UKVI email address for visa application queries

[Abhishek_P]

Hi,

I am a british citizen and my wife is here on Spouse visa. Her visa is due to expire on 10-May-2020. I just wanted to check by when she should apply for the visa. Is it too early to apply it for now?

Also, if we apply now could it be that new visa start date would be before 10-May-2020 and therefore, the total duration could be short when applying for ILR?

Further, due to COVID-19 situation we are all working from home. So how to get documents (payslips, letter from employer, etc.)?

Thanks,
Abhi

[seagul]

Hi,

I am a british citizen and my wife is here on Spouse visa. Her visa is due to expire on 10-May-2020. I just wanted to check by when she should apply for the visa. Is it too early to apply it for now?

FLRM extension can be applied 28 days before completing 30 months from the date of entering UK but preferably be applied very close to expiry if possible to avoid every single chance of any shortfall which might arise towards the qualifying period needs for ILR.

Also, if we apply now could it be that new visa start date would be before 10-May-2020 and therefore, the total duration could be short when applying for ILR?

The new visa will be started from the date of decision which could be even earlier than the expiry of previous visa and in such case the applicant might get some extra length of visa.

Further, due to COVID-19 situation we are all working from home. So how to get documents (payslips, letter from employer, etc.)Thanks,
Abhi?

speak to your employer

[Abhishek_P]

Thanks seagul for your quick response.

Hi,

I am a british citizen and my wife is here on Spouse visa. Her visa is due to expire on 10-May-2020. I just wanted to check by when she should apply for the visa. Is it too early to apply it for now?

FLRM extension can be applied 28 days before completing 30 months from the date of entering UK but preferably be applied very close to expiry if possible to avoid every single chance of any shortfall which might arise towards the qualifying period needs for ILR.

She entered UK in Aug-2017 so its already 31 months since she entered UK (but we were out of UK multiple times for short holiday trips of <=3 weeks which I have not removed from 31 months).

Also, if we apply now could it be that new visa start date would be before 10-May-2020 and therefore, the total duration could be short when applying for ILR?

The new visa will be started from the date of decision which could be even earlier than the expiry of previous visa and in such case the applicant might get some extra length of visa.

Ok whether she gets some extra length of visa (or not), we can apply for extension now because extension would atleast be 30 months?? So in worst case 61 (30 + 31) months should be enough to apply for ILR. Am I right in assuming that extension would atleast be 30 months?

Further, due to COVID-19 situation we are all working from home. So how to get documents (payslips, letter from employer, etc.)Thanks,
Abhi?

speak to your employer

Employer can provide soft copies as nobody (including HR) is in office. Would Home office accept color prints of soft copies? Are there any such precedents in recent extra-ordinary times?


Thanks,
Abhi

[seagul]

She entered UK in Aug-2017 so its already 31 months since she entered UK (but we were out of UK multiple times for short holiday trips of <=3 weeks which I have not removed from 31 months).

There is no absence limit for spouse visa holder

Ok whether she gets some extra length of visa (or not), we can apply for extension now because extension would atleast be 30 months?? So in worst case 61 (30 + 31) months should be enough to apply for ILR. Am I right in assuming that extension would atleast be 30 months?

Yes extension would be issued of 30 months and also you can apply ILR 28 days before completing 60 months from the date of entering UK. In your case you wont face any shortfall.

Employer can provide soft copies as nobody (including HR) is in office. Would Home office accept color prints of soft copies? Are there any such precedents in recent extra-ordinary times?

5.6. Salaried and non-salaried employment – specified evidence
5.6.1. The evidence required to demonstrate income from salaried employment (and, by virtue of
paragraph 18(d), non-salaried employment) is specified in Appendix FM-SE:
2. In respect of salaried employment in the UK (except where paragraph 9
applies1
), all of the following evidence must be provided:
(a) Payslips covering:
(i) a period of 6 months prior to the date of application if the person has been employed
by their current employer for at least 6 months (and where paragraph 13(b) of this
Appendix does not apply); or
(ii)any period of salaried employment in the period of 12 months prior to the date of
application if the person has been employed by their current employer for less than 6
months (or at least 6 months but the person does not rely on paragraph 13(a) of this
Appendix), or in the financial year(s) relied upon by a self-employed person.
(b) A letter from the employer(s) who issued the payslips at paragraph 2(a) confirming:
(i) the person's employment and gross annual salary;
(ii) the length of their employment;
(iii) the period over which they have been or were paid the level of salary relied upon in
the application; and
(iv) the type of employment (permanent, fixed-term contract or agency).
(c) Personal bank statements corresponding to the same period(s) as the payslips at
paragraph 2(a), showing that the salary has been paid into an account in the name of
the person or in the name of the person and their partner jointly.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... -ext_1.pdf

[geoeng]

Employer can provide soft copies as nobody (including HR) is in office. Would Home office accept color prints of soft copies? Are there any such precedents in recent extra-ordinary times?

