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Becks149
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Spouse visa and savings

Post by Becks149 » Sun Dec 06, 2020 10:16 pm

Hello all,

I have applied for a spouse visa for my husband.
I have £62,500 as savings and I am receiving Carers Allowance. I have a number of questions and would be grateful if anyone can help?
Can anyone advice me if this combination has any chances of success?
Does everyone receive a call from HO for an interview or are applicants selected randomly?
Has Covid delayed the immigration process or is the waiting period the same?
Can the HO deliberately refuse spouse visa applications due to not wanting people from abroad entering the UK because of Covid?

Thank you.

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seagul
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by seagul » Sun Dec 06, 2020 10:25 pm

Becks149 wrote:
Sun Dec 06, 2020 10:16 pm
Hello all,

I have applied for a spouse visa for my husband.
I have £62,500 as savings and I am receiving Carers Allowance. I have a number of questions and would be grateful if anyone can help?
1. Can anyone advice me if this combination has any chances of success?
2. Does everyone receive a call from HO for an interview or are applicants selected randomly?
3. Has Covid delayed the immigration process or is the waiting period the same?
4. Can the HO deliberately refuse spouse visa applications due to not wanting people from abroad entering the UK because of Covid?

Thank you.
1. £62500 of cash savings alone can meet the financial threshold assuming no extra dependants are applying. Also, really have no idea whether such large savings would be impactful over the eligibility for carer allowance.

2. These happens very seldomly

3. There are mixed experiences but some getting the outcome very rapidly.

4. No but yes by mistakenly.
The opinion expressed as above is neither a professional advice nor contesting/competing to other member's opinion/advice.

Becks149
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Posts: 47
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2020 8:44 pm

Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Becks149 » Mon Dec 07, 2020 10:24 am

seagul wrote:
Sun Dec 06, 2020 10:25 pm
Becks149 wrote:
Sun Dec 06, 2020 10:16 pm
Hello all,

I have applied for a spouse visa for my husband.
I have £62,500 as savings and I am receiving Carers Allowance. I have a number of questions and would be grateful if anyone can help?
1. Can anyone advice me if this combination has any chances of success?
2. Does everyone receive a call from HO for an interview or are applicants selected randomly?
3. Has Covid delayed the immigration process or is the waiting period the same?
4. Can the HO deliberately refuse spouse visa applications due to not wanting people from abroad entering the UK because of Covid?

Thank you.
1. £62500 of cash savings alone can meet the financial threshold assuming no extra dependants are applying. Also, really have no idea whether such large savings would be impactful over the eligibility for carer allowance.

2. These happens very seldomly

3. There are mixed experiences but some getting the outcome very rapidly.

4. No but yes by mistakenly.
Thank u for your reply.
Other replies are also welcome.

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Zerubbabel
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Zerubbabel » Wed Dec 09, 2020 6:59 pm

Why did they refuse your previous applications?

Becks149
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Becks149 » Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:44 pm

Zerubbabel wrote:
Wed Dec 09, 2020 6:59 pm
Why did they refuse your previous applications?
I am about to apply for a spouse visa. My friends husbands visa has been refused twice so I wanted some information.

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seagul
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by seagul » Thu Dec 10, 2020 5:24 am

Becks149 wrote:
Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:44 pm
Zerubbabel wrote:
Wed Dec 09, 2020 6:59 pm
Why did they refuse your previous applications?
I am about to apply for a spouse visa. My friends husbands visa has been refused twice so I wanted some information.
If you can fulfill the following criteria and adopt optimism then your outcome would be different than him/her.

https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration ... d-evidence
The opinion expressed as above is neither a professional advice nor contesting/competing to other member's opinion/advice.

Becks149
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Becks149 » Sat Dec 12, 2020 10:31 am

Thank you for the response.

One more question, when applying for a spouse visa, if the applicants father's name is misspelt on the birth certificate and does not match the other documents, is that a concern?

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CR001
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by CR001 » Sat Dec 12, 2020 10:56 am

Applicant is not required to submit their birth certificate for a spouse visa application.

Suggest do not submit irrelevant and unnecessary documents.
Char (CR001 not Casa)
In life you cannot press the Backspace button!!
Please DO NOT send me a PM for immigration advice. I reserve the right to ignore the PM and not respond.

