Confusion over the 2 online forms for wife settlement visa

[richseals]

Hi, and thank you for taking the time to read this post, I will try to keep it brief.

My wife and I got married July 2018 and nearly a year later are still in the process of applying for a Settlement Wife visa. I mistakenly entrusted my application with a solicitor who after 11 weeks proved to me that he actually knew less then I did, which was worrying and have since parted.

After the wedding my wife came back to the UK on a 6 month visitor visa but after more poor advice from Citizens Advice we did nothing for the application until she returned to Brasil, 6 months later.Citizens Advice, said that nothing could be started until the returned. Now we find out that a lot of the process could have begun whilst she was still in the UK.

During the weeks I was with the solicitor, I obtained and filled in all the relevant forms and mostly did all the work myself which has now led me down the path to apply myself on behalf of my wife.

Unfortunately 1 week ago, my online application showed 'Application Completed', but it was still missing vital information regarding the English exam reference. I called the paid hotline for Immigration and I was told it was because I was using a MAC and not a PC, although I had been using for 3 months without issue. After sourcing a PC, I found that the form was still showing ‘complete’ and greyed out, the only option showing was to ‘Delete Application’. After calling the paid hotline again, I was told the best solution would be to set up a new email and new application. I did this and never received a activation email. When trying to login, it now shows I am locked out of the account. Otherwise I could apply for investigation to my account which would take 15 days.

I have filled in the Appendix 2 form and the SU07 form and gathered all the supporting information, which is in an envelope in the UK ready to be sent. Not sure where to, I think Sheffield. With the covering letter.

Before setting up a third email I thought it better to ask the forum, if anyone had this same issue?

I started the online application 20th February and wonder if the time taken had been the issue.

I am now in Brasil with my wife to attend the English exam, which she took a few days ago.

So, now I have new questions as some time has passed and I have read conflicting information and want to double check I am doing the right thing.

My main questions are…

1) I am filling in the form on this site: www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk Is this correct?

2) Has anybody else experienced the form showing complete?

3) Previously I have selected ‘Apply for someone else’, is this correct?

4) My other confusion is when and where does my wife take her Biometrics Test? I am struggling to find how to book an appointment. We know we have to do in Sao Paolo, but how do we apply?

5) After the online form is completed do we then send of the Appendix 2 documents or will the online form explain all of this?

6) I have only just read about the Citizenship Application Services centres in the UK. Do I need to get involved with these?

I am currently in Brasil for the next 5 weeks but have help in the UK to send any relevant forms etc. I am trying to get these forms done and sent off asap.

Thank you for taking time to read my post and any help is appreciated.

Richard

[CR001]

There is a timelimit to how long applications remain active before they can't be used and you have to start again. Usually around 10 weeks.

SU07 form is NOT required for a spouse settlement visa.

Are you on unpaid leave for this period while out of the UK?? How are you meeting the financial requirement?

[richseals]

Another question:

Would it be easier to apply online from the UK? It seems to be £500 cheaper. In August my wife should be allowed to return as she has been out of the UK for 6 months and wonder if this is when we could use the new 'Service Centres'? It seems like appointments are rare, but is this a better option? All the information I have is in English and any Brasilian documentation I have had translated.

[CR001]

Another question:

Would it be easier to apply online from the UK? It seems to be £500 cheaper. In August my wife should be allowed to return as she has been out of the UK for 6 months and wonder if this is when we could use the new 'Service Centres'? It seems like appointments are rare, but is this a better option? All the information I have is in English and any Brasilian documentation I have had translated.

She cannot switch to a spouse visa within the UK while here as a visitor.

She must apply for the spouse visa from her home country.

[richseals]

There is a timelimit to how long applications remain active before they can't be used and you have to start again. Usually around 10 weeks.

SU07 form is NOT required for a spouse settlement visa.

Are you on unpaid leave for this period while out of the UK?? How are you meeting the financial requirement?

