Spouse visa list of docs

[Gudwin]

Hi guys, I decided to consult with you to clear few points for myself.
As it always happens, posters on this forum tend to gather hundreds of required and not required documents and then dump the whole list asking is that all, which confuses people a bit.

Instead, I would just ask what is missing. The standard documents (I'm not gonna include photos, passports, etc., as this is obvious) we are gathering to bring my wife and her daughter are:

marriage certificate (throwing in some wedding photos, etc.)
her english certificate
her tb test

birth certificate and passport for her daughter.
father's consent.

From me:
cover letter
payslips, bank statements
sponsorship letter for her and her daughter
letter from employer
copy of passport, ILR
tenancy agreement, proof of address

That seems about right. Anything missing?

[CR001]

You don't need the photos.

Re 'Fathers consent', your wife might need to show evidence of sole responsibility. Does she have a court order or anything?

Is her English test on the list of approved tests and test providers?

Do you meet the £22,400pa financial requirement?

What about evidence of communication while you are living apart? When did you get married?

[Gudwin]

Hey CR001.
We got married only a couple of weeks ago, being in a relationship for few years now.
There's no proof of communication, because the communication is Viber calls and chats and I guess that could be explained in the letter.
Her English will be fine (she will pass A1 in Jan from the certified centre), my income exceeds the requirements.

She doesn't have a court order because child lives with her, but she's having a good relationship with child's father, so he gave her a notarised consent that he does not object to her moving away and taking the child with her.

[CR001]

Ok, then submit the wedding photos.

UKVI might ask for more documents regarding the child and sole responsibility etc. Does the child's fathers name show on the birth certificate? How old is the child (out of interest)?

[Gudwin]

Ok, then submit the wedding photos.
UKVI might ask for more documents regarding the child and sole responsibility etc. Does the child's fathers name show on the birth certificate? How old is the child (out of interest)?

Yeah, I thought so too. We'll show wedding photos, I'd explain everything in the cover letter and if anything else required, we we'd submit it or explain it.
Father's name is on the birth certificate, yes, and the notarised consent letter includes all the relevant details as well. Hopefully this should be enough, because we don't want to start court war with the father and he agreed to resolve everything peacefully. The child is 4 y.o.

[Gudwin]

By the way. I heard from somewhere (can't remember) that you can bring your spouse not as a family member of a settled person, but as the dependant on the same category as your visa prior to ILR. Is that true? If so, is it better to bring them over as Tier 1 dependants?

[Casa]

Not possible once ILR has been granted. Logically, a family member can only be a Tier 1 dependent if their sponsor holds a Tier 1 visa.

[Gudwin]

Not possible once ILR has been granted.

Just out of curiosity - in your mind, is it easier to bring family under Tier 1 dependants or under ILR, and why?

[CR001]

Tier 1 Dependent would only be relevant if the spouse has been in the UK in this category as your dependent.

If she has not and you hold ILR, the only option you have is the spouse settlement visa.

Spouse visa is substantially cheaper in visa application fees, other than that, no real difference as both require 5 years residence and an extension mid way.