I had no idea that we could claim either of these benefits as I thought that the no recourse to public funds meant just that, we got nothing so that is really good to know.
For Child Benefit there is a single claimant. As either parent/step-parent is able to be that claimant there is no problem with you claiming. The fact that the child has a "No recourse to Public Funds" restriction on his visa does not matter .....
he is not claiming Child Benefit ... you are! Your wife, similarly with a "No recourse to Public Funds" restriction on her visa, must not be the Child Benefit claimant.
Tax Credits .... for a couple living together the claim needs to be made jointly by the two of you. However where the couple are one person free of immigration restrictions ... you .... and one person with a restricted visa ... your wife .... small print in the Tax Credits legislation says that for Tax Credits purposes only both are treated as being as free of immigration restrictions. And it is confirmed that any such claim with your wife as joint-claimant does not breach her visa restrictions.
I don't think the contact thing will really be an issue as we are constantly in contact everyday
Of course .... don't forget to prove it in the evidence folder you will hand in in support of the visa applications.
She believes that he will sign a document of permission but does not want to tell him until after we are married.
You need to know what you are up against here. Why doesn't your wife phone the British Embassy in Moscow and ask them about the nature of the Sole Custody proof that they need? Contact information is on
this webpage.
By the way, note that the application fee for each visa is currently 14300 roubles.