Becks149
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Becks149 » Sat Dec 19, 2020 7:05 pm

I have two questions. Can someone please help?

My spouse has had previous visas for UAE through a company and he has resigned now. Do I need to disclose this on the spouse visa application form? Do they always check for the applicants previous immigration history? What happens if I don't disclose?
Secondly, I am using the savings route. Two family members have gifted me £23,000 and £25,000 respectively. I am unemployed and on carers allowance. Will the caseworker raise questions as to where the remaining £14,600 came from?

TODMATT
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by TODMATT » Sat Dec 19, 2020 8:24 pm

Becks149 wrote:
Sat Dec 19, 2020 7:05 pm
I have two questions. Can someone please help?

My spouse has had previous visas for UAE through a company and he has resigned now. Do I need to disclose this on the spouse visa application form? Do they always check for the applicants previous immigration history? What happens if I don't disclose? Declare it yes as he would be asked in the application form.

Secondly, I am using the savings route. Two family members have gifted me £23,000 and £25,000 respectively. I am unemployed and on carers allowance. Will the caseworker raise questions as to where the remaining £14,600 came from?
Official guidance page page 14
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... gov-uk.pdf

Meeting the financial requirement through ‘adequate
maintenance’
"Where the applicant’s partner is in receipt of any of the following benefits or
allowances in the UK, the applicant will be able to meet the financial requirement at
that application stage by providing evidence of “adequate maintenance” rather than
meeting an income threshold:
• Carer’s Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment
• Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under
the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
• Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War Disablement
Pension under the War Pensions Scheme
• Police Injury Pension"

If you are receiving carers allowance, you can apply for an exemption from meeting the financial requirement but you must meet adequate maintenance.

See guidance on adequate allowance.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... gov-uk.pdf

The savings held for 6 months period would count and

23,000 divide by 143 = £160 weekly amount can be added towards adequate maintenance
25,000 divide by 143 = £174 weekly amount can be added towards adequate maintenance

Current rate as of April 2020 https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/resources/ ... me_support

£116.80 per couple each week.
£68.27 per week for each child
£17.60 family premium per week.
Eg. a couple with one child will need 202.67 after deducting rent and council tax.



My opinions should not be constituted as an immigration or legal advice.

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Casa
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Casa » Sat Dec 19, 2020 8:49 pm

The Entry Clearance Office (ECO) will want to see the following:
1. The source of the £14,600 savings
2. That the savings provided by family members is a gift and not a loan
3. All of the savings have been held in an accessible account for a minimum of 6 months

If you are unemployed, are you subsisting solely on your carers allowance?
(Casa, not CR001)
Please don't send me PMs asking for immigration advice on posts that are on the open forum. If I haven't responded there, it's because I don't have the answer. I'm a moderator, not a legal professional.

Becks149
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Posts: 47
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2020 8:44 pm

Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Becks149 » Sun Dec 20, 2020 12:24 am

TODMATT wrote:
Sat Dec 19, 2020 8:24 pm
Becks149 wrote:
Sat Dec 19, 2020 7:05 pm
I have two questions. Can someone please help?

My spouse has had previous visas for UAE through a company and he has resigned now. Do I need to disclose this on the spouse visa application form? Do they always check for the applicants previous immigration history? What happens if I don't disclose? Declare it yes as he would be asked in the application form.

Secondly, I am using the savings route. Two family members have gifted me £23,000 and £25,000 respectively. I am unemployed and on carers allowance. Will the caseworker raise questions as to where the remaining £14,600 came from?
Official guidance page page 14
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... gov-uk.pdf

Meeting the financial requirement through ‘adequate
maintenance’
"Where the applicant’s partner is in receipt of any of the following benefits or
allowances in the UK, the applicant will be able to meet the financial requirement at
that application stage by providing evidence of “adequate maintenance” rather than
meeting an income threshold:
• Carer’s Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment
• Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under
the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
• Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War Disablement
Pension under the War Pensions Scheme
• Police Injury Pension"

If you are receiving carers allowance, you can apply for an exemption from meeting the financial requirement but you must meet adequate maintenance.

See guidance on adequate allowance.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... gov-uk.pdf

The savings held for 6 months period would count and

23,000 divide by 143 = £160 weekly amount can be added towards adequate maintenance
25,000 divide by 143 = £174 weekly amount can be added towards adequate maintenance

Current rate as of April 2020 https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/resources/ ... me_support

£116.80 per couple each week.
£68.27 per week for each child
£17.60 family premium per week.
Eg. a couple with one child will need 202.67 after deducting rent and council tax.

