craig.johnson1989

ive recently got my married to my fiance of 2 years and we are looking to get her spouse visa to enter the UK,

i have been reading many things on the internet for weeks, some that contradict others and none matching my situation so i thought i had better ask.

Firstly i am flying out to america next week to provide all documents and passports as such but my questions are...

1. Can i fill out the online application form here (the UK) and bring it with me to the states so one thing less to do when im there, or do i have to complete it in her native country (USA).

2. obviously she wont have a job in the UK and i currently earn on average 16-18k a year and i am self employed, is there a benchmark on how much you have to earn to be a sponsor? and is being self employed a disadvantage as it is not steady income?

3. We are planning on living with my parents for a while so i understand from reading on the net i will have to provide a letter from my parents explaining they are letting me live there? correct? and is it just a simple letter with there signature?

4. i cannot find a definitive list of all documents i will need to send to the UK embassy in New York so far i have :
..Bank statements from the past year
..All invoices for the year
..Covering letter explaining i am to sponsor my wife
..Letter from my parents saying i am allowed to live at their house
..2 passport photos
..Photocopy of her photo page of passport
..Photos and any documents proving we have met
is there anything else major im missing??

5. After the application how long on average does it take to get an appointment to get your Biometric details taken? is it straight away or is there a waiting list?

i think these are all the questions i had (i know theres alot i apologise),

any help on these issues would be much appreciated,

Craig

Mummy in the foothills

You may want to read over on www.uk-yankee.com they know a lot more about bringing a US wife to the UK and the application process. Good luck.

dunroving

There's a recent thread just below yours that gives some insight into your point #2 above.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=739101

These questions come up a fair bit so I'm sure someone will come along with more specific links to other threads - I think there's a "UK Yankee" forum that also has helpful information. I don't know the link but others on here visit the site so they will presumably come along with the link.

Squirrel

Re: Number 2, there isn't a set minimum income atm but try to get in there before 1st April as it is all changing then and you will probably find you do not earn enough under the new rules.

johnh009

Your wife has to make the application online in her country of residence at:

http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/visiting-uk/visas/

Or you can apply inside the UK:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/vi...pplying-in-uk/

The VAFA4 form and guidance notes will explain what documents you need to present. The current wait times for each consualte are posted online.

Squirrel

Your parents will need to give you something to prove they have the right to occupy the home in which your wife will be living. Usually the deed/lease/mortgage statement. You need her bank statement too as well as yours. And she'll need to provide her actual passport not just a copy because they put the visa sticker in it.

Wawa

DDL has been a regular and informative poster on this forum. She is a US Citizen and moved to UK from USA with her British husband some months back.

If you check out this link, you will find a post where she has listed all the documentation she required for her Settlement Visa, or Spouse visa as I think it is called sometimes.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ht=DDL&page=23

Good luck!

johnh009

One of the things immigration officals look for is marriages of convenience. Less than 4 years is the time limit when you may come under scrutiny (i.e. if you have been married 4 years or more your wife can apply directly for ILR). Therefore, it is a good idea, to support your application, if you can present photographs of you both together and letters showing that you have a past history together going back as far as possible.

I sponsored my wife from Toronto and it took 2 weeks to get approval. Times may vary depending on the complexity of your situation.

Squirrel

From the USA I think they have an express service that costs another $300 but you can get the visa in one week. US/UK marriages don't usually come under that much scrutiny.

manny1980

My wife and I went ahead and paid $300 as we wanted the result ASAP. We got her visa within 18 hours yesterday after they acknowledged receiving our application.

Squirrel

Great result, congratulations!

manny1980

Thank you We just got her application package returned to us today...exactly a week when we mailed it to them. We were concern about the visa stamp as we have been married for 4+ years but fortunately they placed correct visa stamp on her passport and now we are all set to go.

michael rothwell

Manny what was the visa stamp