ILR application: Spouse Surname

[venkatbala]

Dear All,
We will be applying for ILR by Jan 2013, my wife and I came together to UK on HSMP and we both jointly applied and got our Tier 1 extension in 2010. Wife is not working. I have some queries regarding cohabitant proof for myself and my wife.

My wife's name is given as <Wifes-FIrst-Name> <My-First-Name> in her bank statement, electricity bill and in our tenancy agreement and we have our actual sur-names in marriage certificates and passports.

I have some private medical practice correspondence letters addressed to the names for my wife and me as given in passport from Dec 2011 and in March/April 2012.

Do I need to notarise and prove that <wifes-first-name> <my-first-name> and <wifes-first-name> <wifes-actual-surname> are the same person before applying for ILR?

Can you please let e know what other things I could do attain the proof of cohabitant?

Thanks in Advance for your help.

[John]

Do I need to notarise and ......

A few points. Firstly I do not need you should be doing this. That is, I think it is your wife that should sign something.

Secondly you use the word "notarise" and by that you mean sign something before a Notary Public? If you do then such persons in the UK are rather expensive, and there is a cheaper alternative.

However it would no harm if your wife were to sign a Statutory Declaration and that being submitted with the visa applications. Such a declaration can be signed in front of a Solicitor or Commissioner of Oaths, for about £5.

Given that someone signing a Statutory Declaration that contains false information would be committing the serious criminal offence of perjury, UKBA should accept what is said in the declaration that is submitted.

The wording of the declaration should be simple, simply saying that sometimes she uses the name of <Wifes-FIrst-Name> <My-First-Name> and sometimes the name of <Wifes-FIrst-Name> <Wifes-Surname>, but she is just one person.

Do a google search for ...... statutory declarations act 1835 .... for more information.

Finally what information to submit? I know you will not be using form SET(M) but nevertheless I think you should download a copy of that form. Having done so you will see that form contains lots of guidance about acceptable documents to prove a couple live together.

[venkatbala]

Do I need to notarise and ......

A few points. Firstly I do not need you should be doing this. That is, I think it is your wife that should sign something....

Thanks for the clarification John, I will look into this option and get back.