Order of supporting documents

[Ishu323]

Hello everyone,

My wife applied for settlement visa on 15th Oct 2018 and the visa was unfortunately rejected on 4th January 2019. We found out that reason for rejection was lack of proof of our relationship.

We only attached our marriage certificate and rent agreement where we will live in London when she comes here. The agreement is in both of our names. We were stupid enough not to attach any other relationship proof documents.

It was an arranged marriage and we met each other few times before deciding to get married. I travelled to India 3-4 times and she came to London once to visit me. We spoke daily on Whatsapp. We stayed together for almost a month in South Africa (honeymoon), India and London before she went to India to process her application. However, we didn't attach any supporting documents to this effect.

We are now applying again and need some guidance from experienced people on the forum on the following points -

- What relationship proof documents can we attach ?
- Any good immigration lawyers (pref. an office in Mumbai) that can review our application?
- Should we still go for priority or with second time applications there is no benefit of priority service ?
- Can my wife keep her passport while her application is under process?

We are very disappointed with our outcome but keen to apply as soon as possible again with the right documents.

[CR001]

- What relationship proof documents can we attach ?

Whatsapp screenshots, evidence of travel together and you visiting spouse etc.

- Any good immigration lawyers (pref. an office in Mumbai) that can review our application?

Members are not permitted to post names or contact details of solicitors on the forum under the board T&Cs.

- Should we still go for priority or with second time applications there is no benefit of priority service ?

My understanding is that you cannot use priority if you have a previous refusal, as the VFS website clearly states.

- Can my wife keep her passport while her application is under process?

Possibly. She likely won't be able to visit you in the UK if that is what you plan.

[Ishu323]

Thanks for replying. On your points -

- Do we need include WhatsApp communication / messages? We are planning to include the following a) Back and forth travel for me and my wife (tickets, passport stamps and hotel stay). We took couple of trips together post wedding and I am planning to include hotel bookings for the same; b) WhatsApp call logs that we were in touch with other each other regularly; c) wedding photographs and also thinking of sending them video in a USB; d) Marriage certificate; e) I send flowers to her several times in last year so including that history from Ferns and Petals; f) Pictures of us together when we met, these are in addition to wedding pics; g) doctors letter in London when she was here. She fell ill and we went to the doctors; h) rent agreement under both of our names; number of wedding cards printed/ bills for wedding, etc.; I) letter from my landlord confirming we stayed together for couple of weeks she was here. This might seem overkill and maybe it is but we don't want to take any chances now. Is including whatsapp messages important? If yes, full chat or some snippets?

- How can I get in touch with some immigration consultants then ? Is there a way to DM them ?

- VFS site says you can take priority but it might not be assessed within the priority guidelines as the application was rejected previously. We will still go for priority but I was looking for some priority examples for second time applicants?

- She doesn't want to come to UK but we can meet somewhere in between.

Many thanks again for your help. Much appreciated!

[seagul]

Do not send any video as they don't accept it. Your remaining proofs of subsisting relationship are looking sufficient but make sure to them those proofs starting right from the beginning of your relationship. Try to put date & location on the pictures. Also remember if you got any medical treatment then you will have to pay 150% of that cost and if you haven't paid it yet then it might delay the application too.

[Casa]

- Any good immigration lawyers (pref. an office in Mumbai) that can review our application?

Members are not permitted to post names or contact details of solicitors on the forum under the board T&Cs.

[Ishu323]

Thanks seagul. We will not send videos then. We are currently including pictures right from the beginning of our relationship - Oct 2017 onwards, we met every other month in either India / London. Regarding medical treatment, we booked a private GP appointment and paid some money right there. That was more a consultation fee and nothing more than that. Thank you.

[CR001]

- Do we need include WhatsApp communication / messages?

Is including whatsapp messages important? If yes, full chat or some snippets?

Yes, it is important. A selection of screen shots covering a period since marriage should be ok.

- How can I get in touch with some immigration consultants then ? Is there a way to DM them ?

Google for them in the area you are looking for. Note that we are all volunteers on the forum who have come through the immigration journey, we are not immigration lawyers. The forum is only hosted and owned by Workpermit.com but we are a stand alone forum generally. You also don't have access to the PM function privilege (or DM as you call it) as a newly registered member.

- VFS site says you can take priority but it might not be assessed within the priority guidelines as the application was rejected previously. We will still go for priority but I was looking for some priority examples for second time applicants?

Your choice, but you will likely be paying the priority fee (which is extra) for a standard application that can take in excess of 60 days, often longer.

