CornishCowboy Spouse visa journey-questions/updates/info

Hi all,

As I'm sure I'll have a wide variety of questions throughout this process I'll keep them all within this thread.

My first question though starts at the beginning of the application and we are wondering what to do.

The application asked for a permanent address in the UK. We made an initial mistake by assuming we could crash at a friends for a while before we found a permanent apartment. We now know that won't work due to a variety of issues. My wife's uncle has greatly helped out though and we will be staying at his house for the first few months in the UK.

So what can we do on the application to notate the address issue? We were thinking we could simply add an addendum stating why the address no longer works. The BRP location is set to that incorrect address which isn't an issue should I have to travel there once the visa is done but I don't want this discrepancy to become an issue.

Thanks for everyone's help and please let me know if I need to clarify anything.

CornishCowboy

Hi all,

As I'm sure I'll have a wide variety of questions throughout this process I'll keep them all within this thread.

My first question though starts at the beginning of the application and we are wondering what to do.

The application asked for a permanent address in the UK. We made an initial mistake by assuming we could crash at a friends for a while before we found a permanent apartment. We now know that won't work due to a variety of issues. My wife's uncle has greatly helped out though and we will be staying at his house for the first few months in the UK.

So what can we do on the application to notate the address issue? We were thinking we could simply add an addendum stating why the address no longer works. The BRP location is set to that incorrect address which isn't an issue should I have to travel there once the visa is done but I don't want this discrepancy to become an issue.

Thanks for everyone's help and please let me know if I need to clarify anything.

CornishCowboy

Sorry to again answer your question with another question but have you already submitted and paid for your application?

No problem! Yes, application paid for and finalized on the website. Not submitted to NY though.

No problem! Yes, application paid for and finalized on the website. Not submitted to NY though.

OK, thanks for confirming.
Paying and submitting the online application is not something that you should be doing until you have completed your research, gathered your documents and are 100% ready to send your package to New York.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but it sounds like you're  just in the early stages of research at the moment?

Have you attended your biometric appointment yet? If you have not, you can cancel your application and receive a refund but if you have attended, you only have 5 days from the date of your biometric appointment to send your application to N.Y.

No problem! Yes, application paid for and finalized on the website. Not submitted to NY though.

Ah, okay. The online application really shouldn’t be submitted until you have checked and doubled-checked all your documents, and you have them all in your hands, ready to mail to New York... as you only have 5 days from the biometrics appointment to mail everything to New York.

If you don’t have every single document ready to put in the mail, and you have not yet attended biometrics, I would cancel your application, request a refund and then reapply when you are completely ready (though it can take some time to get the refund so you may have to pay twice and then wait for the money to come back).

Have you printed and completed VAF4a Appendix 2 yet - which is the second half of the application form?

Have you determined which financial category you meet and gathered all the financial documents, making sure they meet the dates and formatting requirements exactly?

Do you have your accommodation and relationship documents in your hands and ready to go?


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Hi everyone, Cornish Cowgirl here, Cornish Cowboy's wife 

First of all, thank you so much to everyone who has already welcomed him and answered our first question!! We really appreciate it.

I have a quick question about the Land Registry document, which I've just bought for my uncle's property (where we will be staying at first). It doesn't show the value of the property - is this an issue at all? It does show that he and my aunt own the property, which I hope is all that is important.

Thank you in advance!

Hi everyone, Cornish Cowgirl here, Cornish Cowboy's wife 

First of all, thank you so much to everyone who has already welcomed him and answered our first question!! We really appreciate it.

I have a quick question about the Land Registry document, which I've just bought for my uncle's property (where we will be staying at first). It doesn't show the value of the property - is this an issue at all? It does show that he and my aunt own the property, which I hope is all that is important.

Thank you in advance!

Hi CornishCowgirl! Welcome! 

The value of the property is not relevant.

It would be really useful and make it much easier for us to help you, if you wouldn't mind answering the questions asked in the earlier posts. 

Thank you!

Cowboy and I talked this morning and while we had paid for the application we have not sent anything off yet or had the bio-metrics appointment. So following your advice, I think we will cancel and start a new application once we have everything in hand. Hopefully cancelling this first application won't effect us negatively!!

All we are waiting for is my job offer contract to come from my new position in London. And the letter from my uncle which should be relatively quick and easy. Everything else we have gathered or will gather within the next few days.

