Spouse Visa Application For Uk

[Jimbob6666]

I was wondering if it was possible for an Argentine lawyer to handle a spouse visa application for the UK>

I am a British cit and I'm married to an Argentine woman. UK immigration has tightened considerably in the last couple of years and as we are currently living in Tucuman, I was thinking maybe I could bet things done here rather than the hassle of calls back to the UK etc.

If anyone knows a lawyer who is familiar with the process, English speaking or not, then can you let me know please?

 

[Gringoboy]

I know an English friend of mine who married an Argentine lady and they worked directly with the British foreign office.
It's been about four years that she has had to jump through the rings, but I believe she finally got her passport last year.
Frankly, due to the cost in the UK alone, you'd be better advised not to hire a lawyer over here, but to deal directly with the foreign office.(UK Border Control)
PM me and you can talk direct to my friends if you wish.

 

[jez]

An Argentine lawyer won't be able to help you at all with your visa unless they specialise in UK visas but your wife can start it herself online

Start here https://www.visa4uk....k/Account/login and register for an account.

No phone calls to the UK required but there is no simple list of things you need, it depends on each situation. It's a long process, it probably takes 3 month to get a response once your application has been submitted and you will probably also need documentation from the UK.

It will require trips to Buenos Aires for the English language test and the appointment to submit your supporting documents and have her photo and fingerprints taken etc

My Argentine wife submitted her application last month. PM me if you have any specific questions

 

[sailaway]

An Argentine lawyer won't be able to help you at all with your visa unless they specialise in UK visas but your wife can start it herself online

Start here https://www.visa4uk....k/Account/login and register for an account.

No phone calls to the UK required but there is no simple list of things you need, it depends on each situation. It's a long process, it probably takes 3 month to get a response once your application has been submitted and you will probably also need documentation from the UK.

It will require trips to Buenos Aires for the English language test and the appointment to submit your supporting documents and have her photo and fingerprints taken etc

My Argentine wife submitted her application last month. PM me if you have any specific questions

Hi Jez,

Any update on your wifes application..? I am curious..as I may find myself in a similar situation..

 

[jago25_98]

Sorry some bad news: The UK is blocking all British citizens who cannot prove a ~>19,000 GBP salary and/or/combo 60,000GBP savings. This is against EU law but they are doing it anyway. An alternative (assuming the UK remains in the EU this month on the vote) is to get residency for a EU country and apply from there if you can't prove the income.

I'm afraid some right wing thoughts became mainstream in recent years, leading to this law brought in to stop poor people selling their citizenship. However, most people in the UK earn less than the requirement and asset rich (but liquidity poor) yanks and aussies have also been caught up in the legislation.

Many people effected... I wonder if we could work together on the issue or in our applications

 

[jez]

Hi Jez,

Any update on your wifes application..? I am curious..as I may find myself in a similar situation..

My wife's Visa application was successful, we are now living in the UK!

Our visa time line and documents details:

Country applying from: Argentina
Type of visa applied for: Spouse Settlement Visa
Date application submitted on-line & made payment: 28th January 2016
Date biometrics taken and accompanying documents submitted: 19th Feb 2016 (in Buenos Aires)
Date email received to say documentation was received by UK Border Agency office and entered into database: 24th February 2016 (in Bogota, Colombia!)
Date email received to say application was in hands of Entry Clearance Officer: 14th April 2016
Date email received to say decision was made: 15th April 2016 (email only stated decision was made, it didn't state the outcome of the decision!)
Date visa/passport and originals docs were received in Bariloche: 21st April 2016 (delivered to Buenos Aires by Fedex and to Bariloche via Correo Andreani)

Application contents:

Applicant
- Printout of Application
- Letter of Introduction
- One passport sized colour photo
- Passport
- Previous passport
- Letter from University stating currently a student
English Language requirement
- Original Certificate (CEFR) Level A1
Financial Requirement
- Appendix 2 (VAF 4A December 2013)
- Letter declaring source of funds (sale of property)
- Marriage certificate
- Husbands Bank statement & letter showing required financial limit
- Husbands certified copy of property title showing sale and value
- Copy of Solicitors fees
- Copy of Real estate agents fees
Evidence of Accommodations
- Letter of invitation from sponsor parents to live at family home
- Land Registry documents for parents property
- Council Tax bill for 2015/2016 for parents property
- Water services utility bill from Water Company in their joint names
- Property Inspection letter from Local Council
Sponsor
- Letter of Introduction
- Copy of passport photo page
Additional Documents
- Certified copy of Argentine National Identity Documents show same address since 2013
- A selection of photos of us together (6 total)
- Certificate of Translation from translator with her contact details

About our situation:

Me: Brit living in Argentina for 10+ years. My wife: Argentine National. We have been in a relationship for 6+ years. We married in mid January 2016. We live in Bariloche.