[Ishu323]

Thank you so much for your help and prompt replies. Any more inputs appreciated as well.

Thanks again

[Ishu323]

My wife is applying for a spouse settlement visa. We were rejected earlier as we didn't include proof of habitaton and English Language test. Could someone please confirm if the below is sufficient proof for English requirement? She has done schooling from India, BE from India amd PGDM from India as well.

- NARIC letter confirming English level is C1 equivalent for BE course
- NARIC letter confirming that BE from India is equivalent to BE (Honours) in UK
- NARIC wouldn't opine on PGDM as they consider it a short term course. PGDM is MBA equivalent in India and she did it from one of the best colleges in India. NARIC said that one degree is sufficient for visa purposes.

We are also planning to include her BE marksheets and degree, MBA marksheets and degree, schooling certificate and NARIC letter to satisfy English language requirements.

Can someone please confirm if this will be sufficient ? What else can we include ?

Many thanks and grateful for your inputs.

[seagul]

My wife is applying for a spouse settlement visa. We were rejected earlier as we didn't include proof of habitaton and English Language test. Could someone please confirm if the below is sufficient proof for English requirement? She has done schooling from India, BE from India amd PGDM from India as well.

- NARIC letter confirming English level is C1 equivalent for BE course
- NARIC letter confirming that BE from India is equivalent to BE (Honours) in UK
- NARIC wouldn't opine on PGDM as they consider it a short term course. PGDM is MBA equivalent in India and she did it from one of the best colleges in India. NARIC said that one degree is sufficient for visa purposes.

We are also planning to include her BE marksheets and degree, MBA marksheets and degree, schooling certificate and NARIC letter to satisfy English language requirements.

Can someone please confirm if this will be sufficient ? What else can we include ?

Many thanks and grateful for your inputs.

Just ignore what's equivalent in INDIA rather only focus on what is equivalent to UK qualification. Use NARIC red to get her degree be assessed against British bachelor degree. For visa purpose the statement of comparability and English language proficiency from NARIC will be needed.

[Ishu323]

Thanks, understood. We have gone for NARIC Red now and have received the two letters from them

- BE in India is comparable to BE Honours UK
- Level of English is equivalent to C1 level.

Are these two documents enough to satisfy the English test requirement or we should include more or something else is also required.

Thanks

[CandyLee]

Thank you so much for your help and prompt replies. Any more inputs appreciated as well.

Thanks again

Based on my experience, the HO is looking for little contents from various sources instead of many contents from 1-2 sources. Here is what I've provided for my initial spouse visa, you can see if you want to use it as a guideline. Our situation (story) is that we met in Taiwan when my husband went there to visit some friends. We then had a long distance relationship for 6 yrs before getting married.

Our proof of relationship:
1. English marriage certificate
2. 3 screenshots from 3 different sources each (Gmail/WhatsApp/Skype)
3. Our wedding invitation
4. 2 wedding ceremony pictures
5. 2 pre-wedding pictures (professional photos traditionally taken before the wedding)
6. 4 pictures from our holidays in Europe (1 each yr)
7. My passport (showing that I've travelled to the UK every summer for the past 6 yrs)
8. His passport (showing that he's travelled to Taiwan twice to visit my parents and once for our wedding)

[seagul]

Thanks, understood. We have gone for NARIC Red now and have received the two letters from them

- BE in India is comparable to BE Honours UK
- Level of English is equivalent to C1 level.

Are these two documents enough to satisfy the English test requirement or we should include more or something else is also required.

Thanks

I think yes because statement of comparability and statement of English proficiency both issued by naric under their red route is required to meet the requirement.

[Ishu323]

Thank you so much for your help so much. We are in process of submitting a second application in next couple of days and I am including here list of documents that we are planning to include. If someone can have a look and let me know if something else is required too. We will be getting our documents reviewed from an immigration consultant too. Apologies for the length of the post and hoping this will be enough. Any thoughts welcome. I want to get this right...


