UK Spouce VISA for Japanese wife

[taddo12]

I am in the process of marrying my Japanese fiancé in Japan at the local ward office before our wedding ceremony in October, so that we can submit her VISA application as soon as possible, and would like to know what documents are required.

I've searched the forums already and understand that the following is necessary, however if anyone knows of anything else please let me know.

Marriage certificate (both sponsor and applicant)
Birth certificate (sponsor and applicant)
Proof of sufficient funds to support us both financially
Proof of her past employment and current resumes to prove that she intends to work in the U.K.
Sponsor and Applicant introduction letters
Proof of relationship (4 years' of Facebook photos?)

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide

[Casa]

I am in the process of marrying my Japanese fiancé in Japan at the local ward office before our wedding ceremony in October, so that we can submit her VISA application as soon as possible, and would like to know what documents are required.

I've searched the forums already and understand that the following is necessary, however if anyone knows of anything else please let me know.

Marriage certificate (both sponsor and applicant) Why two separate marriage certificates?
Birth certificate (sponsor and applicant) Not required
Proof of sufficient funds to support us both financially Minimum income of £18,600 p.a OR £65,500 in savings held in an accessible account for at least 6 months. Only savings over £16,000 will qualify to make up any shortfall in the £18,600 p.a income
Proof of her past employment and current resumes to prove that she intends to work in the U.K. Not required
Sponsor and Applicant introduction letters Only letter from Sponsor required
Proof of relationship (4 years' of Facebook photos?) You'll need more proof than this.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide

Unless qualifying with savings alone, you need to submit your last 6 months payslips + the corresponding bank statements.
Proof of adequate accommodation available on your wife's arrival in the UK.
Divorce absolute certificate if either of you have been married before.
She will need A1 English from an UKVI approved test provider unless she holds a degree taught in English. If the degree was awarded outside of the UK, a NARIC ELA (Red Route) will be required.
In addition to the £1496 visa fee you will have to pay the £600 NHS surcharge

[taddo12]

Thank you Casa, she's just completed her English A1 test and we're aware of the charges that need to be paid. When applying for the VISA is a full list of the required documents given?

Thank you again

[taddo12]

Sorry Casa, didn't see you comments in my post earlier.

We do indeed only have one wedding certificate.

Regarding proof of relationship, it takes back over 4 years though most of that has been long distance. What else constitutes as proof of relationship? Email/text correspondence?

[Casa]

Sorry Casa, didn't see you comments in my post earlier.

We do indeed only have one wedding certificate.

Regarding proof of relationship, it takes back over 4 years though most of that has been long distance. What else constitutes as proof of relationship? Email/text correspondence?

...and proof of visits during the 4 years.

[taddo12]

Thanks, just one more question. Will she need to change her surname on her Japanese passport before applying or is the marriage certificate sufficient?

[Casa]

Thanks, just one more question. Will she need to change her surname on her Japanese passport before applying or is the marriage certificate sufficient?

No need to change her name...many women keep their own family name after marriage, it's personal choice.

[taddo12]

We're currently completing the application online and my wife will be submitting the supporting documents at the vfsglobal site in Tokyo, while I am in the UK. Do all of the supporting documents from my end need to be sent to her in Japan to bring to the Vfsglobal centre, or is there any option for me to submit my documents (ie bank statements etc) to a UK location?

Apologies for the continuous questions, thank you again for your help!

[Casa]

We're currently completing the application online and my wife will be submitting the supporting documents at the vfsglobal site in Tokyo, while I am in the UK. Do all of the supporting documents from my end need to be sent to her in Japan to bring to the Vfsglobal centre, or is there any option for me to submit my documents (ie bank statements etc) to a UK location?

Apologies for the continuous questions, thank you again for your help!

Since March 2017 all supporting documents for Spouse Settlement applications submitted in Japan should be sent to Sheffield. The address/process is in the link below:
http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/japan/pdf/Ch ... -Japan.pdf

[taddo12]

Thanks so much for the quick response casa. Just to clarify then, my wife can submit her own supporting documents at the VISA centre in Tokyo and I can submit mine to the site in Sheffield?

[Casa]

Thanks so much for the quick response casa. Just to clarify then, my wife can submit her own supporting documents at the VISA centre in Tokyo and I can submit mine to the site in Sheffield?

My understanding is that all supporting documents apart from your wife's passport should be sent to Sheffield.

Note: "From 20 March 2017, all supporting documents should be sent to the UK address below by the sponsor
or applicant."

Your wife can send her supporting documents to you in the UK, for you to then send them together with yours to Sheffield. You can state which address you want them to be returned to.

