Marriage and demonstrating your joint status to immigration authorities in the UK are two different things.
For couples planning to relocate together to the UK, applying for a UK Spouse Visa means filling out numerous forms and gathering a lot of paperwork. One aspect that is unclear to most applicants is relationship evidence. An average person believes having a marriage certificate will do for the application. However, actually, your application has to prove that your relationship is genuine, ongoing and complies with UK immigration policies.
If you are submitting your application from the UAE, it is important to prepare the document in advance.
What Is a UK Spouse Visa?
A UK Spouse Visa permits a qualifying partner of a UK citizen or someone with the right UK immigration status to reside in the UK.
Your application is not only dependent on your marriage. You may have to meet certain criteria concerning your relationship, finances, proficiency in the English language, and accommodation. This is why looking at the whole application is better than concentrating on a single document.
When it comes to couples living in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any other part of the UAE, preparing your papers may be complicated because they will be coming from different banks, employers, and countries.
Who Can Apply for a UK Spouse Visa?
In general, the route is available to individuals with a qualifying connection to a British citizen or the individual with a specific status who sponsors them.
If you are married, this marriage or civil partnership has to be acknowledged by the UK requirements. Moreover, you will usually need to prove your intention to live together with your partner in the UK. Being legally married is crucial to your application; however, this aspect alone is not enough for immigration officers to think about your case.
What Relationship Evidence Is Needed?
There isn’t any conclusive proof of a relationship being authentic in the form of a particular document.
Your evidence must account for the way your relationship unfolded, and how you live your life together. Any evidence submitted must be coherent with your claims.
Depending on your situation, useful evidence might include:
- Certificate of marriage or civil partnership
- Joint pictures
- Travel documents
- Flight and hotel bookings confirmations
- Evidence of meetings
- Proof of mutual financial responsibilities
- A list of correspondence
- Other supporting documents.
You do not need to provide an excessive amount of supporting evidence in order to be certain that your application has enough substance; actually, many documents have little meaning on their own.
For instance, if you lived apart because of professional obligations, supporting evidence can prove your visits to each other or telephone calls.
Does a Marriage Certificate Prove the Relationship?
The certificate of marriage is proof that a marriage has taken place; however, it is not necessarily the only proof that must be included in the application.
This is most relevant in cases when couples have been living in various places for long periods.
In order for the application to be good, it must establish a coherent timeline. Different dates concerning marriage, visitation, work, places of residence, etc. should fit together.
In case of any unusual cases like meeting and marriage within a very short time or many years apart, it would be better to provide explanations, so that there are fewer assumptions taken by the decision-maker.
What Is the Financial Requirement?
Another important part of applying for the UK Spouse Visa is the financial requirement.
One of the routes / options to go through the process is income route. The Income Route is the most common method used by applicants and under this route, qualifying income from employment, self-employment, pensions, or certain other permitted income sources may be used to meet the financial requirement.
According to the current rules, the usual minimum income level for many partner immigration applications is £29,000 annually. Nevertheless, the way that income is measured will vary depending on the individual circumstances and the source of income. Some applicants may also qualify for using allowed savings or other legitimate sources of income.
This means that earning a certain amount of money does not necessarily imply that the financial condition is satisfied.
If you are applying from the UAE, necessary financial documentation may include the following:
- Pay slips
- Bank statements
- Letters from employers
- Employment contracts
- Salary certificates
- Business documents
If your salary includes bonuses, commissions, self-employment earnings, or income from several sources, the documentation becomes more complicated. It is thus important to determine which category applies to you in advance.
Apart from income Route there is another route which is Cash Savings Route.
Do You Need to Meet an English Language Requirement?
In the majority of instances, applicants will need to fulfill an English language requirement, unless an exemption applies or another acceptable alternative is available.
The English requirement varies in level according to the application process. If you are applying from the UAE and you need an English test, check what the current requirements are before booking the test. If you book the wrong test or use evidence that is not accepted, this could lead to issues.
What About Accommodation?
The process of applying includes housing which must also be taken into account.
You should provide information about the accommodation you and your partner plan to use during your stay in the UK. The accommodation must comply with appropriate standards and not contribute to overcrowding.
The necessary documents will depend on the renting arrangements or whether the property is owned by your partner or lent by someone else.
For instance, you might have to submit tenancy agreements, ownership documents or a letter confirming that you can use the property.
UK Spouse Visa Documents for UAE Applicants
Creating a list of documents you need is key to submitting your application successfully.
Your documents will probably include the following:
- Your current passport
- Your UAE residence documents
- Emirates ID
- Marriage proof
- Evidence of your relationship
- Finances
- English proof
- Accommodation proof
- Immigration history
Make sure you check all names, dates and addresses on your documents. A simple typo can lead to queries or requests for additional information.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
An application for a spouse visa to reside in the UK can become overly complicated when the applicants do not take into account the holistic nature of the documents they provide.
Some common problems can include:
- Providing insufficient evidence of the relationship having taken place
- Misunderstanding the financial requirements
- Submitting bank statements/other evidence that is incomplete
- Providing contradictory dates
- Failing to provide relevant immigration history
- Providing evidence that does not meet the applicable criteria
- Submitting irrelevant evidence
Another mistake that applicants often make is not going through the evidence until it’s time to submit. If there’s an absent piece of evidence, finding a solution at the last moment is likely to be very stressful.
It’s always better to start looking for evidence early enough in order to address any shortages in documentation.
How Long Does a UK Spouse Visa Take?
When submitting an application abroad, the current advice provided by GOV.UK is that the typical wait time for a decision is around 12 weeks. Please bear in mind that while some applications might be faster than others, processing times can vary depending on the location and the application in question.
It is recommended to refrain from making any travel plans which cannot be canceled until you receive a decision.
Preparing Your UK Spouse Visa Application
A successful application for a Spouse Visa for the UK is not just about providing plenty of paperwork but rather about providing proof of your case in a way that is effective and reasonable at the same time.
When preparing your application, it is important to ensure that it covers such things as your marriage certificate, relevant proof of your relationship, financial documentation, language proof and information regarding where you live.
If you are applying outside of the UK, it may be very beneficial for you to follow some professional consultancy in case your case is complicated. At Miller & Carter, we provide people from outside of the UK with the assistance they need when preparing applications.
If you want to apply for the Spouse Visa, it is advisable to start preparing the necessary documentation beforehand, as immigration requirements keep changing.
Your primary aim is to ensure that the person making the decision has a full understanding of your story.