Spouse Visa Journey

yup

i think from memory--i paid £500 for same day service in person ay UKVI Croydon for my wifes first FLR--so she could start work asap
2nd flr no need for any urgency.
ILR we opted for some sort of next day service--but we didnt get it till the day after--i see the wording is now decision by the end of the next day--so it could take a few days more depending on the post. Or if its EVRI you could wait till doomsday.

I paid the same though my wife is still in the PH.

It's just ironic that they have all these requirements, when my wife earns comparable to what I earn here in the UK eventhough she's from the PH.
She works as an IT Project Manager for a US-based company and has lots of qualifications and certifications.

She's the smart cookie between the two of us.

When she moves here in the UK, she'll probs earn a lot more than me. lol

I think I should be the one that the government should scrutinise. hahahah

ha ha--my wife earns 3 times what i get in state pension.

That's why we've been joking that I should just be a house-husband and take care of our soon-to-have kids.
hahahahaha

Hmmm...

So if I wanted, nearer to the time we are ready to move I could return to the UK and apply for my wife's VISA same day service by paying £1000 ?

You are not applying. You might do all the application and pay for it but she is the applicant and she has to apply from abroad. As such she will always be an out of country applicant and best she can do is priority and decision in 30 days.

Clock also if I remember correctly only starts after biometrics so have to add in that time as well.

Ahh ok thanks.

Actually, been ages since I looked at all this - is the thread by @one world still valid do you know, this one:

http://www.british-filipino.com/index.php?threads/spouse-visa-online-application.9773/

Unfortunately I'm out of date on that one. Wife did application for first spouse visa back in 2018 when It was all paper based and instructions would have been similar. Since then it has changed from paper based and sending a large pack of documents round the world to electronic and scanning all the documents and uploading them.

So some of it will be relevant but a lot has changed.

My wife managed to switch to the EU settlement scheme which was so much easier after she got here which also means our knowledge of the conventional process is out of date.

That said had a quick scan and a lot is out of date but still some relevant bits such as reminders for CFO certificate but even that has had changes over the last few years.

Useful to have access to pc or laptop and scanner when doing this as process requires everything to be scanned now.

Also worth being aware that when that thread started the NHS surcharge did not exist and now 1k per year. Which is another cost to budget for.

Worth setting up an application on line as will allow you to see all the questions and what is being asked for. Free until the point you submit




Worth starting a visa application

You will create an account on UK gov site https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse
You get asked the question are you filling the application for yourself say yes!
Asks you for an e mail addresses and also are you applying from outside the UK Yes is the answer
Then you get directed to the VSFi site to create an account
work through the signing in process then beginning the application, when we did it you will see subheadings on one side of the screen in each section in grey the trick is by completing the questions correctly they the section your in will turn green once at bottom of page always save the info before moving on if all sections are not green you can still save and move on and go back when. You have the info to complete the non green section
You can visit, the link as many times as you like change answers etc but as you leave the link always save and quit. If you don't save and quit and just quit all info you put in since your last save will be lost
Documents must always be on letterhead paper without question
You will hear the term that documents need to be notarised, nope, I did my wife's and daughters now bothBC and didn't notarise anything
Part of proc3ss is Wife to have TB test and you will have to scan the all clear certificate as part of the additional information
Also English test must be done as you will have to providevthe certificate pass number as part of the application
Trick is read and review your application from the start each time e you visit the application
CFO will need doing but I think now you can only do the CFO once you've got a successful visa number

Hmmm...

I haven't been directed to the VSFi site to create an account yet....

Do you have any dependant children?
Include both those travelling with you and those who are not.(Required)
This could include:

• children under 18
• children over 18 who live with you at home
• children who you look after all the time

Well she does but I'm going to put No because she doesn't support them financially - is this the right answer ?

Seems a bit odd this - I still haven't been directed to that VSFi site to create an account....

I'm here now:



What do you think, have I cocked it up or do you think they changed the process ?

I'm assuming the kids are yours and British in which case should detail them. Adds to strength of visa application as without mum visa they can't move to UK. You are thinking financially whereas the dependency question is broader as detailed above.

They may of move it to the backend of the process as its only relevant for the biometrics or I may of been mistaken recalling where it is on the uk application last dd the process 10 year ago.
Your on thr right application process
Footnote looking at your screenshot the redirection is indeed at the end in the further actions section

No is the wrong answer, unless they are not travelling with her.
I think once you fill in parental box answers it will ask a bit about the parents nationalities

Yes the kids are dual nationals, got a filipino and uk passport - I'll add em as her dependants too then - thank you.

If you're looking for anything, this is a good starting point:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-index

Just coming back to this.

I think my wife would like to leave the children with her sister for a month and the two of us go first - then once we've got things sorted bring them over - our daughter is a real pita