Advice on settlement visa urgent!

To cut a long story short,i was ill advised on my settlement visa application and now find myself in a bind.Im a singapore citizen,married to a british citizen for 8 years.We have 2 sons aged 8 and 6.They hold british passports too.Anyway,i sent in my application on the 2/1/08 with all the items on the checklist.10 days later i was called up for an interview at british high com.The ECO informed me that she was unconvinced that we could support ourselves and said she would give me sometime to improve my financial situation.She also said that we didnt provide enough evidence to prove that the 1 room flat owned by my father in law now occupied solely by my husband even though a letter from my father in law stating he has given us permission to live there.My husband who only returned in march'07 started his current job in late september'07.He earns 340 pounds a week and has about 500 pounds in savings.I have about 2000 pounds in savings and rent from a property i own which amounts to about 450 pounds a month.What are the chances of getting my visa approved?The ECO has given me some time so what can i do to improve my chances?

Have you proven that the one bedroom back is big enough for all four of you? I suspect it may not be.

Have you drawn up a budget to prove that you can support yourselves?

You are very lucky that they have given you this opportunity, rather than just refusing.


Victoria

First of all,thank you for the prompt reply.Well the application is only for myself and i explained that the children will not be travelling with me as our plan is for me to join my husband first and when we have established ourselves and i've found employment(im a preschool teacher)and we move into a bigger place then the kids will join us.(my parents will look after them in the meanwhile)I even offered to have the school write in to prove that the kids remain in enrolment after i've left but she said that there is nothing i can do to prove that i wont take the kids with me.The ECO also mentioned that if we had a sponser with a substantial amount of savings and is willing to write a letter in support of us that it would be a big help.I also read somewhere that if the living room is bigger than 55sq feet that it could qualify as another bedroom.Is that accurate?

I think ECO is not satisfied with your 1room flat because its over crowded. Even if u tell them your children might not be coming until u move to a bigger place, they still need to consider.

2500quid might be too little in ECO's view for 4people. There isnt an amount guide line to how much the ECO will be satisfied as it depends on individual case. For yours maybe u need more. A sponsor might help but its only for temporary. U can ask your sponsor to include his/her bank statement with the letter.

Not too sure about the 55sq feet living room but I am sure its the measurement for an accurate room size. If your room is smaller than that, it could not be consider as a room at all. I suggest u can ask your husband to get a letter from the house/land authority (forgot the name) and they will state if its not over crowded for your family to move in.
U can take some picture around the house for as well.

My husbands cousin who owns a 2 bedroom house has offered to let us live with her.Would it now be possible to inform the ECO of the change in living arrangements?

See also 9.12 - Overcrowding