Spousal Visa Application - Pakistan

[sabeen]

With great pleasure i can announce my wife has her visa in hand and can legally travel to the UK..

what a bloody experience and drama!! so this is my story...

*got married on 31st July 2010 (taken all documents)
*one week after the wedding wife obtain medical certificate
*I get told my wifes ID card had to be changed to my name
*submitted an application form to update ID - this has taken 8 weeks (typical pakis error on their part)
*after 8 weeks i got told we didnt need to update the ID with my name
*as my wife updated her ID she had to update her passport to my name as well
*new passport arrived a week later
*early October 09 - finally submitted SPOUSE VISA APPLICATION FORM
*early December 09 - Application refused due to Nikah nama issue
*early Jan 2010 - sumbitted all the relevant documents to UK VISA SECTION
*not heard anything
*early Feb 2010 - email sent to enquire the application
*received an email back instantly stating 'decision has been overturned'
*no official document received by ECO/UK VISA for next steps
*sent more emails to them
*8th March wife received a call from Islamabad office stating Visa has been authorised and to submit the passport to the gerry office.
*9th March passport / medical certificated submitted to Mirpur office and was informed it will take 4 weeks
*18th March AM Gerry office called my wife stating passport is ready for collection
...
19th March AM - Passport collected and VISA STAMPED

now im off to book a flight for the misses!!!

Hi Sabeen

same boat as you...

however my wife had submitted her passport last monday along with the TB certificate and today she received call to collect her passport tomorrow.

I am very baffled as they told my wife the passport will be ready for collection after 4 weeks and nomally when they say 4 week it is normally 8 weeks. I just hope ECO havent f***ked up again..

i will keep you informed...

Hi Guys,

Just a quick question do you know how long does it take for the Embassy to stamp the visa on Passport after ECO has withdrawn its decision and you submit your passport along with you TB test? I have heard they take couple of weeks, has anyone had there’s sooner to later then that?

wonderful news for you. My wife submitted hers before yours and shes still waiting for the call. We were told it would be done by the 16th...

I am so happy for you... as it gives me hope now as well, my hubby will be submitting his passport this week and hopefully will get it back in 2-3 weeks.

[billo]

Batleykhan,

We have taken your advice and are waiting a bit before submitting fresh application. Re; evidence of contact, my brother has started calling direct from the home phone and has stopped using calling cards. My question is, should he just submit phone bills with the direct calls to pakistan? should he inlcude phone bills from when he was using calling cards as well? And finally, how far back do you have to provide evidence of conatct? Brother got married in Nov 09 and came back to England in Dec 09.

If he includes phone bills with the calling card access numbers with the justification that these are cheaper, then will the ECO not question why he's started calling direct if it's cheaper to use phone cards?

[batleykhan]

Batleykhan,

We have taken your advice and are waiting a bit before submitting fresh application. Re; evidence of contact, my brother has started calling direct from the home phone and has stopped using calling cards. My question is, should he just submit phone bills with the direct calls to pakistan? should he inlcude phone bills from when he was using calling cards as well? And finally, how far back do you have to provide evidence of conatct? Brother got married in Nov 09 and came back to England in Dec 09.

If he includes phone bills with the calling card access numbers with the justification that these are cheaper, then will the ECO not question why he's started calling direct if it's cheaper to use phone cards?

My advice is to send both telephone bills and a few calling cards.It should suffice.

[RHussain07]

Uncle BatleyK....

Are you getting your PMs OK? I've been waiting for days for a response from you pls

Thank you in advance

[batleykhan]

Uncle BatleyK....

Are you getting your PMs OK? I've been waiting for days for a response from you pls

Thank you in advance

I recive so many from different people. I have just had a look and have got 6 from the same person , but none from you.

Sorry

[billo]

Batleykhan,

We have taken your advice and are waiting a bit before submitting fresh application. Re; evidence of contact, my brother has started calling direct from the home phone and has stopped using calling cards. My question is, should he just submit phone bills with the direct calls to pakistan? should he inlcude phone bills from when he was using calling cards as well? And finally, how far back do you have to provide evidence of conatct? Brother got married in Nov 09 and came back to England in Dec 09.

If he includes phone bills with the calling card access numbers with the justification that these are cheaper, then will the ECO not question why he's started calling direct if it's cheaper to use phone cards?