A. General -
1. GWF form s
2. Appendix 2 form s
3. TB test
4. Copy of passport – colour – applicant, each page of the passport
5. Copy of passport – colour – sponsor, each page of the passport
6. Passport size picture (UK Visa) x2
7. Invitation letter from the sponsor. I have highlighted here that last application was rejected due to x and y and we are submitting another application now.
8. Refusal letter
B. Financial requirement
1. Cover letter explaining what all documents are included.
2. Letter from my employer with designation, salary, position, etc.
3. Salary slips going back 12 months
4. P60 forms for last three years
5. Bank statement – I have highlighted with marker where salary comes in, where mortgage goes out and rent comes in and out and savings r
C. Evidence of meeting housing standard
1. Cover letter
2. Tenancy agreement – highlight pages where name is mentioned
3. Utility bill
4. Council tax bill
D. Evidence of English language test
1. Cover letter
2. NARIC Red 2 letters only for BE as MBA (PGDM) is not being recognised.
3. Letter stating that medium of study was English for the degree
4. Marksheets - both BE and MBA
5. Degree certificates - both BE and MBA
6. Class 12th marksheet and passing letter
7. Class 10th marksheet and passing letter
E. Evidence of relationship

2. Relationship opening letter – written by sponsor, explaining when we met, when I first went to India to meet her and she came to London. It is a 3-4 page story. I have attached with this list of Exhibits (in #3) that gives proofs etc. (i.e. flight tickets, passport stamps highlighted for ease of reference and hotel stays together on vacation, honeymoon)
3. Master relationship word document – Exhibits pasted as snapshots here
4. Relationship letter - from the applicant herself
5. Letter of support from in-laws + their passport pages
6. Letter from my employer (Head of the team) that I took time off and met her few times in India, invited people from office to the wedding
7. Exhibit 2A - WhatsApp messages
8. Exhibit 2B – WhatsApp call log
9. We had a second credit card in her name and she did some spending when she was staying with me.
10. Original marriage certificate
11. Wedding photographs
12. Honeymoon photographs –
13. Other photographs – when we met, travelled together
14. Sponsor undertaking SU07/12 form
15. Wedding card from both sides

[Ishu323]

We submitted a spousal visa settlement application on 8th Feb in Mumbai, North. So far we have not received any update / text from either VFS or UKVI that our application has been received by the Home Office at Sheffield. We also went with the courier service so all of our supporting documents will be couriered by VFS. We called the helpline to check but they gave a generic reply that application is awaiting a decision but refused to confirm if the documents have been received.

This seems bizarre to me. Is there any way to confirm that Sheffield has received our application and supporting docs ?

Thanks in advance!

[Ishu323]

My wife applied for a settlement visa application from Mumbai couple of weeks ago. We received an email today that application has been received at the UK Decision Making Centre and they are currently preparing her application for consideration by an Entry Clearance Officer. They mentioned a particular order in which documents should be submitted. We opted for the VFS document delivery service but they don't follow the same order as mentioned in the email. We received our documents back yesterday. My question is should we re-submit the documents in that order to Sheffield Post Box ? We did include a list of contents letter with the application that clearly mentions documents covering all the sections. Can visa be denied if the documents have been submitted in a different order ? Kindly please let us know and many thanks in advance for your response.

[ariamus]

I would suggest a visa cannot be refused for simply putting documents in a different order.

However, if you have 100's of documents and some are not necessary, the genuine required ones could get overlooked and therefore treated as not included.

Hopefully your covering letter is clear for HO to follow.

[luannacool]

Thanks for replying. On your points -

- Do we need include WhatsApp communication / messages? We are planning to include the following a) Back and forth travel for me and my wife (tickets, passport stamps and hotel stay). We took couple of trips together post wedding and I am planning to include hotel bookings for the same; b) WhatsApp call logs that we were in touch with other each other regularly; c) wedding photographs and also thinking of sending them video in a USB; d) Marriage certificate; e) I send flowers to her several times in last year so including that history from Ferns and Petals; f) Pictures of us together when we met, these are in addition to wedding pics; g) doctors letter in London when she was here. She fell ill and we went to the doctors; h) rent agreement under both of our names; number of wedding cards printed/ bills for wedding, etc.; I) letter from my landlord confirming we stayed together for couple of weeks she was here. This might seem overkill and maybe it is but we don't want to take any chances now. Is including whatsapp messages important? If yes, full chat or some snippets?

- How can I get in touch with some immigration consultants then ? Is there a way to DM them ?

- VFS site says you can take priority but it might not be assessed within the priority guidelines as the application was rejected previously. We will still go for priority but I was looking for some priority examples for second time applicants?

- She doesn't want to come to UK but we can meet somewhere in between.

Many thanks again for your help. Much appreciated!

You can send pictures from different times, few pics before wedding, few from the wed itself, from honeymoon, after, anything that shows you were together. I printed 4 or 5 A4 sheets with 4 pictures each and with description under each picture. Sometimes they say it is helpful getting letter from friends that knows you both as a couple as well... Hope it gets well this time for you.
A problem is that if applying outside UK she will get the stamp that allows her to enter in UK on her passport and the BRP will be collected from the post office once she arrives.