Fiance Visa Questions

[benjy_a]

I'm sorry if these questions have been asked many times before but I really cannot find a definitive answer:

For a UK fiance visa application which documents need to be original and which are ok as copies? There is no mention in the official check list that bank statements, property deeds or wage slips from sponsor need to be supplied as original (for example). The only one acording to that list that has to be original is mortgage statement/tennancy agreement (+certified pasport).

I am currently in the UK with my Thai fiance who is here on a visitors visa (has been here with me for 5 months). We have no way of proving that we have been together whilst here other than photos (no letters or emails etc) as we are living together. Trying to cover all bases....is there any other way that we can support this application?

My fiance lost her previous passport (in Thailand before we applied for the visit visa) and did not keep any police report for this. Will this cause any problems or should I just mention it in the covering letter?

Finally....how many Thai documents does my fiance have to submit? Is there anything other than her birth certificate, ID card and passport that we need? (she has never been married and has no chidren).

Thanks very much in advance.....wish us luck!!

B.

[Mahout Angrit]

Did you read this inconclusive thread regarding 'originals'?

[benjy_a]

Did you read this inconclusive thread regarding 'originals'?

Thanks for that.....I can see from reading the post that I probably won't get a definitive answer to that question then! The reason I really wanted to find out is that I am currently buying a second house and need a lot of the documents mentioned for my mortgage application. Normally I would just give all the originals to my fiance but unfortunately I cannot do that at the moment.

I know I can have the copies certified but there are quite a few documents and I was trying to avoid what cost I could.

[GU22]

1) My personal feeling is that it is better to provide original documents where possible, this is certainly the advice from UK Visas. If you cannot provide originals then I would recommend attested copies, but it is your choice.

2) Obviously if she is in the UK with you then you wont be phoning or e-mailing her. The entry stamps in her passport, UK and Thai, will show that she was in the UK. Mention this in your sponsor's letter and include some photos of you both taken in the UK.

They must have accepted that the relationship is genuine in order to issue her with a visit visa.

3) I would mention it, but it didn't cause a problem with the visit visa so I cannot see why it would cause a problem with the fiance visa.

4)Those listed should be enough, although a copy of her Tabien Bahn wont hurt. Simply provide the same as you did for the visit application.

Finally, bearing in mind the extortionate new fees introduced by this so-called socialist government, are you sure a fiance visa is the right way to go? Marrying in Thailand and applying for a spouse visa will cut out the FLR stage and so save that fee. The only document you will need for a spouse application that you don't need for a fiance one is the marriage certificate.

[benjy_a]

Thanks for your very extensive reply you have cleared up several points for me!! I will try and get the original documents returned to me in time for the applcation.

We did consider getting married in TL but my sister has 2 small children who cannot travel so we have decided for the sake of my family to do it in the UK. I do agree that the costs are extraordinary!!

Incidentally....how long does the FLR take to process after marriage? What I mean is how long should we allow to remain on the fiance visa after we get married so that we don't run out of time?

Thanks again for your help.

B.

[GU22]

Processing an FLR application usually only takes a matter of days, as all you basically have to do is show that you are now married.

See Form FLR(M)*, section 6 for what documents are required.

There is no need to delay the application, you can, and should, submit it as soon as possible after the wedding. However, if you are going abroad for your honeymoon you will need your passports, so wait 'til you get back! You do not need to worry about the fiance visa expiring while the FLR application is being processed as once you submit an application to the IND any existing visa is automatically extended until the decision on the new application has been decided. But you must submit it before the fiance visa expires.

Two years after receiving FLR she will need to apply for ILR. To do so you will need to provide evidence that you have both been living at the same address in the form of official letters addressed to one, the other or both of you covering the 2 year period, ideally 10 from each year. So get utility bills put into joint names, open a joint bank account, apply for a driving licence, NI number, medical card etc. for her.

See Form SET(M)*, section 6 note 4 for a list of suggestions.

*The fees quoted on these forms are the current ones. Remember they will increase wef 1/4/07 and may increase again before you need to apply.

Edited March 12, 2007 by GU22

[benjy_a]

Thanks again GU22, that's all great to know!

One last question that has arisen while putting the documents together for this application. I was searching around on the forum to see who was allowed to certify my document copies and it seems that police officers would be accepted.

Incidentally I am a police officer so I guess I can just get a colleague to do this for me? maybe do the copying onto official headed paper also?