Our situation is we are applying under the basis that I have a job offer in the UK starting within 3 months (actual date is Nov 7). I'm actually staying with the same company I've been employed at in Chicago for the last two years. So I have financial paperwork showing I've been employed and earning above the threshold during the last 12 months. I don't have the information to hand for our exact category at the moment, but it might be 3B?! I've got certified payslips, bank statements, we have joint tax returns, joint rental agreement, online conversations and emails, photos together over the last 8 years... we are gathering all this up now Are we missing anything?

Once again, thank you for your help!

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if someone wouldn't mind reviewing the draft of my sponsoring letter below? Is there anything I should add or take out? All help is much appreciated

Cornish Cowgirl

[ADDRESS]
[DATE]

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please find this letter as my supporting statement for my husband’s application to join me in the UK as his eligible sponsor. I am a UK citizen who was born in the UK, and I have a UK passport. Cornish Cowboy and I have been married since [DATE], and thus I will be sponsoring him as my spouse.

I am returning to the UK on [DATE] after living overseas since [DATE]. I wish to sponsor Cornish Cowboy so that he may join me. The category we are applying under is ________. I meet the financial requirements of this category because of the following:

•   I have been employed with the same employer [EMPLOYER] during the past 12 months in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and have been earning above the threshold of _____. This is reflected in my enclose payslips from [EMPLOYER] and bank statements which show the corresponding monthly payments into my [BANK] checking account.
•   I have a job offer from [COMPANY], starting within three months of my return [DATE]. This is confirmed by the supporting letter from my employer enclosed in this application.

In the UK, Cornish Cowboy and I will live at my uncle/godfathers’ home at:
[ADDRESS]

My uncle/godfather and aunt have agreed to let us live there for as long as we need to, rent-free. My uncle and aunt jointly own the property which is a [HOUSE DETAILS]. Including Cornish Cowboy and I, the total number of people living at the property will be four. Please see the supporting letter from my uncle/godfather, and the land registry document for the property.

   Cornish Cowboy and I first met in [DATE] in [COUNTRY] during [DETAILS OF MEETING CIRCUMSTANCES]. We were both employed by [COMPANY] to do this work. We began dating shortly thereafter in [DATE]. After spending a year in [PLACE] dating long distance, we finished our contracts in the country in [DATE], and travelled together for approximately four months. In [DATE], upon both obtaining [VISA], we moved together to [COUNTRY]. In [DATE], we got engaged, and applied for my USA fiancé visa so that I could accompany Cornish Cowboy to the USA to live as his wife. Upon being granted the USA fiancé visa, we left [COUNTRY] in [DATE], and moved to [PLACE] USA where we got married  [DATE]. During this time, we resided with Cornish Cowboy's mother [NAME]. In [DATE], as husband and wife we moved to Chicago, Illinois, USA where we have been living ever since, up until [DATE OF TIME OF APPLICATION]. Since living in Chicago we have both been employed full-time and have shared a home together. We now wish to move to the UK so that I can be closer to family, after I have spent eight years living overseas. Neither Cornish Cowboy nor I have close relatives in Chicago, and we wish to live in the UK where we will have relatives nearby. I hope that Cornish Cowboy will be able to join me in the UK as my husband.

   Yours Sincerely,

[SIGNATURE]

   Cornish Cowgirl
   [DATE]

It looks a little long to me - I'd try to condense it a little.

For example (obviously, I don't know all the details though):

To The Entry Clearance Officer

I am writing this letter in support of my husband’s [His Name] application for a settlement visa to join me in the UK. I am a UK citizen and have lived in the UK since birth.

I have been employed with the same employer [EMPLOYER] during the past 12 months in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and have earned £X amount in the last 12 months. I also have a job offer in the UK as [job title] with [company name] earning £Y amount and starting on Z date. Therefore I will be meeting the financial requirement under Category B (I assume this is the category you meet?).

Once [husband's name]'s visa has been approved, we will live together at [address]. This is a X-bedroom property owned by my uncle, and there will be 4 people living there in total. I am enclosing an invitation letter from my uncle, along with his Land Registry document.

[Husband's name] and I first met on [DATE] in [COUNTRY], when we were both employed the same company and we began dating on [DATE]. We moved together to [COUNTRY] on [DATE], where we [lived together?]. We then got engaged on [DATE], and applied for a fiancé visa so that I could accompany Cornish Cowboy to the USA to live as his wife. We moved to the US on [DATE] where we married in [CITY] on [DATE], and have lived together in [CITY] since the wedding. We now wish to move to the UK so that I can be closer to family, as neither of us have close relatives in [CITY].

Yours Faithfully,
Your Name

It looks a little long to me - I'd try to condense it a little.

