UK Spouse Visa Information - evidence required etc
#1
UK Spouse Visa Information - evidence required etc
Start at http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk
Last edited by Pollyana; Sep 30th 2011 at 7:58 pm. Reason: Posts copied from other threads to gather info together
#2
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 928
Re: Spouse's visa, healthcare and all that jazz. Please help if you can.
If you are intending to settle you are entitled to NHS care, you just need to register with a GP. It's a fact even though some doctor's receptionists aren't aware of it!
The UK does not stop people bringing a foreign spouse to live with them based on medical reasons, unlike some other (IMO coldhearted) countries. There is no medical, although at the airport you arrive at they do reserve the right to screen people for medical conditions. This would only be likely if they thought someone had something contagious they were bringing into the UK, like TB for eg, something that other people could catch.
(There is TB screening for people from certain countries where TB is prevailent, I don't think Japan would be one of them).
The UK does not stop people bringing a foreign spouse to live with them based on medical reasons, unlike some other (IMO coldhearted) countries. There is no medical, although at the airport you arrive at they do reserve the right to screen people for medical conditions. This would only be likely if they thought someone had something contagious they were bringing into the UK, like TB for eg, something that other people could catch.
(There is TB screening for people from certain countries where TB is prevailent, I don't think Japan would be one of them).
#3
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Location: New Jersey
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UK Spouse Visa Information - evidence required etc
I'm looking into obtaining a spousal visa for my wife and noticed this..
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/vi...y/maintenance/
Maintenance (funds)
Can you apply?
This page explains how you can meet the maintenance (funds) requirement when you apply to enter or remain in the UK as the husband, wife or civil partner of a British citizen or a person settled here.
You and/or your partner must demonstrate that you and/or they can cover your living expenses in the UK for:
* 27 months, if you are applying from outside the UK; or
* 2 years, if you are already in the UK and applying to switch from a different immigration category.
This is called your 'probationary period'.
You will not have access to most public funds (such as state benefits) during your probationary period.
Does this mean we need roughly three years of a full time salary to qualify for a settlement visa?
The site doesn't say how much money is needed.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/vi...y/maintenance/
Maintenance (funds)
Can you apply?
This page explains how you can meet the maintenance (funds) requirement when you apply to enter or remain in the UK as the husband, wife or civil partner of a British citizen or a person settled here.
You and/or your partner must demonstrate that you and/or they can cover your living expenses in the UK for:
* 27 months, if you are applying from outside the UK; or
* 2 years, if you are already in the UK and applying to switch from a different immigration category.
This is called your 'probationary period'.
You will not have access to most public funds (such as state benefits) during your probationary period.
Does this mean we need roughly three years of a full time salary to qualify for a settlement visa?
The site doesn't say how much money is needed.
Last edited by drhewitt; Sep 13th 2011 at 6:49 pm.
#4
Re: Can someone explain requirement to have 27 months of living expenses re: spouse v
Proof of a job that earns enough maybe?
#5
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Joined: Sep 2011
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Re: Can someone explain requirement to have 27 months of living expenses re: spouse v
My wife and I are trying to find out the same thing. What is the £/$ amount we need to have in the bank in order to meet maintenance requirements?
#6
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Joined: Jun 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 793
Re: Can someone explain requirement to have 27 months of living expenses re: spouse v
this link may help you a bit more
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/po...dance/ecg/maa/
In principle you must show in the 27 months that your spouse will not claim any benefits, so you the sponsor need to have a job or income that is above the benefit threshold. (In practice the spouse must not claim the benefits in the 27 months if the visa is granted)
So to do this the sponsors should show that the income they have each week after mortgage/rent and council tax and any large loans is at least £105
If you have a lot of savings and a good chance of a job or have secured a job should be no problems
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/po...dance/ecg/maa/
In principle you must show in the 27 months that your spouse will not claim any benefits, so you the sponsor need to have a job or income that is above the benefit threshold. (In practice the spouse must not claim the benefits in the 27 months if the visa is granted)
So to do this the sponsors should show that the income they have each week after mortgage/rent and council tax and any large loans is at least £105
If you have a lot of savings and a good chance of a job or have secured a job should be no problems
#7
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 46
Re: Can someone explain requirement to have 27 months of living expenses re: spouse v
My husband has his spouse application in at the moment and currently we both live abroad. We do not have a large amount of savings, but submitted bank statements plus cvs, educational certificates and jobs available in the area we will be staying for both of us. A financial plan of how we will support ourselves once we get employment. Also support from a friend with a bank letter of her savings saying she is more than happy to help us until we find job. Plus an explainanation of how the savings we currently have will be sufficient for a good few months or more until we find work.
