British Expats - Self Employed and the £18,600 income :(

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)

- Citizenship/Passports and Spouse/Family Visas (UK) (https://britishexpats.com/forum/citizenship-passports-spouse-family-visas-uk-196/)

- - Self Employed and the £18,600 income :( (https://britishexpats.com/forum/citizenship-passports-spouse-family-visas-uk-196/self-employed-%C2%A318-600-income-921485/)

Clloyd101

Jan 27th 2019 2:52 pm

Self Employed and the £18,600 income :(

So it seems I have hit a wall all because of my income. Looking at the spouse visa for my American soon to be wife. Everything seemed fine until I came across the minimum income. We are both self-employed dancers and currently work for a number of different companies on a contact basis. But we spend most of the year working together for Princess Cruises. So not technically full time employment.
I don’t meet the £18,600 but I’m not too far off. Is there a way around this? I’ve looked at the saving option but I am way off that.
Is there a way to contain our income or savings? She works for the same company as me but gets payed in US dollars from an office in LA.

mikelincs

Jan 27th 2019 4:13 pm

Re: Self Employed and the £18,600 income :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clloyd101 (Post 12628141)

Your wife's income can't be counted for the initial application.

Clloyd101

Jan 27th 2019 4:21 pm

Re: Self Employed and the £18,600 income :(

Can we combaine ournsavings to add to our income?
What if I’m gifted money from her family?

mikelincs

Jan 27th 2019 4:26 pm

Re: Self Employed and the £18,600 income :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clloyd101 (Post 12628179)

Can we combaine ournsavings to add to our income?
What if I’m gifted money from her family?

This tells you all you need to know, https://britishexpats.com/forum/citi...mation-830478/

The money MUST be a gift and you would need a letter stating that.

Novocastrian

Jan 27th 2019 6:02 pm

Re: Self Employed and the £18,600 income :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clloyd101 (Post 12628179)

Can we combaine ournsavings to add to our income?
What if I’m gifted money from her family?

You can do this. The formula for combining income and saving to reach the benchmark is...

S-16,000 = (18600-I)x2.5
I = annual income, S = savings required.

uddin0

Jan 27th 2019 6:08 pm

Re: Self Employed and the £18,600 income :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clloyd101 (Post 12628179)

Can we combaine ournsavings to add to our income?
What if I’m gifted money from her family?

you cannot combine savings with self employed. only employed

Clloyd101

Jan 27th 2019 6:12 pm

Re: Self Employed and the £18,600 income :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikelincs (Post 12628180)

This tells you all you need to know, https://britishexpats.com/forum/citi...mation-830478/

The money MUST be a gift and you would need a letter stating that.

If I had money given to me as a gift. With a letter and the correct amount am l right in saying then it will officially be my money? So with it being my money what if months after receiving the visa I chose to give the money back? Because I suppose I won’t have to provide proof that in the future I am spending it?
The extra money is just to meet the requirement anyway. I can make a living off my income and my wife will definitely be able to get a job in our industry once we’re in the U.K.

christmasoompa

Jan 27th 2019 7:48 pm

Re: Self Employed and the £18,600 income :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clloyd101 (Post 12628218)

Why would you choose to return a gift? Would be highly suspicious I think.

spouse of scouse

Jan 27th 2019 11:15 pm

Re: Self Employed and the £18,600 income :(

You can meet the financial requirement with cash savings of £62,500. The funds need to be in a bank account in your/your wife/joint names for a minimum of 6 months prior to applying. The person gifting you the funds needs to provide a hard copy letter signed in ink, stating that the funds are a gift and there is no expectation of repayment.

The same financial requirement needs to be met again when Further Leave to Remain is applied for at 2.5 years, and again when Indefinite Leave to Remain is applied for at 5 years. Both the applicant's and the sponsor's income can be used for these two visa applications.

Current visa and IHS fees are:
Initial Leave to Enter: £1,523 plus £1,000 IHS
Further Leave to Remain: £1,033 plus £1,000 IHS
Indefinite Leave to Remain: £2,389, no IHS
After Indefinite Leave to Remain is granted, your wife can apply immediately for naturalisation as a British citizen, fee £1,330

Clloyd101

Jan 28th 2019 3:33 pm

Re: Self Employed and the £18,600 income :(

So we worked out, with a financial gift from her father, we can combaine our savings. Combaining savings is fine just not combining income?

spouse of scouse

Jan 28th 2019 3:40 pm

Re: Self Employed and the £18,600 income :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clloyd101 (Post 12628658)

So we worked out, with a financial gift from her father, we can combaine our savings. Combaining savings is fine just not combining income?

With the gifted funds in yours/your wife's/joint account, it's all savings. Remember that you need to have had £62,500 in the account for at least 6 months before your wife can apply for her visa.

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