UK Settlement Visa Questions

[NightSky]

My Thai wife successfully obtained the UK visitor visa last year and I am currently working through her first UK spouse visa application. 

 

The process seems straight forward enough and the documents being requested after completing the first draft of the online application are clear although there is a lot of information to wade through and I hope I don't overlook anything important, therefore I do have some questions if anyone could help I would appreciate it.

 

Background:

 

• We intend to meet the financial requirement from cash savings and non employment income. I will provide bank statements and building society book copies and additional evidence as required.
• My wife has the A1 equivalent English test done and TB test done.
• We own a house in the UK we can use as our UK home address.

 

Questions:

 

1. I read somewhere on a third party website (not  gov.uk) that the supporting documents no longer need to be original documents. Im not sure this rings true and I wasn't able to locate confirmation on the gov.uk supporting information? Does anyone have any thoughts on this? (i.e. taking original documents to the visa application center as opposed to simply uploading copies). This is important because although not impossible, it will be much more difficult for me to obtain 12 months bank statements and UK bank documents whilst Im in Thailand and my wife no longer has her divorce certificate which would mean a trip up North solely to get that from the specific amphur (my wife seems to think only the specific amphur where she registered her previous divorced will issue her a replacement certificate).

 

2. I am the husband being a British citizen however I reside in both Thailand and the UK (I have tax residency in the UK and I own a home in the UK and a business however I spend most of my time physically located in Thailand at my wife's home). I read somewhere that the sponsor (i.e. myself) should be located in the UK at the time of the application, is this true or is this not the case?

 

3. There is a question in the application that asks if the sponsor has an offer of employment to start within 3 months of our arrival in the UK. This seems a strange questions to me? I have a business in the UK and Im employed by that business so I pay taxes etc so I chose NO to this question as Im already employed in the UK. This seems a strange question to ask the sponsor, maybe I read this question wrong? I just answered 'No' - is this OK?

 

4. For proof I own the UK property is a digital copy  of the land registry certificate acceptable (rather than a physical copy)? Both digital and hard copy can be ordered from the Land Registry although digital is easier to get hold of.

 

Any input from experienced members would be much appreciated.

 

Edited July 30, 2020 by NightSky

[NightSky]

Ive now found the answers for the above questions (in case anyone else ever needs the answers here they are:)

 

1. Original documents should be available and kept along with copies

2. If you are British Citizen its OK to be traveling back and not present in the UK at the time of application

3. This was not applicable to our situation since we are not using future employment income to meet the financial requirement

4. Original land registry documents are required for 7 pounds each (not the digital online ones available for 3 pounds each)

[puchooay]

On 7/31/2020 at 6:19 PM, NightSky said:

Ive now found the answers for the above questions (in case anyone else ever needs the answers here they are:)

 

1. Original documents should be available and kept along with copies

2. If you are British Citizen its OK to be traveling back and not present in the UK at the time of application

3. This was not applicable to our situation since we are not using future employment income to meet the financial requirement

4. Original land registry documents are required for 7 pounds each (not the digital online ones available for 3 pounds each)

Strange. My wife has just completed her application. All documents uploaded to UKCAS. No mention of original documents being needed too. I don;t own a property so no need to offer land registry documents. I rent and uploaded a copy of our lease.

[NightSky]

13 minutes ago, puchooay said:

Strange. My wife has just completed her application. All documents uploaded to UKCAS. No mention of original documents being needed too. I don;t own a property so no need to offer land registry documents. I rent and uploaded a copy of our lease.

 

Maybe originals are not essential for most documents.

 

I just followed some advice from a third party website to keep original documents with us when travelling.

 

For the land registry documents it says on the land registry website that physical copies are required for proof of ownership rather than digital copies (both are available to be ordered). 

 

Originals must be scanned and uploaded, I plan to keep originals with us whilst travelling.

[puchooay]

23 minutes ago, NightSky said:

just followed some advice from a third party website

That's the difference. I followed advice from UKVI. Don't trust or feel the need to follow third party websites.

[NightSky]

3 minutes ago, puchooay said:

That's the difference. I followed advice from UKVI. Don't trust or feel the need to follow third party websites.

It was 'HM land registry' (Her Majesties Land Registry) website advice that I followed regarding original land registry documents. I don't doubt its trustworthiness any less than the UKVI website. You obviously don't require those documents though as you've mentioned.

 

Good luck with yours.