Thank you for your prompt response.

A quick answer from yourself, but not one I received from the helpline, very frustrating.

I was told by the helpline that the SU07 was required, another misleading piece of information.

I am self employed graphic designer and work whilst I am away, my business tends to run 90% as it normally does whilst I am away. I have supporting information regarding my income which passes the £18,600 threshold.

One of my other concerns was my income as my wage slips show a low income, as I receive my main income via monthly dividends. I have read that I should provide my wage slips with my application but the wage slips alone don't show they meet the requirement, but my end of year accounts do show this. I have bank statements that show how much I receive monthly which does meet the requirements and a supporting letter from my Accountant.

Lots of questions to ask... and appreciate your help.

[richseals]

Another question:

Would it be easier to apply online from the UK? It seems to be £500 cheaper. In August my wife should be allowed to return as she has been out of the UK for 6 months and wonder if this is when we could use the new 'Service Centres'? It seems like appointments are rare, but is this a better option? All the information I have is in English and any Brasilian documentation I have had translated.

She cannot switch to a spouse visa within the UK while here as a visitor.

She must apply for the spouse visa from her home country.

I'm getting so confused with this all, but I had read that, and its coming back to me. I appreciate the prompt response again, and at least that question is resolved.

[CR001]

There is a timelimit to how long applications remain active before they can't be used and you have to start again. Usually around 10 weeks.

SU07 form is NOT required for a spouse settlement visa.

Are you on unpaid leave for this period while out of the UK?? How are you meeting the financial requirement?

Thank you for your prompt response.

A quick answer from yourself, but not one I received from the helpline, very frustrating.

I was told by the helpline that the SU07 was required, another misleading piece of information.

I am self employed graphic designer and work whilst I am away, my business tends to run 90% as it normally does whilst I am away. I have supporting information regarding my income which passes the £18,600 threshold.

One of my other concerns was my income as my wage slips show a low income, as I receive my main income via monthly dividends. I have read that I should provide my wage slips with my application but the wage slips alone don't show they meet the requirement, but my end of year accounts do show this. I have bank statements that show how much I receive monthly which does meet the requirements and a supporting letter from my Accountant.

Lots of questions to ask... and appreciate your help.

You are aware of the extensive documents needed to meet the financial requirement as self employed per Appendix 1.7??

SU07 is for older dependent relatives or non spouse adult dependents, ie elderly parents or siblings etc.

[richseals]

[/quote]
You are aware of the extensive documents needed to meet the financial requirement as self employed per Appendix 1.7??

SU07 is for older dependent relatives or non spouse adult dependents, ie elderly parents or siblings etc.
[/quote]

I believe I am. The following documents I have collected:

Corporation Tax Return
CT600
Certificate of Incorporation
Final Accounts
Bank Statements
Current Appointment Report from Companies House
PAYE Reference
SA302
Personal Savings

I've just downloaded the appendix fm 1.7 financial requirement pdf. I only knew about the above documents from a list I was given from a previous solicitor that we didn't instruct, but wish we had.

[richseals]

[/quote]
She must apply for the spouse visa from her home country.
[/quote]

As I said, many questions.

Just to clarify, is the form I was doing on her behalf the wrong form?

I was completing the www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk form online

This was also the same form the Solicitor was using who let me down many times during his 11 weeks on the application.

[richseals]

I have now started another application. But this time, it is a series of questions and not like the previous online form which you could fill in certain areas and come back to others. You have to answer each question before moving on to the next question.

Not sure why this has changed... any ideas?

Thanks

Richard

[richseals]

Hi,

Since posting on here 2 days ago, I have now filled in a different online visa application which has confused me and has raised other questions.I am applying on behalf of my wife who is Brazilian and wishing to continue living with me in the UK on a spouse / wife settlement visa.