[taddo12]

Thank you Casa. When providing bank statements as evidence of my income, can they be PDF printouts from online banking? Are there any vital details that need to be included in the Sponsor letter other than an outline of our circumstances and a list of all the supporting documentation being sent?

You've been incredibly helpful so the only other question I have is whether they will hold onto her passport for the 3 month application period?

Thank you again

Tad

[CR001]

Bank statements and payslips must be original.

Online banks statements are not accepted and most banks no longer stamp and verify them.

[taddo12]

Thank you, in this instance I cannot provide statements for the month of August as this is not yet available in paper form until the end of the month. Furthermore would you be able to confirm if the VISA centre keeps hold of her passport for the entire 3 month application period?

[CR001]

Can you not go into the bank and ask them to print statements

Yes to the passport. There is a passport return service, which costs extra, but I am not sure if it applies to all visa categories. She won't be able to visit the UK while her application is being processed (just for info).

[taddo12]

I can go go the bank yes, but as you say they refuse to date and stamp statements anymore.

Thank you for answer regarding passport, for proof of residence is my mortgage deed sufficient?

Apologies for all the questions, if there's a more appropriate place to ask what the right documentation is let me know.

[CR001]

I can go go the bank yes, but as you say they refuse to date and stamp statements anymore.

A statement printed in branch on headed paper is acceptable.

Thank you for answer regarding passport, for proof of residence is my mortgage deed sufficient?

Yes, should be fine. Add council tax and most recent utility.

Apologies for all the questions, if there's a more appropriate place to ask what the right documentation is let me know.

You can continue asking in this topic and we will respond.

[taddo12]

Thanks again. Do my wife's Japanese documents (such as wedding certificate etc) have to be translated?

[Casa]

Thanks again. Do my wife's Japanese documents (such as wedding certificate etc) have to be translated?

Yes.

[taddo12]

Thanks, is an official translator absolutely necessary or can my wife and I do this ourselves?

[CR001]

Any documents that are not in English MUST be officially translated and verified. HO can and do check the credentials of translators some times. So no, you cannot do it yourselves.

[taddo12]

Thank you. As a result we've tried to re-book the appointment for submitting supporting documents but the appointment details have now reverted to those previously shown and the status is showing as complete??! Is there any way to directly contact the HO to rectify?

[taddo12]

I am in the process of marrying my Japanese fiancé in Japan at the local ward office before our wedding ceremony in October, so that we can submit her VISA application as soon as possible, and would like to know what documents are required.

I've searched the forums already and understand that the following is necessary, however if anyone knows of anything else please let me know.

Marriage certificate (both sponsor and applicant) Why two separate marriage certificates?
Birth certificate (sponsor and applicant) Not required
Proof of sufficient funds to support us both financially Minimum income of £18,600 p.a OR £65,500 in savings held in an accessible account for at least 6 months. Only savings over £16,000 will qualify to make up any shortfall in the £18,600 p.a income
Proof of her past employment and current resumes to prove that she intends to work in the U.K. Not required
Sponsor and Applicant introduction letters Only letter from Sponsor required
Proof of relationship (4 years' of Facebook photos?) You'll need more proof than this.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide

Unless qualifying with savings alone, you need to submit your last 6 months payslips + the corresponding bank statements.
Proof of adequate accommodation available on your wife's arrival in the UK.
Divorce absolute certificate if either of you have been married before.
She will need A1 English from an UKVI approved test provider unless she holds a degree taught in English. If the degree was awarded outside of the UK, a NARIC ELA (Red Route) will be required.
In addition to the £1496 visa fee you will have to pay the £600 NHS surcharge

Hi Casa

Having submitted our application we were horrified to realise that the photos of us together had not been included .

We checked the following visa application information available on the Gov.uk site which states that "You don’t generally need to send in things like WhatsApp messages, Skype history or photos of you together." which I'm fairly certain is complete nonsense.

https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/provide-information

In any case I'm almost certain that our visa application will be rejected if they don't have any photos of us together, is it possible to submit further supporting documents to Sheffield if I call to explain? We've yet to receive any decision.

[taddo12]

Any documents that are not in English MUST be officially translated and verified. HO can and do check the credentials of translators some times. So no, you cannot do it yourselves.

CR001 Any response on the below would be much appreciated

[cuppatrash]

Any documents that are not in English MUST be officially translated and verified. HO can and do check the credentials of translators some times. So no, you cannot do it yourselves.

CR001 Any response on the below would be much appreciated

How did everything turn out?