If you are in a relationship or planning on marrying a British citizen, or are considering doing so in the near future, it is crucial that your application for a UK spouse visa be submitted on time. Any delays can be costly and have far-reaching repercussions; however, the process itself should be straightforward with planning and assistance from an immigration law firm.

Proving Financial and Relationship Stability

On a spouse visa application, applicants must prove they can support themselves and any children in the UK. Requirements vary depending on how old your partner is and if you already reside here. Furthermore, proof that your marriage or civil partnership exists must also be provided—this can be challenging depending on its length of time. Photos, text messages, call logs, or travel documents may all help demonstrate that a couple exists.

Financial Requirements

Spouse visa applicants must also provide evidence of financial stability and accommodation needs. At minimum, this includes both your and your sponsor's incomes; investment income such as rental income or dividends should also be included herein. However, proper documentation must be presented to verify these sources of income. In addition to that, additional expenses such as mortgage deposits or rental deposits may also need to be considered.

English Language Requirements

As well as fulfilling financial requirements, English language requirements must also be fulfilled before making applications for further leave to remain as a spouse. Exceptional circumstances may be considered if it becomes impossible for you to meet these standards prior to arriving in the UK.

Processing Options and Fees

Priority and super priority services offer fast processing of UK spouse visa applications. Although they cost more, this option significantly shortens processing times. Payment of fees to the Home Office should occur upon submission.

Validity and Indefinite Leave to Remain

Once approved, your visa will remain valid for five years and at this point, you are eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which allows permanent residents of the UK to remain without immigration restrictions. To qualify, at least five years must have passed in which you fulfilled maintenance requirements and held onto a valid passport while also meeting health and character criteria.

Immigration Connection - The Best UK Spouse Visa Service

Immigration Connection UK Spouse Visa Service has an outstanding track record in successfully securing UK spouse visas. We take care in preparation, document checking, and reviewing processes before submitting to the Home Office; as well as supporting any appeals or oral hearings which may arise.

About Immigration Connection

We are an established immigration firm with offices in both London and Manchester, specializing in UK spouse visa applications. Our highly qualified team can guide you through this complex process with ease and provide a cost-effective service designed to increase the chances of approval of your application.

The UK Spouse Visa Criteria

The UK Spouse Visa allows those in long-term, stable relationships to come to the UK and live together permanently. In order to qualify for such a visa, applicants must fulfill several criteria set by the government, including showing evidence that both parties intend to reside together permanently in Britain.

Visa Duration and Income Requirements

A UK spouse visa is a non-renewable nonimmigrant visa that may last for five years, though applicants must show they have sufficient income to support themselves and any dependents without needing state benefits. Different considerations apply if already living in the UK; it may be possible to meet financial requirements through household income.

Required Documentation

As part of their application for a UK spouse visa, applicants must present several documents which demonstrate proof of marriage and financial stability, in addition to possessing sufficient English language skills in order to communicate effectively in the UK—CEFR level A1 is usually sufficient. For extensions after 2.5 years, the requirement increases to CEFR A2.

Proving an Authentic Relationship

Proof that you and your partner are in an authentic relationship should be included with your application for the UK spouse visa. This could include photographs, letters from employers or utility providers confirming you share expenses and live at the same address, property deeds showing that ownership of property jointly exists between both of you, and financial documents showing sufficient savings.

Processing Times and Healthcare Surcharge

The UK spouse visa processing time varies depending on where and when you submit your application. Standard processing typically takes eight weeks while priority service usually provides faster decisions (usually within 12 working days of biometric appointment), or super priority which offers 24-hour processing times but requires an additional fee payment. All UK spouse visa applicants are also required to pay an annual healthcare surcharge of £1,035 which should usually accompany your application form.