Hi, I am looking some advice regarding what the British embassy see as sufficent funding for a spouse visa.

I married my thai girlfriend last week, I am now back in the UK and my wife is currently staying with relatives in Bangkok.

Is having an income every month enough or do I need to have a wealth of savings?

Does the embassy have a minimium dissposible expenditure that a visa sponsor is required to have?

I understand that my wife will be able to work in the UK when she arrives, so would having a job offer include in our application be beneifical?

Regards, Tim

Is having an income every month enough or do I need to have a wealth of savings?

An income such as employment is sufficient, you must be able to accommodate her without recourse to any public funds .Obviously include any savings you have such as shares/cash in other accounts etc.

Does the embassy have a minimum disposable expenditure that a visa sponsor is required to have?

The government are paying £92.80 to a married couple on income support at the moment to live on. Do you have any disposable income once you have paid all your bills etc is it above this figure ? You must also remember you wont be sending any means of support once she arrives here in the UK.

I understand that my wife will be able to work in the UK when she arrives, so would having a job offer include in our application be beneficial?

Yes if it is a serious offer in writing, however gaining employment does not seem to be an issue in my experience.

This may help http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ukreside...fecivilpartner/

Thanks for the reply mariner, the £92.80, is that a weekly or monthly amount?

It's a weekly amount.

However, it is only a guide.

From Chapter 9 - The maintenance and accommodation requirements

There is no explicit minimum figure for what represents sufficient maintenance. However, in 2006 UKAIT KA and Others (Pakistan), the AIT strongly suggested that it would not be appropriate to have immigrant families existing on resources that that were less than the Income Support level for a British Family of that size (See Paragraph 8 of the determination - available on the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal website). If it is more likely than not that the total amount that the applicant and sponsor will have to live on will be below what the income support level would be for a British family of that size, then it may be appropriate to refuse the application on maintenance and accommodation grounds.

Your user name suggests that you are from Ulster. I am sure you are aware that if born there you have Irish nationality as well as British. Using your Irish nationality means that you can apply under the EEA rules rather than the UK ones. This would not only be cheaper, free in fact, but quicker and easier!

See Chapter 21 - The European dimension, 21.4 - The EEA family permit

You would need to get an Irish passport before applying under the EEA rules.