Living Overseas and need a Spousal Visa

[Porthos]

I am currently living in Japan and am married to and living with a Japanese Citizen (for about a year) and we have a four month old daughter. I was born in the UK and have a full passport, I have checked with the embassy here in Japan and my daughter is entitled to a British passport.
The only issue about returning is my wife. Having read the embassy guidelines I am worried about the satisfying the accommodation and public funds conditions. As I am now living in Japan, I would like to stay with my mother for up to three months whilst we find a suitable house or apartment. As I am living abroad will this be a problem? We would have a big bedroom (easily 5 square meters) with en-suite bathroom and a living room area just for ourselves.
As I am in Japan it will be difficult to get a job before I return to England, so I am worried about the public funds stipulation. We have about 6000 pounds saved and my mother is wiling to act as a co-sponsor, will this be enough to satisfy the immigration officials?
Just from reading these forums I understand the reason that most applicants get rejected is they believe the marriage is not genuine or because of finance. I am confident they will trust about our marriage, we have been together for over two years, have lived together for a year and have a daughter. I just worry about the financial side of the visa.

[John]

I would say, go for it! Put together a well-prepared "evidence folder" and then, based upon what you have posted, I would not expect it to be a problem your wife getting her spouse visa.

I am not sure when you plan to make the application. But do note that the current application fee ... £260 .... or rather the rough local equivalent of that .... could well alter as from April. New fee level not yet announced.

Currently I think you will pay £260 x 240 = Y62400 ... but who knows how much from April?

[Porthos]

Thanks for the reply My situation is different from most people's because I myself am also abroad now, so a lot of the topics I see here don't really apply to me. I searched quickly, but I didn't see anything helpful, so what do you recommend I include in my evidence folder (other than the standard paperwork) or can you direct me to a topic that already covers this?

[JAJ]

I am currently living in Japan and am married to and living with a Japanese Citizen (for about a year) and we have a four month old daughter. I was born in the UK and have a full passport, I have checked with the embassy here in Japan and my daughter is entitled to a British passport.

You should also get your daughter a British-style birth certificate from the Embassy.

[Porthos]

Would you recommend a translation of the Japanese marriage certificate too?

[John]

Would you recommend a translation of the Japanese marriage certificate too?

Not just that but also any relevant certificate, and not just for the visa application process, but also later on the UK.

So certainly the marriage certificate, your wife's birth certificate, and other things such as, if applicable, a degree certificate.

You may have already done so, but in case not, go to this webpage and download the VAF2 form and the INF4 guidance notes.

[Porthos]

I'm not intending to appply now, but I want to get everything prepared should I need to get a visa. So far this is what I intend to include in my 'evidence folder' and copies of all items.

VAF 2 form
Both my wife's passport and my own. (Should I include my daughter's English passport when I get it?)
A letter from me saying I want to move to the UK with my wife and daughter, how we met, how we are living together now, my plans for when I arrive in the UK (stay at my mother's house for up to three months, while I find accommodation and a computer/office job.) and how I love my wife and daughter and I want our family to stay together.
Our marriage certificate and a embassy provided translation of the certificate. (Should I include my daughter birth certificate too?)
Details of my accounts(about 5000 pounds after I get everything from the embassy) here in Japan, England, and my mother's accounts as she will act as a co-sponsor.
The mortgage deeds for my mothers house and a letter from her giving permission for us to reside in her house.
Photos (My wife, my daughter and family photos), letters, cards, e-mails, text messages(if she is required to interview) our bills, a Japanese form which shows how registered living address(which are identical as we live together), her family register(which shows we are married and we have a daughter.)
As I don't have a job, My CV(I got 2:1 with honours in computer science) showing that my job prospects are good.
And finally the 2 passport photos.


How does that look?