My wife made a trip to Buenos Aires to take her English test (ELTS Life Skills A1 cost: AR$ 2,145) at the British Council (results received by courier 10 days later - they won't say the results by email or over the phone)
A second trip to Buenos Aires for biometrics and submitted the supporting documents (plus photocopies of supporting docs.) at the Visa Application Centre (VFS Buenos Aires Visa Application Centre Av. Cordoba 1131, Buenos Aires).

The Visa Application Centre gave appointments on Tuesdays & Thursdays, you couldn't make an appointment less than 2 weeks in advance.

All our non English documents first had the signatures legalised (Marriage certificate, Birth certificate), were then apostalised, then translated to English and finally had the translators signature legalised.

 

[sailaway]

My wife's Visa application was successful, we are now living in the UK!

Our visa time line and documents details:

Country applying from: Argentina
Type of visa applied for: Spouse Settlement Visa
Date application submitted on-line & made payment: 28th January 2016
Date biometrics taken and accompanying documents submitted: 19th Feb 2016 (in Buenos Aires)
Date email received to say documentation was received by UK Border Agency office and entered into database: 24th February 2016 (in Bogota, Colombia!)
Date email received to say application was in hands of Entry Clearance Officer: 14th April 2016
Date email received to say decision was made: 15th April 2016 (email only stated decision was made, it didn't state the outcome of the decision!)
Date visa/passport and originals docs were received in Bariloche: 21st April 2016 (delivered to Buenos Aires by Fedex and to Bariloche via Correo Andreani)

Application contents:

Applicant
- Printout of Application
- Letter of Introduction
- One passport sized colour photo
- Passport
- Previous passport
- Letter from University stating currently a student
English Language requirement
- Original Certificate (CEFR) Level A1
Financial Requirement
- Appendix 2 (VAF 4A December 2013)
- Letter declaring source of funds (sale of property)
- Marriage certificate
- Husbands Bank statement & letter showing required financial limit
- Husbands certified copy of property title showing sale and value
- Copy of Solicitors fees
- Copy of Real estate agents fees
Evidence of Accommodations
- Letter of invitation from sponsor parents to live at family home
- Land Registry documents for parents property
- Council Tax bill for 2015/2016 for parents property
- Water services utility bill from Water Company in their joint names
- Property Inspection letter from Local Council
Sponsor
- Letter of Introduction
- Copy of passport photo page
Additional Documents
- Certified copy of Argentine National Identity Documents show same address since 2013
- A selection of photos of us together (6 total)
- Certificate of Translation from translator with her contact details

About our situation:

Me: Brit living in Argentina for 10+ years. My wife: Argentine National. We have been in a relationship for 6+ years. We married in mid January 2016. We live in Bariloche.

My wife made a trip to Buenos Aires to take her English test (ELTS Life Skills A1 cost: AR$ 2,145) at the British Council (results received by courier 10 days later - they won't say the results by email or over the phone)
A second trip to Buenos Aires for biometrics and submitted the supporting documents (plus photocopies of supporting docs.) at the Visa Application Centre (VFS Buenos Aires Visa Application Centre Av. Cordoba 1131, Buenos Aires).

The Visa Application Centre gave appointments on Tuesdays & Thursdays, you couldn't make an appointment less than 2 weeks in advance.

All our non English documents first had the signatures legalised (Marriage certificate, Birth certificate), were then apostalised, then translated to English and finally had the translators signature legalised.

Hi Jez,

Sorry only just saw your reply. Great news! I hope your both very happy back in the Uk.

I am now looking at marriage and spouse visa as the way for us.

My gf is in uni here, and I am working, with an offer in London, that will keep as long as it needs to.

I had some questions if i may however, relating to your experience.

- what exactly was the sponsor family requirement? why was that necessary?

- secondly the funds declaration. I am write in assuming you need to prove a salary of min. 20k gbp or 60k in savings? if the latter can that just be transferred in and held for the purpose of application..?


I guess im now about to jump into it so want to be prepared...6 months seems reasonable, i expected much more as you hear horror stories of families seperated for years...

thanks for you help.

rgds