Dont know if this will work, but ill let you know. We did ring the UKBA before hand and they said that they dont expect you to hav elarge amounts of money, the 105 quid per week per couple is sufficient. Just they dont tell you how long.
Annoying as nothing is clear cut. This is why we are nervous about my husbands visa, but hopefully we got nothing to be nervous about.
MAA10 Assessing adequate means of maintenance
The following list, which is not comprehensive, is intended as a guide to the factors which may need to be considered when assessing means of maintenance:
the applicant's past and current employment
do the applicant's / sponsor's educational qualifications and any other skills or qualifications offer a reasonable chance of obtaining employment? If so, that should be viewed as sufficient to meet the maintenance requirement without having to make further enquiries.
the sponsor's current or proposed employment;
any plans the applicant has for employment in the UK
What is the unemployment situation in the area in which the couple intend to settle? High unemployment in a particular area or amongst a certain age group with particular skills (or lack of them), is not in itself sufficient to show that the maintenance requirement has not been met. It would be a relevant factor if the couple's plans were not realistic or if they did not have any skills or qualifications
any arrangements which have been made, or could be made, by the sponsor, any other relatives, friends or contacts in the UK in connection with the plans for employment;
satisfied that job offers are genuine and the work likely to last for the foreseeable future;
any support which will be forthcoming from others.
Dont know if this will work, but ill let you know. We did ring the UKBA before hand and they said that they dont expect you to hav elarge amounts of money, the 105 quid per week per couple is sufficient. Just they dont tell you how long.
Annoying as nothing is clear cut. This is why we are nervous about my husbands visa, but hopefully we got nothing to be nervous about.
MAA10 Assessing adequate means of maintenance
The following list, which is not comprehensive, is intended as a guide to the factors which may need to be considered when assessing means of maintenance:
the applicant's past and current employment
do the applicant's / sponsor's educational qualifications and any other skills or qualifications offer a reasonable chance of obtaining employment? If so, that should be viewed as sufficient to meet the maintenance requirement without having to make further enquiries.
the sponsor's current or proposed employment;
any plans the applicant has for employment in the UK
What is the unemployment situation in the area in which the couple intend to settle? High unemployment in a particular area or amongst a certain age group with particular skills (or lack of them), is not in itself sufficient to show that the maintenance requirement has not been met. It would be a relevant factor if the couple's plans were not realistic or if they did not have any skills or qualifications
any arrangements which have been made, or could be made, by the sponsor, any other relatives, friends or contacts in the UK in connection with the plans for employment;
satisfied that job offers are genuine and the work likely to last for the foreseeable future;
any support which will be forthcoming from others.
Last edited by tng1; Sep 14th 2011 at 1:53 pm.
#8
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 63
Re: Can someone explain requirement to have 27 months of living expenses re: spouse v
this link may help you a bit more
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/po...dance/ecg/maa/
In principle you must show in the 27 months that your spouse will not claim any benefits, so you the sponsor need to have a job or income that is above the benefit threshold. (In practice the spouse must not claim the benefits in the 27 months if the visa is granted)
So to do this the sponsors should show that the income they have each week after mortgage/rent and council tax and any large loans is at least £105
If you have a lot of savings and a good chance of a job or have secured a job should be no problems
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/po...dance/ecg/maa/
In principle you must show in the 27 months that your spouse will not claim any benefits, so you the sponsor need to have a job or income that is above the benefit threshold. (In practice the spouse must not claim the benefits in the 27 months if the visa is granted)
So to do this the sponsors should show that the income they have each week after mortgage/rent and council tax and any large loans is at least £105
If you have a lot of savings and a good chance of a job or have secured a job should be no problems
Thanks for this information, I found it very useful.
#9
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 63
Re: Can someone explain requirement to have 27 months of living expenses re: spouse v
I'm curious about this:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/po...dance/ecg/maa/
There is no objection to the British citizen / settled sponsor receiving any public funds to which he / she is entitled in his / her own right.
So if a family moves to the UK, husband is a British citizen, there is no objection to the husband claiming child benefit and tax credits, but his wife would have no recourse to public funds.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/po...dance/ecg/maa/
There is no objection to the British citizen / settled sponsor receiving any public funds to which he / she is entitled in his / her own right.
So if a family moves to the UK, husband is a British citizen, there is no objection to the husband claiming child benefit and tax credits, but his wife would have no recourse to public funds.
#10
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,198
Re: Can someone explain requirement to have 27 months of living expenses re: spouse v
I'm curious about this:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/po...dance/ecg/maa/
There is no objection to the British citizen / settled sponsor receiving any public funds to which he / she is entitled in his / her own right.
So if a family moves to the UK, husband is a British citizen, there is no objection to the husband claiming child benefit and tax credits, but his wife would have no recourse to public funds.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/po...dance/ecg/maa/
There is no objection to the British citizen / settled sponsor receiving any public funds to which he / she is entitled in his / her own right.
