FLR(M) about to start process

[Scoobing]

Hi,

I've been doing a lot of reading of boards like this one and official advice etc. But I'd really like to get some specific advice/feedback on my situation.

I am a British Citizen and was born in the UK. I also hold New Zealand citizenship via paternal ancestry. I have spent most of my life in the UK from 1986-2009. From 2009-2015 I lived in New Zealand.

My fiancee and I met in 2012 in New Zealand. We lived together from 2014 onwards in a mixture of our parents houses and a flat we jointly rented. We have joint bank accounts, mortgages and property we have owned since 2014.'

We arrived in the UK in July 2015, with her on a Tier 5 YMS visa. We travelled together for 3 months, then stayed with friends and family in London until we moved into a rented flat together from January 2016 until end of February 2017.

I proposed in February 2016 and we are getting married in New Zealand in March 2017. We plan to apply for the FLR(M) visa when we return to the UK end of March 2017. We have instructed the NZ courthouse to issue our marriage certificate with an apostille certificate.

My specific questions are:

Does the marriage certificate negate the need to prove two-years worth of co-habitation? Piecing it together we have officially lived together, alone, in rented accommodation for 6 months in NZ and then 13 months in the UK. We have had joint bank accounts since September 2014.

When we return in March 2017 we will be staying with her sister, in a house that her sister owns. We can stay for as long as needed for us to find our own rented flat. However we cannot secure a flat without first having a valid visa for the duration of the tenancy (as we hilariously found out this afternoon). What kind of evidence should we provide about this situation?

Earning threshold - I have been working as an agency worker for an organisation from September 2015 until March 3rd 2017. My effective salary was around 40,000 GBP (gross). I have resigned effective March 3rd. My new role starts 3rd April 2017, as a permanent member of staff with the organisation I worked for previously. My gross annual salary will be 45,000 GBP. I will have started the job and signed a contract of employment by the time we apply. Are there any issues with this situation and our application?

My soon to be wife has worked a mixture of agency and fixed-term roles since arriving in the UK. Most recently earning 65,000 GBP on a fixed term. This will end on the 14th May 2017 and she will immediately start a new 12 month contract with a different employer, again for 65,000 GBP per annum. Are there any issues with this situation and our application?

For those of you that have made it through all that, thank you. I think the earnings threshold and suitable accommodation are my biggest worries. We plan to use the premium in-person service as she doesn't want to be without her only passport for a long time.

I'd be grateful for any advice on the points above or other things I have forgotten to factor in.

Many thanks,

Scoobing