Best route for meeting financial requirements

[mally]

Hey! We're Matt (British) and Ally (Canadian), currently in Canada (since May 2019) awaiting response from Matt's PR application here. Once completed, we intend to move back to the UK to apply for Ally's PR there.

The Canadian application was estimated to be completed around December, but due to covid delays its more likely to be the beginning of next year. We are homeowners in the UK, and have tenants renting the property until May 2021. Our original plan was to head back to the UK in April so that we could move into our owned property at the beginning of May.

We've been looking into requirements for Ally to apply for PR. We aren't married, and have no plans to get married, so the unmarried partner visa (defacto) is likely to be the route we take. We'll have been together for 7 years when we apply, and have substantial proof of cohabitation throughout that time (minus a year or so of travelling together). The only issue is the financial requirements.

The minimum income threshold of £18K is fine, but we earn it in Canada, not the UK. From the research we've done, it looks like they only take into consideration income earned from a UK company. This is a problem. For Matt to do that, he would have to go to the UK for 6 months without me, or if I go, I'd be a tourist and wouldn't be able to work or help support the household. It's also optimistic that he will find a job paying that much, during a pandemic, that could be exponentially worse in 2021. It's not a risk we're willing to take.

The next option is cash savings, which is £16K plus 2.5x £18.6K = £62500. Who has that just laying around in a bank? Not us. We've been grinding hard over the last year or so, and have saved £35K, but there's no chance we can save the rest, and pay for the visa itself, flights etc, within a realistic amount of time. The only income we actually get from the UK is our rental income of £9K a year, but that just about covers our mortgage, insurance, ground rent, service charge etc. Now, we know we can't use this as income if we intend to move back into the property, but what about if we just tell immigration that we are going to live with Matt's parents, and intend to continue renting the property. Can we include it then? How would they verify that this is true, if it's a future intention? We also intend to pay to fast track the application, so should get an answer before Ally even touches down in the UK.

Another option is borrowing the money, but disguising it as a gift. Ally's parents have offered to give us £35K we need, to hold in an account in our names for 6 months, and then we would just give it back once the application has been submitted. This seems like it may be the simplest way, but we're concerned that immigration may not believe the money is a gift. Do the savings need to be held in GBP or can they been in CAD in a Canadian Bank account in Ally's name?

If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Matt and Ally

[AmazonianX]

Hey! We're Matt (British) and Ally (Canadian), currently in Canada (since May 2019) awaiting response from Matt's PR application here. Once completed, we intend to move back to the UK to apply for Ally's PR there.

The Canadian application was estimated to be completed around December, but due to covid delays its more likely to be the beginning of next year. We are homeowners in the UK, and have tenants renting the property until May 2021. Our original plan was to head back to the UK in April so that we could move into our owned property at the beginning of May.

We've been looking into requirements for Ally to apply for PR. We aren't married, and have no plans to get married, so the unmarried partner visa (defacto) is likely to be the route we take. We'll have been together for 7 years when we apply, and have substantial proof of cohabitation throughout that time (minus a year or so of travelling together). The only issue is the financial requirements.

The minimum income threshold of £18K is fine, but we earn it in Canada, not the UK. From the research we've done, it looks like they only take into consideration income earned from a UK company. This is a problem. For Matt to do that, he would have to go to the UK for 6 months without me, or if I go, I'd be a tourist and wouldn't be able to work or help support the household. It's also optimistic that he will find a job paying that much, during a pandemic, that could be exponentially worse in 2021. It's not a risk we're willing to take.

The next option is cash savings, which is £16K plus 2.5x £18.6K = £62500. Who has that just laying around in a bank? Not us. We've been grinding hard over the last year or so, and have saved £35K, but there's no chance we can save the rest, and pay for the visa itself, flights etc, within a realistic amount of time. The only income we actually get from the UK is our rental income of £9K a year, but that just about covers our mortgage, insurance, ground rent, service charge etc. Now, we know we can't use this as income if we intend to move back into the property, but what about if we just tell immigration that we are going to live with Matt's parents, and intend to continue renting the property. Can we include it then? How would they verify that this is true, if it's a future intention? We also intend to pay to fast track the application, so should get an answer before Ally even touches down in the UK.

