Spouse & Child Visa - Canada to UK

[Ahshaten]

My husband and I are both musicians, and there really isn't much of an industry here in Canada, so we'd like to relocate to the UK for the purpose of furthering our careers. I am a British citizen by descent (my mother was born in England, and I was born in Canada post-1983), so I would like to sponsor my husband and our 3-year-old daughter (both Canadian born) in our endeavour to move to the UK. We all plan on travelling together (hopefully by mid-late April 2013), so although I am a citizen, I am not yet settled in the UK.

I'm currently in the process of applying for my UK passport, while filling out the required forms for my family's settlement visas, but I've run into some questions along the way. Please help!

1. Which appendix do I include with my spouse's visa application? (the most viable option on UKBA site is appendix 2 which is for a spouse joining a partner who is already settled in the UK, but we will be travelling together which means that at the time of application I am not yet settled.)

2. What is the sponsorship form that needs to accompany the application?

3. If spouse and child are applying at the same time, and both applications require that I send in some of the same original documents, then can I send in their applications together? If not, how can I send in original documents for both without having to wait 4-6 weeks for one of them to be returned?

4. What would count as adequate proof that my husband and I have met? (Does having a child together eliminate this requirement for us?)

5. My husband and I are both self-employed musicians, and while we are financially capable of taking care of our family, we don't quite meet the financial requirements outlined by UKBA (based on cash savings). Both our families are more than willing to give us the money we need to meet the requirement, but we were wondering if a sponsor's parent is ever permitted to sign a document or write a letter stating that they will take financial responsibility for the sponsor and the applicants (i.e., me, my husband and our daughter).

6. What are the required documents when applying for a child settlement visa? I can't seem to find this information on the UKBA site, only the required documents for a spouse/partner.

7. Should I purchase plane tickets before or after receiving the visas? (I've heard arguments for both)


Any help is greatly appreciated, so thanks in advance.

[Lucapooka]

There is no point applying (or responding to the rest of your enquiry) if your item 5 can't be overcome. It's not permitted to be financially sponsored by third parties. If you don't have the requisite income or savings there is not going to be any visa. If you can find or get access to the correct amount in savings you will have to hold this in a bank account in your name for six months.

[Ahshaten]

Lucapooka, I don't think you understood my initial post.

I clearly stated that we have access to the funds, and can meet the cash savings requirement with a "gift" from either of our parents. Though I'm not a fan of hostility, I do at least appreciate you letting me know that financial sponsorship from a third party is not an option.

[Lucapooka]

You said you had access to third party funds but you did not say this would be a gift that you will hold for six months. You actually said they would give you money (nothing specific about that) and sign a statement taking financial responsibility.

Both our families are more than willing to give us the money we need to meet the requirement, but we were wondering if a sponsor's parent is ever permitted to sign a document or write a letter stating that they will take financial responsibility for the sponsor and the applicants (i.e., me, my husband and our daughter).

That was the basis of my response which I think was pretty accurate based on that information. Never mind, it's only one response from the many you will surely receive on what is and always will be free access, public and open forum. Good luck.

[Ahshaten]

Guess I could've been clearer on that. We have immediate access to the funds, but we were just hoping there may be an easier way (such as having someone just sign for financial responsibility), as we won't ever really be needing the money other than for the purpose of meeting the initial visa requirements.

Anyhow, now that I know that isn't an option, I guess the best thing would be to transfer the funds asap. Is it ever possible to bypass the 6-month rule?

And do you have any advice on the other aspects of my initial post?