Originally Posted by Marty90

We used an agency but I would not recommend it. If you are genuinely not confident in putting the application together, then first seek advice from this forum and see if that helps. If your situation is complex, then probably best to speak to a UK-based immigration advisor.

We paid about £600 for the agency. They helped organise the TB test, English test etc and did all the photocopying. But that was about it. Their requirements list was too general and it got to the point where I was pointing out their mistakes! Not good.

Have a go yourself first. Draw up a list of what you think you need to submit and then get advice on here. It will save you a lot of money and there are many people on here who have been through the process.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by MariaJon

Thank You, Well good idea, as long as you have all the required documents and all is genuine then nothing to worry, anyway i want to ask about your payslips? and bank statements? aside from the boss signature on the heading of each payslips, is it require another letter from the employer stating my husbands employment gross and annual salary,length and type of employment? And for the Bank statements, online print out is acceptable? or banks stamps is needed? Sorry, for asking this, I am a Filipina so i think we have the same paperworks. Thank you in advance.

cheers,

maria

Originally Posted by MariaJon

yes copy. and better for him to ask bank statements in the bank, but you can print online with bank colored headings, im confused.

Originally Posted by Marty90

Hi all,

My wife's passport returned yesterday with her Spouse Visa inside and we are over the moon! I first of all want to thank everyone on this forum for the help that they have given me. It has been invaluable.

The least I can do is share my requirements list and timeline on here that for me were the winning formula. I will advise however that everyone's situation is unique and your own list may vary a little or a lot depending on what is going on in your life.

Fees

Visa Cost - £1,350 (incl. overseas bank charges)
IHS/NHS charge - £635 (incl. overseas bank charges)

Also, if applying from Cebu (Philippines), there is an extra £50 fee just for a laugh.

Total cost - around £2,000. A lot more if you factor in the costs for the English Language test, TB test and the travel between these places.

Submitted Requirements:

General

• Application form, Appendix 2, Biometrics and Fees
• Applicant passport-sized photos
• Applicant Passport
• Applicant Birth Certificate
• Sponsor Passport
• Sponsor Birth Certificate
• Applicant NBI Clearance (local police clearance)
• Sponsorship undertaking form

Relationship

• Cover letters from applicant and sponsor (covering relationship history, intention to live together and future plans)
• Marriage Certificate (issued in Hong Kong)
• CENOMAR - because our marriage was not registered in Philippines
• Our son's birth certificate
• Our son's UK AND Philippines Passport full copies
• 10-20 Photographs
• Flight eTickets, boarding passes and hotel bookings
• Facebook printouts
• Skype printouts
• Emails, love letters and cards
• Money transfer receipts

Financial

• Last 7 bank statements
• Last 7 pay slips (electronic printouts - signed by boss)
• P60 for both 2015 and 2016 (just to be extra sure)
• Employment Contract
• Letter from employer stating length of employment, nature of employment and salary. Also include - how long has the sponsor been earning the salary relied upon in the application.

Accommodation

• Tenancy agreement (AST) - signed, original copy with date
• Council tax bill
• Letter from landlord stating that the applicant (and my son) can stay in my apartment with me and that it is suitable, has enough rooms and is for my exclusive use.
• An internet/utility bill (Vodafone) with my address on it

Extras (but very much required!)

• Tuberculosis Test Results
• English Language Test Certificate

Timeline

Application made online - 21st December 2016
Documents submitted - 27th December 2016
Email from UKVI stating that decision has been made - 13th February 2017
Most nervous night of my life - 13th February 2017
Visa and passport collected - 14th February 2017

Total actual days from document submission to visa collection: 49 days

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by ruri

Yay, Finally! well done! Are you guys back in the UK now?

Originally Posted by Marty90

Thanks. 🙂

Yes my wife and son arrived at Heathrow last week.

Just going through the normal motions now of registering with GPs, setting up bank accounts etc. I thought the paper work was all over but I was very wrong!

Originally Posted by Marty90

Bank statements can't be printed out at home and submitted as evidence. Either use the bank statements that you received in the mail or call the bank and ask them to send you a replacement bank statement. They are the two safest options.

