Switching wife's visa from PSW to Tier-2 dependent

[revv]

Hello,

Posting this here in hopes of getting a response, sorry for 2xposting:

Apologies if this has been asked before, but I haven't been able to find the exact answer to my questions.

I am working in UK in a Tier-2 general visa, and my wife currently lives with me here in UK on a T1 PSW which runs out in January. I have been told that she cannot switch in the country to be my dependent and we have to do it from outside UK (correct me if I am wrong here plz). I was wondering if you guys could help with the following:

1) She has an Iranian passport, and with the closure of the British embassy in Tehran it means we have to go to UAE, and stay there until her visa is processed. On average how long does it take for a dependent visa to get processed? (she has both UK+shengen visas in her passport)

2) What kind of supporting document does she need from me? I know bank details, statements etc have to be provided for maintenance funds, but I dont know what documents "I" have to provide apart from marriage certificate +official translation. Do I need to provide my own Biometric card or passport?

3) I looked at the application form and it asks for Reference numbers for her previous visa and myself. Are these reference numbers the same as the Biometric card numbers, or is there any other ref. number I ahve to find out about?

4) And finally, do we "have to" wait for her current PSW visa to run out before applying, or can she switch before her current visa runs out?

Thank you in advance, and sorry for asking any too obvious questions.

Cheers,
Revv

[iworker]

yes, she has to go back to apply for dependent visa,

90% of the cases are determined with 3 weeks. I would recomend to ask for a solicitor if she can apply in country because of these different circumstances (iranian embassy closed in iran).

Depends about the docs.. what is ur naitonality? she would generally need 3 months bank statement, copy of ur passport and visa, marriage certificate, proof of co-hab.

yes those are the ref numbers..

No, u can apply at any time.

[raynold]

Yes your wife need to do it from outside UK

1) She has an Iranian passport, and with the closure of the British embassy in Tehran it means we(only your wife needs) have to go to UAE, and stay there until her visa is processed. On average how long does it take for a dependent visa to get processed? (she has both UK+shengen visas in her passport) (maximum 7 working days)

2) What kind of supporting document does she need from me? I know bank details, statements etc have to be provided for maintenance funds, but I dont know what documents "I" have to provide apart from marriage certificate +official translation. Do I need to provide my own Biometric card or passport? (Bank statement at-least 3 months maintain gbp900, Payslip, letter from your employer confirming your Job along with marriage certificate +official translation--no need to provide your Bio metric card passport because once she fill the application form, she will provide you Bio number and that is sufficient.)

3) I looked at the application form and it asks for Reference numbers for her previous visa and myself. Are these reference numbers the same as the Biometric card numbers, or is there any other ref. number I ahve to find out about? (Not Applicable)

4) And finally, do we "have to" wait for her current PSW visa to run out before applying, or can she switch before her current visa runs out? You can switch anytime

[revv]

proof of co-hab.

I am not sure what does this exactly? We have been living in UK for about 2.5 years now, (came here as students, she then got PSW, I got a Tier-2 General). Apart from regular bank statements (posted), driving licenses being registered to the same address, and tenancy agreement having her name on it as well as myself, the remainder of the bills are electronic.

We are both Iranian, and we got out first visa (tier-4) only proof we provided for marriage was the official translation of the marriage certificate.

Thanks for the responses guys. Really appreciate it.

[iworker]

yes these docs which u have mentioned, ie,driving licence, tenancy agreement etc, would be etra helpful in getting ur decision quick..

considering the circumstances that u have been here for long and what the situtation is in IRan, i think its worth asking some solicitor if u can apply in country. this would not be a normal case, where dependents needs to apply out o country.

[revv]

Well, I asked a solicitor but was told she has do leave the country. I am not sure if I could get different responses from different solicitors though.

Thinking about the procedures, another question came into my mind. When my wife applies for a dependent visa, does she have to hand in her current PSW biometric card?(the card is valid till end of January 2014). Or will she be given a new one and for some short time have two biometric card? (if so which card shall she use to come back to UK). Sorry if this is a silly question.

[iworker]

this is actually a tricky one. i am not sure if she needs to hand in her biometric card with her application. what she can do is take it with her and tell them if they need it .
she will then be issued with visa sticker on her passport as the new dependent visa which will be used for entry into uk

[manci]

1) She has an Iranian passport, and with the closure of the British embassy in Tehran it means we have to go to UAE, and stay there until her visa is processed.

she can also apply in Turkey:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/count ... %20English

You can check visa processing times in various countries here:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... ing-times/

[revv]

this is actually a tricky one. i am not sure if she needs to hand in her biometric card with her application. what she can do is take it with her and tell them if they need it .
she will then be issued with visa sticker on her passport as the new dependent visa which will be used for entry into uk

I thought dependents get biometric cards as well. Do they issue biometric cards for the main applicant only?

From previous experience, the VFS employees (VFS employees in Dubai) are quite wrong when you ask questions from them and since they are not employees of the UK embassy or visa section I wouldn't really count on their responses. Of course I will take the current biometric card with me, the question is primarily around having a correct image and to avoid any potential mistakes.

Thanks Manci for the links. I know I can also apply in Turkey, but since I have relatives in Dubai, it would be more convenient as I don't have to factor in hotel accommodation, etc. especially since I dont know how many days we need to wait for the visa.