Advice on Cohabitation Documents.

[coolbuddy]

My apologies if same question is answered already.

I am a returning user on this forum and found it very helpful during my extension from HSMP to Tier-1 General in past. Now I am here again to get expert advice from Moderator(s), Senior and experienced members.

My Query is about cohabitation documents. I am applying for ILR with my Wife and Daughter in September 2012. We are living together for the last 4 years, same addresses in UK. I have following list of cohabitation documents.

- Wife’s Registration letter with GP dated 2009 & 2010
- Bank Statements on her name since 2009.
- Letter from Home Office (Tier-1 General), 2009
- Registration of NI Letter, 2009
- Voter Registration Letter 2010 & 2012 (our names on it)
- Child Birth Registration Certificate for my UK Born child, both names on it i.e mine and my wife’s name, 2010
- Some NHS/hospital letters on Wife’s name, 2010, 2011 and 2012
- Provisional Driving License Letter 2010
- Driving Theory Test Pass Certificate 2012
- Electricity Bill on joint name (Mr. & Mrs. Firtname Surname), BritishGas said they can’t provide my full name and wife’s full name on the bill as married couple appears Mr. & Mrs., I converted this bill in June 2012 to have at least two utility bills on our both names by the time I apply.
- Letter from Landlord certifying that we both are living together as married couple at her property since 2010.


My main concern is that we have only one utility bill (for two quarters) 2012, Voter Registration letter 2012 and letter from Landlord on our joint names dated 2012. All other documents are on my wife’s name but same address. Will these documents will be fine to prove cohabitation at HO? I will be applying via Premium service, most probably at Croydon. Please advice. Thank you.

[Smam]

Hi

Your co-hab docs list will suffice that's more than enough you dont need any thing more than your list. Remember this thing that there's no set requirement by the UKBA for co-hab docs you can provide any documents to prove this and I think that your list looks suffice to me.

Please do kindly share your PEO experience with us on the forum.

Good luck for your and your family ILR.

[Ashokbrt]

Hi coolbuddy,

Your document list is very extensive. I don't even have all these and only planning to submit the following three sets with my ILR using SETO form as an immigrant currently under Tier2 general category:

a) Complete set of joint bank statements for the last five years,
b) Council tax letters addressed to both of us, sporadic though, and
c) Again, a couple of sporadic letters from utility company (water bills)

I've PEO appointment in the last week of this month. I'll definitely let the forum know if these are not sufficient in my case. I've included P60s for both of us for the last 5 years as a proof of income as per Finance Section of the Form. Both of us got the same address in these letters. However, I don't think they will even bother to ask for these additional documents in our case as we've got visa extension just recently. She entered here as a dependent of mine and in all these extensions she got visa as dependant which is still the case.

Hope that helps.
Regards,

Ashok

[coolbuddy]

Thanks Smam and Ashokbrt.

Ashokbrt you looks absolutely fine coz you have joint bank statements and council tax to prove cohabitation. I m worrying because I don't have these things jointly and never thought to add my wife's name on it. Another thing is that I don't have much docs on her name for the year 2011. I have the option to open joint bank account now but i think it won't server the purpose which I want. As I am getting a letter from Landlord to certify that we both are living on her property since 2010 so I think this should be fine as said by Smam. But any further advice will be much appreciated. Thanks.

[Smam]

Hi coolbuddy

To be honest with you If I was in your shoes I'll just say to the CW that there we go that's all the documents I've and I am pretty confident that what I am providing you as co-hab documents will definitely fullfill the purpose of co-hab docs as I've mentioned earlier in my post that there's no set requirements for co-hab docs list so you shouldn't be getting worried for not having a joint bank account with your wife and the things like that. Just stay confident what you've and that's all it is For God Sake its just ILR mate not the matter of life or death the CW are also normal human beings like us the CW will not procecute you for not having a few odd bits of documents. The more you get worried the more you'll loose the ground. Just stay calm and compose and very confident that's all I can advice you.

Please do kindly share your PEO experience with us on the forum.

Good luck for your ILR.

[coolbuddy]

Thanks Smam. This immigration board is really very helpful and give sincere advice always. I'll definitely share my experience with you all guys.

[KD1]

Hi,

Thanks for the information above - could you verify my list of co-hab documents as well please?

- Tenancy agreement in both our names dated April 2010
- Annual Council tax bills in both our names for 2010, 2011, 2012
- Wife's employment contracts showing the same address
- Wife's bank statements for the last 24 months showing the same address

Does this look sufficient and fine?

Thanks

[coolbuddy]

Hi KD1,

I have copied below cohabitation guidance from SET(M) version 07/2012 Page 23 for the guidance:

*****************
Note 8
We need 6 letters or other documents addressed to you jointly or in both your names. If you do not have enough items in your joint names, you may also provide items addressed to each of you individually if they show the same addressfor both of you. Examples of acceptable letters and documents are listed below. They must be originals. The dates of the letters or documents should spread over the whole 2 years. They should be from at least 3 different sources.

Please give an explanation on a separate sheet if you cannot provide 6 items; if the documents are not addressed to both of you; or if they do not cover the 2-year period. If you and your partner lived with relatives or friends for some or all of the 2-year period, please provide a letter from the relative(s) and/or friend(s) confirming this.

If you did not live together for any part of the 2-year period, tell us the reasons for this and whether you stayed in contact with each other during this time, and provide any relevant supporting evidence.

telephone bills or statements
mortgage statements/agreement
bank statements/letters
council tax bills or statements
water rates bills or statements
electricity and/or gas bills or statements
tenancy agreement(s)
building society savings books/letters
letters or other documents from government departments or agencies, for example HM Revenue and Customs, Dept for Work and Pensions, DVLA and TV Licensing
letters or other documents from your GP, a hospital or other local health service about medical treatments, appointments,
home visits or other medical matters
Examples of acceptable types of letters and documents
*****************

Hope this will give you some idea. To my knowledge, you look fine with cohabitation docs. All the best.

[KD1]

Thanks Coolbuddy.

[Ashokbrt]

Hi coolbuddy

To be honest with you If I was in your shoes I'll just say to the CW that there we go that's all the documents I've and I am pretty confident that what I am providing you as co-hab documents will definitely fullfill the purpose of co-hab docs as I've mentioned earlier in my post that there's no set requirements for co-hab docs list ........
Please do kindly share your PEO experience with us on the forum.

Good luck for your ILR.

Very good advice Smam. That definitely helps.

Ashok

[Ashokbrt]

Thanks Smam and Ashokbrt.

Ashokbrt you looks absolutely fine coz you have joint bank statements and council tax to prove cohabitation. ......... As I am getting a letter from Landlord to certify that we both are living on her property since 2010 so I think this should be fine as said by Smam. But any further advice will be much appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks Coolbuddy. Fingers crossed for a couple of more days, and this level of the game will be over, then the mode will change and I'll be playing the same again for the coming 9 more months before I go for BC.

Cheers,
Ashok