Immigrating to the UK

On another note, my out-laws came to visit us a little while back. They are Brits who have lived in Africa for the last 55 years. My FIL has said to me on multiple occasions that he knew he would never leave Africa after his first 2 weeks in Zambia.
In another conversation my MIL noted how things here are not at all what the news makes them out to be.
Fast forward to about a week ago and after some personal loss, over a WhatsApp call, they have decided to move back. Quite strange honestly given their stance, but also understandable given that the news rarely tells you what life over here is really like.
 
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Priapus said:
Talking of family visas; it's annoying the UK don't give you a comprehensive list of documents required.

So far, all I can think of supplying is:

- Wife's passport (copy)
- Son's passport (copy) - Showing his right to abode in UK as he is a citizen
- Marriage certificate (Abridged)
- My passport (New one as I will be renewing it)
- Copy of all previous UK visitor visas to show I go there often
- Copy of house title deed to show wife stays with me
- English test number
- TB test
- Letter from family member in UK to show we can stay with them

And R95k in fees....

Am I missing anything else?

I don't think photos of us hold much weight?
Click to expand...

A quick search of an immigration lawyer's site shows this:

UK Spouse Visa Requirements and Application Guide 2024

The partner and spouse visa enables an eligible foreign national to join and live with their partner in the UK if they are a British citizen or settled person. Check our comprehensive guidance on UK spouse visa including all the requirements, fee, document checklist and how to apply.
immigrationlawyers-london.com immigrationlawyers-london.com

UK spouse visa required documents checklist​

You will need to provide several documents with your visa application, these may include:

  • Completed application form and application fee
  • Valid passport
  • Previous passports
  • Evidence of your genuine and subsisting relationship (e.g. shared bills, photographs, correspondence, messages).
  • Proof you meet the English language requirements (e.g. CEFR exam certificate).
  • Two passport-sized colour photos that are in line with the requirements set by the UK.
  • Proof you meet the financial requirements (e.g. bank statements, savings statement, wage slips)
  • Details of any previous immigration applications, if any
  • Details of any criminal convictions
  • Your national insurance number (if you have one)
  • Proof of accommodation in the UK
  • Biometric information (fingerprints and a digital photograph).
  • Tuberculosis test results if from a country where you have to take the test
 
2023 said:
Did you just pay the fee at the post office with a postal order? Also, where/how do you get a photo for it?
Click to expand...

I was so lazy I got them to mail me the forms. Fill in, get a photo at snappy snaps or somewhere, the people at the post office were really helpful with sending it all.

Took 3 weeks to get mine back almost to the day
 
Priapus said:
Talking of family visas; it's annoying the UK don't give you a comprehensive list of documents required.

So far, all I can think of supplying is:

- Wife's passport (copy)
- Son's passport (copy) - Showing his right to abode in UK as he is a citizen
- Marriage certificate (Abridged)
- My passport (New one as I will be renewing it)
- Copy of all previous UK visitor visas to show I go there often
- Copy of house title deed to show wife stays with me
- English test number
- TB test
- Letter from family member in UK to show we can stay with them
- Proof of job offer for wife in the UK

And R95k in fees....

Am I missing anything else?

I don't think photos of us hold much weight?
Click to expand...

None, you just have to prove you can afford to support yourselves and that your relationship is over 2 years.
I did this by showing the insurance, life policies and will, which all had my partner as beneficiary for more than 2 years
 
Dave said:
A quick search of an immigration lawyer's site shows this:

UK Spouse Visa Requirements and Application Guide 2024

The partner and spouse visa enables an eligible foreign national to join and live with their partner in the UK if they are a British citizen or settled person. Check our comprehensive guidance on UK spouse visa including all the requirements, fee, document checklist and how to apply.
immigrationlawyers-london.com immigrationlawyers-london.com

UK spouse visa required documents checklist​

You will need to provide several documents with your visa application, these may include:

  • Completed application form and application fee
  • Valid passport
  • Previous passports
  • Evidence of your genuine and subsisting relationship (e.g. shared bills, photographs, correspondence, messages).
  • Proof you meet the English language requirements (e.g. CEFR exam certificate).
  • Two passport-sized colour photos that are in line with the requirements set by the UK.
  • Proof you meet the financial requirements (e.g. bank statements, savings statement, wage slips)
  • Details of any previous immigration applications, if any
  • Details of any criminal convictions
  • Your national insurance number (if you have one)
  • Proof of accommodation in the UK
  • Biometric information (fingerprints and a digital photograph).
  • Tuberculosis test results if from a country where you have to take the test
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll include photos of our wedding and the birth of our son and other family photos.
 
syntax said:
None, you just have to prove you can afford to support yourselves and that your relationship is over 2 years.
I did this by showing the insurance, life policies and will, which all had my partner as beneficiary for more than 2 years
Click to expand...

