Spouse visa Help

[Stompie]

Hi

I have a question regarding the financial requirement under the new rules of July 2012. I am a South African married to a British citizen for 8 years. We met in South Arfica in November 2002. I went to the UK in March 2003 on a 2 year working holiday visa. We got married in the UK in September 2004. I received my UK Spouse visa in December 2004. We moved back to SA in August 2005. We have been living in SA for the last 7 years. In April 2012 my husband moved back to the UK. Our children was born in 2007 and received their British passports last year. We went for a visit in the UK in November 2012 and now I need to apply for my Spouse visa. The reason for my long explanation is because I want to know does my previous visas help towards my application now?

I also want to know. My husband only started a full time job on 28 May 2012 and he held 2 other jobs since then he was retrenched from his last job in Feb 2013, but has since started a new job which is permanent and ongoing. Do I need to wait till 25 May of this year to apply under Category B of financial requirement or can we apply now? I do not want to take chances as the visa fees are very expensive, and we ca not afford to have my visa refused.

Then lastly if anyone is in the process of applying can you give any advice on all the supporting documents?

Thanks in advance for any replies

[MPH80]

Supporting documents are clearly listed in the application forms. But at the most basic - you need to show an ongoing relationship (so communication), accommodation, finances, that you are actually married, details of the kids etc. Put it this way - if you assert something in the form, provide some evidence to back it up. e.g. You asset you're married ... show the marriage certificate ... you assert you have an ongoing relationship ... show evidence.

If by 'retrenched' you mean he's changed employers - then yes - you'll have to apply under category B.

Whether you need to wait for until May 28th is a question of how much income he's had in the last 12 months. If, since he's been back, he's earned more than £18,600 - then you can apply now. Otherwise, assuming the latest job pays over the threshold - it'd be sensible to wait until he's been employed by that company for 6 months and then you'd apply in category A.

Your previous application serves to show that you have previously had a spouse visa - but it doesn't assist, really, with the next application - you still need to show everything that a first time applicant would show.

M.