Spousal Visa Question

[Tallyski]

Hi,

I have been living in the US for the last 12 years, after I met and married my wife. I am looking to move back to the UK, but I'm unsure about the spousal visa.

I know the minimum wage is 18,600 to be her sponsor, but I am wondering if the sponsor has to be me. I have a decent job here, but don't want to leave my wife and children for 6 months to show I can hold down a job. i don't have the 60,000+ in the bank either.

I was wondering if my brother, who earns well above the minimum wage could be her sponsor.

Thanks in advance.

[Wanderer]

Only you can be the sponsor....

[Casa]

You would meet the financial condition if you could show that you have been earning the equivalent of £18,600 in the US in the 6 months prior to submitting your wife's visa application and have a confirmed job offer to start within 3 months of arrival. This UK employment also has to meet the £18,600 annual income level.
Wanderer is correct that 3rd party financial support is not acceptable.

[Tallyski]

I appreciate both of your responses a great deal.

I have been working for the same company for over eight years, and presently earning close to 40,000 pounds.

So, if I was to have a job lined up, would my I be able to bring my wife with me or would she need to apply for the visa before she arrived. I'm just thinking most jobs would want me to start as quick as possible, and I have read it takes up to 12 weeks for a response.

Thanks again.

[Wanderer]

If you have a job offer in UK lined up of over £18,600pa to start within three months you're good to go I think provided is a firm offer. She'll have to apply for a spouse visa either way though, form VAF4A and the usual rigmarole, and remember she can't arrive as a visitor and switch, not permitted.

To be brutally honest, it's highly unlikely you'd secure a role in UK without physically being in UK, F2F interviews etc, unless you know people.

[Tallyski]

All,

Thanks for your response, it's been a great help.

If my wife was to apply and gets a spousal visa, is there a time period that we have use it within?

I'm trying to timeline everything out.

Regards,

[Casa]

Your wife can ask for her visa issue date to be deferred for up to 3 months, but once issued she must enter the UK within 30 days in order to collect her Biometric Permit within 10 days of entry.