Another option is borrowing the money, but disguising it as a gift. Ally's parents have offered to give us £35K we need, to hold in an account in our names for 6 months, and then we would just give it back once the application has been submitted. This seems like it may be the simplest way, but we're concerned that immigration may not believe the money is a gift.

There is no reason for them not to believe if your documentations are in order

can they been in CAD in a Canadian Bank account in Ally's name? Yes

If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Matt and Ally

[AmazonianX]

Hey! We're Matt (British) and Ally (Canadian), currently in Canada (since May 2019) awaiting response from Matt's PR application here. Once completed, we intend to move back to the UK to apply for Ally's PR there.

The Canadian application was estimated to be completed around December, but due to covid delays its more likely to be the beginning of next year. We are homeowners in the UK, and have tenants renting the property until May 2021. Our original plan was to head back to the UK in April so that we could move into our owned property at the beginning of May.

We've been looking into requirements for Ally to apply for PR. We aren't married, and have no plans to get married, so the unmarried partner visa (defacto) is likely to be the route we take. We'll have been together for 7 years when we apply, and have substantial proof of cohabitation throughout that time (minus a year or so of travelling together). The only issue is the financial requirements.

The minimum income threshold of £18K is fine, but we earn it in Canada, not the UK. From the research we've done, it looks like they only take into consideration income earned from a UK company. This is a problem. For Matt to do that, he would have to go to the UK for 6 months without me, or if I go, I'd be a tourist and wouldn't be able to work or help support the household. It's also optimistic that he will find a job paying that much, during a pandemic, that could be exponentially worse in 2021. It's not a risk we're willing to take.

The next option is cash savings, which is £16K plus 2.5x £18.6K = £62500. Who has that just laying around in a bank? Not us. We've been grinding hard over the last year or so, and have saved £35K, but there's no chance we can save the rest, and pay for the visa itself, flights etc, within a realistic amount of time. The only income we actually get from the UK is our rental income of £9K a year, but that just about covers our mortgage, insurance, ground rent, service charge etc. Now, we know we can't use this as income if we intend to move back into the property, but what about if we just tell immigration that we are going to live with Matt's parents, and intend to continue renting the property. Can we include it then? How would they verify that this is true, if it's a future intention? We also intend to pay to fast track the application, so should get an answer before Ally even touches down in the UK.

Another option is borrowing the money, but disguising it as a gift. Ally's parents have offered to give us £35K we need, to hold in an account in our names for 6 months, and then we would just give it back once the application has been submitted. This seems like it may be the simplest way, but we're concerned that immigration may not believe the money is a gift. Do the savings need to be held in GBP or can they been in CAD in a Canadian Bank account in Ally's name?

If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Matt and Ally

Simply put, the cash savings route will appear to be the best or easiest hassle free (fingers crossed) route. Less documentation, straight forward evidence and peace of mind. Getting the £62,500 in place is the thing. If you can get it together and you have the 6 months to wait (to meet up the time it should be in account and it should not drop below that amount at any point in the 6 months, if in foreign currency, preemptively add more to factor in the variation of exchange rate over time)

[seagul]

The Canadian application was estimated to be completed around December, but due to covid delays its more likely to be the beginning of next year. We are homeowners in the UK, and have tenants renting the property until May 2021. Our original plan was to head back to the UK in April so that we could move into our owned property at the beginning of May.

I yearn that your plans get executed smoothly as you are anticipating because at the moment the emptying the property is very difficult because there has been a moratorium over the eviction process from March - September, due to the the involvement of various charity organizations. But if God forbidden your tenants aren't ready to leave then i am afraid you/your agent will have to or they may have already served the section 21 notice giving the 6 months following by the court repossession which might consume the entire 2021 if they aren't heavily under rent arrears or involved under anti social activities.

The minimum income threshold of £18K is fine, but we earn it in Canada, not the UK. From the research we've done, it looks like they only take into consideration income earned from a UK company.

That can become the most straightforward option without waiting for him to come over to UK to work for 6 months or letting your savings for 6 months, if he manages to get a job offer in UK going to start within 3 months on arrival and in that case his foreign income can be combined.

Another option is borrowing the money, but disguising it as a gift. Ally's parents have offered to give us £35K we need, to hold in an account in our names for 6 months, and then we would just give it back once the application has been submitted. This seems like it may be the simplest way, but we're concerned that immigration may not believe the money is a gift. Do the savings need to be held in GBP or can they been in CAD in a Canadian Bank account in Ally's name?

