ukmancoll

Thank you so much. Believe me, all the help from everyone is massively appreciated.

ukmancoll

OK this is interesting, thanks. I had put that we were going to rent a house as soon as the visa arrives. Obviously we can't make ANY arrangements until that is done. But, seems like that is a bad idea.

I can put my sisters address as the place we'll move to, and get an email from her? Then I can make note we'd be working on renting a house - how can we be expected to secure housing without knowing when we'll even get the visa..? But do you really think we need a property assessment...? No way are we going to be able to get that.

I definitely answered all the questions, including putting things like "we live together."

Pulaski

If your sister's house is big enough you can, and I think you'll need a letter from your sister, meaning something she has signed, and you will need details of who is living in her house - how many people, adults and children, and the size - rooms (living and bedroom) and total sqm of the home. Conventional advice here is that for shared/family housing a property assessment is "necessary". Maybe someone will be along to confirm.

Inselaffen

It is relevant if both parties come together from overseas. Read it carefully and you will see where frequently it tells you to skip to a different section when sections are not relevant to you.

ukmancoll

OK, can you guys take a look at this for me? Here is what I'm planning on shipping off to Sheffield tomorrow/Friday (in regards to supporting documents):

+ 8 months of bank statements
+ Pay stubs for 6 months
+ Letter from current US employer
+ Offer and cover letter from new UK employer to start in January
+ Signed letter from my mother who's rental house we'll be moving into
+ Wife's passport
+ Copy of mine and kids British passports
+ Our marriage certificate
+ Our kids birth certificates naming us as their parents
+ Appendix 2
+ Utility bills such as gas, electric, etc.
+ Biometrics receipt

I am hopeful we have a fairly simple case as I see it. I earn around ten times what is needed, and the job I have lined up in the UK is about three times what is needed. No previous marriages. British citizen children. We've been married for 12 years and always lived together.

You think I have everything covered guys?

ukmancoll

Also in addition to the above, a copy of our current house rental lease contract for the last two years.

I think I can also include at least our last years tax returns, maybe two or three years.

PaManjang

Dear @BritInParis,
I have seen suggestions that the 6months wait could be a deliberate policy to test the genuineness of relationships, especially for applications from certain countries and it's beginning to make sense to me, having re read my MP's reply to our email. What's your opinion on this?
Thanks.

BritInParis

I would opine that is BS. There's no conspiracy, just the usual Home Office farce.

PaManjang

[QUOTE=BritInParis;12337695]I would opine that is BS. There's no conspiracy, just the usual Home Office farce.[/QUOTE
Lol Ok thanks.

ukmancoll

OK guys, final update. Here is final list of everything I am planning to send. Please could you let me know thoughts and if you think I'm missing anything (or overdoing anything?) Thank you!

• Signed and dated copy of online application

• 8 months of bank statements from joint current account – printed at the branch by Personal Banker

• 9 months of sponsors paystubs from sponsors current US employer

• Letter from sponsors US employer confirming employment

• Color copies of Sponors British passport, as well as childrens British passports.

• Marriage certificate

• Birth certificates for all three of our children naming sponsor and myself, the applicant, as the parents

• 6 months of gas utility bills naming sponsor at same address as myself, the applicant

• 6 months of mobile phone bills naming myself, the applicant, at same address as sponsor

• Apartment Lease Agreement for current residence of both sponsor and applicant

• Signed letter from landlord of the property in England my family will be moving to

• Offer letter and contract from sponsors new employer in England

• Appendix 2, Financial Requirement Form

• Selection of Federal and State tax returns between 2005 and 2016 naming both sponsor and applicant as filing jointly at the same residential address:
o 2005 Federal Tax Return
o 2006 Illinois Tax Return
o 2008 Federal Tax Return
o 2009 Illinois Individual Income Tax Electronic Filing Declaration
o 2011 Federal Tax return
o 2012 Federal Tax return
o 2013 Federal Tax return
o 2014 Illinois Income Tax Return
o 2015 Illinois Income Tax Return
o 2016 Federal Tax Return

• One color photograph of applicant

• Receipt from Biometrics appointment taken on 14/9/17

• US passport of applicant

Inselaffen

I would paste some copies of photos of you together over the years into a Word document and annotate them. Probably overkill but takes little time and is a nice visual reference for whoever handles your application.

I assume Americans are exempt from doing an English language test. Probably a good thing as most would clearly fail

ukmancoll

Haha good idea. I'll do that.

Cecilia5778

Sorry to say but I dont understand how a decision so important for both applicant and the country should be rushed. Immigration Laws are fluid as the countries needs and dont follow personal demands. I got my visa TODAY after three months, but I knew that this could happen as was stated in the website. Thankfully I have a house in my country so i didnt have problem waiting for as long as necessary. But my problem with all this proces is that we pay a lot and have little assistance when delays happen, or to get assistance you have to pay almost 2 pounds a minute in a call.

ryongsong

I agree that there should be no need to rush this process, but it's UKVI who say you can't apply until three months before your intended departure. The problem is the lack of honest information from them, as well as, as you mention, the very poor service that accompanies the high cost.