My Passport when applying for spouse visa!

I'm moving back to UK end of May and once I have a job and somewhere for us to live -  we will be applying for hubby's visa .

On reading what is required, I notice that it states 'applicant's original' passport'!  Does this mean that I will have to post my passport from the UK to hubby here in USA?  If so, has anybody else had experience of doing this and what postage system did you use?

Thanks.

Pauline

We got each page of his passport (UK) copied and notarized in the states as he could not be wtih me.  Cost me about 110.00 dollars and they only took one page, BUT it showed the consular it was legit and that's what they wanted.  They asked why he wasn't there but he had to work-so it was fine.

My husband had to send me his passport (he was in UK I was in US) and he just posted me his passport through Parcel Force (insured of course). However, I only made a copy of his passport front page, with his picture etc., and then sent it off like that. I didn't have it notarized though and called up the consulate after I had sent it thinking that it might've been a wrong move. She told me as long as they could see everything clearly there's no need for it to be notarized because they have ways of checking authentication etc. I told her though if they needed me to send it I could.

To play it safe, I would just send the passport itself...it's always when you think that you've done something alright that it seems dodgy in your mind.

Good luck!! xxx 

Thanks for your replies ..... to be honest, I really don't want to let my passport leave my side and judging from what you have said, it might be viable to photocopy passport pages and get them notarized before I leave USA. 

Both of you never sent in the original passport, and both of you were approved - so maybe thats one avenue I can look into.

Anybody esle sent in photocopys of passport?

Pauline

Visa applications are risky things...the rules say it must be the original or a notorised copy.  If you get denied for whatever reason, it will be a black mark on your file and may affect future applications.  I wouldn't take the chance!

I picked up my fiance's original passport when I visited him in the UK, and plan to return it to him in person after I've applied for the visa. (I'm applying in person.)

I've heard so many different message board stories about what you need -- the original, a copy,  a certified copy, a notarized copy, the picture page, all the pages--that I think it would be best to contact the Consulate directly.

The best way, I think, would be what I am doing,  but I realize that might not be very practical for you.