Clarifications regarding spouse visa application

[VocaVuna]

Hi everyone, I am a British citizen, and my soon to be spouse is a non-EU European. After the wedding we will look to apply for the spouse visa (from outside of UK). I have looked at the requirements, and I meet the financials, have a job, she has completed her A1 English, etc.

The question we have is about accommodation.

I currently live with a friend who owns the property (a 3 bedroom flat). He is happy for my spouse and I to live at the same flat as long as we want, as the flat has plenty of space. We will of course be paying the rent, and not expect to live rent free, just so that no one is confused about that.

My question is regarding adequate accommodation, is this arrangement considered to be adequate?
What evidence do we need to provide from my friend, what evidence about the flat not being overcrowded, etc?

Thank you in advance.

[seagul]

My question is regarding adequate accommodation, is this arrangement considered to be adequate?
What evidence do we need to provide from my friend, what evidence about the flat not being overcrowded, etc?

Thank you in advance.

Friend's mortgage statement, title deeds and No objection letter.

[VocaVuna]

Hello all, I thank you in advance for your replies and comments.

My wife (currently living outside UK - never been to UK) and I (British citizen), will soon be applying for her spouse visa to join me to live in London.
I believe I satisfy all the requirements to show I can support us financially, and we will have lots of other usual evidence of our relationship etc.

My question is about proof of adequate accommodation.
I have just found a 1 bedroom flat, for which I am about to sign the usual tenancy agreement through a lettings agency. I have read the AST (assured shorthold tenancy) agreement that I just received from the agency and it does not mention the size of the flat. I will show that as part of evidence, but I'm worried because it doesn't have anything to describe the size that it wont be enough.

I have asked them what kind of document they could send to me that would say it is a 1 bedroom flat and maybe square meters/footage. They were only able to send me a link to the EPC rating - which is an online webpage, so not a document, and it has the address at the top and below it "Total floor area: 38 square meters".

I could print this to PDF and provide as evidence, but would it be accepted, is there another document that I could ask the agency for? I suggested maybe a letter from them, but unless I really go pushy it doesnt sound like something they do?

Suggestions?

Thank you

[VocaVuna]

Any advice, or opinion anybody?
Please/thanks.

[seagul]

Hello all, I thank you in advance for your replies and comments.

My wife (currently living outside UK - never been to UK) and I (British citizen), will soon be applying for her spouse visa to join me to live in London.
I believe I satisfy all the requirements to show I can support us financially, and we will have lots of other usual evidence of our relationship etc.

My question is about proof of adequate accommodation.
I have just found a 1 bedroom flat, for which I am about to sign the usual tenancy agreement through a lettings agency. I have read the AST (assured shorthold tenancy) agreement that I just received from the agency and it does not mention the size of the flat. I will show that as part of evidence, but I'm worried because it doesn't have anything to describe the size that it wont be enough.

I have asked them what kind of document they could send to me that would say it is a 1 bedroom flat and maybe square meters/footage. They were only able to send me a link to the EPC rating - which is an online webpage, so not a document, and it has the address at the top and below it "Total floor area: 38 square meters".

I could print this to PDF and provide as evidence, but would it be accepted, is there another document that I could ask the agency for? I suggested maybe a letter from them, but unless I really go pushy it doesnt sound like something they do?

Suggestions?

Thank you

If it is a onebedroom flat then will certainly be suffice, therefore, better than be trapped with the worries about its size, focus on obtaining the noc letter. EPC rating is a completely different mechanism, and I will recommend you don't try to confuse yourself with it.

[VocaVuna]

If it is a onebedroom flat then will certainly be suffice, therefore, better than be trapped with the worries about its size, focus on obtaining the noc letter. EPC rating is a completely different mechanism, and I will recommend you don't try to confuse yourself with it.

Would I need a NOC letter? On the tenancy agreement it states that "Landord has agreed for my wife to live in the property as a Permitted Occupier under the care of the tenant (me)".
Once she is in the country we can even add her as a tenant, following the usual lettings agency checks.

Thank you for your response.

[seagul]

If it is a onebedroom flat then will certainly be suffice, therefore, better than be trapped with the worries about its size, focus on obtaining the noc letter. EPC rating is a completely different mechanism, and I will recommend you don't try to confuse yourself with it.

Would I need a NOC letter? On the tenancy agreement it states that "Landord has agreed for my wife to live in the property as a Permitted Occupier under the care of the tenant (me)".
Once she is in the country we can even add her as a tenant, following the usual lettings agency checks.

Thank you for your response.

In that case you wouldn't need noc letter.

[VocaVuna]

Hi everyone, thank you in advance for your answers.
There are a number of things I am unsure when it comes to the application process or documentation, so your help will be so much appreciated.

My wife and I will soon be applying for her spouse visa.
She is abroad in Serbia, and never been to UK.

Part 1 - application process
Can someone please describe the application process - high level steps.
I've read a few useful websites, but still I am not 100% sure.

