Getting ready to apply for Spouse Visa - CHECKLIST

I've read through quite a few of the threads in this section, so I believe I have an idea of most of the documents we will need.  Here's a little background on my situation:  I (a US citizen) met my husband (a UK citizen) in September 2014 in Edinburgh, while I was on a solo trip to the UK.  Prior to that we'd talked online for about 3 years off and on, non-romantically, so it's fair to say we've known each other for a bit of time.  September 2014 is when we both would say our relationship officially began. After many trips for the both of us, back and forth across the pond, we got engaged in December 2016.  After reading lots of stories on this very forum, we decided the best course of action would be to marry in the US, and then apply for a spousal visa.  So, in March of this year, we got married in Texas, and now we have the money and are ready to start getting documents together to apply for the visa for me to move there.  We plan to live with his mother after I get there, until I have found a job (my US company has said I can still work for them remotely if I can figure out how to make that work...a topic for another time though), and we have a decent amount of money available to set up in our own place.  My husband's income is just shy of the required £18,600 , so we'd planned to include my IRA savings in order to meet the financial requirement.  We're hoping to have the application done and approved (fingers crossed) and me moved over by the end of this year.  We plan to apply for the non-priority spouse visa.

Here are the documents I understand we will need to have ready to go:

My documents:
-Return shipping label
-Contents letter
-Printed online application
-VAF4A Appendix 2 (Will show both his income and my savings, but not entirely sure how to fill the form out to reflect this)
-Biometrics confirmation sheet
-IHS surcharge receipt emails
-US passport (current and previous)
-Passport photos

His documents:
-Certified copy of husband's UK passport photo page
-Letter of support outlining
   1) that he is a UK citizen
   2) his employment details (he will not meet the minimum income requirement on his own, I'm unsure how to address this)
   3) address and property details of where we will live in the UK (his mother's house)
   4) short history of our relationship and why we want to live in the UK

Accommodation documents:
-land registry title for his mother's house
-letter from his mother stating that we will live there, number of bedrooms, number of living rooms, who owns the property, who occupies the property,
  and that the house will not be overcrowded with us living there
-latest original mortgage statement for his mother's house

Financial documents:
-6 months of original payslips
-6 months of bank statements with all pages stamped by bank and bank employee signature confirming the copies are official
-Letter from his employer stating
   1) His current employment and salary
   2) length of employment
   3) length of time he has been earning his current salary
   4) type of employment
-What do I need to provide in regards to my IRA monies?  I've already confirmed with the company that holds it that I can withdrawl the money right away if needed.  I assume some kind of official letter is needed, but I'm not sure what the requirements of that letter would be.

Proof of Relationship:
-certified copy of marriage license
-divorce decree from previous marriage
-2 photos of us (one from the wedding, and one other one of us together)
-boarding passes from trips to see each other (will online receipts or documents for flights work?  I always download the boarding passes to my phone in order to save paper).
-letters and cards sent to each other (not actually sure we have many of these, is this a requirement?)
-2-3 pages of WhatsApp, Skype, phone call logs, etc.

I think this about covers it.  My main concern is with us using two sources of income/money and how to properly address that on the application and with documentation.

I know you all can double check and provide some sound advice!  Thank you in advance!

My husband's income is just shy of the required £18,600 , so we'd planned to include my IRA savings in order to meet the financial requirement.

How much is in your IRA? If it meets the requirements on its own (£62,500 or more), then it's MUCH easier to just use the IRA savings under Category D: Cash Savings only, than it is to include his income as well.

Here are the documents I understand we will need to have ready to go:

-VAF4A Appendix 2 (Will show both his income and my savings, but not entirely sure how to fill the form out to reflect this)

You complete both Part 3A for employment income AND Part 3F for cash savings.

   2) his employment details (he will not meet the minimum income requirement on his own, I'm unsure how to address this)

You give details of both his employment income AND your IRA savings.

For example:
I am currently employed as [job title] at [company]. I have been employed on a [full-time, permanent] basis with them since [date] and my current salary is £X, which I have been earning since [date]. As my income is less than £18,600, we will also be using my wife's IRA savings of £X, which have been held since [date] and are [immediately accessible] to meet the financial requirement. Therefore, we will be applying under both Category A: Employment Income and Category D: Cash Savings.

-What do I need to provide in regards to my IRA monies?  I've already confirmed with the company that holds it that I can withdrawl the money right away if needed.  I assume some kind of official letter is needed, but I'm not sure what the requirements of that letter would be.

You need:
- statements from the account showing that the money has been held in full in the account for a minimum of 6 months
- official letter/paperwork from the IRA company stating the balance and confirming the money can be immediately withdrawn, with or without penalty.