If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Matt and Ally

Savings can be held under any currency but should be none-returnable if have been gifted despite never seen of these be scrutinised after the grant of visa.

[mally]

Hey, us again!

I'm British, my partner is Canadian, and we're in Canada. We're going to be applying for the unmarried (defacto) partner visa for the UK.

My partner has been working full time for a Canadian company since June 2019 (as well as working freelance for some US companies). For her full time job, she's paid hourly, at $18/hr for 40+ hours a week. We haven't taken any holidays, so although she's not on a salary, she will make about $36K gross this year. I only just got my work permit through here, and I'm still looking for work, so I won't meet the salary requirement.

Converting her income to GBP works out as about £21K. Can my partners Canadian income be used to meet the financial requirement of £18,600? We have no jobs lined up for when we arrive in the UK.

Thanks!

[mally]

I yearn that your plans get executed smoothly as you are anticipating because at the moment the emptying the property is very difficult because there has been a moratorium over the eviction process from March - September, due to the the involvement of various charity organizations. But if God forbidden your tenants aren't ready to leave then i am afraid you/your agent will have to or they may have already served the section 21 notice giving the 6 months following by the court repossession which might consume the entire 2021 if they aren't heavily under rent arrears or involved under anti social activities.

The tenants have only signed a 6 month contract, so I'm not expecting any issues with them leaving. I'm not evicting them, their tenancy contract ends on May 10th 2021. If issues arrive, I'll have to deal with it, but I am hoping nothing will arise.

That can become the most straightforward option without waiting for him to come over to UK to work for 6 months or letting your savings for 6 months, if he manages to get a job offer in UK going to start within 3 months on arrival and in that case his foreign income can be combined.

We're looking into this now. He (Matt) doesn't actually earn anything in Canada yet, as his work permit only just came through. I (Ally) am the Canadian, working full time. I earn more than £18.6K equivalent in Canadian $, but I don't have a job lined up for the UK yet, and will probably struggle finding one that pays that much during a pandemic :/

Thanks for your reply!

[seagul]

Hey, us again!

I'm British, my partner is Canadian, and we're in Canada. We're going to be applying for the unmarried (defacto) partner visa for the UK.

My partner has been working full time for a Canadian company since June 2019 (as well as working freelance for some US companies). For her full time job, she's paid hourly, at $18/hr for 40+ hours a week. We haven't taken any holidays, so although she's not on a salary, she will make about $36K gross this year. I only just got my work permit through here, and I'm still looking for work, so I won't meet the salary requirement.

Converting her income to GBP works out as about £21K. Can my partners Canadian income be used to meet the financial requirement of £18,600? We have no jobs lined up for when we arrive in the UK.

Thanks!

Only the British sponsor can use/combine his foreign income provided has a job offer from a UK employer which will be going to commence within 3 months on arrival.

[seagul]

The tenants have only signed a 6 month contract, so I'm not expecting any issues with them leaving. I'm not evicting them, their tenancy contract ends on May 10th 2021. If issues arrive, I'll have to deal with it, but I am hoping nothing will arise.

Good luck

We're looking into this now. He (Matt) doesn't actually earn anything in Canada yet, as his work permit only just came through. I (Ally) am the Canadian, working full time. I earn more than £18.6K equivalent in Canadian $, but I don't have a job lined up for the UK yet, and will probably struggle finding one that pays that much during a pandemic :/

Thanks for your reply!

Then you will have to rely on Cash savings route, i am afraid because your rental income alone wont be sufficient.

[AmazonianX]

Hey, us again!

I'm British, my partner is Canadian, and we're in Canada. We're going to be applying for the unmarried (defacto) partner visa for the UK.

My partner has been working full time for a Canadian company since June 2019 (as well as working freelance for some US companies). For her full time job, she's paid hourly, at $18/hr for 40+ hours a week. We haven't taken any holidays, so although she's not on a salary, she will make about $36K gross this year. I only just got my work permit through here, and I'm still looking for work, so I won't meet the salary requirement.

