Self employed / PG student and planning FLR

[RONALDO007]

Hi
someone please help me out, I just need an early planing as regards my wife's FLR(5 year route). I am British by birth, currently working on a self employed basis for a company(started this month). my wife is unemployed, she is due to apply for FLR in January 2017. we have 2 kids who are British too.
I am on zero contract hours now but I work over 40 hours a week,so I can comfortably work long hours so as to get 1550 pm before tax, as she needs 18600 for the financial requirement but I intend to start my postgraduate studies in September 2016, then I will just be entitled to 20 hours of work.
my questions are?

As a self employed, do they calculate with income before or after tax?
Are there documents/paper work i need from the company i work for,for the visa extension purpose?
will my schooling affect her FLR ,since I wont be working much?any alternative to this?
I have also read about being employed by same company 6 months prior to application , am not really clear on that, I intend to relocate because of my schooling so I wouldn't be employed by same company, how does this work out? what can I do regarding this?
my wife is an African with a bachelors degree, does she need to write ielts or she can send off her certificate to UK naric?

Note; my wife just had a baby so she is unable to work for now.


Thanks for reading ,please i would appreciate any advise for smooth application and so i can start planing early as she has about 1 year left to application.

[CR001]

then I will just be entitled to 20 hours of work

You can obviously work more hours than this if you choose to. Why do you think you can only work for 20 hours pw?

For self employed, you have to submit proof of your self assessments (SA302) and your income will be calculated for 12 months. All tax affairs should be up to date.

If you are self employed, you are not employed by a company. You are likely a contractor.

Is your wife's degree a UK university degree? What is her current visa status?

[RONALDO007]

Thanks for your reply, I thought I am only entitled to 20 hours because I will be doing my masters degree full time, I am actually new to the self employment thingy as i have been in salaried employment so will confirm from my employee.
No my wife has a degree from Africa, she has entry clearance spouse visa applied after july 2012.

[CR001]

The 20 hour work limit is for people in the UK on a Tier 4 Student Visa. It doesn't apply to British Citizens and you can work full time and study part time if you wish or study full time and work as many hours as you wish to suit your circumstances.

She will need to meet all the same requirements she initially met for her spouse visa when she applies for an extension. There are no exceptions.

[RONALDO007]

The 20 hour work limit is for people in the UK on a Tier 4 Student Visa. It doesn't apply to British Citizens and you can work full time and study part time if you wish or study full time and work as many hours as you wish to suit your circumstances.

She will need to meet all the same requirements she initially met for her spouse visa when she applies for an extension. There are no exceptions.

Thanks a lot for taking your time to read and respond. cheers