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

Just out of interest on the ‘Driver’s License’ front.

My Wife has a Texas Driving License, which I believe she can use for 12 months in the UK before having to apply to take the UK Driving Test to get a UK driving license. 

I didn’t think you can just apply to receive a UK license without first taking a UK driving test..?

She will have to sit both theory and practical tests but before that, she must apply for a provisional license.

Ahh a provisional license, right, I hadn’t thought of that..

I still believe she will be able to drive, without the need for ‘L’ plates, for 12 months on her Texas License..? Otherwise, how would visitors the the UK be able to hire a car and drive around while on holiday, etc.

How long does a provisional license last, its been many, many, years since I was last on a provisional license..?

Ahh a provisional license, right, I hadn’t thought of that..

I still believe she will be able to drive, without the need for ‘L’ plates, for 12 months on her Texas License..? Otherwise, how would visitors the the UK be able to hire a car and drive around while on holiday, etc.

How long does a provisional license last, its been many, many, years since I was last on a provisional license..?

Yes, she will have 12 months to drive on her US licence, but in order to keep driving after that, she must pass the theory and practical tests before the 12 months is up. If she reaches 12 months before she gets her UK licence, she will be treated as a learner driver again (L plates, always accompanied in the car etc.)

A provisional licence is valid for 10 years, but she has only 2 years from passing the theory test to pass the practical test (or she will need to retake the theory test)

Thanks for that,

Wiill still need to buy a Provisinal License, before she takes her test, or will the Texas driving license double as a Provisional License..?

Thanks for that,

Wiill still need to buy a Provisinal License, before she takes her test, or will the Texas driving license double as a Provisional License..?

She must get a provisional licence before she can take any of the tests. The provisional is a requirement for both the theory and practical tests and will need to be provided in order to book and take them. She will need to send off her BRP to DVLA in order to get the provisional licence.

See here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence

Also, it will be a good idea for her to take a few driving lessons, simply to learn how to pass the test, as the pass rate is low and they are very specific about what you have to do in order to pass.

Yes I agree, a few driving lessons will be very beneficial. Especially getting used to ‘Keeping Left’, not ‘Right’..!! 

Taking a step in a different direction...

Financial Requirements, I just want someone to confirm I’m reading the rules correctly..

I realize that the numbers will increase over the years, but I’m using the numbers as things stand today.. (2018)..

I’m aware that you can combine savings and pension income(s) to achieve the target, but leaving this aside are these the basic numbers that you need to be able to achieve, at each stage, over the whole 5 years..? 

In particular at the ILR stage are these the numbers I should be using..?

Spouse Visa (for entry and leave to remain) 30-33 months

Cash savings OVER £16,000.   If you have $62,500+ you’re OK on this alone..?
OR both mine and my wife’s combined PENSION income  = £18,600+

FLR(M) (extended leave to remain) 30 months
Cash savings OVER £16,000.   If you have $62,500+ you’re OK on this alone..?
OR both mine and my wife’s combined PENSION income  = £18,600+

ILR SET(M) (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
Cash savings OVER £16,000.   If you have $62,500+ you’re OK on this alone..?
OR both mine and my wife’s combined PENSION income  = £18,600+

Taking a step in a different direction...

Financial Requirements, I just want someone to confirm I’m reading the rules correctly..

I realize that the numbers will increase over the years, but I’m using the numbers as things stand today.. (2018)..

You never know, but so far, they haven't increased the numbers since they were introduced in 2012.

Spouse Visa (for entry and leave to remain) 30-33 months

Cash savings OVER £16,000.   If you have $62,500+ you’re OK on this alone..?
OR both mine and my wife’s combined PENSION income  = £18,600+

FLR(M) (extended leave to remain) 30 months
Cash savings OVER £16,000.   If you have $62,500+ you’re OK on this alone..?
OR both mine and my wife’s combined PENSION income  = £18,600+

Yes, for both of these.

If you are using EITHER savings OR pension income, it's:

£18,600 per year in pension income
OR
£62,500 in cash savings (£16,000 + (2.5 years x £18,600))

ILR SET(M) (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
Cash savings OVER £16,000.   If you have $62,500+ you’re OK on this alone..?
OR both mine and my wife’s combined PENSION income  = £18,600+

For ILR, the savings requirement is less... you only need 1 year's worth of £18,600 instead of 2.5 years' worth.

So, you need:
£18,600 per year in pension income
OR
£34,600 in cash savings (£16,000 + £18,600)

How soon after getting Indefinite Leave to Remain can my wife apply for UK Citizenship..?

Is there a Financial Requirement for this also..?

How soon after getting Indefinite Leave to Remain can my wife apply for UK Citizenship..?

Is there a Financial Requirement for this also..?

She can apply straight after Indefinite Leave to Remain, so long as she meets the residency requirements (no more than 270 days out of the country in the previous 3 years and no more than 90 of those days in the previous 12 months).

Any financial requirement for Citizenship..?

No, there is no earnings (or savings) requirement for citizenship.

I think we might have the makings of a solution here..

Before we make our move out to the UK we are intending coming out for a holiday in the UK.  I have a Lloyds UK Bank Account in my name only, that I have always wanted to get into both our names. 

The bank informs us that, although the postal address on my UK account is my US Home, as there’s no Lloyds branches in the US the only way we can add my wife’s name to my account, is to come to England and walk into a branch of Lloyds and present ourselves, with all the necessary ID proof,  for them to be able to add her name to the account.  So having done this up front of our making our move, all I need do is change the postal address on the bank account, to either the Rental or my Friend’s location and then request a paper statement that should arrive in both our names.

I suggest to give it a go (worst is they'll say no), but be aware it might not be feasible if trying to do so while she's a visitor.

To open or be added to a UK bank account, you need not only ID and proof of address, but proof of permitted residency in the UK (in other words, a valid visa).  While the mailing address may be in the US and you could easily produce proof of ID and address for the US residency, the branch *might* be hesitant to add someone without a UK visa to an account based in the UK as it would need to tick the boxes for all the UK banking regulations.     

Hmmm, well, we can but try..

It’s some time ago now that I phoned Lloyds in the UK to ask about this very problem, getting my wife’s name onto my account. So unless the guy I was talking to didn’t quite get what I was asking him, or he didn’t know the fine rules details himself, it was him that suggested we walk into any Lloyds bank branch with our details, including proof that we both live at the US address attached to the account, which is the only address they have now.

Maybe the guy I was talking to didn’t realize that my wife isn’t a UK Citizen as I am, and so missinformed me.  I was intending to phone them again before we go on holiday, to ask and double check what ID we will need to bring with us, I will make a point of letting them know about my wife’s US Citizenship and see if this changes their mind..? 

Thanks for pointing this out...