Submitting the spouse visa application in Dubai/UAE - will the originals be kept?

[permitteduser]

Hi all,

(I posted this question in another thread, but I read elsewhere its better to post your question on your own topic)

I am a UK citizen (living in UK) applying for a spouse visa for my wife who is a resident of UAE . I am considering submitting the application in UAE rather than sending the application via post to Sheffield.

I do have one question when applying from Dubai, do they photocopy the originals and give you the originals back? I see there is an option for 'Keep your passport' as additional services at https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/uae/. Does this apply to sponsors passport?

I was planning on going to UAE while my wife submits the documents at VFS, but I just want to confirm that my (sponsors) passport won't be kept by VFS after submission (if this is the case I can't obviously go, I will have to send all the documents to my wife while she submits it herself)

If they don't keep sponsors passport I was thinking of going to help my wife out during the submission process.

Thanks for the help! (P.S I paid and contacted UKVI to ask these questions, but they gave me generic answers and did not answer a single of my questions directly, which was disappointing. They said: "Directing you to the guidance material is the only advice we can give you" )

[CR001]

It is not mandatory to send the British sponsors original passport. A copy is sufficient.

[permitteduser]

oh right, thank you. Is there any difference in submitting the application in Dubai or sending the application to Sheffield directly? (I will send the application to Sheffield on behalf of my wife)

Or does the application have to be submitted in Dubai VFS center at the time of biometric appointment?

[permitteduser]

It is not mandatory to send the British sponsors original passport. A copy is sufficient.

Hi, does the application have to be submitted in Dubai during the biometric appointment? According to https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/ae/en/vacs/ ... -documents it states:

All supporting documentation

needs to be brought during the appointment. Is this the case? Can the documents not be sent directly to Sheffield?