For the visa extension application, everything is scanned and uploaded online anyway and no physical documents have to be submitted so electronic copies should be fine provided they meet the requirements seagul posted.

[Abhishek_P]

Awesome. Thank you guys.

[Abhishek_P]

Hi,

My wife's spouse visa is valid until 10-May-2020 and we are in the process of completing her visa application. As we were filling the online application we just realized that Standard service (1052.20 GBP) has expected processing time of 8 weeks. We do not have 8 weeks until 10-May-20. We have following questions:

1) Does this mean she has to apply for super priority to secure visa before her current visa expires?

2) Would it affect her employment if her visa is under process after 10-May-20? Is she eligible to work while waiting for decision?

Many Thanks,
Abhi.

[AmazonianX]

Hi,

My wife's spouse visa is valid until 10-May-2020 and we are in the process of completing her visa application. As we were filling the online application we just realized that Standard service (1052.20 GBP) has expected processing time of 8 weeks. We do not have 8 weeks until 10-May-20. We have following questions:

1) Does this mean she has to apply for super priority to secure visa before her current visa expires?

2) Would it affect her employment if her visa is under process after 10-May-20? Is she eligible to work while waiting for decision?

Many Thanks,
Abhi.

1. No, what is important is that the application must have been submitted before the expiration of current visa.

2. In above scenario, if her application is under processing after 10th May, 2020, Section 3C is activated. Her rights will continue as per what they were under the previous visa e. g. If she has right to work before under current visa, then she can continue to.

[Abhishek_P]

Thanks a lot AmazonianX.

[Abhishek_P]

Hi,

We are in the process of making application for spouse visa extension (Family route) from within UK. Due to current Covid-19 situation, all non-essential businesses are shutdown in line with govt advisory; so is my employer. This means HR is not able to sign/stamp payslips and employment reference letter. I want to check with UKVI if they would have any acceptable alternatives (for example digitally signed reference letter, etc.).

There used to be an email address on following link until 2 days ago: https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside- ... extensions

Do you know what is the email address to get fast answer.

Thanks,
Abhi

[CR001]

Ukvi call centre or email service will not give you specific advice like that.

Ho also have more priority issues at the moment with those within the UK who have visas expiring or already expired. Entry clearance visas are not high priority at this stage.

As everything is uploaded, a digitally signed letter, ie where you add a scanned signature, would be fine.

Please also desist from starting a new topic with every question you have!!

[Abhishek_P]

Thanks for your quick response.

Ukvi call centre or email service will not give you specific advice like that.

Ho also have more priority issues at the moment with those within the UK who have visas expiring or already expired. Entry clearance visas are not high priority at this stage.

We fall under this category. no? Her visa expires on 10-May-20 and she is in UK.

As everything is uploaded, a digitally signed letter, ie where you add a scanned signature, would be fine.

At what stage it says that you have to upload? So far I have made the IHS payment and I am at the stage of paying application fee. In documents section they still talked about sending documents across.

Please also desist from starting a new topic with every question you have!!

Sure.

[CR001]

Ukvi call centre or email service will not give you specific advice like that.

Ho also have more priority issues at the moment with those within the UK who have visas expiring or already expired. Entry clearance visas are not high priority at this stage.

We fall under this category. no? Her visa expires on 10-May-20 and she is in UK.

You simply then apply before the visa expires and wait to see about the biometric appointment and when the centres reopen.

As everything is uploaded, a digitally signed letter, ie where you add a scanned signature, would be fine.

At what stage it says that you have to upload? So far I have made the IHS payment and I am at the stage of paying application fee. In documents section they still talked about sending documents across.

Nothing is sent to HO by post. You upload documents AFTER you have paid and they are uploaded onto the UKCVAS portal.

[sohail111]

Emailing queries cost £5 something to UKVI