Originally Posted by Naz30

Appreciate your thorough posting to help fellow members.

Hope you can help answer my question:

I have lost my job with current employer but have completed 12 months with them, will it suffice to still apply under the salaried financial route?

Many thanks

Naz

Originally Posted by MariaJon

Iwill tell him about the bank statements. where you are going to pay for NHS Charge? HI to wifey..iwill have my english exam on april 21 Oh God lot things todo..

Thanks

Originally Posted by Marty90

Sorry to hear about your situation.

Maybe someone can help with this. But it is my understanding that the latest financial documents (bank statements and pay slips) can't be older than 28 days old.

If you have pay slips and bank statements from like a week ago and you lost your job very recently then you could chance it and apply immediately. But I wouldn't personally recommend this because of the off chance that the ECO may contact your employer for information.

The safest thing to do would be to get another job earning over 18,600. If you're struggling to do this, there is always the surinder Singh route which I believe is covered extensively on this forum.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Marty90

Hi all,

My wife's passport returned yesterday with her Spouse Visa inside and we are over the moon! I first of all want to thank everyone on this forum for the help that they have given me. It has been invaluable.

The least I can do is share my requirements list and timeline on here that for me were the winning formula. I will advise however that everyone's situation is unique and your own list may vary a little or a lot depending on what is going on in your life.

Fees

Visa Cost - £1,350 (incl. overseas bank charges)
IHS/NHS charge - £635 (incl. overseas bank charges)

Also, if applying from Cebu (Philippines), there is an extra £50 fee just for a laugh.

Total cost - around £2,000. A lot more if you factor in the costs for the English Language test, TB test and the travel between these places.

Submitted Requirements:

General

• Application form, Appendix 2, Biometrics and Fees
• Applicant passport-sized photos
• Applicant Passport
• Applicant Birth Certificate
• Sponsor Passport
• Sponsor Birth Certificate
• Applicant NBI Clearance (local police clearance)
• Sponsorship undertaking form

Relationship

• Cover letters from applicant and sponsor (covering relationship history, intention to live together and future plans)
• Marriage Certificate (issued in Hong Kong)
• CENOMAR - because our marriage was not registered in Philippines
• Our son's birth certificate
• Our son's UK AND Philippines Passport full copies
• 10-20 Photographs
• Flight eTickets, boarding passes and hotel bookings
• Facebook printouts
• Skype printouts
• Emails, love letters and cards
• Money transfer receipts

Financial

• Last 7 bank statements
• Last 7 pay slips (electronic printouts - signed by boss)
• P60 for both 2015 and 2016 (just to be extra sure)
• Employment Contract
• Letter from employer stating length of employment, nature of employment and salary. Also include - how long has the sponsor been earning the salary relied upon in the application.

Accommodation

• Tenancy agreement (AST) - signed, original copy with date
• Council tax bill
• Letter from landlord stating that the applicant (and my son) can stay in my apartment with me and that it is suitable, has enough rooms and is for my exclusive use.
• An internet/utility bill (Vodafone) with my address on it

Extras (but very much required!)

• Tuberculosis Test Results
• English Language Test Certificate

Timeline

Application made online - 21st December 2016
Documents submitted - 27th December 2016
Email from UKVI stating that decision has been made - 13th February 2017
Most nervous night of my life - 13th February 2017
Visa and passport collected - 14th February 2017

Total actual days from document submission to visa collection: 49 days

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by Marty90

For applications made in the Philippines, the NHS surcharge is paid online at the same time you apply for the visa.

It actually has its own payment section that is separate from the visa payment. I was able to use PayPal to pay for the NHS surcharge and then just standard debit card for the visa fee.

Don't worry about the English test. People complain that they changed it in 2015 but it's actually been made easier. My wife did both the old one and the new one. The new one is only speaking and listening as reading and writing have been removed.

Originally Posted by MariaJon

Hey Marty so you mean, you can pay for the visa and NSH charge online tru your bank eventhoug the application is in the Philippines?