Settlement Visa help - US wife and stepson

[Paul Aling]

Hello everyone,

My fiancee found this forum and I thought I'd register and see if anyone can give me some additional info on top of what we're already found out.

Okay, I'll start from the top.

I met my wife-to-be online back in July 2005. We corresponded via e-mail for a few months before regularly speaking on the phone (we now talk for about 2-3 hours a day, every day). We built up a very healthy friendship/relationship over the phone. We even bought each other birthday/Christmas presents for each other and I bought presents for her baby son. I then met her for one day in April 2006 when on a family tour of the USA. After that, I returned to the UK and we continued speaking on the phone. Later in the year we decided that we'd like to spend Christmas together. We looked at the UK visa website and I entered the relevent info and was told that she would not require a visa. We booked the tickets and waited for the day for her to fly over.

The day arrived back in December 2006 and then it all went wrong. It was naivity on our behalf that was the problem. She was refused entry to the UK. We found out that she had now proof that she was her son's mother. She couldn't find her return ticket (it had fallen into a tear in her bag) and she didn't have adequate funds for her month long visit to the UK.

In short, she was sent back the next day. I went with her though.

Okay, that's the meat and bones.

In 2007 we set about making sure this wouldn't happen again. My fiancee has sucessfully won sole custody of her son, been allowed to change his name and the judge has allowed her to move out of California (and the USA) to settle with me.

So that was a major step forward.

I also visited regularly in 2007 (God help my credit card) which built up our relationship even more.

We both looked at the requirements for settlement visas in the Uk and decided that a spouse visa would be the best.

So, here's the checklist for submitting the visa:

Proof of identity
Proof of marriage
Proof of financial support
Proof of abode
Proof of continuous relationship
Any other documents


We all have passports. My step-son is in the process of having his new passport, with new name, submitted. They both have their birth certificates as well.

The wedding has been arranged and we will be able to collect the license the day before and collect the marriage certificate afterwards. We've also checked with the county clerks office what ID we will both need, regardless of nationality.

We both have sufficient ID. I have bank statements for six months and there is a healthy balance. I also have a savings account that is also healthy. I can also submit my letter of acceptance for my current job as well as a good six months of pay slips.

We have been told that a certified letter from my parents saying that I'm allowed to reside there with my new family. We have this as well as a certified copy of the deeds and a letter from an architect stating that the house is of adequate size.

We can prove that our relationship has been continuous by letters, itemized phone bills, photographs and certified statements from family members on both hers and my side.

We also have the money to pay for the visas.

We've been told that as they were refused back in Dec '06, the ECO will have to review the case and then make the decision.

We've honestly come to a dead end with what else to do.

Can anyone else think of anything???

Sorry about the long winded post. I needed to make everything clear.

Thanks,

Paul

[sakura]

Just a quick question, how old is her son?

Other than that, I think you're set. If you want to be doubly sure, just do a search for spouse visa and read what other people have submitted.

[Paul Aling]

Just a quick question, how old is her son?

He'll be 3 then.

Paul