B.

[Mahout Angrit]

One last question that has arisen while putting the documents together for this application. I was searching around on the forum to see who was allowed to certify my document copies and it seems that police officers would be accepted.

Incidentally I am a police officer so I guess I can just get a colleague to do this for me? maybe do the copying onto official headed paper also?

Nothing like an inside job Got any rubber stamps?....they love rubber stamps. Good luck

[GU22]

Quite.

Although I don't think it's necessary for the copies to be on official police headed paper!

[atlastaname]

You are better positioned than most of us to welcome her to the Police State previously known as the UK then.

Incidently, i have spent the last couiple of weeks trying to get all my utility bills in both our names and they all now say the same thing ...they can't do it . BT refused to do this last saturday even though we have had them in both names up until the last bill when BT decided only one name is allowed. I have had the same problem with my credit card bills. They will only address to one person.This did not happen last year but seems to be a new regulation. Given this , anyone any suggestions ? Anyone else had this problem?

[GU22]

You are better positioned than most of us to welcome her to the Police State previously known as the UK then.

What a ridiculous comment. As I said in a different thread, in the past I've always considered you to be intelligent; now I wonder.

If you want to know what a police state is really like, try living in Burma, or North Korea, or Iran etc.!

In answer to your query, no I've never had that problem. Statements for our joint accounts are still addressed to the two of us.

However, if you cannot get 10 documents addressed to you both jointly, then documents addressed individually will do. As long as there are no more than 6 addressed to one of you and no less than 4 to the other one.

[the scouser]

If you intend travelling abroad for a honeymoon, wait until you've got the leave to remain as a spouse. Technically speaking, once you're married, the fiancée visa is no longer valid for re-entry to the UK as the circumstances under which it was issued no longer apply. An IO on arrival might suggest that, now you are married, you should have applied for a spouse visa before seeking to return. It is unlikely that refusal would ensue, but it might mean being delayed, and the airline could be charged £2000.00 for bringing in an improperly documented passenger.

Scouse.

[benjy_a]

I found a rubber stamp!

[atlastaname]

You are better positioned than most of us to welcome her to the Police State previously known as the UK then.

What a ridiculous comment. As I said in a different thread, in the past I've always considered you to be intelligent; now I wonder.

If you want to know what a police state is really like, try living in Burma, or North Korea, or Iran etc.!

In answer to your query, no I've never had that problem. Statements for our joint accounts are still addressed to the two of us.

However, if you cannot get 10 documents addressed to you both jointly, then documents addressed individually will do. As long as there are no more than 6 addressed to one of you and no less than 4 to the other one.

GU you need to chill out a bit. It was only light humour i was attempting although it is a horribly controlled country (no smoking at bus stops etc etc). I guess you don't mind being told what you can and can't do .

Re the bills, i phoned BT just now and was told again that NO i cannot have my bills in joint names . I asked if i was a Mr and Mrs Smith are they saying the bill can only be addressed to one or other of us and they said yes!! Maybe one of you would care to try it and if you find BT will put it in joint names can you give me the name of the empoyee who said it ?

[GU22]

Can't be arsed to phone BT, but off the top of my head:-

Joint credit card bill; both names

Joint bank account statements; both names

Council tax bill; both names

Rent statements; both names

Tax credit letters/statements; joint names

I'm sure if I looked through the heap of papers that passes for my filing system I'd find more.

Remember, even letters rejecting a loan or HP can be used as evidence. If worried, apply for a couple (you can always cancel if they offer you a loan!)

When my wife applied for her ILR we were living with my parents so we had no utility bills and no rent statements or council tax bills. We did have the other items on my list above, and made the numbers up with items addressed to one or other of us.

Such as:-

Mobile phone bills (me)

Job rejection letters (her)

Job offer letter (her)

NI letters (her)

Medical card (her)

Savings account statement (me)

Statement from pension company (me)

For more examples, see the list in part 6, section 4 of form SET(M).

[benjy_a]

Thanks for all the wonderful help and advice.

It took 48 hours from submission of our documents to receive a fiance visa!!

B.

[Mossfinn]

Well Done Benji

Good Luck for the future

Moss

[markr]

congrats!

mark

[Mahout Angrit]

Amazing what a few well placed rubber stamps will do... Well done.

[the scouser]

Well done, Benjy.

Scouse.

[BIGJIMMY]

Top work squire.

Jimmy