has anyone applied for a spouse visa? dh and i are finally getting ready to move to the uk, and he needs a visa to do so. i'm wondering if anyone knows what is meant by 'adequate funds to support yourselves until a job is found' how much money, and for how long? we're hoping to apply for his visa in september, but i'd really like to know how much we need to have saved up. also, if he gets hired over there and is granted a work visa, is it possible to change that to a spouse visa later? i can't find any real answers on any websites, or via any phone calls.
thanks for any insights
hannah
__________________ me 29 dh 29 married 04/28/01
we are parents!
levoxyl (t4) 75 mcg thybon (t3) 20 mcg
dd born on 11th of january, 2005
levoxyl 37.5 mcg (born without a thyroid)
Well, I moved over here after marrying DH, so I should be able to help.
I think that it is virtually impossible to find out any clear info for this. We couldn't. Oddly, the best info we could get was from the British Consulate in LA. We'd have thought the 9 months we spent trying to get info here would've worked better, but it didn't.
We were absolutely broke when we got married, and DH was a student, so we weren't exactly gonna be rolling in it for quite some time (I figure about 35 more years now). What we did was to get my parents and his parents both to sign a statement that they would provide financial support if it became necessary. This was accepted. My mother limited her statement to the one year they required proof of support.
I would imagine that enough to cover rent, food, etc for three or four months would be sufficient, but I'm not positive.
I'm not sure how they'd look at getting a work visa and then changing it to a spouse one.
I really found it fairly easy once we were actually married so we could go in to the consulate and get it. It took about 45 minutes, including wait time. It's a temporary thing (for one year), then it becomes permanent after that. At the end of the first year you have a long boring day here in Croydon at the Home Office where they decide that you're still married, etc and the leave to remain in the UK for an indefinite period is stuck in the passport then.
thanks!
did you go in person to the la consulate? when i called them they weren't too helpful (in answering questions). they told me that all the info i would need is on their website. ha! yeah right. that's why i'd called them. my best friend lives in la, and she'll let us stay with her for a few days, so we're thinking we'll go there in person for the paperwork. it only took 45 minutes? for the paperwork or the approval? a friend of mine did it by mail (she got a fiancee visa, though), and it took months for approval!
thanks again,
hannah
__________________ me 29 dh 29 married 04/28/01
we are parents!
levoxyl (t4) 75 mcg thybon (t3) 20 mcg
dd born on 11th of january, 2005
levoxyl 37.5 mcg (born without a thyroid)
We went in to the consulate in LA a few days after we were married. I took my passport, marriage certificate, etc and the visa paperwork. The whole thing took about 45 minutes total. We were amazed. It took about 4 hours to get my name changed at the DMV! It's so worth doing in person, or at least it was for us. We had always planned to go in person, since we were in that general area anyway (Orange County).
Oh, I forgot to tell you our trick to make them talk. They didn't answer questions for me or DH, but then my mom called and suddenly they were perfectly willing to talk. I still don't know how that happened. It's not like my mom is great with people or anything.
To be honest, I can't remember much about it (I guess because it was so easy and we were so worried it would be hard). I just asked DhH, and he doesn't really remember much either. We could tell you all about our evil day spent at the Home Office getting my permanent residency, but I won't scare you with that until next year, when you get to do it.
Lemme know if you have any specific questions though. They might jog my brain--or DH's. Good luck!
I might be able to help out too... I just sent in my SET(M) application, as my Spouse visa is about to expire in a month! My DH and I went to the British Consulate in NYC for my FLR, and it only took us about an hour or so too--and most of it was time spent in the queue!
For the first year, your DH will have an FLR--further leave to remain. This lasts one year. About 6 weeks before that expires, he will have to apply for SET--indefinite leave to remain. This can be done from within the UK in person, or by post (I have heard that it is faster by post.) And if DH wants to, after 3 years he can apply for British citizenship (and still keep his American citizenship).
About funds, they are going to want to see at least 3 months of bank statements showing cash flow and adequate funds. What they are looking for is that you have an income and that you can pay rent, bills, etc.
Also, if you are living in CA now, have you made arrangements for where you and DH are going to work and live over here? You'll need to show that as well, or at least that you have plans in the works. I brought my CV and cover letters showing that I was looking for work before I got there.
Here are a couple of sites with some info for you:
You also had a question about work permits... once your DH has a spousal visa, he automatically has permission to work. There are no additional permits/forms/jumping through hoops that he needs to take care of. Although, when he does begin work, he will need to apply for a National Insurance Number--equivalent to a Social Security Number in the US--for tax purposes. Initially he'll get a temporary number from the company he works with.
If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask! I know how confusing it can be!
Good luck,
jen
__________________ me(39) dh(35)
- two beautiful children after IVf and every method possible before that
- Still nursing DS at 11 months
- Not sure what happens to my life with PCOS after babies... watch this space
the question i had regarding work was in case it was going to be difficult to get the spouse visa, which now looks like it won't be a problem. do you think he could start applying for places before he gets his visa? or should we wait on that?
if we can't arrange for a place to live before we arrive, my family can give temporary lodging, while we look for a place of our own. it looks like that's acceptable, according to what i've read, does that sound like i've read something wrong? how did you go about arranging housing?
dh has his cv all together, i'm waiting until i graduate to get mine sorted out.
do you think we should apply for the visa as close to when we want to move as possible? or would it be okay to have it, and stay here for another month or two?
we have to get dh a return flight, right?
are they looking for a history of paying bills and such on time? when you say three months bank statements, that's the past three months, not just that they want to see enough money for the next three months?
what else did you have to bring with you to the visa office?
i'm getting so excited!
thanks for answering my questions, i really appreciate it!
hannah
__________________ me 29 dh 29 married 04/28/01
we are parents!
levoxyl (t4) 75 mcg thybon (t3) 20 mcg
dd born on 11th of january, 2005
levoxyl 37.5 mcg (born without a thyroid)
I can tell from you're email that you're getting so excited! It's great--I remember how excited I was when my dh and I were organising and pulling all the details together. It's a bit of work but worth it in the end.
