Application for my wife, resident in two countries.

Hi everyone,

I'm from the UK/Canada and we live between UAE and Turkey. I want to apply for a UK visa for my wife (from Syria).

She currently has a 2 year visit visa that is expiring in November (which we didn't use) and we want to travel sometime in December (during our son's school holidays).

All her previous visas were issued from Dubai, UAE, but it's a lot more convenient for us to apply from Istanbul. She has residency in both UAE and Turkey and a PR from Canada.

Our situation is not straightforward as we have savings in BOTH countries but income comes from UAE.

The documents that I would provide to either the consulates of Istanbul or Dubai would be either identical.

She is a company owner in Turkey (start up business) and our son goes to school in Istanbul and we travel very often to Schengen countries and the UAE.

I would like to know if the consulate in Istanbul would recognize or at least consider the many officially stamped bank statements (from her and from me) that we provide from UAE along with the ones from Turkey?

The reason I ask is that Syrians getting a UK visa under normal circumstances is almost impossible, but she has always had one on and off since 2008 and have been to the UK many times.

Thanks.

Are you applying for her UK visitor visa or for your wife to settle with you in the UK

A standard visit visa and not any settled status. We have plans to move to Canada in a few years but not the UK.

Clarification: I don't live in the UK, we live together with our son mostly in Istanbul.

Your biggest challenge will be to submit documented evidence of your wife's stronger reasons to return to her country of residence than she has to remain in the UK. Unfortunately, visitor visas now come under greater scrutiny due to spouses who don't qualify for a settlement visa using this as a route to enter the UK and then attempting to claim exceptional reasons to stay.

This has made it more difficult for genuine visitors to obtain a visa.

Thanks for the reply.

With regards to proving ties to the countries we are resident that's never been a problem as she's had about 7 UK visas and countless schengen visas as well as a PR in Canada. Our ties are very strong in both Turkey and UAE.

My concern really is that if we apply in Istanbul, they wouldn't bother looking at the documents from UAE.

She has already gotten a schengen from Istanbul (as opposed to Dubai) but from my experience UK is much more difficult and the staff are probably much less competent.

I've had horrible experience with them applying for my mother in law where they refused and stated completely incorrect information that was submitted.

Anyone can answer the initial question?

Thanks.

kenaness wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 28, 2019 4:40 pm

Our ties are very strong in both Turkey and UAE.

By the way it sounds, it seems your wife has strong ties to her country of residence, plus she’s been granted visitor visas several times in the past. Just be sure to submit all the paperwork that demonstrates it (especially about her business and your son’s school).

kenaness wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 28, 2019 4:40 pm

My concern really is that if we apply in Istanbul, they wouldn't bother looking at the documents from UAE.

She has already gotten a schengen from Istanbul (as opposed to Dubai) but from my experience UK is much more difficult and the staff are probably much less competent.

I think you already responded your own question. In theory, UKVI is obliged to see and verify all the enclosed documentation for each application, regardless of the country of origin (e.g., Turkey, UAE). I know it isn’t your case, but a few settlement applications rely on overseas salary for example and submit evidence from more than one country. However, if you know that staff in Istanbul is quite incompetent and they may omit documents from UAE that you need as supporting evidence, don’t risk it and apply from UAE instead. It shouldn’t be a problem.

Hey thanks for the reply.

Actually the incompetent staff were in UAE.

She never applied to the UK from İstanbul.