Spouse Visa Help

Hello,

I'm new to the UK visa journey, and I'm hoping I could get some advice/help on where to start with the Spouse Visa application.
(sorry for posting again, but I'm learning so much about this visa process every day!)

My husband, a UK citizen, is currently applying for jobs in Scotland, and when (hopefully!) he receives an offer, we want to apply for my Spouse Visa right away, so that we can start the process as soon as possible. Is there anything I can be doing/preparing now to get a head start on the process? How long does the application typically take to complete?

Also - Does anyone know if they are still offering the process to be expedited? I'm a little worried that he will have to fly over and start his job while I wait for my visa here. Normally, I would be okay with a month or two apart, but I'm extra nervous about being separated due to the pandemic. The last thing we want would be the UK to close it's borders to Americans while I'm stuck over here! I'd love any advice on how we should go about this...

 Thanks!

Hello,

I'm new to the UK visa journey, and I'm hoping I could get some advice/help on where to start with the Spouse Visa application.
(sorry for posting again, but I'm learning so much about this visa process every day!)

My husband, a UK citizen, is currently applying for jobs in Scotland, and when (hopefully!) he receives an offer, we want to apply for my Spouse Visa right away, so that we can start the process as soon as possible. Is there anything I can be doing/preparing now to get a head start on the process? How long does the application typically take to complete?

Also - Does anyone know if they are still offering the process to be expedited? I'm a little worried that he will have to fly over and start his job while I wait for my visa here. Normally, I would be okay with a month or two apart, but I'm extra nervous about being separated due to the pandemic. The last thing we want would be the UK to close it's borders to Americans while I'm stuck over here! I'd love any advice on how we should go about this...

 Thanks!

The advice might have been to give it a while to let the pandemic fully blow over before you apply but I think you said in another thread that he is looking at loosing his job in the US, in which case, in the absence of sufficient cash savings or non-employment income, you are looking at a fairly short window of opportunity at this time.

If he does not manage to secure a job in the UK, you will be in the position of waiting together in any case, until you can meet the requirements.

I would start by reading here.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/826340/Appendix-FM-1-7-Financial-Requirement-ext_1.pdf

and here

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

You can also start pulling together your relationship evidence.
So that is your marriage certificate, any divorce or death certificates from previous marriages. Evidence of your joint life together such as joint accounts; bank, insurance, rental agreements, mortgage documents etc or individual items to the same address.

You will need evidence of how you kept in touch during any periods you have been apart and a few photos of the two of you together. They also like to see physical letters/cards if you have any.

You need to provide evidence of accommodation in the UK. What you need to provide will depend on where you will be staying. What are your plans?

By the way, if you can keep all your visa questions in the same thread, it makes it easier for us to answer them for you. 

Thanks for your reply!

He's got a few interviews, so fingers crossed something works out! If he does get an offer, will that offer letter be sufficient evidence of his employment, or do we have to ask them to sign a specific letter for the visa?

We haven't figured out the accommodation yet. We could always stay with his parents if we need to, but we were thinking of probably renting an apartment.

I noticed there are a few websites that offer personalized "check-lists" and sample letters/documents for you to fill in (such as Migrate.org.uk). Are these useful at all? The idea of having a personalize, step by step guide is tempting, but not sure if it will actually be helpful?

Thanks for your reply!

He's got a few interviews, so fingers crossed something works out! If he does get an offer, will that offer letter be sufficient evidence of his employment, or do we have to ask them to sign a specific letter for the visa?

We haven't figured out the accommodation yet. We could always stay with his parents if we need to, but we were thinking of probably renting an apartment.

I noticed there are a few websites that offer personalized "check-lists" and sample letters/documents for you to fill in (such as Migrate.org.uk). Are these useful at all? The idea of having a personalize, step by step guide is tempting, but not sure if it will actually be helpful?

Offer letter is fine.

We can give you a list for free. 

Thanks for your reply!

He's got a few interviews, so fingers crossed something works out! If he does get an offer, will that offer letter be sufficient evidence of his employment, or do we have to ask them to sign a specific letter for the visa?

We haven't figured out the accommodation yet. We could always stay with his parents if we need to, but we were thinking of probably renting an apartment.

I noticed there are a few websites that offer personalized "check-lists" and sample letters/documents for you to fill in (such as Migrate.org.uk). Are these useful at all? The idea of having a personalize, step by step guide is tempting, but not sure if it will actually be helpful?

I would plan to stay with his family initially as you will need evidence of available accommodation to send with your visa application. And that way you can take your time to find a place of your own once you are there.

You will need their land registry document and most recent mortgage statement (if applicable) and a letter granting you both permission to live there once your visa has been granted.

Stick with us for the advice and we'll steer you right.

Thanks for all the free help! It is very much appreciated 

I think we will stay with his parents initially, however I'm now realizing that will make things slightly tricky when we first land, since we are required to quarantine for 14 days (due to the pandemic). We would prefer not to see his elderly parents right after flying - would it be an issue if we stayed in an AirBnb or Hotel for those two weeks before moving in with them? I'm not sure how strict the accommodation rules are.

Thanks for all the free help! It is very much appreciated 

I think we will stay with his parents initially, however I'm now realizing that will make things slightly tricky when we first land, since we are required to quarantine for 14 days (due to the pandemic). We would prefer not to see his elderly parents right after flying - would it be an issue if we stayed in an AirBnb or Hotel for those two weeks before moving in with them? I'm not sure how strict the accommodation rules are.