-boarding passes from trips to see each other (will online receipts or documents for flights work?  I always download the boarding passes to my phone in order to save paper).

If you still have the boarding passes on your phone, take screenshots and print them out, as they are better evidence than just the flight e-ticket emails, as they show you actually got on the plane. If you don't have the boarding passes anymore, then you can include the e-tickets instead.

-letters and cards sent to each other (not actually sure we have many of these, is this a requirement?)

If you have them, then, yes, include them. They are stronger evidence than emails/online communication, because online communication is easier to forge than physical communication.

In order of importance, you want:
- boarding passes/flights.... to show time spent in person
- physical cards/letters... to show physical communication
- online communication/calls... to show regular virtual communication

I think this about covers it.  My main concern is with us using two sources of income/money and how to properly address that on the application and with documentation.

As explained above, it's pretty easy - you just tick and fill out both categories on Appendix 2 and mention both in the sponsor letter... only adds an extra sentence or two to the letter and a couple more questions to fill out on the form.

As I mentioned above though, if you can meet the entire amount using the IRA, it is easier to just use Category D and provide the evidence your IRA... as it means you don't have to provide ANY evidence of your husband's income at all.

Thank you ksand24.  Unfortunately, my IRA savings are also just shy of the £62,500 requirement.  It's very annoying, but we will get it done with both sources of money with no problem.

Regarding the amount of money that will be needed up front when applying, I believe this is only the application fee and the IHS surcharge, is that correct?  I can't think of what else would be needed until I apply for leave to remain in 2 and a half years. 

Also, a question about tax filing once I'm there.  How involved is it, and is hiring a tax accountant recommended?  This is assuming I do not get to keep my US job once I move, as I'm assuming it would be a bit more complicated then.  My sister-in-law, who works for HMRC, seems to think in either scenario, hiring an accountant would be a waste of money.  She doesn't actually know anything about the US filing side, so I'm not sure I want to assume I can do it myself.  This might seem like a weird question to ask since that's a ways down the line, but I'd rather try to find out now than when the situation comes up.  I don't like to be hit with sudden fees I wasn't expecting!

I'm also curious to know what people in a similar situation to mine (moving to be with UK spouse, no kids involved) took with them to the UK when they moved.  Was it just as much as you could fit in two luggage bags?  Did you have things shipped?  It is worth shipping things like furniture?  I'm thinking about packing a few big bags, paying whatever extra cost is incurred by the airline for a couple extras, and then maybe having a box of meaningful items like knick knacks, a few books, and other things like that shipped later.  Any input or recommendations from those of y'all who've made the move?

Also, a question about tax filing once I'm there.  How involved is it, and is hiring a tax accountant recommended?  This is assuming I do not get to keep my US job once I move, as I'm assuming it would be a bit more complicated then.  My sister-in-law, who works for HMRC, seems to think in either scenario, hiring an accountant would be a waste of money.  She doesn't actually know anything about the US filing side, so I'm not sure I want to assume I can do it myself.  This might seem like a weird question to ask since that's a ways down the line, but I'd rather try to find out now than when the situation comes up.  I don't like to be hit with sudden fees I wasn't expecting!

I think you should be able to handling filing taxes without using an accountant. Filing a self assessment with HMRC is incredibly easy and they've simplified the US system quite a bit as well. I had no problem figuring it all out without using an accountant. Also HMRC has really, really good customer service (surprisingly!) so you could always call them if you have questions on the UK side.

I'm also curious to know what people in a similar situation to mine (moving to be with UK spouse, no kids involved) took with them to the UK when they moved.  Was it just as much as you could fit in two luggage bags?  Did you have things shipped?  It is worth shipping things like furniture?  I'm thinking about packing a few big bags, paying whatever extra cost is incurred by the airline for a couple extras, and then maybe having a box of meaningful items like knick knacks, a few books, and other things like that shipped later.  Any input or recommendations from those of y'all who've made the move?

I brought 2 checked bags + a carryon when I moved and didn't have anything shipped. For bigger items (i.e. furniture), personally I think it's a bigger pain to deal with getting it shipped than it is to sell it off in the US and buy something once you're here. Almost everything you'd want to buy in the US, you can get here.

Luckily for me, my parents and sister both live in the same city so I was able to leave some stuff packed in boxes at their houses. I plan to bring it over a little at a time - for example, my parents were just here for a visit and they brought a weekender bag and some books that I'd left behind. It's nothing essential, but things that I like. I plan to bring a lot of it back with me after my Christmas visit.

It really just depends on how important you think your stuff is -- I was able to pack all my 'essentials' within my luggage allowance and am quite happy to bring everything else over slowly.

Thanks elee27.  That's kind of the way I was leaning anyway.  My husband and I will be having a wedding reception once I get to England, and I expect quite a few of my family will come from the States, so I'll ask a few of them to pack extras in their bags.