The first online form I filled in, (Visa4UK) became unavailable to edit, which led me to start another application: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk - Appendix FM Partner

The second online application form seemed a lot more comprehensive and listed required supporting documents which was reassuring. It also seemed to mirror / repeat the Appendix 2 'paper' form I had also previously filled in.

I always had in my mind that I would be sending supporting information to Sheffield, but after reading various posts on here, I am now unsure.

I am currently in Brazil with my wife, but have all the supporting documents in the UK with family who are ready to send or scan or upload etc.

Secondly, after nearly completing 95% of the second form on behalf of my wife, it is now referring to visiting the online VFS Global website and how to upload supporting documents.

What I would like to clarify is:

1) am I right to do the second form? (https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk) - Appendix FM Partner

2) will everything have to go via the Brazil VFS centre?

3) I had any Portuguese documents translated to English. But if I'm now uploading to the Brazil sites, do I need translations from my English docs to Portuguese? Or is the Brazil centre just sending them to the UK for approval?

4) Any documents I have to be scanned in or uploaded, do they need to be the originals?

Clarification on any of the above questions is appreciated.

Many Thanks

Richard

[richseals]

If this helps anyone, then I am happy I have written.

So, the VFS Global website which allows or encourages you to upload documentation says it can accept pdfs up to 10mb.

This is NOT CORRECT.

At the appointment we were told it can only accept up to 3mb big. This is also NOT CORRECT.

Only files under 1mb actually upload. I have tried on different computers, different wifi, different country, but only UNDER 1mb files work.

The FAQ's on the website says, if you have difficulty uploading documents, you must have proof there has been an error and we will upload on your behalf. Take screenshots as proof.

I however, took screenshots. but was still charged, and am seeking a refund.

Secondly, if the uploads you have that are over 1mb big, you MUST PRINT these out and take to the appointment. In this day and age, I thought I would be able to email for them to upload.

Thirdly, laptops and mobiles ARE NOT ALLOWED at the appointment.

We had to leave the building, from the 5th floor pass security and run to the nearest shopping centre to get wifi. We were told we had 30 minutes to return otherwise the appointment would be cancelled.

We were told there was no wifi at the VFS Global office. We got wifi, emailed the documents, ran back for the office to print them and then re scan them to upload. Sounds crazy, but yes it happened.

I was also told (me, the husband), that I had to wait downstairs, and wasn't even allowed in the waiting room.

We were charged for printing and scanning, and uploading. It seems they will endeavour to get more money from you however they can.

I have now gone back to the website to see only 1 out of my 5 files were uploaded.

DO NOT TRUST OR RELY ON ANYONE.

VFS Global then told my wife, that I could have sent via post all the documents to Sheffield. Not once in this process have I been told that. I have only read in this forum that Sheffield no longer accept. I don't know who to believe.

Anyway, we were told to wait 10 weeks. My wife had to leave her passport with VFS.

Good luck to anyone who is going thru this process. It will test you and your partner to the max!

[richseals]

What I would like to clarify is:

1) am I right to do the second form? (https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk) - Appendix FM Partner

I DID THE APPENDIX FM PARTNER AND ALSO APPENDIX 2. THERE IS A SECTION TO UPLOAD APP 2, SO IS DEFINITELY REQUIRED.

2) will everything have to go via the Brazil VFS centre?
APPARENTLY ALL DOCS CAN BE SENT TO SHEFFIELD. I DON'T BELIVE THIS.

3) I had any Portuguese documents translated to English. But if I'm now uploading to the Brazil sites, do I need translations from my English docs to Portuguese? Or is the Brazil centre just sending them to the UK for approval?
THE DOCS GET SENT TO THE UK, SO ENGLISH ONLY WITH ANY TRANSLATIONS.

4) Any documents I have to be scanned in or uploaded, do they need to be the originals?
DO NOT NEED ORIGINALS. ENCOURAGED TO BE COPIES IN CASE THEY ARE LOST.


Richard