settlement spouse visa

[kirstenb]

Hi there,
I am about to submit an application for a settlement visa for my husband - a Ghanaian. I have been told that Accra HC can be really tough, so would appreciate some feedback as to how strong you think our application is, or any additional advise/documents you can recommend.

We married in February 2006 and I returned to the UK in March 2006 as I discovered I was pregnant and worried about malaria etc. I have found full-time permanent employment and rented a one bedroom apartment since returning. I do not have any savings however, but a family friend has agreed to stand as an additional financial sponsor. My parents are not able to get involved in the application as my father works for the UK Immigration Service and does not want a conflict of interests to be recorded (problem??)

Documents I will submit:
1) Certified passport and birth certificate
2) Offer of employment
3) Tenancy agreement (lease), photos of apartment, letter from landlord.
4) Bank statements for two months
5) Proof of pregnancy
6) Letter of support from MP
7) Phone bill and cards, letters, postcards and emails from my husband.
Photos of wedding and together in Ghana, DVD of wedding ceremony.


Documents my husband will submit:
1) Marriage Certificate
2) Police report showing no criminal record
3) Witness statements from family and friends in Ghana that we were living together in family residence in Accra.
4) 2 X Offers of employment in UK
5) Letters, cards, emails I have sent him
6) Receipts of money sent by me via Moneygram.
7) Letter from previous employer in Ghana.
Proof of pregnancy from Ghanaian hospital.
9) Membership of Ghana Music Association and supporting letter from President of Organisation.

Documents Additional Sponsor will submit:
1) Letter of support
2) 6 months bank statements
3) 6 months saving account statements
4) Contract of employment and recent letter showing pay rise.

Problems I can forsee are:
1) I have recently started job so can not provide pay slips, but can forward them for husband to show at interview (accra waiting times are up to 3 mths)
2) We do not have any joint savings of our own.
3) Additional sponsor is self-employed within an architects company....so no payslips, but can see regular monthly incomings on bank statements.
4) Additional sponsor has savings of £2000, is this substantial enough to satisfy ECO that he can lend asssistance?
5) Does additional sponsor need to include a certified copy of passport and birth certificate??

Sorry that this is so long!

I greatly appreciate any feedback,

Thanks x.

[ilm]

Just as the IND don't say what is required there is no way we can say either.

Best thing to do is go through the rules and decide if you have proved you meet them. Don't assume the ECO will hunt through your docs to see if you have tell them you have and say what docs you are submitting to prove it. If it convinces you that is a good start.

Where you see there may be problems explain what you will do extra to prove it, such as forwarding more pay slips.

If you don't have any saving perhaps say why not and if you are not in dept say so.

I trust your additional sponsors letter of support is more than just that and that it says they will financially help you out as showing they have money does not help you unless they are prepared to give it to you!

I personally don't see the additional sponsor having to provide a certified passport, although a photocopy would be good. Their immigration status is not in question. If they are sponsoring you financially, or with accomodation help that is the important bit. You need to prove that you wont need recourse to public funds so where help comes from in not really relevent, just that it is available.

I really don't understand why your parents can't get involved. They are your parents and their support is important regardless of where he works. I would have thought at very least a letter of support from them saying they approved of the marriage and in their oppinion is subsisting would mean alot where ever he works. Putting on that letter that he works for UK immigration can only add to the letter and is no way a conflict of interest. In fact leaving that information out could actually cause more problems as it looks as if they don't approve, and casts doubt on the marriage.

NOTE: All the above is only my personal opinion based on what I learned when preparing an application for my wife.