That’s fine.  You would want to provide your in-laws info and letter for the visa.  But keep it safe with temporary accommodation when you land.

Thanks for all the free help! It is very much appreciated 

I think we will stay with his parents initially, however I'm now realizing that will make things slightly tricky when we first land, since we are required to quarantine for 14 days (due to the pandemic). We would prefer not to see his elderly parents right after flying - would it be an issue if we stayed in an AirBnb or Hotel for those two weeks before moving in with them? I'm not sure how strict the accommodation rules are.

It's sensible to do that and will be fine. You should provide your booking information in addition to what you will already need from his parents and just explain briefly what you are doing and why.

I just had a (free) introductory call with a lawyer to answer a couple questions and she informed me that the VFS Offices/Application Centers are currently closed in the US due to the pandemic. I wasn't aware of this, and it slightly changes our plans.

She thought they would probably open sometime this month, but there's no way of knowing.

If my husband were to get a job offer in the UK (he has a few leads), I may not be able to apply right away since VFS is temporarily closed. If he does land a job before they reopen, would it make any sense for me to come over on the 6 month visitor visa and then just fly back to the US when it's (hopefully) easier to apply for my spouse visa from here? Has anyone done this before? Will it cause issues/questions when entering the UK?

I just had a (free) introductory call with a lawyer to answer a couple questions and she informed me that the VFS Offices/Application Centers are currently closed in the US due to the pandemic. I wasn't aware of this, and it slightly changes our plans.

She thought they would probably open sometime this month, but there's no way of knowing.

Yes. They’ve been closed since March.

They are due to open some of the offices this month, but as all the people who applied in March, April, May, June and so far in July all have to book and attend their biometrics appointments first, there may be backlogs.

See here for which ASCs are due to open on which dates:
https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings

If my husband were to get a job offer in the UK (he has a few leads), I may not be able to apply right away since VFS is temporarily closed. If he does land a job before they reopen, would it make any sense for me to come over on the 6 month visitor visa and then just fly back to the US when it's (hopefully) easier to apply for my spouse visa from here? Has anyone done this before? Will it cause issues/questions when entering the UK?

You could go over to visit but you would need proof of your home, job and life in the US that you will return to... to prove you will not stay longer than 6 months and won’t try to live in the U.K.

Having said that, looks like a lot of the ASCs are reopening in the next 2-3 weeks anyway so you may not need to wait that long.

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But you can still apply regardless, whenever you meet the requirements. The application date is the date you submit and pay for your online application and is independent of the biometric appointment.

But you can still apply regardless, whenever you meet the requirements. The application date is the date you submit and pay for your online application and is independent of the biometric appointment.

I have actually been wondering this lately, given the current circumstances. If we submitted in June but are unable to attend the biometrics appointment and submit our supporting documents until say, September, would the 12 week clock start at the date we submitted in June or the date everything gets sent off in September? I know there's no point counting on the usual processing timeline, but I am just curious what to realistically expect. If there even is a realistic expectation at this point given all the unknowns.

Is there any chance that it could be processed in a fairly short time after completing the biometrics and sending off supporting documents months after applying? How much can the home office actually do without all of our supporting documents?

I have actually been wondering this lately, given the current circumstances. If we submitted in June but are unable to attend the biometrics appointment and submit our supporting documents until say, September, would the 12 week clock start at the date we submitted in June or the date everything gets sent off in September? I know there's no point counting on the usual processing timeline, but I am just curious what to realistically expect. If there even is a realistic expectation at this point given all the unknowns.

Is there any chance that it could be processed in a fairly short time after completing the biometrics and sending off supporting documents months after applying? How much can the home office actually do without all of our supporting documents?

We really don’t know anything, because we don’t know anyone here on the forum who has actually gone through it yet.

Normally the 12 weeks starts from the date of biometrics. But we don’t know how they will go about processing the applications over the next few weeks or months.

For applications made inside the U.K. they seem to be trying to get applications processed as quickly as they can, even emailing people to ask them to send their documents before they have attended biometrics, and they are waiving biometrics for some applications as well, meaning they just have to send an updated photo without actually having to attend a biometrics appointment.


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Ahh, wow well I wish they could do something like that for those of us applying from over here in the States. I applied for a tourist visa 1.5 year ago and did the biometrics then too. We already asked our lawyer if there was any chance they could use the same biometrics given the circumstances and how recently they were last taken. She told us only one biometric appointment per visa. I would hope they extend the leniency for the appointments but I doubt they'll do so now with the dates already set to reopen visa centers again.

(Note: I am American. The reason for the tourist visa and the use of a lawyer now was due to previous immigration struggles after trying to travel while being a contracted employee)

Ahh, wow well I wish they could do something like that for those of us applying from over here in the States. I applied for a tourist visa 1.5 year ago and did the biometrics then too. We already asked our lawyer if there was any chance they could use the same biometrics given the circumstances and how recently they were last taken. She told us only one biometric appointment per visa. I would hope they extend the leniency for the appointments but I doubt they'll do so now with the dates already set to reopen visa centers again.

Normally, you would have to give biometrics again for every single visa application, in order to confirm that you are who you say you are and to give updated data.

However, for in-country applications, they are waiving the biometrics for eligible applicants and using their previously-submitted ones... but not everyone will be eligible to do this.

I’m not sure if they will do anything similar for US applications - I assume not because most people probably won’t have given biometrics in the past.


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