Regarding the letter that my mother-in law needs to write allowing us to stay with her, I have an idea of the basics of what it needs to say.  Would anyone happen to be able to provide an example letter?

Regarding the letter that my mother-in law needs to write allowing us to stay with her, I have an idea of the basics of what it needs to say.  Would anyone happen to be able to provide an example letter?

Basic is fine.  She just needs to confirm that she owns the property, (give the address) and that she is inviting you both to live there (she can state the terms eg rent free for as long as you like)  the number of current occupants (how many adults and children, state the age of any children) the number bedrooms and living rooms and confirm that the property will not be overcrowded with you living there too.

Basic is fine.  She just needs to confirm that she owns the property, (give the address) and that she is inviting you both to live there (she can state the terms eg rent free for as long as you like)  the number of current occupants (how many adults and children, state the age of any children) the number bedrooms and living rooms and confirm that the property will not be overcrowded with you living there too.

Something like this?

To whom it may concern:

This letter is to state that I, (MIL NAME), own the property at (ADDRESS), and have invited my son (HUSBAND NAME) and daughter-in-law (MY NAME) to live there with me, rent free for as long as it takes them to find their own accommodations.  While they are staying with me, there will be three adults living in the home, which has two (2) bedrooms and one (1) living room.  There will be plenty of room to accommodate all of us.

Respectfully,

(MIL)

Hello again all!

I have a question about my husband's payslips.  I understand they have to be original payslips, but his company just went digital and has started emailing them.  What does he need to do in that case?  Print them off and have them signed by someone at the company?  Do they need to be accompanied by some kind of letter, besides the one he already has to get from them?

Also, regarding boarding passes, as I mentioned before I do not have them from past trips, as I always use my phone to board.  I am also having a hard time finding receipts dating back to 2014.  I do however, have my United mileage statements showing that I accrued miles from flights from Houston to the UK, dating back that far.  As this proves I actually took the flight, since I would not have been awarded the miles otherwise, would this be sufficient proof of travel?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Hello again all!

I have a question about my husband's payslips.  I understand they have to be original payslips, but his company just went digital and has started emailing them.  What does he need to do in that case?  Print them off and have them signed by someone at the company?  Do they need to be accompanied by some kind of letter, besides the one he already has to get from them?

Also, regarding boarding passes, as I mentioned before I do not have them from past trips, as I always use my phone to board.  I am also having a hard time finding receipts dating back to 2014.  I do however, have my United mileage statements showing that I accrued miles from flights from Houston to the UK, dating back that far.  As this proves I actually took the flight, since I would not have been awarded the miles otherwise, would this be sufficient proof of travel?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Payslips.

(bb) Payslips must be:
(i) formal payslips issued by the employer and showing the employer’s name; or
(ii) accompanied by a letter from the employer, on the employer’s headed paper and signed by a senior official, confirming the payslips are authentic;

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-se-family-members-specified-evidence

If your United milage statement is the best proof you have of your travel to the UK then include it.

Payslips.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-se-family-members-specified-evidence

If your United milage statement is the best proof you have of your travel to the UK then include it.

Thank you larrabee. I think we're finally making progress on getting everything together.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Thank you larrabee. I think we're finally making progress on getting everything together.

 

For the land registry title, does it need to be the original document or a copy?

Edit: I've just researched this forum and bit and I've seen the link to download a copy.  I guess what I want to make sure of is that this downloaded copy will be fine, or does it need to be certified or notarized by someone?

Edit Edit: Also, if the mortgage has been paid off (for a number of years), does the latest mortgage statement still need to be included?  Or will it suffice to include in the accommodation letter the fact that it has been paid off, and the date of the last payment?

For the land registry title, does it need to be the original document or a copy?

Edit: I've just researched this forum and bit and I've seen the link to download a copy.  I guess what I want to make sure of is that this downloaded copy will be fine, or does it need to be certified or notarized by someone?

The downloaded copy is fine. It doesn't need to be certified.

The downloaded copy is fine. It doesn't need to be certified.

Thanks larrabee.  I'd re-edited my post while you were replying!  You're too fast (thankfully). 

If the mortgage has been paid off (for a number of years), does the latest mortgage statement still need to be included?  Or will it suffice to include in the accommodation letter the fact that it has been paid off, and the date of the last payment?

Thanks larrabee.  I'd re-edited my post while you were replying!  You're too fast (thankfully). 

If the mortgage has been paid off (for a number of years), does the latest mortgage statement still need to be included?  Or will it suffice to include in the accommodation letter the fact that it has been paid off, and the date of the last payment?

Were you given the title deeds when the house was paid off? If so, I'd include them. Failing that I would send the last mortgage statement if you still have it.