Settlement visa, please help!

Hi all,

Sorry if I'm repeating questions already asked, I have read through lots of the posts, but I was hoping for some specific advice if any one can give it to me?

I'm an Australian citizen about to apply for a settlement visa to join my husband in the UK. We've been married since November 2009. We lived together in the UK from November 2008 until October 2010. I overstayed my 2 year working holiday visa (on which i entered the UK in April 2007), then we spent six months in the US before moving back to the UK in March 2011 (I entered the UK as a visitor, for six months). I've come over to Berlin, staying with friends, to apply for my settlement visa as this seemed easier than going all the way back to Australia.

I'm more than slightly concerned because my husband has only been working at his current job for three months, since coming back to the UK from the US. Will this affect our application??? Is there something I can do, other than cross my fingers, to help this situation?

As for suitable accommodation, we've been staying with friends rent free, but what sort of documentation is required to prove this?

We're actually in the process of moving into our own place, and I'm quite worried that if I apply for my visa now, I may have to wait a very long time for an interview. If I apply, could I go back to the UK to move house, then come back to Berlin for my interview date? It's just such a pain not having any idea when I might be able to get an interview. Does any one have any experience applying from Germany, or Berlin specifically?

Also, my husband doesn't have a particularly good income, it's enough to pay our rent, travel, food and all that, but does this affect our application? I intend to work as soon as I have my visa, and I do have work lined up...which is actually considerably better paid than my husband.

We'd really appreciate any advice you can give,

Thank you,

Isabella

See also Where to apply - the policy.