Spoonhead

I scanned in my documents for her. Driving liscence, passport, bank statements etc and she has given printout to the application centre in Hong Kong.

I don't think this was a good idea and was wondering if I could just give my original documents to home office here. Would they they just request these during investigation or flat out refuse? This is what I'm worried about.

Spoonhead

Yeah thanks for the help.....

mikelincs

People on this forum do have lives, please do not get annoyed when you do not get a reply instantly. Perhaps those that can help are at work at the moment. Someone will be along to assist you when they can, everyone gives their time etc for free, so may have other pressing matters to take care of first.

michali

There is no way of knowing if the documents will be accepted or not but the rules do say that originals are required and UKVI are generally strict about that. You cannot submit documents after you have sent your application etc. unless they ask for them. You can only hope that they request the originals or accept the copies.

HKG3

Spoonhead

Just a quick question - does your wife holds British National (Overseas) status?

Spoonhead

Sorry for the snarky comment... I'm just stressing out over the situation. I apologise.

In that case I really do hope they at least request because I'm heading to Hong Kong on 22nd this month and I could obviously take the documents with me.

As fofor being an oversees British national I'm not sure. I think remember her telling me something about that.

She was on a 2 year working holiday visa here in London when I met her if that any clue.

I'll message her when she wakes up. Why do you ask?

Shirtback

Possibly *very* long shot:

BNOs who held no other citizenship on 19 March 2009 are entitled to register as full British citizens.

Otherwise, if original docs were specified in the application, you'll need to wait for the to be requested, or for the application to be returned.

HKG3

The reason I am asking this question is that there is a number of plus points to apply for an UK spouse visa using a British National (Overseas) Passport -

1) She will be treated as a Commonwealth Citizen in the UK, which would enable her to register to vote in UK elections. Being on the electoral roll in the UK helps your wife's credit score.

Who can register to vote? | Registering to vote | Coventry City Council

2) If she applies for British Citizenship, she can 'register' rather than naturalisation using the B(OTA) form, which is cheaper (£913 vs £1005 in 2015 prices).

https://www.gov.uk/register-british-...tish-nationals

Spoonhead

Ohh wow! Thanks for that Info. She's told me she has a British national overseas passport but also a hi passport. The hk passport would hinder things a bit right? Because it's another citizenship.

It's still a good idea to register for electoral role though?

Shirtback

If she holds a HKSAR passport, she's a citizen of China. That negates my long-shot regarding British citizenship, even if she has a BNO passport too.

HKG3

Spoonhead

I cannot see any harm for your wife being on the electoral roll once she is in the UK with her spouse visa. As I said in my earlier post, credit agencies sometimes use electoral roll information as a way to determine a person's credit score.

Shirtback

We're digressing quite a lot from your original question ,

This is heavy-going, but might be worth a read:
https://www.gov.uk/register-british-...tish-nationals

You & she really need to know if she holds a BNO passport &/or an HKSAR one, to check whether she *might* be eligible for British citizenship (by descent, possibly). Were/are either of her parents British citizens and/or in Crown Service?

/digression.

Spoonhead

Yeah, a lot of digressing indeed haha
Wasn't expecting so much usefull information when I posted but these longshots might salvage the photocopy situation.

Of course I'll give that link a scan through. Thanks so much!

To clarify the passport situation, she has a BNO passport and HK passport. All her family were born there.

Shirtback

If your wife needs a Spouse Visa, & if the documentary requirements stipulate originals, you'll just have to wait & see whether the Powers That Be request the originals or reject her application (if the latter is the case, & if the rejection is just because of photocopies, you can apply again).

Still musing on *very* long shots about possible citizenship (see my various questions above ).

HKG3

Spoonhead

Another point - does your wife have a Hong Kong driving licence? She can exchange her Hong Kong driving licence to an UK one without doing a driving test as long as she got her Hong Kong driving licence by passing a driving test in Hong Kong.

https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence

If she does not have any driving licence just now, it is a good time to start learning before coming to the UK. Having a driving licence when you arrive in the UK make things a lot easier.

HK SCHOOL OF MOTORING - DRIVING LICENCES