My advice is to send both telephone bills and a few calling cards.It should suffice.

He ONLY calls direct now, and will do until he submits application. He calls for around 30mins everyday direct from the house phone. The phone bill will show only calling card access numbers from before March and then from March will show only direct calls. What will be the justification for calling direct if he is going to say that using calling cards is cheaper!!! Should he just stick to the calling cards?

[amr2010]

Batleykhan,

We have taken your advice and are waiting a bit before submitting fresh application. Re; evidence of contact, my brother has started calling direct from the home phone and has stopped using calling cards. My question is, should he just submit phone bills with the direct calls to pakistan? should he inlcude phone bills from when he was using calling cards as well? And finally, how far back do you have to provide evidence of conatct? Brother got married in Nov 09 and came back to England in Dec 09.

If he includes phone bills with the calling card access numbers with the justification that these are cheaper, then will the ECO not question why he's started calling direct if it's cheaper to use phone cards?

My advice is to send both telephone bills and a few calling cards.It should suffice.

He ONLY calls direct now, and will do until he submits application. He calls for around 30mins everyday direct from the house phone. The phone bill will show only calling card access numbers from before March and then from March will show only direct calls. What will be the justification for calling direct if he is going to say that using calling cards is cheaper!!! Should he just stick to the calling cards?

30 mins a day direct That'll cost a fortune.

I think you mis-understood batleyKhans message. Calling direct is great, fantastic etc but you can do it in moderation, e.g. 10 mins three times a week.

OK. Include a covering letter with your application, in that state that prior to Jan/Feb/Mar (whatever) he used calling cards but did not realise that these were not sufficent proof and now he calls using the home telephone. Simple and honest, the ECO will understand that.

[imur69er]

@ batlleyKhan

Few questions please:

1) i got married since a year but my wife lives in pak and i recently got indefinite. she is a house wife. would the ECO will ask how was she financed while i was in uk? do i have to send MONEY TRANSFER RECIEPTS (if any)?

2) we have a joint bank account in pak, will that be ok for her application or it should not be a joint but only her bank account?

3) the calling cards, do ECO checks calling cards like where and what numbers were called by the calling cards? i always used LYCA sim which is a pay as u go ... dont give us bills. besides the normal chattings how can i prove i was in contact with my wife ... just send few calling cards (out of which dew i didnt even used just got them off my mate)?

thanks

[billo]

Batleykhan,

We have taken your advice and are waiting a bit before submitting fresh application. Re; evidence of contact, my brother has started calling direct from the home phone and has stopped using calling cards. My question is, should he just submit phone bills with the direct calls to pakistan? should he inlcude phone bills from when he was using calling cards as well? And finally, how far back do you have to provide evidence of conatct? Brother got married in Nov 09 and came back to England in Dec 09.

If he includes phone bills with the calling card access numbers with the justification that these are cheaper, then will the ECO not question why he's started calling direct if it's cheaper to use phone cards?

My advice is to send both telephone bills and a few calling cards.It should suffice.

He ONLY calls direct now, and will do until he submits application. He calls for around 30mins everyday direct from the house phone. The phone bill will show only calling card access numbers from before March and then from March will show only direct calls. What will be the justification for calling direct if he is going to say that using calling cards is cheaper!!! Should he just stick to the calling cards?

30 mins a day direct That'll cost a fortune.

I think you mis-understood batleyKhans message. Calling direct is great, fantastic etc but you can do it in moderation, e.g. 10 mins three times a week.

OK. Include a covering letter with your application, in that state that prior to Jan/Feb/Mar (whatever) he used calling cards but did not realise that these were not sufficent proof and now he calls using the home telephone. Simple and honest, the ECO will understand that.

Actually, it's not that expensive, it's pretty similar to calling card rates. we're with talktalk and the package we've got includes free to to European landlines, we didn't realise it also included discounted calls to the rest of the world until my brother studied the bill cos he had called direct a few times and was bricking it in case he had racked up a big bill. Turns out a 30min call costs about £1.00, so he's asked Dad if he can just call directly as there isn't much diffrence between calling direct and calling cards. I guess he could just put this as an explanation.

[Zak_K]

Salaam all. I'm back from Pakistan after lodging my wifes application in Mirpur VAC on 3/3/10.

Still waiting on the status to change from 'Application forwarded to Islamabad OC on'

However my employer states he did get a call about my work and whathaveyou, so that is a positive sign.