Converting her income to GBP works out as about £21K. Can my partners Canadian income be used to meet the financial requirement of £18,600? We have no jobs lined up for when we arrive in the UK. It does not work that way. You are the sponsor therefore, the heavies are on you. Canadian based income not usable because the whole point of the visa will entail relocation/travelling or moving from her present country and hence nearly a guarantee that she will leave that job whose income you want HO to take into consideration.
However, you will note that they can consider partner's savings because this is already disponible savings or a form easily accessible for use and not prospective earned income.

Thanks!

[seagul]

because the whole point of the visa will entail relocation/travelling or moving from her present country

If the cash savings gets matured to 6 months then they don't need any relocation/travelling during the visa process.

and hence nearly a guarantee that she will leave that job whose income you want HO to take into consideration.

Only the British sponsor's foreign income can be accepted with job offer.

[AmazonianX]

because the whole point of the visa will entail relocation/travelling or moving from her present country

Likely reason why income of Canadian partner(applicant) is not accepted by HO
If the cash savings gets matured to 6 months then they don't need any relocation/travelling during the visa process. After the visa is granted, will the partner leave her current country of residence or citizenship to UK or not?

and hence nearly a guarantee that she will leave that job whose income you want HO to take into consideration.

Only the British sponsor's foreign income can be accepted with job offer. It's a given.

[seagul]

because the whole point of the visa will entail relocation/travelling or moving from her present country

Likely reason why income of Canadian partner(applicant) is not accepted by HO
If the cash savings gets matured to 6 months then they don't need any relocation/travelling during the visa process. After the visa is granted, will the partner leave her current country of residence or citizenship to UK or not?

and hence nearly a guarantee that she will leave that job whose income you want HO to take into consideration.

Only the British sponsor's foreign income can be accepted with job offer. It's a given.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... .0-ext.pdf

[TODMATT]

Hey, us again!

I'm British, my partner is Canadian, and we're in Canada. We're going to be applying for the unmarried (defacto) partner visa for the UK.

My partner has been working full time for a Canadian company since June 2019 (as well as working freelance for some US companies). For her full time job, she's paid hourly, at $18/hr for 40+ hours a week. We haven't taken any holidays, so although she's not on a salary, she will make about $36K gross this year. I only just got my work permit through here, and I'm still looking for work, so I won't meet the salary requirement.

Converting her income to GBP works out as about £21K. Can my partners Canadian income be used to meet the financial requirement of £18,600? We have no jobs lined up for when we arrive in the UK.


This is a good option if Matt can find a job offer

[CR001]

Hey, us again!

I'm British, my partner is Canadian, and we're in Canada. We're going to be applying for the unmarried (defacto) partner visa for the UK.

My partner has been working full time for a Canadian company since June 2019 (as well as working freelance for some US companies). For her full time job, she's paid hourly, at $18/hr for 40+ hours a week. We haven't taken any holidays, so although she's not on a salary, she will make about $36K gross this year. I only just got my work permit through here, and I'm still looking for work, so I won't meet the salary requirement.

Converting her income to GBP works out as about £21K. Can my partners Canadian income be used to meet the financial requirement of £18,600? We have no jobs lined up for when we arrive in the UK.


This is a good option if Matt can find a job offer

Perhaps you have misunderstood the yellow bit above, it is the Canadians income they are referring to, not the British partner. The Canadian partners income abroad CANNOT be used for an initial spouse visa.

[TODMATT]

Hey, us again!

I'm British, my partner is Canadian, and we're in Canada. We're going to be applying for the unmarried (defacto) partner visa for the UK.

My partner has been working full time for a Canadian company since June 2019 (as well as working freelance for some US companies). For her full time job, she's paid hourly, at $18/hr for 40+ hours a week. We haven't taken any holidays, so although she's not on a salary, she will make about $36K gross this year. I only just got my work permit through here, and I'm still looking for work, so I won't meet the salary requirement.

Converting her income to GBP works out as about £21K. Can my partners Canadian income be used to meet the financial requirement of £18,600? We have no jobs lined up for when we arrive in the UK.


This is a good option if Matt can find a job offer

Perhaps you have misunderstood the yellow bit above, it is the Canadians income they are referring to, not the British partner. The Canadian partners income abroad CANNOT be used for an initial spouse visa.

Yes you are right! I did misunderstood the question and of course I am aware the Canadian partners income can't be used.

Thanks for the correction