Spouse Visa Situation Questions - Pursuing an MA?

[christinamariep]

Hiya, I'm an American on a student visa planning on marrying a UK citizen at the beginning of this September. I will be doing the premium PEO appointment visa service when we both return from the wedding (in the USA). I plan on eventually pursuing a Master's Degree in the UK as well and hopefully pursuing a career at an academic/scholarly university level. I wanted to include these ambitions and supporting letters from my current professors, etc to help prove my future potential/employability in the UK and plans for a serious career.

Do you think this would be helpful seeing as of July I will be an unemployed graduate? My fiance works freelance and makes a decent amount and we will be receiving help from both sets of parents hopefully, but considering I have no previous UK employment and was living on a US student loan I think I will need to show as much potential and ability for employment as possible.

I also had one more unrelated question, my fiance has been in his position for about 7 months and is renewing his employment contract very soon for a further 12 months, but previous to this he was on benefits due to being the victim of an assault and its repercussions. Will this hurt our application? How do we go about addressing it or should we bother mentioning it at all? Should we write an explanatory letter or what?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer, it is hugely appreciated!

[2farapart]

What matters is how your husband intends to support you for the next two years on spouse visa. Under current rules, he will need to satisfy the UKBA that there is a minimum £111.45 per week available after his housing costs and council tax have bee deducted. Also under current rules, you can both seek support from a third party sponsor such as family (this may change in the near future, and so might the minimum income threshold).

Letters from your professors aren't essential, though the UK is rather overflowing with unemployed graduates so they'll add to your case. Mentioning your aspirations will show the UKBA that you seriously intend contributing to UK society and that's a good thing. However, academics and employability aren't the most essential aspect of your application so don't worry too much about being an unemployed graduate (most people aren't lucky enough to have a job waiting for them when they move to the UK and the UKBA realises this). Your main focus should be on proving an enduring relationship where there will be no cost to the British taxpayer (ie you can be supported financially), and where you both intend settling permanently in the UK.

Hope that helps!

[Joppa]

Originally Posted by christinamariep

Hiya, I'm an American on a student visa planning on marrying a UK citizen at the beginning of this September. I will be doing the premium PEO appointment visa service when we both return from the wedding (in the USA). I plan on eventually pursuing a Master's Degree in the UK as well and hopefully pursuing a career at an academic/scholarly university level. I wanted to include these ambitions and supporting letters from my current professors, etc to help prove my future potential/employability in the UK and plans for a serious career.

Good idea, anything to enhance your career prospect.

Do you think this would be helpful seeing as of July I will be an unemployed graduate? My fiance works freelance and makes a decent amount and we will be receiving help from both sets of parents hopefully, but considering I have no previous UK employment and was living on a US student loan I think I will need to show as much potential and ability for employment as possible.

Yes, anything to enhance your employment prospect is good.

I also had one more unrelated question, my fiance has been in his position for about 7 months and is renewing his employment contract very soon for a further 12 months, but previous to this he was on benefits due to being the victim of an assault and its repercussions. Will this hurt our application? How do we go about addressing it or should we bother mentioning it at all? Should we write an explanatory letter or what?

You can safely leave out the benefits thing, as it's in the past.

[christinamariep]

Thank you soo much for the help! That puts things in perspective, and I'm glad not to have to discuss the public funds thing. Really appreciate it.