Evidence of Living Together for 2 years

[pnk]

Hi,

*I will be renewing my FLR-M by May 2019.
*Was granted leave to enter in 2016. -on the basis we will be living at her parents in London until we decided to move out.
*Also I had lived in the UK since 2005 but had to go back to my country of origin in early 2015 in other to change my immigration status from student to spouse as per the rules.

**I decided to check the current immigration rules only yesterday and discovered that I’m required to show evidence of at least 2 years living together with my wife from the date of application.**

Summary- Living together:
So, my wife got a new (Temporary) role initially in Surrey and it made sense for her to get a 1 bed flat there. Everything was in her name (tenancy agreement, council tax, utilities bills). Because we believed it was temporary and I was then focusing on finding a job in London but luckily I found a temporary job in Surrey in March 2017 and moved in fully.

We never really considered adding my names as the main thing was that we paid our bills irrespective of whose name was on it. And the accommodation was going to be temporary.

Also, because the accommodation was supposed to be temporary, we never really even changed our addresses on bank statements, etc (note as I have lived in the UK prior address on my bank statements and drivers license remained the same because it is owned buy a relative of mine even though I didn’t really move back there).

Again, one of the main reason we didn’t really bother is that we intended to change my wife’s last name to mine when her British passport expires (which we’ve done). And also, we are hoping to buy our own property between 2019 and 2020 then we can change our addresses only once!

Almost 2 years on we are still at the accommodation (almost everything bill still on my wife’s name) because my wife’s contract has continued to be renewed, and recently it was renewed until al least first quarter of 2020.

Basically, I will not be able to provide any evidence (as stated/described by home office) to show I lived in the accommodation for 2017. I can however, provide part of 2018 as I am now added on the council tax and only yesterday added my name on water bill and started to change my address on my bank accounts. On our electric and gas bill only one name can be on it - I am on it as some who can discuss the account but it doesn’t reflect on the bill statements.

Will my explanation with as much information I could gather (even though not the exact documents home office require) be sufficient?

OR

Is there anything specifically I should ensure I include as evidence under this circumstances?

Please any help/suggestions will be much appreciated.

Thank you!

[Londoner007]

You can only submit what you have so gather absolutely whatever letters you have in your names and addresses, and write a explanation for the lack of more correspondences.

This is a great reminder why it is best to stay on top of future application requirements, as many people forget to gather documents after they have got Entry Clearance.

[CR001]

There is no requirement of '2 years living together' if you are married. This mandatory requirement is for Unmarried Partner visas.

Simply submit what you have since marriage to prove subsisting relationship and cohabitation.

Hi CR001, just to clarify, to date, as along as I am married to my wife we do not need to provide evidence of 2 years living together? I have been worried about this!

And evidence of subsisting relationship and cohabitation is sufficient?

Note: I will be making my application early May 2018
Thanks.

HO expect to see evidence of living together and subsisting marriage in the form of utilities, bills, letters, council tax, joint commitments etc either address to you jointly or indivially to the same address.

[pnk]

You can only submit what you have so gather absolutely whatever letters you have in your names and addresses, and write a explanation for the lack of more correspondences.

This is a great reminder why it is best to stay on top of future application requirements, as many people forget to gather documents after they have got Entry Clearance.

Thanks for your feedback!

[Londoner007]

Between now and May i'd go crazy on adding yourselves to utilities etc so that you can gather as much correspondence as possible possible. But obviously you still will lack previous years. Dig around, maybe you have employers letters, GP letters etc around.

All the best

[pnk]

There is no requirement of '2 years living together' if you are married. This mandatory requirement is for Unmarried Partner visas.

Simply submit what you have since marriage to prove subsisting relationship and cohabitation.

Hi CR001, just to clarify, to date, as along as I am married to my wife we do not need to provide evidence of 2 years living together? I have been worried about this!

And evidence of subsisting relationship and cohabitation is sufficient?

Note: I will be making my application early May 2018
Thanks.

HO expect to see evidence of living together and subsisting marriage in the form of utilities, bills, letters, council tax, joint commitments etc either address to you jointly or indivially to the same address.

Hi, Thank you for the feedback.

My worry is that I could not provide this proof (on my own part) for 2017 as I mentioned in my original post.

I am now hoping with 2018 bills/letters, a cover letter and other evidence(s) of subsisting marriage, it will be sufficient?

Should I now include holiday together abroad and phone call statements and chats?

Thank you

[CR001]

Write a letter, signed by both of you, briefly explaining the situation.

[pnk]

Write a letter, signed by both of you, briefly explaining the situation.

Write a letter, signed by both of you, briefly explaining the situation.

Between now and May i'd go crazy on adding yourselves to utilities etc so that you can gather as much correspondence as possible possible. But obviously you still will lack previous years. Dig around, maybe you have employers letters, GP letters etc around.

All the best

I'm doing that now.

Thank you so much!

[pnk]

Write a letter, signed by both of you, briefly explaining the situation.

Thank you for your help!