The UK partner/ spouse visa allows you to live in the UK with your partner or spouse who is either a British citizen or settled in the UK. There are various requirements to be met when submitting a partner/ spouse visa application, and in this blog we provide our 3 Top Tips to submitting a successful application.
Tip 1 – Ensure that you meet the financial requirements and submit the correct evidence
As part of your application, you must meet the relevant financial requirements. These requirements can be satisfied in various ways, either by relying on income from employment, or savings that may be held by you, your partner or both of you jointly.
If you are relying on employment income, you will need to demonstrate that you/ your partner earn at least £18,600 per year. You will need to support this with specified evidence, which includes payslips, bank statements, and a letter from the employer worded in a particular way.
If you are relying on savings, you will need to demonstrate that you/ your partner hold at least £62,500 in cash savings, which has been in you/ your partner’s possession continuously for the 6 months immediately prior to the date of application. You will need to support this with specified evidence, including bank statements containing specific details.
Tip 2 – Meet the English language requirement
As part of your application, you will need to meet the English language requirement. You can satisfy this requirement in various ways, including being a national of a majority English-speaking country featuring in the Home Office list of such countries, or by passing an English language test at the appropriate level with a Home Office approved provider.
In the event that you have to sit an English language test, you must obtain at least level A1 of the CEFR. If you are applying for an extension of your visa, you will also need to pass a test, but this time you must obtain level A2 of the CEFR. Furthermore, at the stage of applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain, your English-language skills must correspond to level B1 of the CEFR.
If you are able to pass your English language test at level B1 for the initial application, this may save you money and time, as you will not be required to sit further tests at each stage.
Tip 3 – Address any potential issues in the application
If you anticipate any potential issues with your application that may give the Home Office a cause for concern, it is best to address these directly in your application, or by enclosing a cover letter with it.
For example, as part of your application you will need to demonstrate that your relationship with your partner is genuine and subsisting. However, if you have spent any time living apart just before the date of the application, be it as a result of work or other commitments, this should be addressed in detail in a cover letter in order to reassure the Home Office that your relationship is genuine and subsisting. This will help to strengthen your application and demonstrate that you do meet the requirements.
Takeaway
Ultimately, when submitting a partner/ spouse visa application, it is key to ensure that you meet the requirements (and submit the specified documentation), and that you thoroughly address any potential issues that may give the Home Office a cause for concern when they process your application.
How Gherson can assist
Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
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