Perhaps I was a bit over optimistic when I was looking at the possibility to bring my wife back with me. However my parents are due to return to the UK on 30/03/2010, so inshallah she'll have her visa in time.

Just had a few questions though, there is an e-mail address that I've been made aware of by ukusman, he said that he emailed in and they responded back telling him that his passport is ready for collection. I'm very tempted to do the same due to my situation, but I have actually called to check the status of the application twice and the last thing I want to do is annoy the folks who are looking at the application. I'd appreciate any opinions regarding this.

Also, I've also seen members who have had their status changed and a positive phraseology is used i.e. 'pleased' and then the visa was actually successful when the applicant went to pick up their passport. Just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this?

Zak.

[batleykhan]

30 mins a day direct Shocked That'll cost a fortune.

I think you mis-understood batleyKhans message. Calling direct is great, fantastic etc but you can do it in moderation, e.g. 10 mins three times a week.

Take it from me it will go down as time passes by.Its call "love" at first

[RHussain07]

Salam Zak,

I'm afraid I cant answer your Q but was keen to know how you/missus found the process for handing in the case as many members would be thinking...

any do's + dont's?

Thanks

[ukusman]

Salaam all. I'm back from Pakistan after lodging my wifes application in Mirpur VAC on 3/3/10.

Still waiting on the status to change from 'Application forwarded to Islamabad OC on'

However my employer states he did get a call about my work and whathaveyou, so that is a positive sign.

Perhaps I was a bit over optimistic when I was looking at the possibility to bring my wife back with me. However my parents are due to return to the UK on 30/03/2010, so inshallah she'll have her visa in time.

Just had a few questions though, there is an e-mail address that I've been made aware of by ukusman, he said that he emailed in and they responded back telling him that his passport is ready for collection. I'm very tempted to do the same due to my situation, but I have actually called to check the status of the application twice and the last thing I want to do is annoy the folks who are looking at the application. I'd appreciate any opinions regarding this.

Also, I've also seen members who have had their status changed and a positive phraseology is used i.e. 'pleased' and then the visa was actually successful when the applicant went to pick up their passport. Just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this?

Zak.

Hi Zak,

they actually told me that my wifes visa was issued in the email. That was the BHC it self.

thanks

[someperson49]

Hello

I am in Pak right now (cant believe how hot it is especilly with electricity going).

I would be grateful if you could tell me about the dos and donts when handing in the application.

Can we hand it in a plastic folder which has plastic wallets included. Or do we use treasury tags? And when using treasury tags can we use plastic wallets then? Or do we hole punch the official documents, but then what about the photographs?

Also would I be allowed in or will she have to go in alone?

Thanks for any help.

[navalaviator]

@someperson49

I would be grateful if you could tell me about the dos and donts when handing in the application.

1.Well make sure the applicant has done the TB test and has got the certificate.
2.Make an appointment with the VAC before going in to submit application only people with appointments are allowed to go inside the VAC.
3.Strictly stay away from the people moving around the VAC as they would offer their "services" for money and would boast they can book you appointment or such special treatments.(Bunch of liers who dont know anything)
4.Applicant must carry the ID card and passport along with their photocopies in hand as you would be asked by the staff to show it as they would confirm your appointment.
5.Applicant would not be allowed to carry mobile phone.

Can we hand it in a plastic folder which has plastic wallets included. Or do we use treasury tags? And when using treasury tags can we use plastic wallets then? Or do we hole punch the official documents, but then what about the photographs?

1.NO the applicant cant submit application in any of such plastic folders or wallets as you will be asked by the gerry's to remove your documents from such folders as they will put your documents in their own envelope.so just carry the docs in an ordinary paper envelope or single folder.
2.use paper clips to keep the docs in place instead of treasury tags(This is what i intend to do so i personally oppose the idea of treasury tags )
3.put your photographs in a small envelope but do not close this
envelope as the applicant will be asked to open it to show the contents.Include this envelope with your application along with other docs.

Also would I be allowed in or will she have to go in alone?

The applicant will have to go alone inside the VAC(You cant accompany the applicant inside the VAC and you will have to wait outside and enjoy the hot summer and sweating

hope this helps

(the above is all oulined and based on my personal experience so make sure every body checks the latest on gerry's website)

[Lynnuk]

@someperson49

I would be grateful if you could tell me about the dos and donts when handing in the application.

