1. The "Do you have any other reasons for wanting to stay in the UK?" question:
This asks if you have other reasons, but no other part of the form asks for a reason. My wife's reason for wanting to stay here is to build a life with me, but I guess that is the the implied assumed reason and the question is asking if you have other reasons in addition to that (e.g. kids in the UK). Should we just answer "I do not have any other reasons for wanting to stay in the UK".
2. The legal name change question:
Since marriage, my partner has used my surname for some things, but her home country does not change name on marriage, so her passport and a few other 'official' things are in her maiden name. We recorded both maiden and married names on the application. There is a question which asks if you've ever had a legal name change. As far as I know, using the husband's name after marriage does not qualify as a legal name change (a legal change requires a deed poll). Correct? So the answer for us is "No, I've never had a legal name change"?
3. The "Do you have any family in your country of birth, nationality or any other country where you have lived for more than 5 years?" question:
My wife has not yet been living in the UK for 5 years. As we understand it, we can submit the application 28 days before the 5 year mark is passed. The answer we have is something like the below:
Living in [home country]:Father([name]), Mother([name]), etc.
I keep in contact by calling, messaging and try to visit once per year.
Living in UK: In-laws([names]) etc.
I keep in contact by messaging and visiting occasionally.
First question: We mention only immediate family in the home country (not extended family). Is there any official guidance on these questions?
Second question: Is it ok/good to mention in-laws here? They are family after all, and we do see them when we can although we don't live very close to them anymore. My wife has technically not lived here for 5 years yet though.
4. The "Do you have any friends in your country of birth, nationality or any other country where you have lived for more than 5 years?" question:
In this section we mention a handful of friends my wife keeps in touch with from back home. We don't have a big social circle here and haven't tried to add any of our UK acquaintances. The answer looks something like the below:
Friends in [home country]: A [e.g. school] friend: [name], [city, country]. I keep in contact by messaging and meeting up when I am in Korea. [repeat for a couple of other friends]
Given that we plan to mention my family in the UK in the preceding question, is there anything wrong with not mentioning UK friends here?
5. The "Are you part of any social groups or do you have other cultural ties in your country of birth, nationality or any other country where you have lived for more than five years?" question:
In this section we put a one-liner something like the below:
I was a member of [X organisation] in [home country] when I lived there.
Not sure what else to say, the question is a bit strange and not quite sure how to answer it. Opinions?
6. The "Do you have any Home Office reference numbers?" question:
I think we must have a reference somewhere, but we haven't been able to locate any paperwork which contains it. Is it ok to just answer "No."?
7. The "Time lived in the UK" question:
I think we are able to submit the application 28 days before the 5 year mark? Based on the date of entry after the initial Limited Leave to Remain visa was granted. If we do that, how should we answer this question? 5 years? Or 4 years, 11 months?
8. The "Have you been out of the UK since you started living here?" question:
We have a fairly long list of absences. Most are just a few days at a time. A few are for 2 weeks or longer. Most answers to the "Reason for this period of absence" question are one-liners. "Tourism in [City], [Country]". "Work trip to [City, Country]".
some of these trips doubled up. My wife had a work trip, but she would be free in the evenings so I also travelled there and we spent some time exploring the cities in the evenings. It's ok to mention both the work aspect and the tourism aspect, right?
9. The "What languages does your partner speak fluently?" and "What languages do you and your partner use to communicate with each other?" questions.
I don't speak my wife's language fluently but I have a very basic conversational level and we use both languages to communicate with each other. It's ok to mention only my own language in the first question, but both languages in the second question, right?
10. The "What type of ceremony was your wedding or civil partnership?" question:
Didn't really understand the intent / purpose of this question. It's ok to answer just "Christian marriage ceremony", right?
11. The "When did you and your partner being living together?" question:
After we got married, my wife came to the UK during that time as a Family Visitor, and stayed for the 6 months she was permitted to on that visa. Then returned to her home country while I accrued the minimum 6 months required with sufficient salary for her to apply for the first "limited leave to remain" visa. Should we use the time from when her first "limited leave to remain" visa was granted, (irrespective of the fact that she visited me for 6 months immediately after marriage).
12. The "Could you and your partner live together outside the UK if necessary?" question:
How should we answer this question? I don't speak my wife's language fluently, and don't have a visa or any other right to live there. My wife doesn't have the right to live anywhere other than her home country, (and the UK on her current visa). We both have jobs and a life here.
Our current answer is something along these lines. "No, we have a life together here, and we don't currently both have the right to live and work together anywhere else."
13. The "6 letters and/or other documents addressed to you and your partner at the same address to show that you have been living together during the past 2.5 years?" question:
Are there restrictions on the types of letters and/or the number of different sources? I am sure I remember some very specific rules/guidance about this from last time but haven't been able to locate it.
We have a few things like utility bills in both names (often multiple from the same company though).
We also have other letters in both our names but which are not from "official" sources (like banks, utility companies, councils etc). The most obviously that sticks out to me is the monthly invoices for our rent.
If someone has a link to official guidance / rules about these it would be appreciated!