Bills Etc In Joint Names - How Important Is This Really?

[watson]

Whilst reading the ILR and FLR application forms (kindly pointed out to me by members of this forum), it dawned on me that I don't actually have that much proof in the way of bills, bank accounts etc in the joint name of my wife, and was wondering to what negative extent this would impact on our ability to satisfy UK immigration in granting an ILR and/or FLR?

Should I contact all my utility providers, banks, mortgage lenders etc and add my wife's name to the account at this stage, given that this will not actually prove we have been living together for the previous 18 months, or will Immigration be likely to accept in a letter of explanation from myself, that as the only breadwinner, I've been paying all the bills and my wife has been buying groceries with cash that I give her, and there was no real sensible reason in adding her name to the, let's say, the water bill?

As way of some background which would also form part of my explanatory letter to Immigration, my (at the time) gf arrived in the UK in December 2005, following 2 previous UK visits on a visitor visa and my travelling to her home in Thailand a few times in between; we were married in February 2006; a 2-year spousal visa was granted by UK Immigration in April; our daughter was born in a London hospital in June 2006 and her birth was registered in the UK and she has been given both a UK and Thai passport naming us as her parents; we have plenty of health visitor/ante-post natal documentation for our current address addressed to "the parents of XXXX XXX"; all three of us are travelling together on the same flight to Thailand and back between Nov '07 and Feb '08 - is all this not more than enough proof of co-habitation than simply sticking my wife's name on a bill?

I would like to think that common sence would prevail, but am not interested in getting into a fight with Immigration over it.

Any thoughts/experience/advise?

[the scouser]

Your wife's application for ILR will be governed by the immigration rules which simply state that the caseworker has to be satisfied that your marriage is subsisting. It is the Borders and Immigration Agency which has decided that this is best demonstrated by showing utility bills etc. My belief has always been that this doesn't actually show anything except that a number of letters were sent to the given person at the given address.

I would send a covering letter along the lines you suggest, in which you state why you don't have too much of the documentation they require. However, your daughter's existence is good evidence of your relationship and, certainly, you should include with the application the letters sent to you and your wife in relation to your daughter.

Scouse.

[Mahout Angrit]

There is a note on the form which allows you to give an explanation if you cannot fulfil the requirement or provide the 20 they specify.

However she should have had some letters addressed to her to your address. Does your wife have letters from the doctors surgery, bank, job centre, DVLA etc?

The council are a good place to start as they seem prepared to put whatever names you wish on your council tax bills. It's also easy to get your wife to buy your next TV licence in her name.