FLR(M) (Spouse visa) - Documents required?

Hi,

I hope someone can help.

I have just submitted my application for FLR(M). I am a New Zealander in the UK on a Working Holiday Visa and have married my partner who is English. We were granted a Certificate of Approval to do this.

I followed the instructions on the application form/ guidance and provided all the documents they asked for:

1. Passport photos of myself, and my husband
2. Our passports
3. Our marriage certificate
4. Evidence of finances (bank statements and wage slips for both of us for the last 3 months).

I did not provide anything else as the form did not ask for anything else.
However, after reading up on this site and other sites on the internet, I see that other people often send additional information such as proof that you live together and photos of the weddidng.

Our relationship is genuine, we have lived together for 3 months and do have evidence of this and photos of our wedding, etc, but I did not include them as they were not asked for on the application form.

I have since rung the Home Office and they said it was correct to not send anything extra, and that the caseworker would contact me only IF they require further evidence.

However I still feel concerned about this after reading that so many other people send this information anyway, and I'm wondering if I should send them this extra evidence?

Does anyone have any experience of this or advice on it?

Many thanks,
Jess.

You really don't need anything further, don't worry.

Victoria

I also included a letter from our landlord (as we didn't have a lease), detailing the house (that we were the only ones residing in it, the rent we paid) and also included a letter from my husband's employer- the Home Office kept these two letters, so maybe something to include.

VictoriaS wrote:You really don't need anything further, don't worry.

Victoria

Thanks.

Would it be advantageous to send further information though do you think, such as our lease agreement and utilities bills in both our names?

I don't see how they can establish that our relationship is subsisting, we have suitable accommodation etc, without any evidence.

I really want to maximise my chances of being successful!

Thanks again.

As you have already sent the application off, they would come back to you if they wanted anything else. But with applications from within the UK they seldom ask for anything further.

Victoria

VictoriaS wrote:As you have already sent the application off, they would come back to you if they wanted anything else. But with applications from within the UK they seldom ask for anything further.

Victoria

Thanks a lot. You've put my mind at rest.

VictoriaS wrote:As you have already sent the application off, they would come back to you if they wanted anything else. But with applications from within the UK they seldom ask for anything further.

Victoria

Hi Victoria,

I hope you don't mind answering a further query on my case;

As above, I sent my application for FLR(M) to the Home Office on 3/12 and they took the payment from my account on 10/12. I have heard nothing from them, so I called the Home Office call centre, and was told I was sent something, by recorded delivery, on 17/12. They couldn't tell me what it was.

It still hasn't arrived, Royal Mail are saying it's showing as not delivered yet and to allow 15 working days, which is up tomorrow.

I'm sort of in limbo as I don't know whether what I've been sent is my visa - ie if my application has been successful.
In your experience, could you say whether it's likely what they sent me is the visa I've applied for, or a request for further information? (Ie, do they send requests for further information by recorded delivery?)

And do you know if there is any way to get further information from the Home Office? (the call centre I called could not provide any information).

Many thanks in advance for your help,

Jess.

Don't worry. If they send a request for further info they usually send the request a couple of times before giving up and assessing without it.

You may want to write to tell them that you haven't received anything, and ask them to resend.

Victoria

VictoriaS wrote:Don't worry. If they send a request for further info they usually send the request a couple of times before giving up and assessing without it.

You may want to write to tell them that you haven't received anything, and ask them to resend.

Victoria

Hello Victoria,

Following my above query ... I don't you don't mind if I ask your further advice? Your previouse advice was really helpful and my case is now a bit unusual.

As I explained above, I applied for FLR(M) on 7th December;
when I hadn't heard anything back I phoned the Home Office and was told the posted me something by recorded delivery on 17th December.

I didn't receive this delivery (and Royal Mail confirm it's never been delivered and they can't locate it). After one month, I advised the Home Office of this by phone and they are now "investigating" but couldn't tell me over the phone what was in the package (ie whether it was our passports and a decision on my application).

I wrote to them asking them to advise me in the meantime of what was in the delivery, and I got a letter back from the 'Sheffield passport hotline' regarding the "return of my documents" which said they are "investigating the location of my documents" and will get back to me in due course. I took this to mean it did contain our passports (otherwise if it way say, just a letter from them, they would just re-send it rather than investigate).

My current working holiday visa is valid until 21st March. I really need to know whether my application was approved and whether what they sent me was our passports.

Do you have any advice at all on this and what the best thing I can do now is (other than wait?).

Also, does my visa status change whilst I am waiting for this outcome? Ie does it mean I could stay on in the country, beyond my working holiday visa expiry date?

Many thanks for your help!

JCartwright wrote:Also, does my visa status change whilst I am waiting for this outcome? Ie does it mean I could stay on in the country, beyond my working holiday visa expiry date?

See also ILR-Unmarried Partner decison times/employment.

Technically, the leave is "treated as continuing".

vinny wrote:

JCartwright wrote:Also, does my visa status change whilst I am waiting for this outcome? Ie does it mean I could stay on in the country, beyond my working holiday visa expiry date?

See also ILR-Unmarried Partner decison times/employment.

Technically, the leave is "treated as continuing".

Thank-you Vinny.

Do either you or Victoria have any other advice about the other aspects of my case?

Many thanks.