a sensible explanation from the VFS Customer Care team, we’re very tempted to pay again at the UPS office to have them issue us a NEW return UPS Shipping Label, to include with the application when my wife sends her passport off to UKVI New York..!!

Just as a reminder at this stage am I right in thinking we need to send to the UKVI office in New York the following.

(1)   My wife’s Passport.
(2)   A UPS Return Shipping Label, pre-paid so the passport can be returned.
(3)  The 16 page UKVI Visa Application Printout
(4)  The 4 pages of VFS Registration Details Printed out
(5)  A receipt of some description showing my wife has attended her Biometric Appointment.. (Maybe they just stamp the Appointment Letter..?)

Is there anything We’ve forgotten to include..?

I’d like to thank all those at UK Yankee for all the guiding help and support you have all given my wife and myself since I started this stream, after my wife’s successful application for her Right of Entry and Leave to Remain in the UK.

Just out of interest to readers who might like to know the time line we experienced amidst a pandemic, it unfolded as follows..

On Monday June 15th we uploaded the .pdf’s of all the necessary paperwork on the VFS website, with a target date to leave the UK on Oct 1st. 2020.

On Friday July 31st after a long wait due the biometric centre being closed because of the corona virus, the Bio appointment was given and we posted in the, bio details and  passport and other documents to UKVI in New York on the same day. 

On Monday August 3rd, UPS Tracking informed us the Passport and Documents had arrived in New York.

Online we were reading that due to corona virus, it would take up to 12 weeks to process my wife’s application. BUT, much to our surprise after only 7 weeks...

On Monday September 21st, my wife received her Passport back with the Visa Vignette inside, and a letter saying the application was successful.

The Visa Vignette was dated from September 24th, (1 week up front of our chosen Oct 1st),  valid until December 23rd..!!  A full 3 months window, where only 30 days were expected.  There was no explanation why it was a wider window, but I think its fair to assume its due to the virus.

We have now chosen to travel to the UK on October 15th and will have to stay in self isolation for the first 14 days when we arrive.

The long tough slog has bared fruit at the end, but not without the help from you guys at UK Yankee, for this we are very grateful, and I’ll no doubt be giving you all earache once again when its time to apply for the FLR BRP.

Thanks for the update. Congratulations! 

Now the FUN starts..!!  A question on TAXES..!!

We left the US on October 15th 2020, arriving in the UK on October 16th.

To prevent double taxation, I have, (and still have), exemption from paying Taxes in the UK on my two UK pensions, as for the passed 10 years I have been declaring this income in the US, together with my wife’s US earnings, and paying Taxes in the US.

We have sold our house in the US, which was our primary place of residence, and are in the process of buying our new primary place of residence in the UK.  At the moment we are renting while this is going on.

We are both resident and domicile now in the UK.

For 10.5 months during the year 2020, my wife had income coming in from work and benefits in the US, while my income was the aforementioned two UK pensions.

What we are wanting to do, in layman’s terms, is pay what we owe in taxes for the 10.5 months we remained living in the US from January 1st to mid October in 2020, and then commence paying what we will owe in taxes from mid October to April 2021 in the UK.

My wife’s future income will be US sourced only, while mine will be UK sourced only.

I will need to reverse my double taxation exemption from being paid in the US only to being paid in the UK only, and my wife will need to set up an exemption for herself that lets taxes be paid in the UK only and non in the US.

As we are both pensioners, our total income will be less than the equivalent of $50,000.

Can anyone help or point us in the right direction..?

Now the FUN starts..!!  A question on TAXES..!!

We left the US on October 15th 2020, arriving in the UK on October 16th.

To prevent double taxation, I have, (and still have), exemption from paying Taxes in the UK on my two UK pensions, as for the passed 10 years I have been declaring this income in the US, together with my wife’s US earnings, and paying Taxes in the US.

We have sold our house in the US, which was our primary place of residence, and are in the process of buying our new primary place of residence in the UK.  At the moment we are renting while this is going on.

We are both resident and domicile now in the UK.

For 10.5 months during the year 2020, my wife had income coming in from work and benefits in the US, while my income was the aforementioned two UK pensions.

What we are wanting to do, in layman’s terms, is pay what we owe in taxes for the 10.5 months we remained living in the US from January 1st to mid October in 2020, and then commence paying what we will owe in taxes from mid October to April 2021 in the UK.

My wife’s future income will be US sourced only, while mine will be UK sourced only.

I will need to reverse my double taxation exemption from being paid in the US only to being paid in the UK only, and my wife will need to set up an exemption for herself that lets taxes be paid in the UK only and non in the US.

As we are both pensioners, our total income will be less than the equivalent of $50,000.

Can anyone help or point us in the right direction..?

You'll do much better posting this question in the tax section of the forum. 

https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?board=11.0

I’m just wondering if anyone can answer a quick question on “Foreign Earned Income Exclusion”

My wife has just started getting her US Social Security Benefit.  This now raises our total income counting my UK state Pension and UK Private pension above  the US tax thresholds, even after paying Taxes in the UK.

These pensions are our only source of income, and up until now we’ve had no US TAX to pay by claiming Tax Credits.

I was hoping that by using  “Foreign Earned Income Exclusion”, at least on MY UK pensions, I would be able to keep our US TAX liability at zero.

BUT,  I’m beginning to wonder if my UK pensions are considered to be “Earned Income”  by the US, and if not does this mean I can’t claim Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.

If this is the case it means I’m being taxed twice on my pensions..!!  So what of the No Double Taxation clause between the UK and the US..?