1.Well make sure the applicant has done the TB test and has got the certificate.
2.Make an appointment with the VAC before going in to submit application only people with appointments are allowed to go inside the VAC.
3.Strictly stay away from the people moving around the VAC as they would offer their "services" for money and would boast they can book you appointment or such special treatments.(Bunch of liers who dont know anything)
4.Applicant must carry the ID card and passport along with their photocopies in hand as you would be asked by the staff to show it as they would confirm your appointment.
5.Applicant would not be allowed to carry mobile phone.

Can we hand it in a plastic folder which has plastic wallets included. Or do we use treasury tags? And when using treasury tags can we use plastic wallets then? Or do we hole punch the official documents, but then what about the photographs?

1.NO the applicant cant submit application in any of such plastic folders or wallets as you will be asked by the gerry's to remove your documents from such folders as they will put your documents in their own envelope.so just carry the docs in an ordinary paper envelope or single folder.
2.use paper clips to keep the docs in place instead of treasury tags(This is what i intend to do so i personally oppose the idea of treasury tags )
3.put your photographs in a small envelope but do not close this
envelope as the applicant will be asked to open it to show the contents.Include this envelope with your application along with other docs.

Also would I be allowed in or will she have to go in alone?

The applicant will have to go alone inside the VAC(You cant accompany the applicant inside the VAC and you will have to wait outside and enjoy the hot summer and sweating

hope this helps

(the above is all oulined and based on my personal experience so make sure every body checks the latest on gerry's website)

Good advise bro.

[Zak_K]

navalaviator, can I ask you who advised you to use paperclips? Paperclips often fall out, and when you consider how there will be another 100+ files alongside yours going back and forth from Pakistan to England / Dubai, then I'm pretty sure you're paperwork will look like a dogs dinner by the time it gets to the ECO.

[Lynnuk]

navalaviator, can I ask you who advised you to use paperclips? Paperclips often fall out, and when you consider how there will be another 100+ files alongside yours going back and forth from Pakistan to England / Dubai, then I'm pretty sure you're paperwork will look like a dogs dinner by the time it gets to the ECO.

@Zak paper clips is a good idea.Some can fix tight and these are the only option you have as vacs will remove your papers and put it in different order.

Most people are using paper clips.

[Zak_K]

navalaviator, can I ask you who advised you to use paperclips? Paperclips often fall out, and when you consider how there will be another 100+ files alongside yours going back and forth from Pakistan to England / Dubai, then I'm pretty sure you're paperwork will look like a dogs dinner by the time it gets to the ECO.

@Zak paper clips is a good idea.Some can fix tight and these are the only option you have as vacs will remove your papers and put it in different order.

Most people are using paper clips.

Whilst I agree paperclips are better than folders, I still believe that these are the best solution. As said in another post, treasury tags is the best option.

Zak.

[Lynnuk]

navalaviator, can I ask you who advised you to use paperclips? Paperclips often fall out, and when you consider how there will be another 100+ files alongside yours going back and forth from Pakistan to England / Dubai, then I'm pretty sure you're paperwork will look like a dogs dinner by the time it gets to the ECO.

@Zak paper clips is a good idea.Some can fix tight and these are the only option you have as vacs will remove your papers and put it in different order.

Most people are using paper clips.

Whilst I agree paperclips are better than folders, I still believe that these are the best solution. As said in another post, treasury tags is the best option.

Zak.

But VACS would not allow Treasury Bags.They have their own bags.

[Casa]

Zak advised Treasury Tags...not bags

[Lynnuk]

Zak advised Treasury Tags...not bags

My Mistake
To be honest I dont know what are Treasury Tags(Not Bags) and I doubt that VACS would allow that.

[Casa]

A treasury tag is an item of stationery used to fasten sheets of paper to each other or to a folder. It consists of a piece of string, typically around 3 to 8 cm (1 to 3 in) long, both ends of which are held in the centre of a metal or plastic bar. Treasury tags are threaded through holes in paper made with a hole punch.

Tags with strings of various lengths are available for fastening quantities of paper of various thicknesses.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasury_tag"

With respect, if you don't know what Treasury Tags are, how can you advise that the VACS wouldn't allow them?

[Zak_K]

Here you go Lynn

[Casa]

Better than my text Zak. Thanks