For your questions, I've added answers below...
<<do you think he could start applying for places before he gets his visa? or should we wait on that?>>
That's sort of a grey area. I included my CV in our application, so that they could see my qualifications. I didn't actually start to apply until I got here b/c it was easier. No one seemed to want to bother until I was actually in the country. Might be a good question for the IND...?
<<...my family can give temporary lodging, while we look for a place of our own. it looks like that's acceptable, according to what i've read, does that sound like i've read something wrong? how did you go about arranging housing?>>
You're OK with that... just have your family member write a letter stating it. For me, it was easy... dh owns his flat, so we were covered!
<<do you think we should apply for the visa as close to when we want to move as possible? or would it be okay to have it, and stay here for another month or two?>>
I would call the British consulate and confirm... We got our visa about a week before we travelled, but the visa was dated to begin on the day we arrived in the UK. I imagine you can get it farther in advance, but it would be dated to your arrival.
<<we have to get dh a return flight, right?>>
They didn't check plane tickets when we applied. We just let them know when we would arrive in the UK, and that was it. In fact, I did fly on a one way ticket. Going through Immigration at Heathrow was easy too--I went through the UK line with my husband, so I didn't have to wait on the long line!
<<are they looking for a history of paying bills and such on time? when you say three months bank statements, that's the past three months, not just that they want to see enough money for the next three months?>>
That's right... three months of bank statements to show a pattern of having money to cover your day to day expenses. If you don't have three months of statements, you'll definitely get hassled. If you have cash flow, i.e. periodic deposits, then that should cover you. They just want to be sure that you're not going to come over and go on the dole!
<<what else did you have to bring with you to the visa office?>>
If I remember correctly, I went with masses of paper for me and DH. At the end of it all, they were focused on our marriage certificate and my husband's bank statements and lease--as he's the UK citizen and would have to provide for me. (Good thing, too, as it took me 9 months to find a job!!!) If you go by their checklist in the FLR application, you'll do fine. Better to go with everything, and know that you are covered!
It's women only American Expat group on yahoo... you don't have to be American, though. There are a lot of posts from women's experiences with this sort of thing. The girls who runs overthepond.com is a member there too.
Good luck with it all! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!
cheers,
jen.xxx
__________________ me(39) dh(35)
- two beautiful children after IVf and every method possible before that
- Still nursing DS at 11 months
- Not sure what happens to my life with PCOS after babies... watch this space
Now it's been a while since I stamped passports at Heathrow and Lunar House and the Immigration Rules change all the bloody time but....
You don't need to buy a return ticket. If you are applying for a settlement visa your intention is to settle in the UK - why buy a return if you're staying! Only temp visas require the proof of intention to leave!
When the Brit Consulate issues an Entry certificate/visa it is valid for 6 months - if you apply for it too far in advance it won't be valid for travel and you won't be allowed on the aeroplane by the airline - they face huge fines if they allow someone to travel without the correct documentation.
Make sure you have a letter of support from your family - very important.
Bank Statements - they are only looking for a normal set of bank statements - you don't have to be rich (this would be a person of independent means visa - lol! - millionaires in other words) Huge recent deposits would raise a red flag - and being overdrawn is not a bad thing - we're all human after all!
When you arrive in the UK they grant limited leave to remain - as opposed to permanent - for one year - there will be no work restrictions - make sure the stamp doesn't say Employment Paid or Unpaid Prohibited!!!!! As stated before, a few weeks before that expires you apply for Indefinite leave to Remain - the main reason you have to apply before it expires is to do with the right of appeal against denied applications which will not apply to you! If you apply late you lose the right of appeal.
You have nothing to worry about - just make sure you take all your documents to the Consulate - marriage certificate, passports, bank statements, birth certificates are always handy, letters of support and accommodation, any job offers, CV, Educational Certificates.
If I can offer any other help, let me know - good luck!
__________________ Me - 37
DH - 37 (8 days older than me!)
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3 wonderful stepchildren :
Leah 13
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Metformin rOoLs OK!
Cutting back on carbs, feeling fantastic!
242/210/till I feel right! YaaaYYYY 32 lbs gone!
Mummy to 3 doglets and 14 (I think) puddies (can't help but take in the strays!)
what should be in the letter of support from family? i'm going to write to a couple of my relatives (an aunt and an uncle). what should i ask them to put in the letter? would a letter from either of our parents living in the states be any help?
thanks again!
hannah
__________________ me 29 dh 29 married 04/28/01
we are parents!
levoxyl (t4) 75 mcg thybon (t3) 20 mcg
dd born on 11th of january, 2005
levoxyl 37.5 mcg (born without a thyroid)
I'm not sure how useful my answer is, but we had both of my parents in the Us (they're divorced, so they wrote separate letters) and my in-laws here write letters. They basically just wrote that they would provide financial support if necessary and signed the letters. My mother specified that it was for that one year period, while my dad and my in-laws didn't specify any time period. (Think I should hit them up for money if we get too low? )
spouse visa question 
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