Spouse visa for UK from Serbia

[reggio68]

Hi All,

I just wanted to share my experience of getting a spouse visa for my new Serbian wife.

I thought that obtaining the visa would be a mere formality as we meet every criteria that UKBA set, I earn enough ... have a house (well the bank do, but we wouldn't be claiming anything) my wife is a PHD, so not a run of the mill golddigger, and neither of us has applied for this before.

In the application we included:

4 months bank statements (I didn't have £16000 savings so that didn't apply)
12 Months payslips
Mortgage statement
Marriage certificate (Serbian international version)
Decree Absolute from previous marriage
Language certificates for my wife (TOEIC)

I actually expected (more fool me) that this was more than sufficient, and that we should get a reply (and the visa) pretty quickly. This was not the case ... on the UKBA site it says you are not allowed to chase the application for 3 months, and we got the approval on exactly 3 months ... I'm not sure how they work exactly, but it seems they will follow 'process' so don't make any plans before that date.

I kept track of the performance tables during the whole ordeal and it seems they work to targets, it doesn't matter how awesome your application is, it will take a set time .... to be honest, I think they don't even look at it until the time is due (sorry, have worked in government offices and that is standard procedure). The only difference was that one application was processed within 15 days, I'm guessing that it was a refusal .... but it could have been a "who you know" or bribe situation ... that is still prevalent in Serbia (if I knew who to bribe, I would have).

In conclusion, if you don't get a response within 15 days then you are doing ok, by 40 days you should be confident that your application has been successful and you just have to wait until the last day of the 3 months for the visa to be stamped.

I hope this helps or comforts anyone who is going through this.

Reg