This is what I know:
-- Fill in the application online (gov.uk website)
-- Pay for the application and the health surcharge
-- Provide evidence of our identity - I read this somewhere
Q: Is this simply scanned copy or mobile phone picture of our passports?
-- Be given a list of documents needed - i.e. not uploading anything yet?
-- Be requested to book an appointment at TLS contact centre
-- Submit the application and be given a reference number of some kind
Q: Now, I'm not sure if the request to book TLS appointment is during the online application, or after, because she would receive an email inviting her to go to TLS website and book any appointment. If it is the latter, roughly how long is the wait before being invited?
-- Attend the appointment at the TLS centre in Serbia, and submit biometric, passport, and the documentation?
Q: I've read somewhere people get requested to do some of this through an IDV app. Is that only for the visa extension after 2.5 years, or is that also done first time for the spouse visa to avoid visits in person due to Covid?
Q: My wife will have her English language A1 certificate, and her passport, we will write a cover letter and provide pictures, chat logs, but I will have my documentation with me (payslips, employer's letter, bank statements, flat tenancy agreement).
So the question is, do I send my documentation to her in Serbia - scans (or where possible originals) so that she can submit it all at the TLS centre, or no - she will provide what she has, and I need to book an appointment in UK and submit my paperwork here? Or maybe she only submits her biometrics and passport, sends me her A1 certificate, and I submit it all documentation in UK? What are the options, what is best?
Q: Does she need to give TLS centre her passport to keep until a decision is made? The application is likely to take 2-3-4 (with Covid maybe even more) months, so it would mean her being without it.
-- Once documentation and biometrics have been submitted (by her, or by her & me), the wait begins...
-- Once approved (fingers crossed) she goes back to TLS centre and picks up her passport (if it had to be there all that time), and it comes with a visa inside?
-- She gets 30 days to come to UK
-- She then (with X many days) goes to a post office to pick up her BRP card?
Q: Have I missed some important step that is worth while knowing?

Part 2 - documentation
A little bit of help/guidance on the documentation/evidence please.
What is required, what is best to provide?
-- Cover letter, explaining our relationship from when we met to today, our plans, that I sponsor her and support her, etc.
Q: Should photos and chat logs be part of this letter, or should we submit that separately?
Q: Somewhere I read, maximum 10 photos, and maximum 10 pages of chat logs. Is this right? If I was to put a bunch of photos in Word, and annotate around them, make a nice chronological overview of our relationship to date. I could possibly then have 3-4 photos per one A4, then I could to maybe do 4-5 pages like that. Is that acceptable, is it recommended?
Q: We've been on holidays together, apart from photos, should I provide screenshots of accommodation bookings (e.g. screenshot from Booking.com app)?
-- Marriage certificate (international)
-- Her A1 language certificate
-- My employer's payslips + a letter from employer (on letter headed paper) confirming they are authentic (as payslips are electronic)
-- My employer's letter confirming my employment (permanent), level of income - which is definitely above minimum 18.6k so no worries there (and length of being that income level), length of service
Q: How many months, 6, 9, 12?
-- My last one or two P60? + letter from employer confirming authenticity
-- Somewhere I read my employment contract? - Its 19 pages, would they want/need this?
-- My bank statements covering same period as payslips + letter from bank confirming authenticity
Q: Anything else from financial requirement?
-- The tenancy agreement - she has been added as permitted occupier on the agreement + a letter from the lettings agency confirming the address, me as tenant, her as permitted occupier and size of flat
-- Council Tax bill - is this needed or recommended?
Q: Anything else for the accommodation requirement?

Any other documents, any other evidence that is good to have for 1) relationship; 2) financials; 3) accommodation?

Please help, I would like to understand this as as much as possible, so that we can submit an application is the best possible light.

Thank you again.

[CR001]

Topics Merged (click link to read forum rule).

[VocaVuna]

Topics Merged (click link to read forum rule).

Thank you for doing so, would you please mind helping answer some of my queries/concerns?
You seem quite knowledgeable here, so your assistance in this regard would be highly appreciated.

[AmazonianX]

Hi everyone, thank you in advance for your answers.
There are a number of things I am unsure when it comes to the application process or documentation, so your help will be so much appreciated.

My wife and I will soon be applying for her spouse visa.
She is abroad in Serbia, and never been to UK.

Part 1 - application process
Can someone please describe the application process - high level steps.
I've read a few useful websites, but still I am not 100% sure.

