USA - UK Marriage Visa

[GrahamDuthie]

Hi, my wife (US citizen) is applying for a visa to stay in the UK with me
(UK citizen). We have just completed the online application and have the biometrics appointment booked, now have some final questions and concerns while we're putting together our application to send in.

My wife is currently fully employed and is more than capable to work full time once she arrives in the UK. However I am currently a full time student studying a degree. I have already supported her for about five months using only my student loans and grants. I am worried that me being unemployed is going to be an issue when it comes to proving I can support my wife and whether that money is considered public funds. On the plus side I do have 3,000GBP in a separate bank account which has been there for 90 days and I also plan to include letters from Student Finance showing the loans I received from them the last two years and a letter for this upcoming year (I'm in my third year). I also wondered if it was worth getting an offer of employment, or if it's acceptable to be an unemployed student.

Other factors include the fact I'm still living with my parents, and have been for the five months she was staying in the UK. I have my parents mortgage and a letter from my mum welcoming her back and making it embarrassingly clear that she loves her.

I'd also like to clear up whether a certified copy of the marriage certificate is acceptable. After completing the application the list of documents to include states 'your original marriage or civil partnership certificate'. We have asked the court house where we were married in Kansas, USA and they tell us we can only have a certified copy. So there's a clear conflict of information.

Finally, I wonder if our financial stability or the credibility of our relationship is most important. We have been living together constantly for the last 7-8 months, all we have to prove this are some pictures from our time in the UK together and plane tickets for us both to come to Kansas. We might also be able to get phone bills for our frequent texting while she's at work. We also have photos from our wedding, but it was very low key, so I'm hoping the marriage certificate and the fact we've been living together before and since being married strengthens our case.

Thanks to anyone who can help. We'll be sending everything off in the next week so any advise before then is greatly appreciated.

[Wanderer]

Both 21 yo or over?

[GrahamDuthie]

Both 21 yo or over?

I am 21, but my wife is 20, her 21st birthday being on 20 September.

One consulate we spoke to said exceptions can be made if the applicant is marginally under 21.

[Kitty]

You may get a concession on age if you plan to travel after 20 September.

About the marriage certificate, some institutions do seem to refer to any document that they print for you from their own records as a "certified copy", even though colloquially it has come to mean a photocopy certified by someone like a solicitor or notary.

Are you providing the certificate you were given by the court house when you married, or a replacement issued by them? If so I think you will be fine.

I'll leave the money questions for someone else.

[ElenaW]

Your money situation is not the most stable. Can you contribute a small amount to your parents while you live there? As full third party support is not really allowed yet.

Certified copy is fine.

About the age thing, it depends how the eco is feeling that day really. Unless you ask for the visa to have a start date of september 20th, it may well be rejected for the age issue.

[GrahamDuthie]

Your money situation is not the most stable. Can you contribute a small amount to your parents while you live there? As full third party support is not really allowed yet.

Certified copy is fine.

About the age thing, it depends how the eco is feeling that day really. Unless you ask for the visa to have a start date of september 20th, it may well be rejected for the age issue.

Thanks for your reply. How would it look if I had a job offer to work with my Dad, which would serve as payment for living rent free? That way I'd have a job offer and be contributing towards my parents.

Also to clarify, I covered our own costs such as food, travel and leisure while staying there rent free.

[Wanderer]

Your money situation is not the most stable. Can you contribute a small amount to your parents while you live there? As full third party support is not really allowed yet.

Certified copy is fine.

About the age thing, it depends how the eco is feeling that day really. Unless you ask for the visa to have a start date of september 20th, it may well be rejected for the age issue.

Thanks for your reply. How would it look if I had a job offer to work with my Dad, which would serve as payment for living rent free? That way I'd have a job offer and be contributing towards my parents.

Also to clarify, I covered our own costs such as food, travel and leisure while staying there rent free.

A real job?

[GrahamDuthie]

A real job?

My Dad is a self employed carpet fitter, and it would be a genuine job offer.