Settlement Visa Headache

[eldimoni]

Hi all.

Im currently in the process of preparing all my documents for my wifes Settlement Visa. We've been married for a year and a half and have a 2 year old son.

We are using a friend of the family (in Thailand) who is familiar with Visa Applications, although im still very nervy about the whole process. Ive submitted just about everything i can think of including phone records, photos, marriage docs etc. With regards to finances i supplied my last 10 payslips, a letter from my employer and print outs of my last 6 months bank statements. I read somewhere else on this forum about print outs and it seemed to be debatable though some people had used them with no problems. Has anyone got any experience otherwise? My bank doesnt send me any copies to. As a note, i had previously tried for a tourist visa for my wife which was refused for various reasons. I used print outs in that application and it wasn't questioned. The only query relating to finances was about the funds in the account (or lack thereof). It was mainly turned down due to the lack of paperwork, as i was on holiday in thailand at the time and couldnt get hold of a lot of stuff that would have helped.

Also, i have a worry with regards to the housing issue. I live with my parents, brother and sister in a 4 bedroom garden flat in central london. We have lived here for over 27 years but no longer have the original tenancy agreement. I have tried to get a copy through our housing agency, but they seem very reluctant to issue it. As a compromise, they are writing a letter confirming our tenancy for 27 years, the occupants and a description of the number of bedrooms. The letter also includes the fact that they dont have a record of the square footage of the rooms. I know this is something the Embassy will look at with regards to overcrowding.

Ive supplied photos of all the rooms but i am very concerned about not having a copy of the tenancy agreement and not having an official record of the square feet per room. Ive tried the local council and even the land registry for the area, but it seems no one has this information.

Any advice welcome.

Edited February 7, 2008 by eldimoni

[the scouser]

If you're worried about your bank print-outs, you can always have them authenticated by your bank itself. Failing that, an application can't be refused solely because your bank statements are print-outs. You have to show that it is probable that you earn what you say you do and providing that your print-outs do just that, then there shouldn't be a problem.

A letter from the housing association will do fine. I wouldn't get too bogged down in the minutiae, and just present the accommodation as it is, a four bed-roomed flat with, presumably either one or two living rooms. You may care to ask the HA if they will confirm their willingness for your wife to live at the flat too. They may decline to do this because it is the tenant's decision who lives at the property, providing it is not otherwise overcrowded. Should they decline to issue such an assurance, you should draw it to the visa officer's attention that at least you asked and the reasons why the HA declined.

Scouse.