This is what I know:
-- Fill in the application online (gov.uk website)
-- Pay for the application and the health surcharge
-- Provide evidence of our identity - I read this somewhere
Q: Is this simply scanned copy or mobile phone picture of our passports?
-- Be given a list of documents needed - i.e. not uploading anything yet?
-- Be requested to book an appointment at TLS contact centre
-- Submit the application and be given a reference number of some kind
Q: Now, I'm not sure if the request to book TLS appointment is during the online application, or after, because she would receive an email inviting her to go to TLS website and book any appointment. If it is the latter, roughly how long is the wait before being invited?
-- Attend the appointment at the TLS centre in Serbia, and submit biometric, passport, and the documentation?
Q: I've read somewhere people get requested to do some of this through an IDV app. Is that only for the visa extension after 2.5 years, or is that also done first time for the spouse visa to avoid visits in person due to Covid?
Q: My wife will have her English language A1 certificate, and her passport, we will write a cover letter and provide pictures, chat logs, but I will have my documentation with me (payslips, employer's letter, bank statements, flat tenancy agreement).
So the question is, do I send my documentation to her in Serbia - scans (or where possible originals) so that she can submit it all at the TLS centre, or no - she will provide what she has, and I need to book an appointment in UK and submit my paperwork here? Or maybe she only submits her biometrics and passport, sends me her A1 certificate, and I submit it all documentation in UK? What are the options, what is best?
Q: Does she need to give TLS centre her passport to keep until a decision is made? Yes, though pre COVID19 there are places where for a fee you can keep your passport and it will be asked for when decision is made, dont know is available in your country.The application is likely to take 2-3-4 (with Covid maybe even more) months, so it would mean her being without it.
-- Once documentation and biometrics have been submitted (by her, or by her & me), the wait begins...
-- Once approved (fingers crossed) she goes back to TLS centre and picks up her passport (if it had to be there all that time), and it comes with a visa inside?
-- She gets 30 days to come to UK
-- She then (with X many days) goes to a post office to pick up her BRP card?
Q: Have I missed some important step that is worth while knowing? No

Part 2 - documentation
A little bit of help/guidance on the documentation/evidence please.
What is required, what is best to provide?
-- Cover letter, explaining our relationship from when we met to today, our plans, that I sponsor her and support her, etc.
Q: Should photos and chat logs be part of this letter, or should we submit that separately?
Q: Somewhere I read, maximum 10 photos, and maximum 10 pages of chat logs. Is this right? If I was to put a bunch of photos in Word, and annotate around them, make a nice chronological overview of our relationship to date. I could possibly then have 3-4 photos per one A4, then I could to maybe do 4-5 pages like that. Is that acceptable, is it recommended?
Q: We've been on holidays together, apart from photos, should I provide screenshots of accommodation bookings (e.g. screenshot from Booking.com app)? Yes
-- Marriage certificate (international)
-- Her A1 language certificate
-- My employer's payslips + a letter from employer (on letter headed paper) confirming they are authentic (as payslips are electronic)
-- My employer's letter confirming my employment (permanent), level of income - which is definitely above minimum 18.6k so no worries there (and length of being that income level), length of service
Q: How many months, 6, 9, 12?
-- My last one or two P60? + letter from employer confirming authenticity Not required
-- Somewhere I read my employment contract? - Its 19 pages, would they want/need this? Not required
-- My bank statements covering same period as payslips + letter from bank confirming authenticity
Q: Anything else from financial requirement?
-- The tenancy agreement - she has been added as permitted occupier on the agreement + a letter from the lettings agency confirming the address, me as tenant, her as permitted occupier and size of flat
-- Council Tax bill - is this needed or recommended?
Q: Anything else for the accommodation requirement?

Any other documents, any other evidence that is good to have for 1) relationship; 2) financials; 3) accommodation?

Please help, I would like to understand this as as much as possible, so that we can submit an application is the best possible light.

Thank you again.

It appears you have a good grasp of what it entails and mostly what is up there you have outlined fine.
Await more input from Mods

[VocaVuna]

Thank you AmazonianX.
I know my post is long, but I really want to get it spot on.

Can you (or anyone else out there) tell me a bit more about the documentation upload piece?
That still confuses me.

What documents would my wife need to take to the TLS centre, and should I send her the documents I collate, or should she send some to UK, so I can upload it all.

How does that work, what is generally a better option?

Regards
VocaVuna

[AmazonianX]

Thank you AmazonianX.
I know my post is long, but I really want to get it spot on.

Can you (or anyone else out there) tell me a bit more about the documentation upload piece?
That still confuses me.

From what you have written earlier, you have got a good understanding of the process so be specific about what you are confused on.

What documents would my wife need to take to the TLS centre, and should I send her the documents I collate, or should she send some to UK, so I can upload it all. Original passport, documents generated on the check list and originals of ant document scanned n uploaded so that if there is any error, this can be corrected.

How does that work, what is generally a better option? Better option is to self upload your supporting documents.

Regards
VocaVuna

[VocaVuna]

Thank you again AmazonianX.

And in regards to the documents I have (payslips, statements, tenancy agreement, etc), will that be part of the checklist that she needs to take - i.e. I need to mail it from UK to Serbia - so she can provide at TLS centre? Or I keep them and I need to go and take to a home office centre so it can be added to her application?
That is not clear to me.

[AmazonianX]

Thank you again AmazonianX.

And in regards to the documents I have (payslips, statements, tenancy agreement, etc), will that be part of the checklist that she needs to take - i.e. I need to mail it from UK to Serbia - so she can provide at TLS centre? Or I keep them and I need to go and take to a home office centre so it can be added to her application?
That is not clear to me.

These can be scanned and emailed to her or you scan them yourself and upload from your end, no need for the hassle of mailing it to her.