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Just filling out the online form. I got my ILR last year (5 years Tier 2), and also married a British Citizen last month. Having to declare (and provide details of) my partner in the application. In the documents required, it asks for our marriage certificate, and my partner's proof of British Citizenship.

My two questions are:
1) Is an overseas marriage certificate acceptable (it's an original document in english issued by the govt. of Pakistan)? We got married overseas.

2) Do I need to provide my partner's original passport or would a photocopy of all the pages suffice? The confusion arises where, under the marriage certificate section, it says I can provide the photocopy of my partner's passport (as long as it includes all pages photocopied). But later down, it says that where passports are being provided, they must be originals.

Finally, I would've thought this won't be relevant (the bit about my partner etc.) as I meet the five years +1 requirement as well. Any views on this as well?

Many thanks

1) Is an overseas marriage certificate acceptable (it's an original document in english issued by the govt. of Pakistan)? We got married overseas.

Yes. Nowehere does it state it must be a UK issued marriage certificate.

2) Do I need to provide my partner's original passport or would a photocopy of all the pages suffice? The confusion arises where, under the marriage certificate section, it says I can provide the photocopy of my partner's passport (as long as it includes all pages photocopied). But later down, it says that where passports are being provided, they must be originals.

Originals are NOT sent to HO anymore. All documents are scanned and uploaded.

Thank you.

The question is are you applying on your own basis 5 years Tier 2 and 12 months on your ILR i.e. Section 6(1) of the BNA 1981 or married to a BC spouse basis i.e. Section 6(2) of BNA 1981?

If you are applying on the former basis you do not need any marriage certificate etc.

If latter, then yes you need it. Since you got married in Pakistan as per Pakistan’s law, the marriage certificate issued by Govt of Pakistan will be accepted in UK.

Once you declared your married to a British Citizen, the online form/checklist by default is considering that you are applying on BC spouse basis. If I was you, I would clarify the correct clause I would want my application to be considered and send relevant documents only.

Thank you for your comments @tier11417. I meet the criteria under both and have no particular preference, but thinking of uploading a cover letter with the application so might include the observation of qualification under both sections in the CL.

Interested in other's views in relation to the online form and disclosure of information with regards to good character requirement.

In the online form (and the June 2019 version of the paper form), it does not ask whether you have been in breach of immigration rules in the last ten years, or in particular, if you have ever overstayed. I seem to recall that some of the previous versions of the paper forms had these questions.

Context: In-time application rendered invalid resulting in overstay, and re-applied within 28 days pre-2012), subsequent applications approved.

My two questions are:
1. Am I right in thinking that HO will probably ascertain that using their records rather than asking the individual directly.
2. Would it be considered good practice to disclose this in a cover letter or is that drawing unnecessary attention?

BigMo wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 02, 2019 5:35 pm

Interested in other's views in relation to the online form and disclosure of information with regards to good character requirement.

In the online form (and the June 2019 version of the paper form), it does not ask whether you have been in breach of immigration rules in the last ten years, or in particular, if you have ever overstayed. I seem to recall that some of the previous versions of the paper forms had these questions.

Context: In-time application rendered invalid resulting in overstay, and re-applied within 28 days pre-2012), subsequent applications approved.

My two questions are:
1. Am I right in thinking that HO will probably ascertain that using their records rather than asking the individual directly.
2. Would it be considered good practice to disclose this in a cover letter or is that drawing unnecessary attention?

1. Yes.
2. Unnecessary

BigMo wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 02, 2019 3:13 pm

Thank you for your comments @tier11417. I meet the criteria under both and have no particular preference, but thinking of uploading a cover letter with the application so might include the observation of qualification under both sections in the CL.

Is there any point of this?
Keep it simple.