People applying for a spouse visa from outside the UK should apply using a full service firm, even solicitors to undertake this service and process. There are firms dotted across all areas of the UK and they can ensure your paperwork is in check and that you do undertake this 100% successfully. The key to success is to practice and prepare for your Spouse Visa interview. You need to prove your relationship with the other spouse is legit. To add to this, you also need to prove you are doing this application for all of the correct reasons too.
Make sure you take this process seriously and undertake it correctly
If you have been asked to attend an interview by phone or in person as part of your Spouse Visa application take it seriously. If the officials had no doubts regarding the legitimacy of your relationship or questions that required clarification, the interview would not be taking place. You must be able to convince that your relationship is genuine, continuing and is not just made-up for immigration purposes. More now than in the past, but this will be sussed out a lot quicker.
Here are some of the questions you may end up being asked
- Is this your first application for a UK Visa?
- Have you ever applied for a visa to another country?
- Have you ever been refused a visa?
- When and how did you first meet your husband/wife?
- Did he/she write or call you, how have you communicated?
- When did your husband/wife propose to you?
- What religion is your husband/wife?
- What are your husband’s/wife’s hobbies or what does he/she do in his/her spare time?
- What do you have in common with each other?
- Why did you marry him/her?
- What do you like most about him/her?
- What are the real reasons that you married him/her?
- How do you feel about the differences in your cultures?
Make sure as best you can that you are able to answer all of these questions. Also, do what you can to ensure you can answer in a confident manner. All of this will be key if you will have a successful spouse visa application. As much as the process to this can look long and hard, it does pay to ensure it is done in a thorough and legit way.
Get the best and most correct legal advice for your case
If you have been asked to attend a spouse visa interview, then it is likely your application for a Spouse Visa has not been viewed as straight-forward by the UKVI. As you can see, there is a lot of documentation to collate. To add to that, the interview questions will very much require ready answers. By engaging an experienced immigration solicitor to help both you and your spouse prepare for the interview, you are likely to pass with flying colours and be free to begin your life together in the UK.
Combination of savings and income
It is possible to rely on a combination of savings and income, but the calculation is not straightforward. You will have to have an initial amount of £16,000 and the shortfall of your income multiplied by 2.5. For example, if the sponsor earns £18,000 a year and the shortfall is £600, the required amount of savings is £16000 + £600 x 2.5 = £17500. In short, everything needs to add up when you are undertaking and processing this kind of visa application.
The costs of getting a successful spouse visa
The application fee depends on whether the application is made from abroad or from the UK. For an application made from outside the UK, the visa fee is £1523. The Immigration Health Surcharge is £1872, priority service is £573. If you are applying in the UK, the visa fee is £1033, the Immigration Health Surcharge is £1560, and super-priority service – if you want a decision within 24 hours – this will cost £800.
When can you switch from the 10-year route to the 5-year route?
You can switch from the 10-year route to the five-year route as soon as you meet all the requirements. You do not have to wait for the expiry date of your visa. However, you will be paying the Immigration Health Surcharge second time if you have a valid stretch of the previous visa.
The complexity of your requirements
Legal fees depend on the complexity of the application and various factors like how the financial requirement is met, whether there are any issues related to the good character requirement, immigration history of the applicant and urgency of the case. Legal fees start at £1800 for full representation. There is no limit here though make sure from your side. Make sure you are as up to date and organised as you go about proceeding with your application. Have all of your paperwork in place and also don’t bother trying to cut any corners as it really won’t be worth it.
Getting an extension in place for your visa and what you need to know
The requirements for the extension of the spouse visa are very similar to the initial entry clearance requirements. You will need to demonstrate adequate income, accommodation, knowledge of English (at A2 level this time) and genuineness of your relationship. For the extension application, you do not have to rely on the employment income of the sponsor. It can be the applicant’s income, or the sponsor’s, or joint income of both. If your circumstances change or the marriage breaks down you have to be proactive and seek legal advice as soon as possible.
Overall
If you are based abroad, you will need to apply for entry clearance. This will be from your country of origin or the country where you normally live. The type of application is called settlement. You can make an application for leave to remain as the spouse inside the UK, if you are living in the UK in another immigration category. The applications are made online and the supporting documents are uploaded on the government portal. You will book a biometric appointment after submitting the application and will choose the appointment centre that suits you best.
