Stipend funding part of 6 months prior employment for spouse visa
#1
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Joined: Feb 2018
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Stipend funding part of 6 months prior employment for spouse visa
So I (UK Citizen) grad student am going to have 6 months employment before we put in a visa application to sponsor my wife (US citizen). I didn't work last summer and started in September in a research trainee position for 3 months before switching to a full teaching assistantship in December (uninterrupted with the same employer).
I'm slightly concerned because for those first 3 months my employment was sponsored through a stipend, and my position was officially "Stipend Graduate Trainee" and my paychecks for those first 3 months don't have hours per pay period on them (just dates) and just say 'stipend' as my position. As opposed to my TA paychecks that have 'Graduate Teaching Assistant' and have my hours on them. I was payed through the payroll system and my university considers me an employee during all that time (financial aid is disbursed through a separate system), I can have a letter from them that states that, the title of my positions, what I did, my hire dates etc.
My concern is an ECO is going to see 'stipend' on a paycheck or a job title and assume that this is actually Cat C income and not a job so they won't consider me to have 6 months prior employment. Could this be a potential problem for me?
I'm slightly concerned because for those first 3 months my employment was sponsored through a stipend, and my position was officially "Stipend Graduate Trainee" and my paychecks for those first 3 months don't have hours per pay period on them (just dates) and just say 'stipend' as my position. As opposed to my TA paychecks that have 'Graduate Teaching Assistant' and have my hours on them. I was payed through the payroll system and my university considers me an employee during all that time (financial aid is disbursed through a separate system), I can have a letter from them that states that, the title of my positions, what I did, my hire dates etc.
My concern is an ECO is going to see 'stipend' on a paycheck or a job title and assume that this is actually Cat C income and not a job so they won't consider me to have 6 months prior employment. Could this be a potential problem for me?
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 87
Re: Stipend funding part of 6 months prior employment for spouse visa
So I (UK Citizen) grad student am going to have 6 months employment before we put in a visa application to sponsor my wife (US citizen). I didn't work last summer and started in September in a research trainee position for 3 months before switching to a full teaching assistantship in December (uninterrupted with the same employer).
I'm slightly concerned because for those first 3 months my employment was sponsored through a stipend, and my position was officially "Stipend Graduate Trainee" and my paychecks for those first 3 months don't have hours per pay period on them (just dates) and just say 'stipend' as my position. As opposed to my TA paychecks that have 'Graduate Teaching Assistant' and have my hours on them. I was payed through the payroll system and my university considers me an employee during all that time (financial aid is disbursed through a separate system), I can have a letter from them that states that, the title of my positions, what I did, my hire dates etc.
My concern is an ECO is going to see 'stipend' on a paycheck or a job title and assume that this is actually Cat C income and not a job so they won't consider me to have 6 months prior employment. Could this be a potential problem for me?
I'm slightly concerned because for those first 3 months my employment was sponsored through a stipend, and my position was officially "Stipend Graduate Trainee" and my paychecks for those first 3 months don't have hours per pay period on them (just dates) and just say 'stipend' as my position. As opposed to my TA paychecks that have 'Graduate Teaching Assistant' and have my hours on them. I was payed through the payroll system and my university considers me an employee during all that time (financial aid is disbursed through a separate system), I can have a letter from them that states that, the title of my positions, what I did, my hire dates etc.
My concern is an ECO is going to see 'stipend' on a paycheck or a job title and assume that this is actually Cat C income and not a job so they won't consider me to have 6 months prior employment. Could this be a potential problem for me?
#3
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2
Re: Stipend funding part of 6 months prior employment for spouse visa
It's non salaried because my role changes from quarter to quarter. So I made less in the first 3 months when I was on my stipend funded position than in my current position. I know all about the averages and stuff. I'm just worried that because the position at the start was funded by a stipend the ECO won't consider it valid employment even with a letter from HR
#4
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Re: Stipend funding part of 6 months prior employment for spouse visa
6.4. Maintenance grant or stipend – further guidance
6.4.1. Where an academic maintenance grant or stipend is, or will be, paid on a tax-free basis, the amount of the gross equivalent can be counted towards the financial requirement.
The person must be currently in receipt of the grant or stipend or will be within 3 months of the date of application, and the grant or stipend must be payable for a period of at least 12 months, for at least one full academic year, from the date of application or from the date on which payment of the grant or stipend will commence.
Your stipend is just that and as such comes under Cat C.
Your stipend was only for three months and therefore does not qualify under the above rules.
You will have to work for 6 months in your current job to qualify; and earn the equivalent of 18,600 GBP per annum
6.4.1. Where an academic maintenance grant or stipend is, or will be, paid on a tax-free basis, the amount of the gross equivalent can be counted towards the financial requirement.
The person must be currently in receipt of the grant or stipend or will be within 3 months of the date of application, and the grant or stipend must be payable for a period of at least 12 months, for at least one full academic year, from the date of application or from the date on which payment of the grant or stipend will commence.
Your stipend is just that and as such comes under Cat C.
Your stipend was only for three months and therefore does not qualify under the above rules.
You will have to work for 6 months in your current job to qualify; and earn the equivalent of 18,600 GBP per annum