spouse visa help - young couple

[samcatt]

Hi,

I came across this site after researching into spousal visas and how to apply for them, but with the amount of confusing information, I thought it'll be better to see if anyone with more precise information would be able to help me.

To give you a quick breakdown, me and my partner have been in a relationship for just over 1 year. I'm a White-British UK citizen and my partner is a South Korean citizen. We are both working professionals, my partner a freelance hairstylist and me a graphic designer. She is currently holding a working holiday visa, which will expire on the 20th of January. Thus she only has a couple of months left within the UK.

I have recently proposed and we are considering the option of having a simple ceremony in the UK and having a larger ceremony later in the next year in South Korea. We are planning to spend at least the next 5 or so years in the UK before moving back to Korea and thus we would need to apply for a spouse visa.

I earn more than the current guided amount to be able to "sponsor" her and have been employed longer than the 3 months needed, thus we know this wouldn't be a problem

But we want to know what other information we would need to apply for a spouse visa?
Also a rough cost of how much it would be?

So far from reading online, it doesn't give any clear picture of what I actually need or need to do?

if anyone could help that would be fantastic!

[Casa]

In order to marry in the UK you can only give notice at a Home Office designated Registry office. The Registrar is then legally bound to notify the HO who can then extend the notification period from 28 to 70 days in order to interview you both before the wedding can go ahead, should they choose to do so.

You need to consider this when you are calculating how much time is left before your fiancee's current Tier-5 visa expires.

You also require a minimum of 6 months payslips + the corresponding bank statements showing that you meet the minimum annual income level of £18,600.

A FLR(M) visa is currently £933 for a postal application or £1593 if submitted in a person at a Premium Service Centre (PSC).
In addition to the visa fee your wife will have to pay the £500 NHS surcharge.

Bear in mind that a postal application may take 3 months to process and your wife will be unable to work once her Tier-5 visa has expired, until the FLR(M) visa has been issued. An in-person application is generally decided on the same day.

A2 level English is required from an UKVI approved test/test provider unless she holds a degree taught in English. A degree awarded outside of the UK requires a NARIC ELA - RED Route.

You will also have to submit evidence of a genuine relationship and adequate accommodation.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... -form-flrm

Edit: Your ethnic origin is irrelevant.

[samcatt]

Hi Casa,

Thank you so much for explaining that in further detail for me. Being dyslectic is not the easier to digest all these forms. Guess I'll stick to just the creative things.

We will be contacting the registry office this week to try and get an interview in time. Yeah, the deadline does cut it a little close for ourselves, but we will be going for the premium service option as I believe the other just wouldn't allow her enough time.

I make over the annual salary needed £18,600 and have been for the last 6 months, so I believe this not to be a problem for myself. But, I have heard that you need to have held £1500 in a bank account for 3 months? is this true? and does this affect only the visa part of the application?

so the total for the visa would be around £2093, and this lasts for 33 months if I remember correctly, in which we have to reply for another 33 months, when it comes to an end.

The English test, she did an English test before she came to the UK, and scored an overall score of 5.5 on the IELTS test. However, that was almost 2 years ago now. I'm wondering would it be best to re-do the test? or could she use that test she original did? it's never really crossed our minds as I speak fluent Korean and we normally communicate in Korean.

What would adequate accommodation actually be, as we are saving for a larger wedding celebration next year, we are moving into a shared apartment in which we will be living in a converted living room? would this be adequate?

Also in your personal opinion would it be a good option to hire a professional to help with all the paperwork? like i said being dyslexic it's not exactly my strong suit, as much as I hate telling people I am ( as it is no excuse ) with something so important and potentially life-changing I really don't want to make a mistake.

Thank you so much

P.S sorry for including what ethnicity I am, I was just curious as to be exactly who I am and she is, trying to not make any mistakes.

[Casa]

Hi Casa,

Thank you so much for explaining that in further detail for me. Being dyslectic is not the easier to digest all these forms. Guess I'll stick to just the creative things.

We will be contacting the registry office this week to try and get an interview in time. Yeah, the deadline does cut it a little close for ourselves, but we will be going for the premium service option as I believe the other just wouldn't allow her enough time. Not all couples are called for an interview.

I make over the annual salary needed £18,600 and have been for the last 6 months, so I believe this not to be a problem for myself. But, I have heard that you need to have held £1500 in a bank account for 3 months? is this true? and does this affect only the visa part of the application? No requirement to hold funds at any stage of the application if you qualify with income.

so the total for the visa would be around £2093, and this lasts for 33 months if I remember correctly, in which we have to reply for another 33 months, when it comes to an end. 30 months when applied from within the UK.

The English test, she did an English test before she came to the UK, and scored an overall score of 5.5 on the IELTS test. However, that was almost 2 years ago now. I'm wondering would it be best to re-do the test? or could she use that test she original did? it's never really crossed our minds as I speak fluent Korean and we normally communicate in Korean. Check the validity with the link below and whether the test has an expiry date.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... entres.pdf

What would adequate accommodation actually be, as we are saving for a larger wedding celebration next year, we are moving into a shared apartment in which we will be living in a converted living room? would this be adequate? Submit evidence of how many occupants are living in the property and how many rooms there are. Best to ask the landlord to provide confirmation that the accommodation is adequate and that your fiancee has the right to live there.

Also in your personal opinion would it be a good option to hire a professional to help with all the paperwork? like i said being dyslexic it's not exactly my strong suit, as much as I hate telling people I am ( as it is no excuse ) with something so important and potentially life-changing I really don't want to make a mistake. You can generally get all the help you need on the forum (for free)...and sadly there are many examples where members have been given incorrect advice from their legal advisor, even on the simplest of issues.

Thank you so much

P.S sorry for including what ethnicity I am, I was just curious as to be exactly who I am and she is, trying to not make any mistakes.