Applying for UK Spouse Visa

appletart · #1 (**permalink**) 20th April 2012, 04:06 PM

Hi all!! got married to my American wife last week, and we will be applying for a UK spouse visa. Quick question, we will be obviously sending off her passport with her application, but it has her maiden name on still. Is it best to get new passport with her married name on first, or send off her current passport?

much thanks!

Joppa · #2 (**permalink**) 20th April 2012, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by appletart

Hi all!! got married to my American wife last week, and we will be applying for a UK spouse visa. Quick question, we will be obviously sending off her passport with her application, but it has her maiden name on still. Is it best to get new passport with her married name on first, or send off her current passport?

Current passport in maiden name is fine. What I suggest you do is to get a new passport in married name during the two-year probationary period and then submit that for settlement (indefinte leave to remain). In the meantime, carry both passports for international travel.
You can, if you like, get a new passport in married name before applying for spouse visa, but expect a processing time of several weeks for a new passport.

appletart · #3 (**permalink**) 20th April 2012, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joppa

Current passport in maiden name is fine. What I suggest you do is to get a new passport in married name during the two-year probationary period and then submit that for settlement (indefinte leave to remain). In the meantime, carry both passports for international travel.
You can, if you like, get a new passport in married name before applying for spouse visa, but expect a processing time of several weeks for a new passport.

Thanks! So marriage licence has arrived. We haven't done anything else yet, where would people recommend we go from here?

Joppa · #4 (**permalink**) 20th April 2012, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by appletart

Thanks! So marriage licence has arrived. We haven't done anything else yet, where would people recommend we go from here?

Preparae your supporting documents.
Make online booking.
Book and attend biometrics appointment.
Send off your supporting documents.

I assume you are in US.

BandJ · #5 (**permalink**) 20th April 2012, 11:51 PM

Hi forum!

Apologies for probably doing this the wrong-way-round (I am the UK husband of a US resident) but we are about to apply for a Spousal Visa and need a few pointers (surprise surprise)...

For example, it might seem an obviously daft question, but does my wife have to do the applying from the US or can I do a fair bit of it here, since it'll end up in the UK anyway?

As I'm on a fairly low wage with 2 under-18s, we're also concerned about how much and what income the UKBA will accept, given that I have maintenance contribution from my ex, Work&Child Tax Credits which make up the end-of-day total. My fall-back is a 3rd party sponsor (my father).
Also, my wife was recently "let go" by her employer and is concerned that this might be seen in the negative, so with marketing/events co-ordination in her resume, shouldn't her employment prospects counter that? (In fact, the job set-back was what decided which direction we would take!)

All advice gratefully accepted.

nyclon · #6 (**permalink**) 21st April 2012, 12:04 AM

Where is your wife now? Is she in the UK on a Fiancé visa? If so then she applies for further leave to remain here in the UK. If you got married in the US, then she has to apply for a spousal visa in the US which is her normal place of residence.

It's your income that matters unless your wife has a confirmed job offer in the UK.

BandJ · #7 (**permalink**) 21st April 2012, 12:21 AM

My wife is in Minnesota. We got married in the US last June.
I was there last March, May/June, October and this month. She was over here in Nov and again at Xmas. Those gaps are killers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyclon

Where is your wife now? Is she in the UK on a Fiancé visa? If so then she applies for further leave to remain here in the UK. If you got married in the US, then she has to apply for a spousal visa in the US which is her normal place of residence.

It's your income that matters unless your wife has a confirmed job offer in the UK.

AnAmericanInScotland · #8 (**permalink**) 21st April 2012, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BandJ

Hi forum!

Apologies for probably doing this the wrong-way-round (I am the UK husband of a US resident) but we are about to apply for a Spousal Visa and need a few pointers (surprise surprise)...

For example, it might seem an obviously daft question, but does my wife have to do the applying from the US or can I do a fair bit of it here, since it'll end up in the UK anyway?

As I'm on a fairly low wage with 2 under-18s, we're also concerned about how much and what income the UKBA will accept, given that I have maintenance contribution from my ex, Work&Child Tax Credits which make up the end-of-day total. My fall-back is a 3rd party sponsor (my father).
Also, my wife was recently "let go" by her employer and is concerned that this might be seen in the negative, so with marketing/events co-ordination in her resume, shouldn't her employment prospects counter that? (In fact, the job set-back was what decided which direction we would take!)

All advice gratefully accepted.

The online application, payment of fees, setting of biometric appointment, and then the sending off of all the paperwork must be done from the US by your wife.

Her recent job setback shouldn't be a problem at all. I've read posts here from several applicants who were worried that joblessness would be and were relieved to find that wasn't the case.

The maintenance income requirements for couples with dependent children is beyond me, I'm sure one of the mods will be along soon to share their considerable knowledge on that one for you.

appletart · #9 (**permalink**) 21st April 2012, 10:59 PM

Which visa do I actually apply for? is this correct

"This online form is based on the paper document VAF4A Settlement. You should only use this online form if you are coming to the UK to settle.
Sponsorship Undertaking Form (SU07)"

AnAmericanInScotland · #10 (**permalink**) 22nd April 2012, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by appletart

Which visa do I actually apply for? is this correct

"This online form is based on the paper document VAF4A Settlement. You should only use this online form if you are coming to the UK to settle.
Sponsorship Undertaking Form (SU07)"

VAF4A-online application form for spouse applying from outside UK:

The VAF4A is the form your wife fills out online-she fills it out and when she reaches the end and hits submit. At that point she pays the fees and makes an appointment for the biometrics taking. Then she prints the application form, and after attending the biometrics appointment, mails the form and all the supporting documents to the New York consulate address for processing.

SUO7-printed out from UKBA site, filled in by UK citizen who is spouse and sponsor; must be signed (NOT e-sig, must be 'real') and attached to print-out of VAF4A as part of the supporting documents:

It's better that you fill out the sponsor form before she begins the application process, frankly. We didn't know about it until we'd already started the process and it was a very nervous time waiting for that to arrive from my husband in the UK!

I'm relating our experience as we moved through the application process over a year ago. Luckily if I've missed something or am (gasp) wrong, someone will be along to correct me very soon