For example (obviously, I don't know all the details though):

To The Entry Clearance Officer

I am writing this letter in support of my husband’s [His Name] application for a settlement visa to join me in the UK. I am a UK citizen and have lived in the UK since birth.

I have been employed with the same employer [EMPLOYER] during the past 12 months in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and have earned £X amount in the last 12 months. I also have a job offer in the UK as [job title] with [company name] earning £Y amount and starting on Z date. Therefore I will be meeting the financial requirement under Category B (I assume this is the category you meet?).

Once [husband's name]'s visa has been approved, we will live together at [address]. This is a X-bedroom property owned by my uncle, and there will be 4 people living there in total. I am enclosing an invitation letter from my uncle, along with his Land Registry document.

[Husband's name] and I first met on [DATE] in [COUNTRY], when we were both employed the same company and we began dating on [DATE]. We moved together to [COUNTRY] on [DATE], where we [lived together?]. We then got engaged on [DATE], and applied for a fiancé visa so that I could accompany Cornish Cowboy to the USA to live as his wife. We moved to the US on [DATE] where we married in [CITY] on [DATE], and have lived together in [CITY] since the wedding. We now wish to move to the UK so that I can be closer to family, as neither of us have close relatives in [CITY].

Yours Faithfully,
Your Name

Thank you so much, this is super helpful!

Hi everyone,

We've made a bit of progress and wanted to confirm order of documents. We still need to finish application but wanted to get it ready to go!

I've canceled the online application and priority service. I've requested a refund on both. Do you think the IHS will also cancel and be refunded or am I able to re-use code? I feel like the online application will make me purchase again. We shall see.

The order of our documents-
Applicant's Documents:
Priority Service Receipt (on top)
UPS Return Shipping Label from NY to me
Contents Page
Printed Visa4UK Online Application
Form VAF4a Appendix 2
Stamped Biometrics Confirmation Sheet
IHS Payment Receipt
Current US passport
My one previous passport
2 passport photos that fit UK dimensions

Sponsor's (wife) documents:
Photocopy of her passport photo page
Supporting cover letter

Financial Documents:
12 full month's of printed paychecks with a letter of certification from American employer
12 full month's of bank statements printed and certified by American bank
UK letter of job offer with salary and start date (have not attained yet, but should Monday)
      -We are applying under Category B.

Accommodation Evidence:
Invitation letter from wife's uncle stating number of rooms, and current occupants
Land Registry Document

Proof of Relationship:
Original marriage certificate
3 photos of us as a couple screenshotted from facebook with the dates (is 2 really that maximum?)
A few screenshots of flight tickets on trips we've taken together
Screenshot of email inbox between each other-not actual emails just the subjects
American tax returns for each year, which shows addresses and filed jointly
Original American apartment lease agreement
Two statements from our American joint savings account

Photocopies we will include:
Marriage Certificate
We don't think we need anything else photocopied, please correct us if you disagree.

Please let us know if there are any corrections to make or things you might add or delete. Thanks for everyone's help. For a couple of cowboys to receive this help sure is appreciated!

I've canceled the online application and priority service. I've requested a refund on both. Do you think the IHS will also cancel and be refunded or am I able to re-use code? I feel like the online application will make me purchase again. We shall see.

I think you may have to pay the IHS twice and then get a refund, but I’m not completely sure.

See here for info:
https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/refunds

In regards to your documents, I think you can now send just copies instead of the originals but as it’s a new system, we’re not completely sure how it’s all working yet.

A few notes about your documents:
- you only need 1 passport photo, and it can be US size. It won’t be used anyway and will likely just be returned to you.
- you can send 3 photos for your relationship evidence if you want, but it is not necessary. The only reason you are sending a photo is to prove you have met at least one time in person... so you only really need to send 1 photo. We just recommend 2 photos so that you have one recent and one older photo.
- if you have been living together, you do not need to include things like flight tickets or emails because you see each other every day. Flight tickets and emails are only to show you are maintaining a long-distance relationship if you have been living apart.

So, for your relationship evidence you include:

For the time you have lived together:
- evidence of living together, such as rental agreements, tax returns, utility bills

For any time you have lived apart and been in a long-distance relationship:
- flight tickets for trips to visit each other
- letters/cards sent to each other
- email/call/message logs showing regular communication while living apart



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Thank you for the link on the IHS refund. I'll update on how that process goes in case anyone makes my mistake in the future.

Appreciate the clarification on the other notes as well.

Thank you for the link on the IHS refund. I'll update on how that process goes in case anyone makes my mistake in the future.

You're certainly not the first and you won't be the last . In fact there have been a couple of other people in the last few weeks who have done exact the same thing as you.