So if a family moves to the UK, husband is a British citizen, there is no objection to the husband claiming child benefit and tax credits, but his wife would have no recourse to public funds.
Correct but the spouse cannot be taken into account with regard to receipt of any benefits.
#11
Re: Can someone explain requirement to have 27 months of living expenses re: spouse v
I'm curious about this:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/po...dance/ecg/maa/
There is no objection to the British citizen / settled sponsor receiving any public funds to which he / she is entitled in his / her own right.
So if a family moves to the UK, husband is a British citizen, there is no objection to the husband claiming child benefit and tax credits, but his wife would have no recourse to public funds.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/po...dance/ecg/maa/
There is no objection to the British citizen / settled sponsor receiving any public funds to which he / she is entitled in his / her own right.
So if a family moves to the UK, husband is a British citizen, there is no objection to the husband claiming child benefit and tax credits, but his wife would have no recourse to public funds.
Frustrating when you have been married to a non-Uk citizen for 9+ years but lived overseas, yet hear stories of less deserving non-UK 'asylum seekers' being sponsored by the UK taxpayer.
#12
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 63
Re: Can someone explain requirement to have 27 months of living expenses re: spouse v
OK, I called someone at Marriagevisahelp.com and they told me, based on my savings, that we should be OK even if I do not have a job to go to.
The rep said that she has had individual clients who want to bring their family over, including children, with only $10,000 in savings.
Bottom line, if you're moving to the UK with kids, you will need a reasonable amount of savings, it does not have to be 27 months of salary (about 2 1/2 years) which is pretty much out of range for most people, but it should be sufficient to maintain a family without recourse to public funds.
What you have after you've paid your rent/mortgage, council tax and utility bills should be 105 pounds a week for a couple and an additional 58 pounds a week per child.
Even though the rules say otherwise, it appears you can show statements of IRA's (Individual Retirement Accounts) for additional backup.
If you're going to the UK with a spouse and no children, I would imagine that $10,000 to be more than sufficient, but again, other factors have to be taken into account, such as do you have a job to go to, what accommodations will you have etc.
The rep said that she has had individual clients who want to bring their family over, including children, with only $10,000 in savings.
Bottom line, if you're moving to the UK with kids, you will need a reasonable amount of savings, it does not have to be 27 months of salary (about 2 1/2 years) which is pretty much out of range for most people, but it should be sufficient to maintain a family without recourse to public funds.
What you have after you've paid your rent/mortgage, council tax and utility bills should be 105 pounds a week for a couple and an additional 58 pounds a week per child.
Even though the rules say otherwise, it appears you can show statements of IRA's (Individual Retirement Accounts) for additional backup.
If you're going to the UK with a spouse and no children, I would imagine that $10,000 to be more than sufficient, but again, other factors have to be taken into account, such as do you have a job to go to, what accommodations will you have etc.
Last edited by drhewitt; Sep 15th 2011 at 3:23 pm.
#13
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Re: Can someone explain requirement to have 27 months of living expenses re: spouse v
OK, I get you, but let's say I move to the UK and get laid off and claim unemployment benefit, do I fill in the form and not include my wife and kids and call myself a family of one? Wouldn't this be lying by omission? Or do I tell the benefits officer that we're a family of four but please only give me the benefit for myself.
It's a mindbender.
#14
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 63
Re: Can someone explain requirement to have 27 months of living expenses re: spouse v
So I am guessing it's a bit of a catch 22 in that, if the UK citizen is unemployed they can claim benefits for themselves but not their spouse, but if the non-UK spouse is working it is taken into account when calculating the UK citizens benefits.
Frustrating when you have been married to a non-Uk citizen for 9+ years but lived overseas, yet hear stories of less deserving non-UK 'asylum seekers' being sponsored by the UK taxpayer.
Frustrating when you have been married to a non-Uk citizen for 9+ years but lived overseas, yet hear stories of less deserving non-UK 'asylum seekers' being sponsored by the UK taxpayer.
This seems to be the case.
#15
Back from India
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 793
Re: Can someone explain requirement to have 27 months of living expenses re: spouse v
So I am guessing it's a bit of a catch 22 in that, if the UK citizen is unemployed they can claim benefits for themselves but not their spouse, but if the non-UK spouse is working it is taken into account when calculating the UK citizens benefits.
Frustrating when you have been married to a non-Uk citizen for 9+ years but lived overseas, yet hear stories of less deserving non-UK 'asylum seekers' being sponsored by the UK taxpayer.
Frustrating when you have been married to a non-Uk citizen for 9+ years but lived overseas, yet hear stories of less deserving non-UK 'asylum seekers' being sponsored by the UK taxpayer.