Thank you for your response.


Becks149
Newbie
Posts: 47
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2020 8:44 pm

Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Becks149 » Sun Dec 20, 2020 12:41 am

Casa wrote:
Sat Dec 19, 2020 8:49 pm
The Entry Clearance Office (ECO) will want to see the following:
1. The source of the £14,600 savings
2. That the savings provided by family members is a gift and not a loan
3. All of the savings have been held in an accessible account for a minimum of 6 months

If you are unemployed, are you subsisting solely on your carers allowance?
My family members have clearly declared in a letter that the money is a gift, not a loan.
The money has been kept in the account for more than 6 months.
I am looking for work but no luck yet. I don't understand how adequate maintenance works. If the sponsor is relying on benefits, then how will they support the applicant after the visa. Surely, recourse to public funds is something that the government does not endorse.

TODMATT
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by TODMATT » Sun Dec 20, 2020 10:42 am

Becks149 wrote:
Sun Dec 20, 2020 12:41 am
Casa wrote:
Sat Dec 19, 2020 8:49 pm
The Entry Clearance Office (ECO) will want to see the following:
1. The source of the £14,600 savings
2. That the savings provided by family members is a gift and not a loan
3. All of the savings have been held in an accessible account for a minimum of 6 months

If you are unemployed, are you subsisting solely on your carers allowance?
My family members have clearly declared in a letter that the money is a gift, not a loan.
The money has been kept in the account for more than 6 months.
I am looking for work but no luck yet. I don't understand how adequate maintenance works. If the sponsor is relying on benefits, then how will they support the applicant after the visa. Surely, recourse to public funds is something that the government does not endorse.
Have you read the guidance posted above?
My opinions should not be constituted as an immigration or legal advice.

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Casa
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Casa » Sun Dec 20, 2020 10:19 pm

If you are unemployed, are you subsisting solely on your carers allowance?

The answer to this question is important. :idea:
(Casa, not CR001)
Please don't send me PMs asking for immigration advice on posts that are on the open forum. If I haven't responded there, it's because I don't have the answer. I'm a moderator, not a legal professional.

Amber
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Location: England, UK
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Amber » Mon Dec 21, 2020 11:17 pm

You seem to have gone a miss, you do not need to meet the financial requirement as you receive carers allowance, instead you need to show adequate maintenance and accommodation, see -immigration-for-family-members/calculat ... 05533.html
**this forum is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice**
Click here to send me a PM regarding an offensive post. Do NOT PM me for immigration advice.

mavaas11
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by mavaas11 » Mon Dec 21, 2020 11:47 pm

you need like £14,000 in savings with carers allowance based on no housing costs and just to sponsor a spouse no kids, if you have other factors look at the guidance on the adequate maintenance guidance.

if you have carers you dont need £62,500 just £14,000 c. if you dont use carers then you will need £62,500.

Becks149
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Becks149 » Tue Dec 22, 2020 11:06 am

Casa wrote:
Sun Dec 20, 2020 10:19 pm
If you are unemployed, are you subsisting solely on your carers allowance?

The answer to this question is important. :idea:
For the purpose of my application, I will not be using Carer's Allowance. The reason being that although I was on CA, I had to temporarily stop my benefit due to a temp job.

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ALKB
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by ALKB » Tue Dec 22, 2020 11:52 am

Becks149 wrote:
Tue Dec 22, 2020 11:06 am
Casa wrote:
Sun Dec 20, 2020 10:19 pm
If you are unemployed, are you subsisting solely on your carers allowance?

The answer to this question is important. :idea:
For the purpose of my application, I will not be using Carer's Allowance. The reason being that although I was on CA, I had to temporarily stop my benefit due to a temp job.
Are you receiving any means tested benefits like universal credit?
I am not a regulated immigration advisor. I am offering an opinion and not advice.

Becks149
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Becks149 » Tue Dec 22, 2020 12:48 pm

ALKB wrote:
Tue Dec 22, 2020 11:52 am
Becks149 wrote:
Tue Dec 22, 2020 11:06 am
Casa wrote:
Sun Dec 20, 2020 10:19 pm
If you are unemployed, are you subsisting solely on your carers allowance?

