Visa4UK Category Confusion & BRP Query

[sirno]

Hi all, I'm new to this board, but after having a quick look around I wish I'd found it a long time ago!

I'm a UK citizen who has been working in Indonesia for around 4 years. I married my Indonesian wife around 2.5 years ago and we now plan to move back to the UK in December this year.

For the last 3 years we have been visiting the UK twice each year for holiday/visit family reasons and the 6-month multiple entry visas have always been granted without any fuss.

We've been preparing everything needed for the "Apply to join family living permanently in the UK " visa... IELTS course complete, TB X-ray complete, etc...

1.
Now we are ready to submit the online application, but right away the Visa4UK website has thrown up a hurdle as the visa types do not match those discussed on the Gov.uk website.

Our visa route will be 'family of a settled person' for 2.5 years, then extend for 2.5 years, then apply for settlement after 5 years in UK.

On the Visa4UK website, the best matching type of visa appears to be "settlement, settlement, wife"... however this is confusing, as we are not applying for a settlement visa at this stage? I guess our intention/route is settlement however at a later date.

Is this category correct? settlement, settlement, wife?

2.
Once we submit the application and assuming it is approved, there is a timeline to follow... The Gov.uk website says visas of this type can take up to 3 months to process. But when I check my local visa processing centre (Bali) it says this type of visa is typically processed within 2 to 4 weeks.

We plan to head to the UK just before Christmas. With the new biometric residence permit I gather there is no longer a visa in the passport, but rather a 30-day validity sticker used to enter the UK.

So, if we apply now and the visa process only takes 2 to 4 weeks, we will receive the passport & 30-day entry sticker some time in October... and must use it by some time in November.

This is earlier than the time we plan to go to the UK, which is mid December.

Can anyone confirm the new system does use a sticker for initial entry that is only valid for 30-days?

Thanks for any assistance or re-assurance that you can offer.

Regards,
Sirno

[Casa]

Hi all, I'm new to this board, but after having a quick look around I wish I'd found it a long time ago!

I'm a UK citizen who has been working in Indonesia for around 4 years. I married my Indonesian wife around 2.5 years ago and we now plan to move back to the UK in December this year.

For the last 3 years we have been visiting the UK twice each year for holiday/visit family reasons and the 6-month multiple entry visas have always been granted without any fuss.

We've been preparing everything needed for the "Apply to join family living permanently in the UK " visa... IELTS course complete, TB X-ray complete, etc...

1.
Now we are ready to submit the online application, but right away the Visa4UK website has thrown up a hurdle as the visa types do not match those discussed on the Gov.uk website.

Our visa route will be 'family of a settled person' for 2.5 years, then extend for 2.5 years, then apply for settlement after 5 years in UK.

On the Visa4UK website, the best matching type of visa appears to be "settlement, settlement, wife"... however this is confusing, as we are not applying for a settlement visa at this stage? I guess our intention/route is settlement however at a later date.

Is this category correct? settlement, settlement, wife?

2.
Once we submit the application and assuming it is approved, there is a timeline to follow... The Gov.uk website says visas of this type can take up to 3 months to process. But when I check my local visa processing centre (Bali) it says this type of visa is typically processed within 2 to 4 weeks.

We plan to head to the UK just before Christmas. With the new biometric residence permit I gather there is no longer a visa in the passport, but rather a 30-day validity sticker used to enter the UK.

So, if we apply now and the visa process only takes 2 to 4 weeks, we will receive the passport & 30-day entry sticker some time in October... and must use it by some time in November.

This is earlier than the time we plan to go to the UK, which is mid December.

Can anyone confirm the new system does use a sticker for initial entry that is only valid for 30-days?

Thanks for any assistance or re-assurance that you can offer.

Regards,
Sirno

Settlement Wife is correct as she will be on the 5 year path to permanent settlement.
You can ask for her visa to be dated up to 3 months ahead.
How will you meet the £18,600 income level? Unless you have £62,500 in accessible savings held for a minimum of 6 months, you will need to show the following:
Earnings in Indonesia equivalent to £18,600 for the 6 months prior to submitting the visa application
and
A confirmed job offer in the UK with an annual salary of £18,600 to start within 3 months of arrival.

You will also need proof of adequate accommodation available on your arrival in the UK.
Your wife will have to pay the new NHS surcharge of £600 online before submitting her visa application. This is in addition to the £956 visa fee.

[sirno]

Hi Casa,

Thanks for your reply.

I have been working in Indonesia on secondment there by my UK employer. I am still paid in the UK and have always paid taxes and NI in the UK whilst I have been in Indonesia. My earnings should not be a problem. I am simply transferring back to the UK whilst working for the same company/employer.

I still have my own house in the UK and will submit details of UK house and mortgage, etc during the application.

I am aware we have to pay the NHS fee as well.

It's good news to learn we can ask for the visa to apply a little in the future, not straight away.

Thanks for your help!

Sirno

[sirno]

Another quick query guys/girls...

The online application asks ' how long do you intend to stay in the UK?'

My wife will follow me home to the UK and we currently plan to start our route to settlement in the UK.

So is our answer permenantly?

Or is our answer 33 months, as this is the period of validity of the first stage of settlement?

Regards
Sirno

[CR001]

Permanently

[sirno]

Thanks for your prompt reply

[CR001]

Or you can also write "to settle"

[sirno]

Hi peeps... A few more silly but important questions for he application form...

For a number of years now I have been working in Indonesia, only returning to the UK with my wife for around 5 or 6 weeks each year.

I still have my own house in the UK and still consider myself to live in the UK... I am still employed in the UK and paid in the UK. But I currently work in Indonesia.


So, my queries...

Is your sponsor currently living in the UK? Yes... And add my UK address. However, I am currently writing this message from Indonesia?! Thoughts?

When did they (sponsor/me) arrive in th UK? I was born in the UK... Enter my DOB??

Where is your sponsor now... Working in Indonesia.

What is their relationship to you - other relative... Explain in additional notes I am sponsoring my wife.

Any advice on above answers?

The Beta Visa4UK website could do with some updates I think!?

Thanks
Sirno

[sirno]

Sorry for the thread bump here...

I'd like to try to get the online application completed this evening.

Does anyone have an opinion regarding my queries above?

Thanks in advance.

Sirno

[sirno]

I decided to change my inputs... Whilst I am domiciled in the UK, technically I must be living in Indonesia...

So I'm going with my Indonesian home address, I'm currently in Indonesia, I intend to travel to the UK at the same time as my wife...

And my wife's relationship to me (her sponsor) is partner. This sounded better than stating 'other relative' and the gov.uk website itself talks about partner (ie fiancé, spouse, civil partner).

Sirno

[sirno]

Hi All,

Myself & my wife just travelled to Bali yesterday to collect her completed spouse visa. It's been a few nervous weeks, but I am glad the process is now complete... and also its great that it only took 3 weeks to process! (the Gov.uk website indicated 3 weeks for visa approvals from Bali and they were right!)

We will travel to the UK just before Christmas.

Quick timeline for people applying after me who may be interested...

- 25th September - Application submitted online.
- 2nd October - Application appointment at VFS centre in Bali. Passport & application, etc submitted and sent to Manila.
- 26th October - received email from UK embassy in Manila stating a visa decision had been made.
- 28th October - received email from VFS centre in Bali stating passport & documents ready to collect.
- 30th October - travelled to Bali & opened the passport to find our settlement visa application had been successful!

I read a lot of good information on these forums, but also had to fill in some of the blanks myself. If I can help anyone else go through this process, I will be more than happy to offer advice.

Thanks all!
Sirno

[CR001]

Congratulations