Spouse visa - sponsor's second income

[snowbeard]

Hopefully this is the right section.

I am a british citizen, my partner from the USA is in the UK on a tier 4 visa with 10 months til expiry (end of Feb 2019)

We have been together 18 months, and are engaged. We have had our Home office notice period for marriage, which we passed after 14 days (no investigation). So we have set a date for the wedding, July this year.

I am a UK citizen born and bred, we live together, and I earn over the required income threshold by some margin.

Now the wedding plans are sorted we are looking towards the process of switching my partner from her T4 visa to a spouse visa, as she wants to work for a year before applying for her PhD, and we plan on staying in the UK for the next 5 years at least. Info I can find online is conflicting at best, so I have a few questions.

-Is it easier/preferential for my OH to change her name on her passport before or after we apply for the spouse visa?

-Does there need to be a specific amount of time left on her visa for us to apply safely? I've seen 6 months banded around, but also as little as 28 days.

-Should we use a law firm as we are applying from in the UK, or is this a safe route to just DIY the application?

I'm sure I have more questions, but these are for starters. Thanks!

[CR001]

-Is it easier/preferential for my OH to change her name on her passport before or after we apply for the spouse visa?

If she wants her visa in her married name, she should change her passport first.

-Does there need to be a specific amount of time left on her visa for us to apply safely? I've seen 6 months banded around, but also as little as 28 days.

No but she must apply within the UK before her current visa expires.

-Should we use a law firm as we are applying from in the UK, or is this a safe route to just DIY the application?

DIY is fine and the forum members can help you with any questions you have.

[snowbeard]

thanks!

Do we have to have been living together at the same address for 2 years before we can apply? Just spotted that on the .gov website.

We've only been living together at the same address for 6 months at time of writing.

[CR001]

Do we have to have been living together at the same address for 2 years before we can apply? Just spotted that on the .gov website.

No, this requirement is only relevant to Unmarried Partner Visas.

[snowbeard]

My soon to be wife and I will be making her spouse visa application in a couple of months.

As her UK sponsor i'm sorting all my side of the docs and financial reqs.

My main salaried job is far in excess of the minimum req (£35k pa salary).

I have an occasional part time job at a leisure facility, for which i'm paid hourly for occasional shifts, often only a few pounds a month, never more than £120 or so a month.

Do i need to declare or mention this second job? I don't want to be penalised for omitting it, but including it means a lot of extra paperwork when i already fulfil the financial visa reqs with my salaried job.

Any input appreciated, thanks!

[CR001]

Topics Merged - Please Read (click)

[snowbeard]

Thanks, literally can't find any info on this anywhere, anecdotal or otherwise.

Tempted to leave it off...or quit the part time job before we submit the application, just to be on the safe side!

Anyone as a sponsor been in a similar position regarding part time jobs? All the info i can find seems to relate to combining multiple incomes, not excluding/omitting one.

[CR001]

No need to state second small earnings if you meet the requirements with your main salary. Best not to complicate things.

There was a recent refusal (stated reasons no payslips submitted) but the OP met the requirements with main salary but complicated it by adding second job and submitting additional payslips.

[snowbeard]

thanks, that was my gut feeling- however i know with other areas of the spouse visa application the general rule of thumb is "declare everything", so didn't want to risk the application omitting things unless i'm allowed

[CR001]

You can include brief details in the 'additional information' (if there is one) if you wish, but you don't need to submit evidence if you are not relying on the income.

[snowbeard]

thanks for the help! quick additional question-

If we change my OH's last name on her US passport BEFORE submitting the spouse visa application, does it matter that her current BRP will still have her maiden name on?

[seagul]

thanks for the help! quick additional question-

If we change my OH's last name on her US passport BEFORE submitting the spouse visa application, does it matter that her current BRP will still have her maiden name on?

They may ask for some document confirming such change of name such as marriage certificate.

[snowbeard]

another quick question-

My partner and I will be applying for her spouse visa under category A for financial reqs, as I exceed the minimum threshold by some margin, and have worked for the same company for the last 7 years.

I will be providing an employer letter and 6 months of payslips.

We moved in together last september, and irritatingly the payroll dept didn't change my address, so my latest P60 from April 2018 has my previous address on it.

Would we be best off leaving the P60 out to avoid any address issues? or should I still include it?

thanks