The answer to this question is important. :idea:
For the purpose of my application, I will not be using Carer's Allowance. The reason being that although I was on CA, I had to temporarily stop my benefit due to a temp job.
Are you receiving any means tested benefits like universal credit?
No, I am not receiving UC because I have £62,500 in account.

TODMATT
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by TODMATT » Tue Dec 22, 2020 1:12 pm

Becks149 wrote:
Tue Dec 22, 2020 12:48 pm
ALKB wrote:
Tue Dec 22, 2020 11:52 am
Becks149 wrote:
Tue Dec 22, 2020 11:06 am
Casa wrote:
Sun Dec 20, 2020 10:19 pm
If you are unemployed, are you subsisting solely on your carers allowance?

The answer to this question is important. :idea:
For the purpose of my application, I will not be using Carer's Allowance. The reason being that although I was on CA, I had to temporarily stop my benefit due to a temp job.
Are you receiving any means tested benefits like universal credit?
No, I am not receiving UC because I have £62,500 in account.
You can easily apply via savings route as long as the funds have been held for the period of 6 months and also it must not be a loan.

You need to provide 6 months bank statements and declaration of source of funds.
My opinions should not be constituted as an immigration or legal advice.

Becks149
Newbie
Posts: 47
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2020 8:44 pm

Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Becks149 » Sat Dec 26, 2020 11:12 am

My application has been submitted however while filling out the VAF4A form, by mistake the solicitor ticked 'no' to the question that 'have you travelled outside your country of residence in the last 10 years?'
As mentioned earlier, my spouse was on a residence permit in UAE. He has had 2 permits. Will this be classed as an 'innocent mistake' bcoz when he goes for his biometrics, they will notice the stamps on his passport? Should I still send the photocopies of his permits to the visa office?

I am also confused as to his period of residency in UAE? I have asked but it is still not making sense.

His first visa was issued on the 6.12.17 and expired on the 5.12.19. He mentioned that he visited the UAE for a medical test through his company on the 7.11.17. He was working from 9.11.2017 to 4.12.18.
So was he right to stay in the country before his visa issue date?

His second visa was issued on the 18.12.19 to 17.12.21. He was then working from 21.1.19 to 8.10.20. I don't understand that if the visa was issued on the 18.12.19, how was he working from 21.1.19?

All these entries have been stamped on his passport so am I safe to assume that everything is OK and I am overthinking too much.

TODMATT
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Posts: 1497
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Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by TODMATT » Sat Dec 26, 2020 11:24 am

Becks149 wrote:
Sat Dec 26, 2020 11:12 am
My application has been submitted however while filling out the VAF4A form, by mistake the solicitor ticked 'no' to the question that 'have you travelled outside your country of residence in the last 10 years?'
As mentioned earlier, my spouse was on a residence permit in UAE. He has had 2 permits. Will this be classed as an 'innocent mistake' bcoz when he goes for his biometrics, they will notice the stamps on his passport? Should I still send the photocopies of his permits to the visa office?

I am also confused as to his period of residency in UAE? I have asked but it is still not making sense.

His first visa was issued on the 6.12.17 and expired on the 5.12.19. He mentioned that he visited the UAE for a medical test through his company on the 7.11.17. He was working from 9.11.2017 to 4.12.18.
So was he right to stay in the country before his visa issue date?

His second visa was issued on the 18.12.19 to 17.12.21. He was then working from 21.1.19 to 8.10.20. I don't understand that if the visa was issued on the 18.12.19, how was he working from 21.1.19?

All these entries have been stamped on his passport so am I safe to assume that everything is OK and I am overthinking too much.
Could you clarify which VAF4A are you talking about? You can write a cover letter to address that mistake.
My opinions should not be constituted as an immigration or legal advice.

Becks149
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Posts: 47
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2020 8:44 pm

Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by Becks149 » Sat Dec 26, 2020 11:49 am

The VAF4A form, the family settlement form.

Can anyone please make sense of these dates?

TODMATT
Diamond Member
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Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2012 1:09 pm

Re: Spouse visa and savings

Post by TODMATT » Sat Dec 26, 2020 12:08 pm

Your solicitor filled VAF4A application form? Instead of filling the application form on the gov website?
My opinions should not be constituted as an immigration or legal advice.

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