How long must you stay?

Hi all,

After arriving with UK Spouse visa, how long is needed/required you to stay to add names to necessary documents/bills/bank accounts etc? And to get the IN card? Are there any other IDs that are recommended?

I may not be able to finish everything up in the States and need to know how long I must stay to do the required stuff before heading back and finishing up some stuff? And how long is recommended you stay out max?

Thanks.

It is recommended that you start trying to get your name added to utilities and try to open a bank account as soon as possible.  Furthermore, make sure these places are sending out paper statements, not electronic ones.  You will need to save your official correspondence (that actually arrived by post) with both your name and your spouse's name sent to the same address, so you can prove you lived together for your next visa application.

Having said that, some banks can be difficukt to work with when trying to open your first account over here.  You will need proof of residence (a utility bill with your name on).  Get on some bill right away... you'll need that proof to apply for NI, your provisional driving license, open a bank acvount, register with a GP... everything.

Hi all,

After arriving with UK Spouse visa, how long is needed/required you to stay to add names to necessary documents/bills/bank accounts etc? And to get the IN card? Are there any other IDs that are recommended?

I may not be able to finish everything up in the States and need to know how long I must stay to do the required stuff before heading back and finishing up some stuff? And how long is recommended you stay out max?

Thanks.

It's going to depend on your circumstances really. For example, if you will be moving in with family, it can take a lot longer because you won't be able to get bills in your name easily which means it's more difficult to open a bank account.

If you're going to be in a place of your own with your husband, you should be quickly able to get your name on the council tax and other bills.. note some utility companies will only allow one name so make sure you split them up fairly evenly because you will need mail for both of you.

You should be able to pick up your BRP as soon as you arrive however sometimes that doesn't go to plan. Every now and again, someone finds that theirs has been delayed.

You're going to want to get a National Insurance number which is the closest thing to a SS number. That entails going for an interview. It's quick and easy, it's just a proof of identity situation really but again that may take some weeks to organise. It's not necessarily something you need to do before you return to the US but if you will want to get it done at some point.

Provisional driving license. Again, it can wait but you can only drive for one year on your US license so don't let it go for too long.

You'll want to enrol with a GP and dentist as soon as you arrive and may need a proof of address for that. Practices vary according to their individual requirements.

The most important thing though is to pick up your BRP within the correct timeframe.

There is no actual limit to time spent outside the country but it's best to keep it down to a shorter period rather than longer as the purpose of the visa is for you to be living with your husband in the UK.

It's going to depend on your circumstances really. For example, if you will be moving in with family, it can take a lot longer because you won't be able to get bills in your name easily which means it's more difficult to open a bank account.

If you're going to be in a place of your own with your husband, you should be quickly able to get your name on the council tax and other bills.. note some utility companies will only allow one name so make sure you split them up fairly evenly because you will need mail for both of you.

You should be able to pick up your BRP as soon as you arrive however sometimes that doesn't go to plan. Every now and again, someone finds that theirs has been delayed.

You're going to want to get a National Insurance number which is the closest thing to a SS number. That entails going for an interview. It's quick and easy, it's just a proof of identity situation really but again that may take some weeks to organise. It's not necessarily something you need to do before you return to the US but if you will want to get it done at some point.

Provisional driving license. Again, it can wait but you can only drive for one year on your US license so don't let it go for too long.

You'll want to enrol with a GP and dentist as soon as you arrive and may need a proof of address for that. Practices vary according to their individual requirements.

The most important thing though is to pick up your BRP within the correct timeframe.

There is no actual limit to time spent outside the country but it's best to keep it down to a shorter period rather than longer as the purpose of the visa is for you to be living with your husband in the UK.

I was living with only my husband, and he was able to get my name added to council tax right away and they sent us an updated statement. We were also able to get my name on the water and energy bills pretty quickly, which allowed me to get a bank account. Some banks are more difficult than other...Natwest was pretty chill about it.

Has the process to get NI changed? I didn't have to attend an interview....I just sent in an application with a photocopy of my passport page and visa vignette and it came in week.

Oh, and as for time out of the UK. It does not really affect your visa now, like they've said, but just keep in mind that it will affect your ability to claim exemption from US taxes. You can go here to check it out:
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-earned-income-exclusion-physical-presence-test

Has the process to get NI changed? I didn't have to attend an interview....I just sent in an application with a photocopy of my passport page and visa vignette and it came in week.

It used to be that if you came in on a spouse visa you didn't need an interview but you did if you came on a fiancee visa. Now everyone seems to have to attend an interview.