Our marriage certificate is older than 2 years - and the title deed is older than two years. I guess that holds a fair amount of weight to prove things.
 
Priapus said:
Talking of family visas; it's annoying the UK don't give you a comprehensive list of documents required.

So far, all I can think of supplying is:

- Wife's passport (copy)
- Son's passport (copy) - Showing his right to abode in UK as he is a citizen
- Marriage certificate (Abridged)
- My passport (New one as I will be renewing it)
- Copy of all previous UK visitor visas to show I go there often
- Copy of house title deed to show wife stays with me
- English test number
- TB test
- Letter from family member in UK to show we can stay with them
- Proof of job offer for wife in the UK

And R95k in fees....

Am I missing anything else?

I don't think photos of us hold much weight?
Click to expand...
I’ll dig out our list over the weekend. Only difference being that we had no jobs and went on savings.
Don’t think police clearance was required but done it anyway. That and the TB test is only valid for 6 months so it’s important to time them correctly. I did them twice, for 3 people. *makes crying face.
 
Paul Kemp said:
I’ll dig out our list over the weekend. Only difference being that we had no jobs and went on savings.
Don’t think police clearance was required but done it anyway. That and the TB test is only valid for 6 months so it’s important to time them correctly. I did them twice, for 3 people. *makes crying face.
Click to expand...

Thanks,

Fortunatley I don't need to find another job right away, as I will continue to work for current company for a bit once that side - they based in UK.

I'll do TB test in Jan - as I need to apply for visa in Feb to make a May deadline (We would ideally need to leave by the 5th of May)
 
Paul Kemp said:
On another note, my out-laws came to visit us a little while back. They are Brits who have lived in Africa for the last 55 years. My FIL has said to me on multiple occasions that he knew he would never leave Africa after his first 2 weeks in Zambia.
In another conversation my MIL noted how things here are not at all what the news makes them out to be.
Fast forward to about a week ago and after some personal loss, over a WhatsApp call, they have decided to move back. Quite strange honestly given their stance, but also understandable given that the news rarely tells you what life over here is really like.
Click to expand...
"over here" being where?
 
killerbyte said:
"over here" being where?
Click to expand...
We are in a small town in east Nothamptonshire but they are Cumbrian and spent some time up there too. It’s a general “England as a whole is much nicer than they expected”, for instance their siblings have a much better experience getting medical assistance than what seems to be the case in news stories.
 
Paul Kemp said:
We are in a small town in east Nothamptonshire but they are Cumbrian and spent some time up there too. It’s a general “England as a whole is much nicer than they expected”, for instance their siblings have a much better experience getting medical assistance than what seems to be the case in news stories.
Click to expand...

The problem is people believe everything they read in the news. The job of the media is to sell stories and headlines.
 
killerbyte said:
I re-read what he wrote and it makes sense now.
The news makes out life in the UK to be hard, and yet I was just noting yesterday that food prices are coming down.
Click to expand...

The news would make it out that life in heaven is difficult - and maybe hell is a better place; if that headline sold more stories than the reality.
 
Priapus said:
The news would make it out that life in heaven is difficult - and maybe hell is a better place; if that headline sold more stories than the reality.
Click to expand...
If it bleeds it leads...
I would say the traffic where I live is better than I had in Pretoria East. Everything is closer and more convenient. Life here is so much easier than it is in SA.
And tomorrow I am going to go to Hyde Park and have a beer or two with my friends from SA as we celebrate their birthday (twins) and mine.
 
killerbyte said:
I re-read what he wrote and it makes sense now.
The news makes out life in the UK to be hard, and yet I was just noting yesterday that food prices are coming down.
Click to expand...
Working in the food manufacturing business and providing support to our commercial team, we have just gone through an exercise of passing back our savings to retailers retrospectively. We also do a lot to reduce costs including government backed programs for continuous improvement to our lines. All very interesting and comforting.
 
killerbyte said:
I sent off my drivers license to DVLA last week. So now I am just waiting the 3-4 weeks for my UK drivers license to arrive.
The way things just work here is awesome, but you get no feedback while the stuff is being processed so you just have to wait until it arrives.
Click to expand...
My drivers license just got delivered in the post.

This country and its efficiency keeps on impressing me.
 
killerbyte said:
My drivers license just got delivered in the post.

This country and its efficiency keeps on impressing me.
Click to expand...
Bank cards, driver license, passports - all by post and it arrives. Did my drivers the other day and got it within a week.
Reminds me I need to renew my car tax. My hassle, no fuss - everything is online.
 
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