Spouse Visa Granted - What Next When In the UK?

[the_silk_route]

Hi,

My wife was granted her spousal visa from Pakistan on the 27th of November, and she arrived in the UK on the 13th of December 2014.

My question is, now that she is in the UK, are there are things that we need to do in order for the next stage? Any neccessary things needed as soon as a spouse comes to the UK after being granted a spousal visa?


Do we need to register our marriage here in the UK?

What else do we need to do?

She has already started preparing for her Life In The UK test and is doing extremely well in learning everything!


Any help would be appreciated.
Many thanks

[WR1]

Your wife is on a 5 year route to settlement. The spouse visa would have been issue for 2.5 years, after which you will be applying for an extension for another 2.5 years using form FLR(M).

Then after a further 2.5 years, (after a completion of 5 years), your wife will be eligible to apply for ILR using form SET(M).

However, this is as the rules are at the moment. Do keep checking the Home Office website as things are change in 5 years times (and even in 2.5 years).

There is no need to register your marriage here as the home Office already recognise it but that's a choice you need to make.

Life in the UK test is not required for an extension (FLR(M)), but will be required for ILR in 5 years time, but there is no harm in taking it now as it has no expiry date.

Just ensure you register her with your local GP, apply for driving license, get her a bank account, joint names onto your household bills etc... as you will need to provide cohabitation documents when you next apply.

[SoHopeful]

Obviously get her registered for the usual things and in preparation for FLR in 2.5 years keep 6 letters addressed to both of you (or 6 letters addressed to each of you) from at least 3 different sources spanning the duration of her visa.