Next Steps!

Fantastic post Tim!  Thanks for taking the time!

Least I could do! 

I still need to reach out to Severn Trent Water, Virgin Media & BT re paper billing.  BT charge an extra £3 per month for this, which seems excessive.

 Don't pay BT any extra, you'll have plenty without that one. 

That was the hope, but the banks (well, at least Barclays & HSBC) were very strict about what they are prepared to accept as proof of address.  I guess that's just a reflection of the 'identity theft' times we live in.  The EDF Energy cover letter did not meet their requirements.  Only HSBC offered the council tax bill + bill-payer letter confirming my OH was living there option to get past that.

I have a shiny new correspondence box nesting in one of the drawers in my desk! 

So far, we've got council tax & EDF energy (gas / electric) in joint names and both send correspondence in paper form.  We also have our individual bank accounts set to paper monthly statements too.

I still need to reach out to Severn Trent Water, Virgin Media & BT re paper billing.  BT charge an extra £3 per month for this, which seems excessive.

Other bits of post we get (well, mainly me) such as HMRC, car insurance, various home insurance items etc... always arrive as paper.

Getting there...

Tim

You're very well set up for correspondence.  Don't pay BT £3/month.  You don't need *all* of the correspondence, and you're going to have plenty without theirs.

Edited to say:  Oh, there was another page of comments, and larrabee already said this.  Well, there you go.  We've both said it so it must be true!

  We've both said it so it must be true!

Great minds... 

Do I have to pick up my BRP card before I can open a bank account? On my letter it says I can pick it up on the 15th but I want to open an account this weekend. Just double checking!

Do I have to pick up my BRP card before I can open a bank account? On my letter it says I can pick it up on the 15th but I want to open an account this weekend. Just double checking!

I used it...but I think you need just a form of ID! double check with your bank

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Do I have to pick up my BRP card before I can open a bank account? On my letter it says I can pick it up on the 15th but I want to open an account this weekend. Just double checking!

You may find that you can't open a bank account until you have proof of UK address in the form of a utility/council tax bill in your name. Plus, the bank is likely going to need to see your BRP as proof of your immigration and work status (not sure that the 30-day vignette will be enough since it expires within 30 days).

I know that in the past, some people on spousal visas have found it difficult to open a bank account, and it's taken anywhere from a few weeks to a few months after arriving to be able to do it.

I went with Metro Bank, and I needed ID, nd 2 proof of address (that was the difficult part) unlike other banks they make your debit card right then and there. So I never had to wait for that.

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I believe proof of being legally resident is needed for the bank account (check with the bank you're going with). I'm not sure the passport vignette would be enough but it might be. Every bank seems to have their own regulations for which things are acceptable for each category, so their customer service should tell you. Getting a bank account was a frustrating undertaking for me and resulted in changing banks!

You could also swing by the post office and see if they received your BRP if its not too far away and then you don't have to worry about it.

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And you may need an appointment and have to go through additional checks. I was shocked I couldn't just go into a bank, set up an account with appropriate id and have them take my money.

Bank of Scotland had to send my documents off to their home office and I had to wait for a letter in the mail. I couldn't even give them my money until then.

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Another question- I am going to work. How do I open a national insurance number? What website is that? What do I need for that? Thanks!!

There you go, Carly.
https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number

So on my acceptance letter it said I can pick up my letter on the 15th at the location near me. We went there today and it has been closed for a week. So within the time of my letter and me getting here, it has been closed.

What is the best phone number to reach immigration about my BRP card? I just got my new phone, so I’ll use that!

So on my acceptance letter it said I can pick up my letter on the 15th at the location near me. We went there today and it has been closed for a week. So within the time of my letter and me getting here, it has been closed.

What is the best phone number to reach immigration about my BRP card? I just got my new phone, so I’ll use that!

Well, that sucks!

See here for what to do if you have problems collecting your BRP (bottom of the page):
https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/collect

It may just be that you'll need to wait until it repoens to pick it up. You do have until the end of your 30-day vignette to pick it up (it's whichever is later: within 10 days of arriving, or within the 30 days of the vignette), so there's no major hurry at this point.

Well, that sucks!

See here for what to do if you have problems collecting your BRP (bottom of the page):
https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/collect

It may just be that you'll need to wait until it repoens to pick it up. You do have until the end of your 30-day vignette to pick it up (it's whichever is later: within 10 days of arriving, or within the 30 days of the vignette), so there's no major hurry at this point.

I know!!

I just emailed them. Thanks for the info. I’m sure it will be sorted out soon :]