When is the financial criteria calculated from?

[charlieallen]

Hi everyone. This is my first post.

I am about to apply for my Russian wife and her 2 sons to join me to live in the UK. We have opted for the spouse visa route (family of a settled person). I am British by birth and have been employed for over 3 years by the same company.

My question:
Is the financial criteria considered/calculated before paying for the visas or afterwards? I know the guidance says 'on the day of application' but at which end of the day?
I have enough savings to supplement my salary (which falls a few thousand pounds short of the £24,800).
If they calculate it from before I pay for the visas then I will satisfy the criteria, however, if they calculate it after their fees have been paid from my account (debit card unfortunately), then I will not satisfy the criteria.

Any help is much appreciated.

[seagul]

You seems like sufficiently be possessed with spouse visa requirement knowledge. Usually the documents not older than 28 days from the date of application are acceptable. So if you have enough saving at the time of application and if you will manage to get those documents by that day before paying the fee then it may work out.

[CR001]

How much savings do you have and for how long have you held the savings in your account?

If they calculate it from before I pay for the visas then I will satisfy the criteria, however, if they calculate it after their fees have been paid from my account (debit card unfortunately), then I will not satisfy the criteria.

It is calculated based on the evidence you submit of bank statements and payslips etc, the latest of which cannot be older than 28 days. Why would you therefore not meet the requirement after submitting/applying??

[charlieallen]

Wow, you guys are quick! Thanks seagul, good tip. So if I get a mini statement or print a statement from my bank account on line (and get the bank to verify/stamp it as genuine) on the day we apply but before I pay for the visas later on that day, all should be ok?


Thanks also CR001, here is my formula, it may help others if I show it:
Wife + 2 under 18 year old children, earnings requirement = £24,800 per annum

I earn £21,000 + bonuses - for more than 6 months with the same employer - and have been paid £500 within the last 6 months as a bonus. Ironically, if I had applied yesterday, I could have included another £500 in the calculation because I was paid a £500 bonus on 22nd December. This is the date is was actually paid into my bank account.

Salary £21,000 + £1,000 bonus (£500 annualised) = £22,000
Shortfall = £2,800
Savings required (held for at least 6 months, under my control, from legitimate sources):
£2,800 x 2.5 = £7,000 + £16,000 (required threshold) = £23,000
How is my maths?

Having re-checked my statements for the last 6 months, I have had a little more than this in my account, however, once the visa fees, IHS fees and priority service fees have been paid from this account, it will be below this amount, so I think seagul's suggestion is a great solution.